The reign of AEthelred II, King of the English, Emperor of all the peoples of Britain, 978-1016

Aethelred II is more commonly known by the epithet "the Unready", and it is precisely this popular image of incompetence which Ian Howard's biography is intended to put to rest. In constructing a chronological narrative of Aethelred's lengthy (38 year) and in parts successful reign Howard draws by preference on strictly contemporary sources, reserving later Scandinavian and Norman sources for an epilogue describing the posthumous assault on the king's reputation. Appendices provide detailed analysis of problems of dating, of the MS D version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and of Aethelredian coinage and fiscal policy.