Totally engaging, 02 Jan 2009
Having read 'The Perfect King' and become interested in the 14th Century (previously my passion was the Tudor Age)I decided to expand my knowledge of the period by picking out this book purely by chance. It is absolutely rivetting and I completed it in just 2 days. There are so many books on the period, most as dry as dust, but the world comes alive through Mortimer's pen. I do not feel it was 'dumbing down' in any way by writing this as a 'guide book' - quite the contrary. The world truly came alive from page one, and my attention was hooked. Mortimer reaches across the centuries into the hearts and minds of people not so very different from ourselves. We learn about their working lives and their leisure. We find out what they eat and what they wear. We can almost feel the horror of parents as they can only stand and watch their whole families being wiped out by plague. The greatest writers of the period are mentioned, not just Chaucer but other authors such as the Gawain poet, writing such poignant verses with emotions that feel just as relevant today. Not only is it a rivetting read, it is truly a handbook to be read in conjuction with other history books of the period. The past is not something long-dead and buried, but has a life all its own and is why we are who we are. A very easy, fascinating read.

extremely readable,, 01 Jan 2009
apparently well researched and, as all the other reviews say, entertaining, so why did I feel this book is an experiment which hasn't quite come off? Maybe 'entertaining' is the trouble. I dislike the sort of historical programme on tv which makes use of 'recreations' which add nothing to my understanding and this book gave me the same sort of sensation - was I really learning anything which I would not have done from a straight social history? I have two specific gripes, one major and one minor. The major gripe is that the role of religion in 14th century life is well-nigh ignored. OK, we find out that there were a great many priests and monks about, but what motivated them to enter the church? What about the beliefs of lay people? Mortimer doesn't get inside their heads in this respect, or seem to think it would be relevant to do so. Yet I can't take a book which describes itself as a guide to 14th century England and doesn't even mention Julian of Norwich entirely seriously. The other gripe is about the poetry... why does Mortimer assume his readers are unable to cope with Chaucer in the original? He gives him to us in a 'translation' which doesn't even scan. Geoffrey must be turning in his grave

Marvellously Entertaining, 24 Dec 2008
A very different & engaging history book almost like a Rough guide to the 14th century. It puts you there in a most realistic way and is spellbinding in its fascinating detail even to someone like myself who reads a lot of history. I can only think of one minor criticism. A carefully illustrated version with illustrations to support the text e.g. on the appearance of clinker ships, hostelleries, apparel etc would make it superbly useful for students of history. The reproductions in it are historically relevant and valuable but still not as graphic and understandable as a good drawing or modern illustration. With these inserted, even at a higher sticker price, I believe this would become truly a best seller for all types of readers in Europe & North America at least and a book to be treasured. Full marks to Mr. Mortimer!!

Original and informative social history, 11 Nov 2008
There are already many studies of the Black Death, The Peasants' Revolt and detailed scholarly works on this period of history but this book is quite original and should appeal to a wide readership. The use of the present tense works so well and helps to conjure up a graphic picture of the times. The author draws on a great deal of other studies and develops it into a vibrant overview of what it might have been like to live in this century. I loved it!

Simply superb, 02 Nov 2008
At school I hated history mainly because it was learning boring dates and events.
This book changes all of that; it tells me what I wanted to know in an easy to read and extremely enjoyable way.

What will I see in a 14th Century street, who will I see, what des it smell like, what will I eat, how do I address people I meet? All of this and more is covered in this excellent book. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the period such as the city, the town, the village etc. Very clear and very informative; ideal for casual interest, school pupils, university history reading and so on.

I won't go into the details because that would simply spoil things for you so I suggest you get this book and be transported back some 700 years.

It simply brings history to life.

Totally engaging, 02 Jan 2009
Having read 'The Perfect King' and become interested in the 14th Century (previously my passion was the Tudor Age)I decided to expand my knowledge of the period by picking out this book purely by chance. It is absolutely rivetting and I completed it in just 2 days. There are so many books on the period, most as dry as dust, but the world comes alive through Mortimer's pen. I do not feel it was 'dumbing down' in any way by writing this as a 'guide book' - quite the contrary. The world truly came alive from page one, and my attention was hooked. Mortimer reaches across the centuries into the hearts and minds of people not so very different from ourselves. We learn about their working lives and their leisure. We find out what they eat and what they wear. We can almost feel the horror of parents as they can only stand and watch their whole families being wiped out by plague. The greatest writers of the period are mentioned, not just Chaucer but other authors such as the Gawain poet, writing such poignant verses with emotions that feel just as relevant today. Not only is it a rivetting read, it is truly a handbook to be read in conjuction with other history books of the period. The past is not something long-dead and buried, but has a life all its own and is why we are who we are. A very easy, fascinating read.

extremely readable,, 01 Jan 2009
apparently well researched and, as all the other reviews say, entertaining, so why did I feel this book is an experiment which hasn't quite come off? Maybe 'entertaining' is the trouble. I dislike the sort of historical programme on tv which makes use of 'recreations' which add nothing to my understanding and this book gave me the same sort of sensation - was I really learning anything which I would not have done from a straight social history? I have two specific gripes, one major and one minor. The major gripe is that the role of religion in 14th century life is well-nigh ignored. OK, we find out that there were a great many priests and monks about, but what motivated them to enter the church? What about the beliefs of lay people? Mortimer doesn't get inside their heads in this respect, or seem to think it would be relevant to do so. Yet I can't take a book which describes itself as a guide to 14th century England and doesn't even mention Julian of Norwich entirely seriously. The other gripe is about the poetry... why does Mortimer assume his readers are unable to cope with Chaucer in the original? He gives him to us in a 'translation' which doesn't even scan. Geoffrey must be turning in his grave

Marvellously Entertaining, 24 Dec 2008
A very different & engaging history book almost like a Rough guide to the 14th century. It puts you there in a most realistic way and is spellbinding in its fascinating detail even to someone like myself who reads a lot of history. I can only think of one minor criticism. A carefully illustrated version with illustrations to support the text e.g. on the appearance of clinker ships, hostelleries, apparel etc would make it superbly useful for students of history. The reproductions in it are historically relevant and valuable but still not as graphic and understandable as a good drawing or modern illustration. With these inserted, even at a higher sticker price, I believe this would become truly a best seller for all types of readers in Europe & North America at least and a book to be treasured. Full marks to Mr. Mortimer!!

Original and informative social history, 11 Nov 2008
There are already many studies of the Black Death, The Peasants' Revolt and detailed scholarly works on this period of history but this book is quite original and should appeal to a wide readership. The use of the present tense works so well and helps to conjure up a graphic picture of the times. The author draws on a great deal of other studies and develops it into a vibrant overview of what it might have been like to live in this century. I loved it!

Simply superb, 02 Nov 2008
At school I hated history mainly because it was learning boring dates and events.
This book changes all of that; it tells me what I wanted to know in an easy to read and extremely enjoyable way.

What will I see in a 14th Century street, who will I see, what des it smell like, what will I eat, how do I address people I meet? All of this and more is covered in this excellent book. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the period such as the city, the town, the village etc. Very clear and very informative; ideal for casual interest, school pupils, university history reading and so on.

I won't go into the details because that would simply spoil things for you so I suggest you get this book and be transported back some 700 years.

It simply brings history to life.

Finally, a book that lives up to the subject herself..., 28 Nov 2008
Katherine Swynford is a bit of enigma. She's arguably one of the most important figures in British history; she's the ancestress of every monarch since Edward IV, no less than five US presidents and Winston Churchill, among others; and yet most people, if they know of her at all, have only heard of her because of an historical romance, Anya Seton's Katherine. That's largely because so little is known of her, and Alison Weir does a good job piecing together what few fragments of information can be found about her. It's clear she has an affection for her subject, which I always like to see in biography. It may not be entirely unbiased, but I hate reading biographies written by people who clearly have an axe to grind or preconceived conceptions. This is a very good book and, as I said, brings to life a pretty obscure character from medieval England.

