Lichfield and the Lands of St Chad: Creating community in early medieval Mercia

Abstract

a meticulous look at the diverse ways in which Northumbrian-Gaelic relations were expressed. Through Edmonds’ vital ideas of cross-cultural contact between individuals, the reader can see the ongoing exchange of ideas, practices and designs. The broader landscape of Northumbria and the Gaelic worlds is balanced with more local landscapes, highlighting the significant overall effect as well as the equally important consequences that different influences had on different geographic areas and people from all walks of life. Fiona Edmonds provides a much-needed contribution to early medieval studies, adeptly conveying a complex, multicultural environment. She bridges together geographic areas, bringing the kingdom of Northumbria to the forefront of the narrative and effectively proving how significant the Gaelic influence was on the Northumbrian kingdom during the Golden Age, the Viking Age, and beyond.