The Anglo-Saxons first appeared on the historical scene as Germanic pagan pirates and mercenaries, moving into the declining Roman Empire in the 5th Century AD and forging a series of kingdoms which became 'England'. By the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, Anglo-Saxon England was one of the most sophisticated states in the medieval West, renowned for its ecclesiastical and cultural achievements.The written word was of tremendous importance in this transformation. Within a century of the introduction of Christianity and literacy, the book had become a central element of Anglo-Saxon society, and a rich vehicle for cultural and artistic expression.This new book provides an authoritative introduction to the art of book production in the Anglo-Saxon period and an historical overview of the period by means of its book culture, and illustrates in colour over 140 examples of the finest Anglo-Saxon books in The British Library and other major collections.