(3.5 stars): Insightful, but with a few problems, 21 Nov 2008
Like Alison Weir, I was first introduced to the story of Katherine Swynford through Anya Seton's romanticized 1954 novel, Katherine. Weir's biography is a pretty comprehensive look at this enigmatic, lesser-known medieval woman.

I have a love-hate relationship with Weir's books: I loved The Six Wives of Henry VIII; liked Mary Queen of Scots: And the Murder of Lord Darnley, and Eleanor of Aquitaine: By the Wrath of God, Queen of England; but detested Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England and Innocent Traitor (Weir doesn't do fiction all that well). I put Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and his Scandalous Duchess in the "like somewhat" category.

Katherine Swynford was born Katherine de Roet in 1350, one of the daughters of Sir Paon de Roet. She then married Hugh Swynford, and spent time in the Lancastrian household as the governess to John of Gaunt's children. Katherine's affair with him probably began around the year 1372, and, after producing a number of illegitimate children, married John in 1396. Katherine is the ancestor of most of the royal houses of Europe, plus at least five American presidents. History has seen Katherine as bit of a homewrecker, but in this book, Weir attempts (and mostly succeeds) in portraying her in a more sympathetic light.

This biography of Katherine Swynford is, as with all of Weir's books, meticulously researched. It's less overtly feminist and partisan than some of her other biographies. Pay attention to the subtitle of this biography: the book is more about John of Gaunt than it is about Katherine (in fact, we don't even get a physical description of Katherine until after one is given of John). We also get very detailed biographies of everyone who was related or connected to her, especially Geoffrey Chaucer, her brother-in-law. After finishing this book, I still didn't have a concrete impression of what Katherine was really like. And, because so little is actually known about Katherine's life, Weir makes an awful lot of assumptions here about what her subject "might," "perhaps," or "probably" have done/ thought/ felt.

However, Weir does a wonderful job bringing the details of the period to life. It's an accessible, readable work of history that doesn't get bogged down in pretentious language. For someone who doesn't know medieval Latin or Norman French, Weir does an incredible job of interpreting her sources. And the style of this book is far more lively and engaging than other books written on the Lancasters that I've read. I look forward to reading what comes next from Weir (according to her website, the next book is about Anne Boleyn, though she may be re-treading old water with that one).


if the information isnt there don't write it, 13 Nov 2008
Having read most of Alison Weir's historical works [which i would give 5 stars to] I have to say that this one is a real miss. Her writing style, usually so fluid, just did not flow for me in this book; she is severely hampered by the lack of accurate historical information available on her subject and i found the endless supposition made for a very trying read.

Absorbing as ever but difficult to get a real feel for the main subject, 09 Nov 2008
Absorbing and well researched as ever, but, due to the paucity of available information on its subject, this reads in many places more like a biography of John of Gaunt, as suggested by the book's subtitle. It does give a good feel for 14th century and life and mores, though. Annoyingly, the details/dates in the family trees at the back sometimes contradict the main text.

Fascinating story stitched together from very little cloth, 16 Sep 2008
Although Weir has written historical biographies of women who were intrinsically interesting -- Eleanor of Acquitaine and Isabella (the She Wolf) of France -- I have always found them a little dry. It's surprisingly, then, that her most lively and readable book so far should be about a woman about whom so little is known.

We can conjecture who Katherine de Roet's father was but the identity of her mother remains unknown; we cannot be sure how many children she bore, assuming that some died young, as was almost inevitable; Weir makes silly statements such as 'Katherine may well have been there that day but there is no evidence of it' a little too often.

Even so, the character of Katherine shines through, the first royal mistress ever to achieve the status of wife, ancestor of every English monarch since 1461, loving the larger-than-life John of Gaunt.

Weir mischievously quotes the late Queen Mother as saying that men of status do not marry their mistresses.

I suspect that most British people would say 'Katherine Who?' I'm delighted that Weir has introduced Katherine back into history, where she belongs and whence some of her descendants, a little ashamed of her humble birth, tried to expunge her.

Totally engaging, 02 Jan 2009
Having read 'The Perfect King' and become interested in the 14th Century (previously my passion was the Tudor Age)I decided to expand my knowledge of the period by picking out this book purely by chance. It is absolutely rivetting and I completed it in just 2 days. There are so many books on the period, most as dry as dust, but the world comes alive through Mortimer's pen. I do not feel it was 'dumbing down' in any way by writing this as a 'guide book' - quite the contrary. The world truly came alive from page one, and my attention was hooked. Mortimer reaches across the centuries into the hearts and minds of people not so very different from ourselves. We learn about their working lives and their leisure. We find out what they eat and what they wear. We can almost feel the horror of parents as they can only stand and watch their whole families being wiped out by plague. The greatest writers of the period are mentioned, not just Chaucer but other authors such as the Gawain poet, writing such poignant verses with emotions that feel just as relevant today. Not only is it a rivetting read, it is truly a handbook to be read in conjuction with other history books of the period. The past is not something long-dead and buried, but has a life all its own and is why we are who we are. A very easy, fascinating read.

extremely readable,, 01 Jan 2009
apparently well researched and, as all the other reviews say, entertaining, so why did I feel this book is an experiment which hasn't quite come off? Maybe 'entertaining' is the trouble. I dislike the sort of historical programme on tv which makes use of 'recreations' which add nothing to my understanding and this book gave me the same sort of sensation - was I really learning anything which I would not have done from a straight social history? I have two specific gripes, one major and one minor. The major gripe is that the role of religion in 14th century life is well-nigh ignored. OK, we find out that there were a great many priests and monks about, but what motivated them to enter the church? What about the beliefs of lay people? Mortimer doesn't get inside their heads in this respect, or seem to think it would be relevant to do so. Yet I can't take a book which describes itself as a guide to 14th century England and doesn't even mention Julian of Norwich entirely seriously. The other gripe is about the poetry... why does Mortimer assume his readers are unable to cope with Chaucer in the original? He gives him to us in a 'translation' which doesn't even scan. Geoffrey must be turning in his grave

Marvellously Entertaining, 24 Dec 2008
A very different & engaging history book almost like a Rough guide to the 14th century. It puts you there in a most realistic way and is spellbinding in its fascinating detail even to someone like myself who reads a lot of history. I can only think of one minor criticism. A carefully illustrated version with illustrations to support the text e.g. on the appearance of clinker ships, hostelleries, apparel etc would make it superbly useful for students of history. The reproductions in it are historically relevant and valuable but still not as graphic and understandable as a good drawing or modern illustration. With these inserted, even at a higher sticker price, I believe this would become truly a best seller for all types of readers in Europe & North America at least and a book to be treasured. Full marks to Mr. Mortimer!!

Original and informative social history, 11 Nov 2008
There are already many studies of the Black Death, The Peasants' Revolt and detailed scholarly works on this period of history but this book is quite original and should appeal to a wide readership. The use of the present tense works so well and helps to conjure up a graphic picture of the times. The author draws on a great deal of other studies and develops it into a vibrant overview of what it might have been like to live in this century. I loved it!

Simply superb, 02 Nov 2008
At school I hated history mainly because it was learning boring dates and events.
This book changes all of that; it tells me what I wanted to know in an easy to read and extremely enjoyable way.

What will I see in a 14th Century street, who will I see, what des it smell like, what will I eat, how do I address people I meet? All of this and more is covered in this excellent book. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the period such as the city, the town, the village etc. Very clear and very informative; ideal for casual interest, school pupils, university history reading and so on.

