The book:
Penda, Mercia's First King: The Last Great Heathen Warlord of Anglo-Saxon England
by Paul Barret, 2024
#EarlyAngloSaxon
A thoroughly researched work that can be a bit tedious reading unless you are into this type of detailed history (like me). The author does a LOT of speculating but it is done with intelligence and a lot of research.
The beer (actually a cider):
Dry Apple Hard Cider
Bend Cider Co.
Bend, Oregon, Cascadia
An excellent, very affordable dry cider.
The book:
The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England, 400-1066
By Marc Morris, 2021
A very engaging, easy-to-read history. The ordinary people of this period are invisible in this book but the author does state, in the introduction, that this particular work focuses on the [power-hungry and, for the most part, asshole] big wigs.
The beer:
Cavatica Stout
Ft. George Brewery
Astoria, Oregon, Cascadia
My go-to imperial stout. A good value that never disappoints.
Will