Book Review 1066: The Year of the Conquest.1066: The Year of the Conquest, written by David Howarth, recounts one of the most important dates in history of England. In 1066, William the Conqueror and William of Orange fought at the historic Battle of Hastings. The outcome of this battle brought many changes to the English people. The Norman people assimilated into the English way of life. Howarth tells the story of the Battle of Hastings through the eyes of an ordinary Englishman. David Howarth's writing style is unique. He lets the story develop on its own. The story flows smoothly and the events do not seem forced. The story reads like a historical novel and is easy to follow. Howarth presents his information in its entirety and leaves nothing for the reader to question. The reader does not become confused or lost because of the way the author reveals his information in the book. Howarth's use of sources throughout his book is a strong point he uses. Howarth shows the different perspectives that have been considered throughout history. He gives his own ideas and tries to show the reader the different points of view. The story can be interpreted in different ways and Howarth gives reasons and evidence to support his claims. When reading this book, one must realize that most of the literature has very religious connotations which are pervasive in most works of this era. Howarth strives not to let this influence the way he presents the history of the period. Making sure not to let this affect his judgment, he does a great job of citing numerous sources and examining them all along the way. He makes sure his facts are as accurate as possible as well as... middle of paper ... they are very minimal, and these are the only slight problems in the book. In conclusion, I would like to encourage instructors or simply people interested in medieval history to add 1066: The Year of the Conquest to their reading lists. The book is both interesting and academically sound, and it provides the reader with a unique opportunity to observe the process of daily life in medieval times. Howarth's sense of humanity sets this volume apart from other texts dealing with a similar subject. Although the medieval era was brutal, full of fighting and torture, Howarth does not show this era as being as dark and mythical as some authors. He tries to take her on a magical adventure through the "dark ages", but rather one that offers insight and excitement, without bias or opinionated point of view. An excellent book worth reading.