I won't go into the details because that would simply spoil things for you so I suggest you get this book and be transported back some 700 years.

It simply brings history to life.

Finally, a book that lives up to the subject herself..., 28 Nov 2008
Katherine Swynford is a bit of enigma. She's arguably one of the most important figures in British history; she's the ancestress of every monarch since Edward IV, no less than five US presidents and Winston Churchill, among others; and yet most people, if they know of her at all, have only heard of her because of an historical romance, Anya Seton's Katherine. That's largely because so little is known of her, and Alison Weir does a good job piecing together what few fragments of information can be found about her. It's clear she has an affection for her subject, which I always like to see in biography. It may not be entirely unbiased, but I hate reading biographies written by people who clearly have an axe to grind or preconceived conceptions. This is a very good book and, as I said, brings to life a pretty obscure character from medieval England.

(3.5 stars): Insightful, but with a few problems, 21 Nov 2008
Like Alison Weir, I was first introduced to the story of Katherine Swynford through Anya Seton's romanticized 1954 novel, Katherine. Weir's biography is a pretty comprehensive look at this enigmatic, lesser-known medieval woman.

I have a love-hate relationship with Weir's books: I loved The Six Wives of Henry VIII; liked Mary Queen of Scots: And the Murder of Lord Darnley, and Eleanor of Aquitaine: By the Wrath of God, Queen of England; but detested Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England and Innocent Traitor (Weir doesn't do fiction all that well). I put Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and his Scandalous Duchess in the "like somewhat" category.

Katherine Swynford was born Katherine de Roet in 1350, one of the daughters of Sir Paon de Roet. She then married Hugh Swynford, and spent time in the Lancastrian household as the governess to John of Gaunt's children. Katherine's affair with him probably began around the year 1372, and, after producing a number of illegitimate children, married John in 1396. Katherine is the ancestor of most of the royal houses of Europe, plus at least five American presidents. History has seen Katherine as bit of a homewrecker, but in this book, Weir attempts (and mostly succeeds) in portraying her in a more sympathetic light.

This biography of Katherine Swynford is, as with all of Weir's books, meticulously researched. It's less overtly feminist and partisan than some of her other biographies. Pay attention to the subtitle of this biography: the book is more about John of Gaunt than it is about Katherine (in fact, we don't even get a physical description of Katherine until after one is given of John). We also get very detailed biographies of everyone who was related or connected to her, especially Geoffrey Chaucer, her brother-in-law. After finishing this book, I still didn't have a concrete impression of what Katherine was really like. And, because so little is actually known about Katherine's life, Weir makes an awful lot of assumptions here about what her subject "might," "perhaps," or "probably" have done/ thought/ felt.

However, Weir does a wonderful job bringing the details of the period to life. It's an accessible, readable work of history that doesn't get bogged down in pretentious language. For someone who doesn't know medieval Latin or Norman French, Weir does an incredible job of interpreting her sources. And the style of this book is far more lively and engaging than other books written on the Lancasters that I've read. I look forward to reading what comes next from Weir (according to her website, the next book is about Anne Boleyn, though she may be re-treading old water with that one).


if the information isnt there don't write it, 13 Nov 2008
Having read most of Alison Weir's historical works [which i would give 5 stars to] I have to say that this one is a real miss. Her writing style, usually so fluid, just did not flow for me in this book; she is severely hampered by the lack of accurate historical information available on her subject and i found the endless supposition made for a very trying read.

Absorbing as ever but difficult to get a real feel for the main subject, 09 Nov 2008
Absorbing and well researched as ever, but, due to the paucity of available information on its subject, this reads in many places more like a biography of John of Gaunt, as suggested by the book's subtitle. It does give a good feel for 14th century and life and mores, though. Annoyingly, the details/dates in the family trees at the back sometimes contradict the main text.

Fascinating story stitched together from very little cloth, 16 Sep 2008
Although Weir has written historical biographies of women who were intrinsically interesting -- Eleanor of Acquitaine and Isabella (the She Wolf) of France -- I have always found them a little dry. It's surprisingly, then, that her most lively and readable book so far should be about a woman about whom so little is known.

We can conjecture who Katherine de Roet's father was but the identity of her mother remains unknown; we cannot be sure how many children she bore, assuming that some died young, as was almost inevitable; Weir makes silly statements such as 'Katherine may well have been there that day but there is no evidence of it' a little too often.

Even so, the character of Katherine shines through, the first royal mistress ever to achieve the status of wife, ancestor of every English monarch since 1461, loving the larger-than-life John of Gaunt.

Weir mischievously quotes the late Queen Mother as saying that men of status do not marry their mistresses.

I suspect that most British people would say 'Katherine Who?' I'm delighted that Weir has introduced Katherine back into history, where she belongs and whence some of her descendants, a little ashamed of her humble birth, tried to expunge her.


Come for Edward, stay for Henry, 28 Dec 2008
I got this book for Christmas and from the very beginning it is clear how much research has gone into Morris' work. He is not content just to include troop numbers and tax yields, like some other writers, instead he really paints a picture, right down to what furnishings adorned the young Prince Edward's homes.

However, while this book gives a great insight into the life of this famous Plantagenet, it was the account of his father that i most enjoyed. To this day, i have never found a great text on Henry III, which is of constant frustration to me. For this reason alone, the early chapters will be of interest to many in illuminating this part of Henry's reign.

Basically, a well researched and skillfully written piece on two English monarchs. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the period!

Building Castles..., 18 Nov 2008
As a lover and student of late medieval and renaissance history, I was hoping that this book would give me a solid knowledge of the events and issues that were to become the foundation of 'Britain'.... and that's exactly what I found!

This is a great book for anyone that is interested in the history of Britain. I have read many 'history' books that assume the reader has an in-depth knowledge of the subject before they begin, but happily this is not the case. All of the events are explained in a full, interesting and (on the whole) entertaining way. As the book is written in a very personal style you really get the feeling of riding alongside Edward for all of his 68 years, however this is no way undermines the tremendous amount of work that has obviously gone into writing it.

Most of us know of Robert Bruce, William Wallace, Simon de Montfort and have heard about the 'confiscation' of the Stone of Scone, and the origins of the Prince of Wales title, but this book explains the 'whys', 'hows' and 'whens' that makes history real.

If I had one complaint, (and it's so small that the book still gets Five stars), it's that you get the feeling that Marc Morris is sometimes over-justifying Edwards decisions. Yes, the things he did were not always 'PC' but, and as Mr Morris does quantify at the end of the book, he was a bigotted king in a bigotted time.

That aside, this is a great book for the serious student, the history lover and anyone else that enjoys expanding their knowledge of such an important time in history.

A Great and Terrible King: Edward 1 and the Forging of Britain, 13 Jun 2008
For the person like myself with a sketchy knowledge of medieval Britain and her Kings this excellent book filled a lot of gaps especially the chapters dealing with Wales

Edwards Legacy, 02 May 2008
As a long term student of Edward 1st, I have to say I found this a superb, and highly readable account, of an era, and a king who continues to exert a profound, and I would go as far to say, malign influence, on the four corners of the U.K. Unlike the previous biography by Michael Prestwich, this is not a biography aimed at an academic audience, more it is aimed at a general audience who have an interest in the subject.

To 21 century sensibilties with our focus on human rights, the casual and bloody brutality, not to mention anti semitism, comes as a shock. One can only imagine the reaction, of the son of Simon de Montfort, arriving late at the battle of Evesham, to see his fathers head being paraded around the battlefield, on the end of a spear, or the way in which the author describes the execution of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. ( In truth the last true Prince of Wales) to see that life in 13/14 c England was nasty, brutal and short.

