Bøker av Andrew Sargent

This book focuses on the period from the seventh to eleventh centuries that witnessed the rise and fall of Mercia, the great Midland kingdom, and, later, the formation of England. Specifically, it explores the relationship between the bishops of Lichfield and the multiple communities of their diocese. Andrew Sargent tackles the challenge posed by the evidential 'hole' at the heart of Mercia by synthesising different kinds of evidence - archaeological, textual, topographical and toponymical - to reconstruct the landscapes inhabited by these communities, which intersected at cathedrals and minsters and other less formal meeting-places. Most such communities were engaged in the construction of hierarchies, and Sargent assigns spiritual lordship a dominant role in this. Tracing the interconnections of these communities, he focuses on the development of the Church of Lichfield, an extensive episcopal community situated within a dynamic mesh of institutions and groups within and beyond the diocese, from the royal court to the smallest township. The regional elite combined spiritual and secular forms of lordship to advance and entrench their mutual interests, and the entanglement of royal and episcopal governance is one of the key focuses of Andrew Sargent's outstanding new research. How the bishops shaped and promoted spiritual discourse to establish their own authority within society is key. This is traced through the meagre textual sources, which hint at the bishops' involvement in the wider flow of ecclesiastical politics in Britain, and through the archaeological and landscape evidence for churches and minsters held not only by bishops, but also by kings and aristocrats within the diocese. Saints' cults offer a particularly effective medium through which to study these developments: St Chad, the Mercian bishop who established the see at Lichfield, became an influential spiritual patron for subsequent bishops of the diocese, but other lesser known saints also focused c

Explore the secret history of Cambridge through a fascinating selection of stories, facts and photographs.

From the founding of St Frideswide's nunnery in the sixth century and the emergence of its university in the late twelfth century - the first in the English-speaking world - through its growth and development as one of the country's leading centres of education, science, publishing and motor manufacturing, to its current status as one of the fastest growing and ethnically diverse cities in the UK, Oxford has a proud and distinctive identity. This extraordinary history is embodied in the many fine buildings that have shaped this 'city of dreaming spires'. Oxford in 50 Buildings explores the history of this rich and vibrant community through a selection of its greatest architectural treasures. From neoclassical marvels such as the iconic Ashmolean Museum to the twenty-first-century Sad Business School, a welcome addition to the city's famous skyline, this unique study celebrates the city's architectural heritage in a new and accessible way. Local author Andrew Sargent guides the reader on a tour of the city's historic buildings and modern architectural marvels.

Oxford is identified with its university, and the university has certainly played a huge role in shaping the town. But the history of Oxford is much more than just a footnote to its colleges. The town was already old when the first scholars gathered there, and it has seen many major non-academic milestones, such as the founding of the hugely influential Morris works at Cowley by Lord Nuffield. Secret Oxford explores town and gown, the little-known facts as well as the well-known ones, and directs the reader - tourist or resident - to key locations and visible remains. Each well-illustrated chapter ends with a list of related things that must be seen. There are also a number of self-guided walks to help the reader experience the diverse flavour of the city and its history.