What can the mortuary chests of Winchester Cathedral tell us about Anglo-Saxon England?

Review of 'The Bone Chests' by Cat Jarman (2023)

‘The Winchester mortuary chests and the remains they contain have fascinated visitors to the cathedral for centuries. My intention with this book is to tell the stories of the chests and of the tumultuous times that they, and the people interred within, have found themselves in. Another theme of the book has been to consider why the kingdom of Wessex, and Winchester in particular, took on such significance in the history of England in the early medieval period. For this reason, the emphasis of the book is very much on the south and south-west of England, to the occasional negligence of the rest of the country.’

Jarman, Cat. The Bone Chests: Unlocking the Secrets of the Anglo-Saxons, London: William Collins, 2023, xv.

Hi there,

How has your week been? What stories have you read and told over the past few days? Let us know in the comments what you’ve been reading (medieval or not!) to build a conversation about our current reads.

I have been finishing up The Bone Chests by Cat Jarman, her second book published after the huge success of River Kings a few years ago. I loved her first book so did not hesitate to hit ‘pre-order’ when I saw that she had a second coming out. I’ve asked myself five questions to bring you my honest review of the book; let me know in the comments if there’s anything else you’d like to know. The headline is: it’s fab!

What is the premise of the book?

The Bone Chests is a history of later Anglo-Saxon England that uses the mortuary chests at Winchester Cathedral as its starting point. It is the tale of England at the time of the individuals named on the chests that Jarman chooses to tell, with additional information on what has happened to them since their original interment. Some were translated to Winchester Cathedral from elsewhere during the Anglo-Saxon age, all were disrupted during the Civil War in the 17th century, and a few have undergone scientific testing in recent years in an attempt to ascertain who the skeletons now in the chests might have been. Hint: there were far more individuals found inside the chests than the names written on the outside would suggest should be there! The real focus of the book, though, is the political history that these individuals (whether or not they have remained in the chests) took part in.

What does it do well?

Each chapter starts with a semi-fictional story of historical characters and their interactions with the mortuary chests. As someone who enjoys writing such tales, I enjoyed the way that Jarman brought the chests to life in this way. I think that historical artefacts are so often seen as static and impersonal, but in reality these chests were made by a real carpenter with a life just like ours, individuals with loves and losses were laid to rest in them, and people with textured lives have admired them over the past 1,000+ years.

This is then blended with a classic political history of later Anglo-Saxon England (although a few earlier characters creep in too!); this forms the bulk of each chapter. Jarman’s interest in the Vikings helps, I think, to shift the balance of popular opinion away from cultural portrayals of the Vikings as the ‘baddies’. She is able to show how the dichotomy of ‘Anglo-Saxon’ vs. ‘Viking’ doesn’t really capture the true interconnectedness of the people ruling at this time; it was much more messy in reality.

What does it not do so well?

As a truly interdisciplinary researcher and writer (straddling archaeology and history as most early Anglo-Saxon students do), I would have liked a bit more focus on the bones and the chests themselves. At times, they felt like a springboard to talk about the political history, being left behind once they had opened the discussion of a particular ruler or time. This may reflect the nature of Jarman’s sources, certainly for the earlier kings she writes about, so I may be asking for something that she would not be able to provide. For me, however, it felt a little like she left the bone chests behind a bit too quickly.

What’s a standout quote or section?

I particularly enjoyed Chapter 5, entitled ‘Conquest’, which included within it the story of Queen Emma. I have always been fascinated by Emma, a woman who married the Anglo-Saxon king Æthelred and, after his death, the Viking king Cnut. She, to me, sums up the interconnectedness that Jarman succeeds in demonstrating: a living, breathing symbol of the interwoven texture of Anglo-Viking relations at this time. I think, also, as a millennial woman, the tale of any strong woman of the past is likely to catch my eye; Emma was, for sure, a strong woman, and Jarman illustrates her story beautifully.

Who should read this book?

Anyone with an interest in later Anglo-Saxon history, from roughly the reign of Alfred (the Great) to the Norman Conquest. Don’t let the archaeological background of Jarman put you off: her use of the archaeological sources to draw political implications means that this book reads most like a history book. Her writing is easy to read and accessible to all, whether you read history books all the time (guilty as charged) or are just dipping your toe in the water.

Have I persuaded anyone to read The Bone Chests? Will anyone be adding it as a last-minute gift idea to their Christmas lists? Has anyone read it already? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

I’ll be working my way through this stack of books over the next few weeks (months? It all depends on how much the little one naps!). If you have any suggestions for future book reviews, do let me know!

Yes, I gave into the marketing for Philippa Gregory’s latest book… I was intrigued to see just how ‘radical’ a retelling this book would end up being (I’m always slightly sceptical when big claims like this are made).

Wishing you all the best as ever,

H

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