More shocking still is Edward's treatment of the Jews. From taxing them out of existence, to fund the Crusades, and the Welsh wars, until their final explusion in 1290, the story is one of increasing attempts to hound the Jewish community out of public life, often with the tacit if not unconditional backing of the papacy.

This is a highly readable and very well illustrated account of an era, whose consequences, are still being felt across the four nations of the U.K. Does history resonate down the ages? Yes very much so.



The first ruler of an united Britain - but only for a short time, 28 Apr 2008
It is for a long time that I have some difficulties forming an opinion abut a book I have finished. Usually latest after the first 100 pages one does like or dislike a book, but here it was difficult. Till the very end I am not sure what to think and even now while writing I am not sure.

After the recent interest in the life of Edward II, his lover and his Queen this interest was bound to spill over to the reign of his father, Edward I. who seem to have been to contemporaries of Edward II the role model for a king. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that young Edward when heir to the throne was quite at odds with his father and rather festering his own nest than thinking of the monarchy as such. His reign turned out to be a rollercoaster. As the reign of Henry III of rather of catastrophic nature, the start of Edwards's reign was well received and things improved. However, that was not to last and in the end - except for a view years - there was constant warfare: Wales, Scotland, and Gascony and even internally. To be honest I never admire the so-called military heroes as war means death, lots of it. Whatever the reason for war are, in the end it is always death. For the first time in history Edward was - even if only for a short period - the first king of an united Britain, but at least Scotland regained its independence. Forced conquest do not last -neither today nor then. Edward managed in overall terms to restore the authority of the monarchy which had badly suffered during his fathers rule. But even here it was an up and down. So one gets quite a good picture of his reign. However, as his reign ended kind on a "high" while the "low" was already approaching, one is left with the unanswered question where the monarchy really stood at the end of his reign. Was it indeed as strong as it seems or was the monarchy actually much weaker than it seemed and therefore being - at least in part - a cause for the turbulent rule of his son, especially with regards to the relationship of monarch and his lords.

But there are more drawbacks: the book is pretty weak on his relationships with his Queens and his family. While stating the well known fact of his love for his first Queen Eleanor there is hardly anything to give us an insight into the royal couple's relationship. Even less is said about his second Queen, the "spoils of a peace treaty" and becoming quickly pregnant. The relationship with his son and heir is even less explored. Often, the aspects like the wars in Wales and Scotland seem to be too detailed (maybe less is more would have been appropriate) and therefore a bit too scholarly for my taste. Furthermore, the chapters are far too long and therefore often not easy to read.

The book is missing the great flow and one is not getting "sucked into this book". While giving one an inside, one does not finish this book feeling that one really got to know this Edward I. I honestly have to say that I could neither develop a "passion" for this book nor the subject. I have read far better biographies.

All in all, it is a quite a mixed bag.

Totally engaging, 02 Jan 2009
Having read 'The Perfect King' and become interested in the 14th Century (previously my passion was the Tudor Age)I decided to expand my knowledge of the period by picking out this book purely by chance. It is absolutely rivetting and I completed it in just 2 days. There are so many books on the period, most as dry as dust, but the world comes alive through Mortimer's pen. I do not feel it was 'dumbing down' in any way by writing this as a 'guide book' - quite the contrary. The world truly came alive from page one, and my attention was hooked. Mortimer reaches across the centuries into the hearts and minds of people not so very different from ourselves. We learn about their working lives and their leisure. We find out what they eat and what they wear. We can almost feel the horror of parents as they can only stand and watch their whole families being wiped out by plague. The greatest writers of the period are mentioned, not just Chaucer but other authors such as the Gawain poet, writing such poignant verses with emotions that feel just as relevant today. Not only is it a rivetting read, it is truly a handbook to be read in conjuction with other history books of the period. The past is not something long-dead and buried, but has a life all its own and is why we are who we are. A very easy, fascinating read.

extremely readable,, 01 Jan 2009
apparently well researched and, as all the other reviews say, entertaining, so why did I feel this book is an experiment which hasn't quite come off? Maybe 'entertaining' is the trouble. I dislike the sort of historical programme on tv which makes use of 'recreations' which add nothing to my understanding and this book gave me the same sort of sensation - was I really learning anything which I would not have done from a straight social history? I have two specific gripes, one major and one minor. The major gripe is that the role of religion in 14th century life is well-nigh ignored. OK, we find out that there were a great many priests and monks about, but what motivated them to enter the church? What about the beliefs of lay people? Mortimer doesn't get inside their heads in this respect, or seem to think it would be relevant to do so. Yet I can't take a book which describes itself as a guide to 14th century England and doesn't even mention Julian of Norwich entirely seriously. The other gripe is about the poetry... why does Mortimer assume his readers are unable to cope with Chaucer in the original? He gives him to us in a 'translation' which doesn't even scan. Geoffrey must be turning in his grave

Marvellously Entertaining, 24 Dec 2008
A very different & engaging history book almost like a Rough guide to the 14th century. It puts you there in a most realistic way and is spellbinding in its fascinating detail even to someone like myself who reads a lot of history. I can only think of one minor criticism. A carefully illustrated version with illustrations to support the text e.g. on the appearance of clinker ships, hostelleries, apparel etc would make it superbly useful for students of history. The reproductions in it are historically relevant and valuable but still not as graphic and understandable as a good drawing or modern illustration. With these inserted, even at a higher sticker price, I believe this would become truly a best seller for all types of readers in Europe & North America at least and a book to be treasured. Full marks to Mr. Mortimer!!

Original and informative social history, 11 Nov 2008
There are already many studies of the Black Death, The Peasants' Revolt and detailed scholarly works on this period of history but this book is quite original and should appeal to a wide readership. The use of the present tense works so well and helps to conjure up a graphic picture of the times. The author draws on a great deal of other studies and develops it into a vibrant overview of what it might have been like to live in this century. I loved it!

Simply superb, 02 Nov 2008
At school I hated history mainly because it was learning boring dates and events.
This book changes all of that; it tells me what I wanted to know in an easy to read and extremely enjoyable way.

What will I see in a 14th Century street, who will I see, what des it smell like, what will I eat, how do I address people I meet? All of this and more is covered in this excellent book. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the period such as the city, the town, the village etc. Very clear and very informative; ideal for casual interest, school pupils, university history reading and so on.

I won't go into the details because that would simply spoil things for you so I suggest you get this book and be transported back some 700 years.

It simply brings history to life.

Finally, a book that lives up to the subject herself..., 28 Nov 2008
Katherine Swynford is a bit of enigma. She's arguably one of the most important figures in British history; she's the ancestress of every monarch since Edward IV, no less than five US presidents and Winston Churchill, among others; and yet most people, if they know of her at all, have only heard of her because of an historical romance, Anya Seton's Katherine. That's largely because so little is known of her, and Alison Weir does a good job piecing together what few fragments of information can be found about her. It's clear she has an affection for her subject, which I always like to see in biography. It may not be entirely unbiased, but I hate reading biographies written by people who clearly have an axe to grind or preconceived conceptions. This is a very good book and, as I said, brings to life a pretty obscure character from medieval England.

(3.5 stars): Insightful, but with a few problems, 21 Nov 2008
Like Alison Weir, I was first introduced to the story of Katherine Swynford through Anya Seton's romanticized 1954 novel, Katherine. Weir's biography is a pretty comprehensive look at this enigmatic, lesser-known medieval woman.

I have a love-hate relationship with Weir's books: I loved The Six Wives of Henry VIII; liked Mary Queen of Scots: And the Murder of Lord Darnley, and Eleanor of Aquitaine: By the Wrath of God, Queen of England; but detested Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England and Innocent Traitor (Weir doesn't do fiction all that well). I put Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and his Scandalous Duchess in the "like somewhat" category.

