The Big Picture
Framing the Early Middle Ages: Europe and the Mediterranean, 400-800 by Chris Wickham
Possibly my favorite overview, as it takes a regional approach and analyses what happened economically and socially in each area and why. Very well-written and accessible.
The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians by Peter Heather
The World of Late Antiquity: AD 150-750 (Library of World Civilization) by Peter Brown
Link: http://amzn.com/0393958035
This little essay knocked my socks off. It's short, you should read it. You won't think of the world quite the same way.
An Introduction to Early Medieval Western Europe, 300-900: The Sword, the Plough and the Book by Matthew Innes
Link: http://amzn.com/0415215072
Another great survey book, this time looking across the period from the point of view of the warrior elite, the church, and the ordinary peasant.
Dark Age Economics: A New Audit (Duckworth Debates in Archaeology) by Richard Hodges
A revised edition of a ground-breaking work, looking especially at the workings of trade based on archeological data (a new thing when this book was first written).
Primary Documents
A History of the Franks by Gregory of ToursLink: http://amzn.com/1420934791
Full of murderous doings and Merovingian machinations. Don't let the title put you off.
The Utrecht Psalter, online in facsimile.
Archeology
The York Archaeological Trust has published extremely useful books on the finds in the York/Jorvik area, from the Viking era to the early modern. These books are out of print, but generously available online: http://www.yorkarchaeology.co.Nos ancêtres les Barbares : Voyage autour de trois tombes de chefs francs (1Cédérom) [Broché]
Collectif (Auteur), Cécile Varéon (Sous la direction de)Link: http://www.amazon.fr/Nos-anc%C3%AAtres-Barbares-Voyage-1C%C3%A9d%C3%A9rom/dp/2757201891/
Excellent documentation of the recent finds in St. Dizier.
Tout savoir sur les fouilles archéologiques de Goudelancourt-lès-Pierrepont, an audio-visual presentation by the Musée des Temps Barbares
http://www.museedestempsbarbares.fr/fr/archeologie-25-ans/audiovisuel.html
In French, but great visual details. There is also a multi-volume publication.
From Attila to Charlemagne: Arts of the Early Medieval Period in The Metropolitan Museum of Art
This is downloadable for free from the Met website. 26 essays, 600 black and white photos, 18 color plates of beautiful stuff, mostly looted from graves.
Clothing
Dress in Anglo-Saxon England (Gale R. Owen-Crocker) 9781843835721 - Boydell & Brewerhttp://www.boydellandbrewer.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=13389
A classic encyclopedic work.
Cloth And Clothing in Early Anglo-Saxon England, AD 450-700 (CBA Research Reports) by Penelope Walton Rogers
Link: http://amzn.com/1902771540
ToC and Intro can be found here: http://www.oxbo
Sadly out of print and for sale at exorbitant prices thru used book sellers. However, extremely good for early Anglo-Saxon. Find it in a library.
Pinterest board, "Things Anglo-Saxon: Garb:" http://www.pinterest.com/gbertholet/things-anglo-saxon-garb/
Pinterest board, "ANGLO-SAXON Costume," http://www.pinterest.com/motuniverse/anglo-saxon-costume/
"Making Anglo-Saxon Garb," a PDF from the Midrealm
Warfare
Warfare and Society in the Barbarian West 450-900 (Warfare and History) by Guy HalsallBy one of the noteworthy scholars in the field, a regional view of the mechanics of war in its social context.
Early Carolingian Warfare: Prelude to Empire (The Middle Ages Series) by Bernard S. Bachrach
More of a gradualist than some others, you should just read anything that he wrote if you can find it. He has another book on Merovingian warfare.
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