My next public appearance will be in Leominster on 12 May, at the Mortimer History Society's Spring Conference. For more details see www.mortimerhistorysociety.org.uk/forth.html

The podcast I did last month on the Conquest for BBC History Magazine has just gone live. Didn't detect any obvious howlers on listening to it, but I'm sure readers will correct me in due course. Do have more ums and ahs than Robert Peston, however...

http://www.historyextra.com/podcast/26th-april-2012

The Norman Conquest is Book of the Month in the May issue of BBC History Magazine, which came out today. Prof Nick Higham writes:

Marc Morris’s new book is an exciting arrival... a strong and often gripping story, developed with enormous verve, a clear sense of direction and considerable confidence... carries the reader on a spirited ride across the subject... a stimulating history which has both some new dimensions and internal coherence... an attractive volume which offers a good, detailed introduction to the subject. Morris is committed to teasing out what he thinks the evidence is saying and he writes well.

On Monday next week (St George's Day) I'll be in Ely, giving a talk on the Normans, hosted by Topping Books. See http://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/ely/marc-morris/ for more details.

It has been pointed out to me that you can now read the Introduction and Chapter 1 of The Norman Conquest online via Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Norman-Conquest-Marc-Morris/dp/0091931452). But be warned, the sample breaks off midway through Chapter 2, so if you want to know whether Edward the Confessor becomes king or not, you'll just have to buy the book.

Thanks to the BSFA, and particularly Tony Keen, for their warm reception at the 2012 Eastercon today. Next Conquest talk is at Waterstone's Cirencester on Wednesday evening.

A good review of Norman Conquest in today's Evening Standard - http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/arts/book/a-welcome-light-on-1066-and-all-that-7621109.html