Katherine Swynford was born Katherine de Roet in 1350, one of the daughters of Sir Paon de Roet. She then married Hugh Swynford, and spent time in the Lancastrian household as the governess to John of Gaunt's children. Katherine's affair with him probably began around the year 1372, and, after producing a number of illegitimate children, married John in 1396. Katherine is the ancestor of most of the royal houses of Europe, plus at least five American presidents. History has seen Katherine as bit of a homewrecker, but in this book, Weir attempts (and mostly succeeds) in portraying her in a more sympathetic light.

This biography of Katherine Swynford is, as with all of Weir's books, meticulously researched. It's less overtly feminist and partisan than some of her other biographies. Pay attention to the subtitle of this biography: the book is more about John of Gaunt than it is about Katherine (in fact, we don't even get a physical description of Katherine until after one is given of John). We also get very detailed biographies of everyone who was related or connected to her, especially Geoffrey Chaucer, her brother-in-law. After finishing this book, I still didn't have a concrete impression of what Katherine was really like. And, because so little is actually known about Katherine's life, Weir makes an awful lot of assumptions here about what her subject "might," "perhaps," or "probably" have done/ thought/ felt.

However, Weir does a wonderful job bringing the details of the period to life. It's an accessible, readable work of history that doesn't get bogged down in pretentious language. For someone who doesn't know medieval Latin or Norman French, Weir does an incredible job of interpreting her sources. And the style of this book is far more lively and engaging than other books written on the Lancasters that I've read. I look forward to reading what comes next from Weir (according to her website, the next book is about Anne Boleyn, though she may be re-treading old water with that one).


if the information isnt there don't write it, 13 Nov 2008
Having read most of Alison Weir's historical works [which i would give 5 stars to] I have to say that this one is a real miss. Her writing style, usually so fluid, just did not flow for me in this book; she is severely hampered by the lack of accurate historical information available on her subject and i found the endless supposition made for a very trying read.

Absorbing as ever but difficult to get a real feel for the main subject, 09 Nov 2008
Absorbing and well researched as ever, but, due to the paucity of available information on its subject, this reads in many places more like a biography of John of Gaunt, as suggested by the book's subtitle. It does give a good feel for 14th century and life and mores, though. Annoyingly, the details/dates in the family trees at the back sometimes contradict the main text.

Fascinating story stitched together from very little cloth, 16 Sep 2008
Although Weir has written historical biographies of women who were intrinsically interesting -- Eleanor of Acquitaine and Isabella (the She Wolf) of France -- I have always found them a little dry. It's surprisingly, then, that her most lively and readable book so far should be about a woman about whom so little is known.

We can conjecture who Katherine de Roet's father was but the identity of her mother remains unknown; we cannot be sure how many children she bore, assuming that some died young, as was almost inevitable; Weir makes silly statements such as 'Katherine may well have been there that day but there is no evidence of it' a little too often.

Even so, the character of Katherine shines through, the first royal mistress ever to achieve the status of wife, ancestor of every English monarch since 1461, loving the larger-than-life John of Gaunt.

Weir mischievously quotes the late Queen Mother as saying that men of status do not marry their mistresses.

I suspect that most British people would say 'Katherine Who?' I'm delighted that Weir has introduced Katherine back into history, where she belongs and whence some of her descendants, a little ashamed of her humble birth, tried to expunge her.


Come for Edward, stay for Henry, 28 Dec 2008
I got this book for Christmas and from the very beginning it is clear how much research has gone into Morris' work. He is not content just to include troop numbers and tax yields, like some other writers, instead he really paints a picture, right down to what furnishings adorned the young Prince Edward's homes.

However, while this book gives a great insight into the life of this famous Plantagenet, it was the account of his father that i most enjoyed. To this day, i have never found a great text on Henry III, which is of constant frustration to me. For this reason alone, the early chapters will be of interest to many in illuminating this part of Henry's reign.

Basically, a well researched and skillfully written piece on two English monarchs. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the period!

Building Castles..., 18 Nov 2008
As a lover and student of late medieval and renaissance history, I was hoping that this book would give me a solid knowledge of the events and issues that were to become the foundation of 'Britain'.... and that's exactly what I found!

This is a great book for anyone that is interested in the history of Britain. I have read many 'history' books that assume the reader has an in-depth knowledge of the subject before they begin, but happily this is not the case. All of the events are explained in a full, interesting and (on the whole) entertaining way. As the book is written in a very personal style you really get the feeling of riding alongside Edward for all of his 68 years, however this is no way undermines the tremendous amount of work that has obviously gone into writing it.

Most of us know of Robert Bruce, William Wallace, Simon de Montfort and have heard about the 'confiscation' of the Stone of Scone, and the origins of the Prince of Wales title, but this book explains the 'whys', 'hows' and 'whens' that makes history real.

If I had one complaint, (and it's so small that the book still gets Five stars), it's that you get the feeling that Marc Morris is sometimes over-justifying Edwards decisions. Yes, the things he did were not always 'PC' but, and as Mr Morris does quantify at the end of the book, he was a bigotted king in a bigotted time.

That aside, this is a great book for the serious student, the history lover and anyone else that enjoys expanding their knowledge of such an important time in history.

A Great and Terrible King: Edward 1 and the Forging of Britain, 13 Jun 2008
For the person like myself with a sketchy knowledge of medieval Britain and her Kings this excellent book filled a lot of gaps especially the chapters dealing with Wales

Edwards Legacy, 02 May 2008
As a long term student of Edward 1st, I have to say I found this a superb, and highly readable account, of an era, and a king who continues to exert a profound, and I would go as far to say, malign influence, on the four corners of the U.K. Unlike the previous biography by Michael Prestwich, this is not a biography aimed at an academic audience, more it is aimed at a general audience who have an interest in the subject.

To 21 century sensibilties with our focus on human rights, the casual and bloody brutality, not to mention anti semitism, comes as a shock. One can only imagine the reaction, of the son of Simon de Montfort, arriving late at the battle of Evesham, to see his fathers head being paraded around the battlefield, on the end of a spear, or the way in which the author describes the execution of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. ( In truth the last true Prince of Wales) to see that life in 13/14 c England was nasty, brutal and short.

More shocking still is Edward's treatment of the Jews. From taxing them out of existence, to fund the Crusades, and the Welsh wars, until their final explusion in 1290, the story is one of increasing attempts to hound the Jewish community out of public life, often with the tacit if not unconditional backing of the papacy.

This is a highly readable and very well illustrated account of an era, whose consequences, are still being felt across the four nations of the U.K. Does history resonate down the ages? Yes very much so.



The first ruler of an united Britain - but only for a short time, 28 Apr 2008
It is for a long time that I have some difficulties forming an opinion abut a book I have finished. Usually latest after the first 100 pages one does like or dislike a book, but here it was difficult. Till the very end I am not sure what to think and even now while writing I am not sure.

After the recent interest in the life of Edward II, his lover and his Queen this interest was bound to spill over to the reign of his father, Edward I. who seem to have been to contemporaries of Edward II the role model for a king. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that young Edward when heir to the throne was quite at odds with his father and rather festering his own nest than thinking of the monarchy as such. His reign turned out to be a rollercoaster. As the reign of Henry III of rather of catastrophic nature, the start of Edwards's reign was well received and things improved. However, that was not to last and in the end - except for a view years - there was constant warfare: Wales, Scotland, and Gascony and even internally. To be honest I never admire the so-called military heroes as war means death, lots of it. Whatever the reason for war are, in the end it is always death. For the first time in history Edward was - even if only for a short period - the first king of an united Britain, but at least Scotland regained its independence. Forced conquest do not last -neither today nor then. Edward managed in overall terms to restore the authority of the monarchy which had badly suffered during his fathers rule. But even here it was an up and down. So one gets quite a good picture of his reign. However, as his reign ended kind on a "high" while the "low" was already approaching, one is left with the unanswered question where the monarchy really stood at the end of his reign. Was it indeed as strong as it seems or was the monarchy actually much weaker than it seemed and therefore being - at least in part - a cause for the turbulent rule of his son, especially with regards to the relationship of monarch and his lords.

