Across the book, and the centuries, he mostly uses charters to examine very complicated relationships between people and places, rulers and populations. Not a feudal or manorial system until the end of the period (pre- and post-conquest).

I recently read Stenton's 'Anglo-Saxon England' (1971), and found the discussion of overkingship really interesting. IMO, he describes it as an important, traditional social role, rather than a title or office, and is dismissive of 'bretwalda' - poetic flourish rather than a real title.

PS. I am currently reading a certain book, about little kingdoms in Early Medieval Britain.

I read Westward to Vinland last year - more travelogue than archaeology, but it does include some interesting discussion about the sagas. It's very striking that when the Vikings arrived, the indigenous cultures of the Artic were already intercontinental.

This is because history is a list of the kings of England, and the battles they fought :P