Nineteen Days in Autumn
A New History of 1066
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Publishing:27th Aug '26
£25.00
This title is due to be published on 27th August, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IT WAS MADE NEARLY 1,000 YEARS AGO, THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY RETURNS TO ENGLAND IN A MAJOR EXHIBITION AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
Now, uncover the incredible true story behind the tapestry with this definitive character-led history of the most famous year in English history – 1066.
'A thrilling journey ... history as it should be written' ALICE LOXTON
'Dazzlingly creative ... brings the eleventh century to life' ANTHONY BALE
'Erin Goeres is a stunning new voice in medieval history' SUZANNAH LIPSCOMB
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On 5 January 1066, Edward the Confessor’s death plunged England into a succession crisis that would change the kingdom forever. Mere hours after Edward’s remains had been laid to rest, his brother-in-law Harold II seized power, inciting the wrath of two formidable challengers: King Haraldr Sigurðarson of Norway and Edward’s ambitious cousin, William, Duke of Normandy.
In this startling new history, Dr Erin Goeres unveils the intense drama that unfolded, culminating in the tumultuous nineteen days between the battles of Stamford Bridge and Hastings in the autumn of 1066 – the decisive event that ended Anglo-Scandinavian rule, secured the Norman Conquest and transformed medieval England.
Drawing together sources from the three regions at the heart of the fray – England, Normandy and Scandinavia – Goeres uncovers the complex histories, characters and motivations that shaped one of the most defining moments in British and European history. We discover the stories of Tostig Godwinson, Harold II’s estranged brother; of William the Conqueror’s enigmatic wife, Matilda of Flanders, alleged lover of Harold of England; and we meet the regular people swept up in events beyond their control, such as an English farmer beheaded for his unwillingness to give up his fur-lined coat to a Norwegian invader.
Rich in new research and vivid storytelling, Nineteen Days in Autumn reveals the gripping tale of three nations entwined and the enthralling yet devastating consequences of their unravelling.
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'Visceral, thrilling and unexpectedly gripping given we all know the outcome!' EMMA SOUTHON
'With more treachery, tragedy and cliffhangers than an episode of Game of Thrones, Nineteen Days in Autumn makes for an exhilarating read' HETTA HOWES
'Brilliant and compelling' TABITHA STANMORE
'Written with imagination...
A thrilling journey that forces you to see the events of 1066 with new eyes. This is history as it should be written. I loved it! -- Alice Loxton * author of Eleanor: A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England's Lost Queen *
Original and vivid, Nineteen Days in Autumn brings the eleventh century to life. Erin Goeres is a sure and careful guide through the historical thicket of the events of 1066. Goeres is also a dazzlingly creative writer, dramatically evoking the personalities of this crucial moment. -- Anthony Bale * author of A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages *
Nineteen Days in Autumn is the 1066 book I always wanted: visceral, thrilling and unexpectedly gripping given we all know the outcome! All three claimants to the English throne are brought to life as complex humans with their own motivations and the chaos of the year feels vivid and alive -- Emma Southon * author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women *
With more treachery, tragedy and cliffhangers than an episode of Game of Thrones, Nineteen Days in Autumn makes for an exhilarating read. Thanks to its vivid characterisation and pacey prose, it feels like a novel - but the staggering amount of research underpinning its twists and turns reminds us that this is fact, not fiction. If you think you know what happened in 1066 think again - and pick up this book. Nineteen Days in Autumn promises to be a smash hit -- Hetta Howes * author of Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife *
Erin Goeres is a stunning new voice in medieval history. In Nineteen Days in Autumn, she performs a rare feat: entrancing the reader with both her compelling narrative and her astute investigation of the veracity of the stories that she tells. What emerges is a new history of 1066 that is powerful and delightful. -- Suzannah Lipscomb * Historian and Professor Emerita at the University of Roehampton *
A brilliant and compellingly written account of 1066. Erin Goeres guides the reader through the complex politics of the period, while telling a deeply personal narrative of the key players of the Conquest. I tore through it; deeply invested, even if I knew the outcome. -- Tabitha Stanmore * author of Cunning Folk *
This is a compelling new account of the most famous year in English history. Erin Goeres draws on her masterful knowledge of the medieval sources to trace the dramatic build-up to the Conquest, not only in England and Normandy but across northern Europe. Written with imagination and flair, this book vividly brings to life the real human stories at the heart of the fateful events of 1066. -- Eleanor Parker * author of Conquered: The Last Children of Anglo-Saxon England *
A fiercely atmospheric and immersive account of the pivotal and rapid moments from 1066. Erin Goeres’ book is full of pace and detail. The reader is brilliantly pulled into the fold and is met with unforgettable characters, vivid descriptions of locations, and a thoughtful analysis of the key historical moments that led up to the Battle of Hastings. A real triumph. -- Sienna Wells * medieval manuscript dealer and historian *
In Nineteen Days in Autumn, Erin Goeres has achieved the near-impossible: finding something fresh and original to say about 1066. Her elegant, lively prose tells the stories of all three claimants to the English throne, and her equal treatment of the often overlooked Viking invasion in the north provides a whole new perspective on the events of that momentous year. -- Catherine Hanley * author of Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior *
The real story of 1066, brilliantly told and full of epic drama and bold personalities -- Anne Curry, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History, University of Southampton
ISBN: 9780241754887
Dimensions: 242mm x 165mm x 31mm
Weight: 562g
320 pages