But there are more drawbacks: the book is pretty weak on his relationships with his Queens and his family. While stating the well known fact of his love for his first Queen Eleanor there is hardly anything to give us an insight into the royal couple's relationship. Even less is said about his second Queen, the "spoils of a peace treaty" and becoming quickly pregnant. The relationship with his son and heir is even less explored. Often, the aspects like the wars in Wales and Scotland seem to be too detailed (maybe less is more would have been appropriate) and therefore a bit too scholarly for my taste. Furthermore, the chapters are far too long and therefore often not easy to read.

The book is missing the great flow and one is not getting "sucked into this book". While giving one an inside, one does not finish this book feeling that one really got to know this Edward I. I honestly have to say that I could neither develop a "passion" for this book nor the subject. I have read far better biographies.

All in all, it is a quite a mixed bag.


A perfect read - England's medieval Queen Consorts - a classic in the making, 30 Dec 2008
First I was quite a bit sceptical about this book project by Lisa Hilton. I am not too found of books covering several personalities and that over nearly 500 years. Very often, one gets never a real feeling for the personalities covered.

Well, I have to admit Lisa Hilton managed that brilliantly.

20 Queen Consorts are covered, each with rougly 20 pages and all are very different - from the legendary Elenor of Aquitaine, the She-Wolf of France, a Queen accused of witchcraft, well-remember Queens, forgotten Queens or a child Queen. Lisa Hilton describes their individual lives as consort to the King, as the King's wife, mother of Kings and her role she had to fullfill. She shows how the role of Queen Consort develops over the centuries and how each Queen left her mark and developed the role, how Queens contributed to the reign of their husbands, but as well how they were liabilities. Lisa Hilton judges the Queens in a great manner, she is quite clear how she sees them. I loved her style which has a great flow.

I believe Lisa Hilton has done a great job and has written a book which will be a great classic on the medieval Queens Consorts.

I hope she is going to continue with the later Queen Consorts.

Totally engaging, 02 Jan 2009
Having read 'The Perfect King' and become interested in the 14th Century (previously my passion was the Tudor Age)I decided to expand my knowledge of the period by picking out this book purely by chance. It is absolutely rivetting and I completed it in just 2 days. There are so many books on the period, most as dry as dust, but the world comes alive through Mortimer's pen. I do not feel it was 'dumbing down' in any way by writing this as a 'guide book' - quite the contrary. The world truly came alive from page one, and my attention was hooked. Mortimer reaches across the centuries into the hearts and minds of people not so very different from ourselves. We learn about their working lives and their leisure. We find out what they eat and what they wear. We can almost feel the horror of parents as they can only stand and watch their whole families being wiped out by plague. The greatest writers of the period are mentioned, not just Chaucer but other authors such as the Gawain poet, writing such poignant verses with emotions that feel just as relevant today. Not only is it a rivetting read, it is truly a handbook to be read in conjuction with other history books of the period. The past is not something long-dead and buried, but has a life all its own and is why we are who we are. A very easy, fascinating read.

extremely readable,, 01 Jan 2009
apparently well researched and, as all the other reviews say, entertaining, so why did I feel this book is an experiment which hasn't quite come off? Maybe 'entertaining' is the trouble. I dislike the sort of historical programme on tv which makes use of 'recreations' which add nothing to my understanding and this book gave me the same sort of sensation - was I really learning anything which I would not have done from a straight social history? I have two specific gripes, one major and one minor. The major gripe is that the role of religion in 14th century life is well-nigh ignored. OK, we find out that there were a great many priests and monks about, but what motivated them to enter the church? What about the beliefs of lay people? Mortimer doesn't get inside their heads in this respect, or seem to think it would be relevant to do so. Yet I can't take a book which describes itself as a guide to 14th century England and doesn't even mention Julian of Norwich entirely seriously. The other gripe is about the poetry... why does Mortimer assume his readers are unable to cope with Chaucer in the original? He gives him to us in a 'translation' which doesn't even scan. Geoffrey must be turning in his grave

Marvellously Entertaining, 24 Dec 2008
A very different & engaging history book almost like a Rough guide to the 14th century. It puts you there in a most realistic way and is spellbinding in its fascinating detail even to someone like myself who reads a lot of history. I can only think of one minor criticism. A carefully illustrated version with illustrations to support the text e.g. on the appearance of clinker ships, hostelleries, apparel etc would make it superbly useful for students of history. The reproductions in it are historically relevant and valuable but still not as graphic and understandable as a good drawing or modern illustration. With these inserted, even at a higher sticker price, I believe this would become truly a best seller for all types of readers in Europe & North America at least and a book to be treasured. Full marks to Mr. Mortimer!!

Original and informative social history, 11 Nov 2008
There are already many studies of the Black Death, The Peasants' Revolt and detailed scholarly works on this period of history but this book is quite original and should appeal to a wide readership. The use of the present tense works so well and helps to conjure up a graphic picture of the times. The author draws on a great deal of other studies and develops it into a vibrant overview of what it might have been like to live in this century. I loved it!

Simply superb, 02 Nov 2008
At school I hated history mainly because it was learning boring dates and events.
This book changes all of that; it tells me what I wanted to know in an easy to read and extremely enjoyable way.

What will I see in a 14th Century street, who will I see, what des it smell like, what will I eat, how do I address people I meet? All of this and more is covered in this excellent book. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the period such as the city, the town, the village etc. Very clear and very informative; ideal for casual interest, school pupils, university history reading and so on.

I won't go into the details because that would simply spoil things for you so I suggest you get this book and be transported back some 700 years.

It simply brings history to life.

Finally, a book that lives up to the subject herself..., 28 Nov 2008
Katherine Swynford is a bit of enigma. She's arguably one of the most important figures in British history; she's the ancestress of every monarch since Edward IV, no less than five US presidents and Winston Churchill, among others; and yet most people, if they know of her at all, have only heard of her because of an historical romance, Anya Seton's Katherine. That's largely because so little is known of her, and Alison Weir does a good job piecing together what few fragments of information can be found about her. It's clear she has an affection for her subject, which I always like to see in biography. It may not be entirely unbiased, but I hate reading biographies written by people who clearly have an axe to grind or preconceived conceptions. This is a very good book and, as I said, brings to life a pretty obscure character from medieval England.

(3.5 stars): Insightful, but with a few problems, 21 Nov 2008
Like Alison Weir, I was first introduced to the story of Katherine Swynford through Anya Seton's romanticized 1954 novel, Katherine. Weir's biography is a pretty comprehensive look at this enigmatic, lesser-known medieval woman.

I have a love-hate relationship with Weir's books: I loved The Six Wives of Henry VIII; liked Mary Queen of Scots: And the Murder of Lord Darnley, and Eleanor of Aquitaine: By the Wrath of God, Queen of England; but detested Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England and Innocent Traitor (Weir doesn't do fiction all that well). I put Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and his Scandalous Duchess in the "like somewhat" category.

Katherine Swynford was born Katherine de Roet in 1350, one of the daughters of Sir Paon de Roet. She then married Hugh Swynford, and spent time in the Lancastrian household as the governess to John of Gaunt's children. Katherine's affair with him probably began around the year 1372, and, after producing a number of illegitimate children, married John in 1396. Katherine is the ancestor of most of the royal houses of Europe, plus at least five American presidents. History has seen Katherine as bit of a homewrecker, but in this book, Weir attempts (and mostly succeeds) in portraying her in a more sympathetic light.

