In 1993 I published my first book, The Origins of Beowulf and the pre-Viking Kingdom of East Anglia. This book is about the epic poem Beowulf, which is widely regarded as the first great work of English literature. In the book I address the questions of when and where in England the epic was composed.

Click here to order a copy, now in its third print run, or read some of the reviews first.

To begin with, this is what my publishers, Boydell & Brewer, said about the book (the reviews' section follows):

Where did Beowulf, that unique and thrilling example of an Old English epic poem come from? In whose hall did the poem's maker first tell the tale? The poem exists now in just one manuscript, but careful study of the literary and historical associations reveals striking details which lead Dr Newton to claim, as he pieces together the various clues, a specific origin for the poem. Dr Newton suggests that references in Beowulf to the heroes whose names are listed in Anglo-Saxon royal genealogies indicate that such Northern dynastic concerns are most likely to have been fostered in the kingdom of East Anglia. He supports his thesis with evidence drawn from East Anglian archaeology, hagiography and folklore, bringing life to a vanished age with his sympathetic interpretation of the few records that have survived. His argument, detailed and passionate, offers the exciting possibility that he has discovered the lost origins of the poem in the pre-Viking kingdom of eighth-century East Anglia.

Tom Shippey, The Times Literary Supplement, 18^th June 1993, p.32.

Andrew Orchard, Suffolk Institute of Archaeology & History Newsletter, 37 [Autumn 1993], p.11.

Rupert Bruce-Mitford, The Antiquaries' Journal, [1993], pp.210-211.

John Hines, Anglia, 113.1 [1995], pp.95-97.

Peter J.Lucas, Review of English Studies, ns.46, no.184 [1995], pp.545-547.

Patrick Wormald, Notes & Queries, 240 [1995], pp.386-387.

R.F.Yeager, Medium Ævum, 64.1 [1995], pp.121-122.

Eric Christiansen, English Historical Review, [1996], pp.140-141.

Thomas D.Hill, Speculum, 4 [1997], pp.541-543.

J.S.Ryan, Parergon, 14, 2 [1997], pp.223-224.

M.J.Franklin, Southern History, 16 [1994], p. .

R.P.Tripp, Jr, Modern Language Review, 90.1 [1995], pp.132-134.

R.M.Liuzza, Albion, 28 [1996], pp.73-74.

David Keys, "'Beowulf' belongs to England after all", The Independent, Tues. 7^th Dec. 1993, p.36.

Cathy Brown, "Deben boyhood leads to link between epic poem Beowulf and Sutton Hoo", The East Anglian Daily Times [Supplement], Sat. 3^rd April 1993, p.8.