This important study seeks to assemble the evidence, drawn from a
variety of sources in Old English and Latin, to convey a picture of
slaves and slavery in England, viewed against the background of English
society as a whole.
At last a major topic in early medieval English history has found its
author, who deals with it comprehensively and systematically.ECONOMIC
HISTORY REVIEW
"A landmark teatment...immensely enriches the debate about early
medieval working classes." SPECULUM
Slaves were part of the fabric of English society throughout the
Anglo-Saxon era and the twelfth century, but as the base of the social
pyramid, they have left no known written records;there are, however,
extensive references to them throughout the documents and writings of
the period. This important study seeks to assemble the evidence, drawn
from a variety of sources in Old English and Latin, to convey a picture
of slaves and slavery in England, viewed against the background of
English society as a whole. An extensive appendix on the vernacular
terminology of slavery reveals the concepts of enslavement to be
embedded in the religiousimagery of the period.
DAVID PELTERET is Senior Research Fellow, Department of History, King's
College London.