This biography of Katherine Swynford is, as with all of Weir's books, meticulously researched. It's less overtly feminist and partisan than some of her other biographies. Pay attention to the subtitle of this biography: the book is more about John of Gaunt than it is about Katherine (in fact, we don't even get a physical description of Katherine until after one is given of John). We also get very detailed biographies of everyone who was related or connected to her, especially Geoffrey Chaucer, her brother-in-law. After finishing this book, I still didn't have a concrete impression of what Katherine was really like. And, because so little is actually known about Katherine's life, Weir makes an awful lot of assumptions here about what her subject "might," "perhaps," or "probably" have done/ thought/ felt.

However, Weir does a wonderful job bringing the details of the period to life. It's an accessible, readable work of history that doesn't get bogged down in pretentious language. For someone who doesn't know medieval Latin or Norman French, Weir does an incredible job of interpreting her sources. And the style of this book is far more lively and engaging than other books written on the Lancasters that I've read. I look forward to reading what comes next from Weir (according to her website, the next book is about Anne Boleyn, though she may be re-treading old water with that one).


if the information isnt there don't write it, 13 Nov 2008
Having read most of Alison Weir's historical works [which i would give 5 stars to] I have to say that this one is a real miss. Her writing style, usually so fluid, just did not flow for me in this book; she is severely hampered by the lack of accurate historical information available on her subject and i found the endless supposition made for a very trying read.

Absorbing as ever but difficult to get a real feel for the main subject, 09 Nov 2008
Absorbing and well researched as ever, but, due to the paucity of available information on its subject, this reads in many places more like a biography of John of Gaunt, as suggested by the book's subtitle. It does give a good feel for 14th century and life and mores, though. Annoyingly, the details/dates in the family trees at the back sometimes contradict the main text.

Fascinating story stitched together from very little cloth, 16 Sep 2008
Although Weir has written historical biographies of women who were intrinsically interesting -- Eleanor of Acquitaine and Isabella (the She Wolf) of France -- I have always found them a little dry. It's surprisingly, then, that her most lively and readable book so far should be about a woman about whom so little is known.

We can conjecture who Katherine de Roet's father was but the identity of her mother remains unknown; we cannot be sure how many children she bore, assuming that some died young, as was almost inevitable; Weir makes silly statements such as 'Katherine may well have been there that day but there is no evidence of it' a little too often.

Even so, the character of Katherine shines through, the first royal mistress ever to achieve the status of wife, ancestor of every English monarch since 1461, loving the larger-than-life John of Gaunt.

Weir mischievously quotes the late Queen Mother as saying that men of status do not marry their mistresses.

I suspect that most British people would say 'Katherine Who?' I'm delighted that Weir has introduced Katherine back into history, where she belongs and whence some of her descendants, a little ashamed of her humble birth, tried to expunge her.


Come for Edward, stay for Henry, 28 Dec 2008
I got this book for Christmas and from the very beginning it is clear how much research has gone into Morris' work. He is not content just to include troop numbers and tax yields, like some other writers, instead he really paints a picture, right down to what furnishings adorned the young Prince Edward's homes.

However, while this book gives a great insight into the life of this famous Plantagenet, it was the account of his father that i most enjoyed. To this day, i have never found a great text on Henry III, which is of constant frustration to me. For this reason alone, the early chapters will be of interest to many in illuminating this part of Henry's reign.

Basically, a well researched and skillfully written piece on two English monarchs. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the period!

Building Castles..., 18 Nov 2008
As a lover and student of late medieval and renaissance history, I was hoping that this book would give me a solid knowledge of the events and issues that were to become the foundation of 'Britain'.... and that's exactly what I found!

This is a great book for anyone that is interested in the history of Britain. I have read many 'history' books that assume the reader has an in-depth knowledge of the subject before they begin, but happily this is not the case. All of the events are explained in a full, interesting and (on the whole) entertaining way. As the book is written in a very personal style you really get the feeling of riding alongside Edward for all of his 68 years, however this is no way undermines the tremendous amount of work that has obviously gone into writing it.

Most of us know of Robert Bruce, William Wallace, Simon de Montfort and have heard about the 'confiscation' of the Stone of Scone, and the origins of the Prince of Wales title, but this book explains the 'whys', 'hows' and 'whens' that makes history real.

If I had one complaint, (and it's so small that the book still gets Five stars), it's that you get the feeling that Marc Morris is sometimes over-justifying Edwards decisions. Yes, the things he did were not always 'PC' but, and as Mr Morris does quantify at the end of the book, he was a bigotted king in a bigotted time.

That aside, this is a great book for the serious student, the history lover and anyone else that enjoys expanding their knowledge of such an important time in history.

A Great and Terrible King: Edward 1 and the Forging of Britain, 13 Jun 2008
For the person like myself with a sketchy knowledge of medieval Britain and her Kings this excellent book filled a lot of gaps especially the chapters dealing with Wales

Edwards Legacy, 02 May 2008
As a long term student of Edward 1st, I have to say I found this a superb, and highly readable account, of an era, and a king who continues to exert a profound, and I would go as far to say, malign influence, on the four corners of the U.K. Unlike the previous biography by Michael Prestwich, this is not a biography aimed at an academic audience, more it is aimed at a general audience who have an interest in the subject.

To 21 century sensibilties with our focus on human rights, the casual and bloody brutality, not to mention anti semitism, comes as a shock. One can only imagine the reaction, of the son of Simon de Montfort, arriving late at the battle of Evesham, to see his fathers head being paraded around the battlefield, on the end of a spear, or the way in which the author describes the execution of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. ( In truth the last true Prince of Wales) to see that life in 13/14 c England was nasty, brutal and short.

More shocking still is Edward's treatment of the Jews. From taxing them out of existence, to fund the Crusades, and the Welsh wars, until their final explusion in 1290, the story is one of increasing attempts to hound the Jewish community out of public life, often with the tacit if not unconditional backing of the papacy.

This is a highly readable and very well illustrated account of an era, whose consequences, are still being felt across the four nations of the U.K. Does history resonate down the ages? Yes very much so.



The first ruler of an united Britain - but only for a short time, 28 Apr 2008
It is for a long time that I have some difficulties forming an opinion abut a book I have finished. Usually latest after the first 100 pages one does like or dislike a book, but here it was difficult. Till the very end I am not sure what to think and even now while writing I am not sure.

After the recent interest in the life of Edward II, his lover and his Queen this interest was bound to spill over to the reign of his father, Edward I. who seem to have been to contemporaries of Edward II the role model for a king. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that young Edward when heir to the throne was quite at odds with his father and rather festering his own nest than thinking of the monarchy as such. His reign turned out to be a rollercoaster. As the reign of Henry III of rather of catastrophic nature, the start of Edwards's reign was well received and things improved. However, that was not to last and in the end - except for a view years - there was constant warfare: Wales, Scotland, and Gascony and even internally. To be honest I never admire the so-called military heroes as war means death, lots of it. Whatever the reason for war are, in the end it is always death. For the first time in history Edward was - even if only for a short period - the first king of an united Britain, but at least Scotland regained its independence. Forced conquest do not last -neither today nor then. Edward managed in overall terms to restore the authority of the monarchy which had badly suffered during his fathers rule. But even here it was an up and down. So one gets quite a good picture of his reign. However, as his reign ended kind on a "high" while the "low" was already approaching, one is left with the unanswered question where the monarchy really stood at the end of his reign. Was it indeed as strong as it seems or was the monarchy actually much weaker than it seemed and therefore being - at least in part - a cause for the turbulent rule of his son, especially with regards to the relationship of monarch and his lords.

But there are more drawbacks: the book is pretty weak on his relationships with his Queens and his family. While stating the well known fact of his love for his first Queen Eleanor there is hardly anything to give us an insight into the royal couple's relationship. Even less is said about his second Queen, the "spoils of a peace treaty" and becoming quickly pregnant. The relationship with his son and heir is even less explored. Often, the aspects like the wars in Wales and Scotland seem to be too detailed (maybe less is more would have been appropriate) and therefore a bit too scholarly for my taste. Furthermore, the chapters are far too long and therefore often not easy to read.

The book is missing the great flow and one is not getting "sucked into this book". While giving one an inside, one does not finish this book feeling that one really got to know this Edward I. I honestly have to say that I could neither develop a "passion" for this book nor the subject. I have read far better biographies.

All in all, it is a quite a mixed bag.


A perfect read - England's medieval Queen Consorts - a classic in the making, 30 Dec 2008
First I was quite a bit sceptical about this book project by Lisa Hilton. I am not too found of books covering several personalities and that over nearly 500 years. Very often, one gets never a real feeling for the personalities covered.

Well, I have to admit Lisa Hilton managed that brilliantly.

20 Queen Consorts are covered, each with rougly 20 pages and all are very different - from the legendary Elenor of Aquitaine, the She-Wolf of France, a Queen accused of witchcraft, well-remember Queens, forgotten Queens or a child Queen. Lisa Hilton describes their individual lives as consort to the King, as the King's wife, mother of Kings and her role she had to fullfill. She shows how the role of Queen Consort develops over the centuries and how each Queen left her mark and developed the role, how Queens contributed to the reign of their husbands, but as well how they were liabilities. Lisa Hilton judges the Queens in a great manner, she is quite clear how she sees them. I loved her style which has a great flow.

I believe Lisa Hilton has done a great job and has written a book which will be a great classic on the medieval Queens Consorts.

I hope she is going to continue with the later Queen Consorts.

The best of the lot of them ..., 18 Dec 2008
Having read several "serious" books about What Happened Next after Henry V's murderous pursuit of the French throne, I have to say that Alison Weir is the only author to deal thoroughly with the interesting stuff - the personalities, the families, the effects on ordinary people - about the Wars of the Roses.

I was reluctant to begin reading it, fearing a light trivialisation of what I already knew to be a horrendously complex period of English history, and it sat on the shelf for some months before I finally opened it. I should have been bolder - it's a marvellous exercise in disambiguation. It has the politics, but it has the reasons behind the politics as well. It tells you what happened to the major players - and also explains what happened to the more minor ones. It tells you about the battles, sure, but it also deals with the social as well as the political consequences of those battles.

Okay, so it's not an academic tome - I read enough of those at university, thanks very much - but it left me with, I think, a better awareness of the late Mediaeval mindset of the general population as well as that of the magnates.

A great book. I thoroughly recommend it!

Both detailed and a fascinating read, 23 Oct 2008

In this volume, Alison Weir yet again proves her skill and talent in providing a comprehensive history of her subject, while at the same time Engaging the reader with an exciting pleasure to read.
The author proves again and again just how exciting history can be.

Weir sets the scene with a rich social, economic , cultural and political description of 15th century England .

Weir begins the actual account with the events leading up to the War of the Roses, starting with the reign Of Edward III, who lived in great splendour in the royal residences which he enlarged and beautified and his court was a great centre of chivalry.

Edward began the Hundred Years War with France , and captured large swathes of French territory, winning great victories at Sluys, Crecy and Poitiers.

It was between Edward's descendants that the wars of succession known as the Wars of the Roses took place.
Edward's grandson Richard II,s disastrous reign was ended when he was deposed by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke who became Henry IV. Richard was murdered in Pontefract Castle in 1400 and so Weir describes the Wars of the Roses as being caused by a murder in 1400 and ended by a murder in 1471 (that of Henry VI).

The complex family histories of the various royal dynasties can be complicated to follow but the simplified genealogical tables at the back of the book are indispensable to understanding them and makes it much easier to follow.

The Wars actually began during the reign of Henry VI, when the rival houses of York and Lancaster took up arms in a struggle for supremacy. The Lancastrians, the party of Henry VI and his formidable wife, Queen Margaret of Anjou, looked mostly to the north of England for support, while the Yorkists (led by Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York (Henry Vi's cousin) and Richard, Neville the Earl of Warwick
were stronger in London in the south.
As the author explains Margaret was particularly hated in London.

The author details the first two phases of the war, the battles lost and won and the great bloodhsed caused. She focuses on the personalities of the central players and the relationships, tracing the lives of such people as the Duke of York, Margaret of Anjou , the half-mad and extremely pious Henry VI, and Richard, Nevill Eral of Warwick. she also covers the political intrigues most expertly.

The interplay is fascinating. It is a pleasure to read.
We read of accounts by the Croyland chronicler, regadring the terror of the monks of his abbey, and the nearby villages during the Lancastrian advance on London.
The author is of the opinion, which she substantiates well, that Edward IV was not a usurper as Henry IV had been, but a rightful heir to the throne of the Plantaganets, legitimately restored to the throne, 62 years after it had usurped by the House of Lancaster.

"As King, Edward excelled Henry VI in every way, especially as a statesman and general. He was a firm and resolute ruler, shrewd and astute, and has real ability and business acumen, as well as the ability to apply himself...The common touch came naturally to him....on a personal level he enjoyed great popularity".

During Edward's reign the Black Book of the Household was drawn up in which was detailed the rights and duties of all members of the royal household as well as the etiquette and details of ceremonial to be observed at court.

Weir talks about the murder of Henry VI, who was certainly executed on Edward IV's order's, probably in the presence of the Duke of Gloucester (probably Richard III).
She also tells us of the tragic fate of the once proud and feisty Queen Margaret, who was imprisoned by Edward, and later died in great poverty in France.

Weir provides both a detailed history and an exciting read.

Focuses on the characters rather than other aspects., 18 Aug 2008
Alison Weir's very readable account of the origin and the first phase of the Wars of the Roses focuses, on her own admission, on the personalities and the characters of the two sides to the conflict. In doing so, she creates an interesting story, with a quite detailed historical narrative. Although some have criticised her strong bias towards the House of York, this never overwhelms the narrative, and it is surely quite permissible for an author to have a bias in a popular work of this kind.

She gives only occasional brief asides that reflect on the social, economic and political issues as stake, as well as the military innovations and tactics. As an introduction to the Wars of the Roses, this is probably a good enough place to start, but there is far more that you might want to go on to read if you are serious in learning about the period.

A detailed book which deals with a forgotten period of English history., 09 Apr 2008
This book is a very interesting well-written narrative which provides a lot of information on the Wars of the Roses. Not only does Alison Weir deal conclusively with the causes of the war but also its longer term impacts. However, the book is best when dealing with the actual conflict which to me is where it comes alive. All in all a very good book dealing with an era in English history which seems to have been forgotten.

One of the best on the subject, 03 Jan 2006
This is an incredibly important work, as despite there being a stack of books covering the period of the Wars of the Roses, no other gives a clear and concise background to the conflict (and such information is vital in understanding why it occurred), and there are few others that are as thorough in their approach, without descending into academic jargon.

I should point out that this deals primarily with the background from Edward III to Henry VI's reign, and then focuses upon the years 1455 to 1471, in other words, finishing with Henry VI's capture and murder after Tewkesbury. It is true that the conflict was to continue until Bosworth in 1485 (and technically until 1487), but I believe she has had other volumes dealing with these years.

I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone with an interest in late medieval England, and the Wars of the Roses, as it caters for most levels of knowledge, and deals with the characters behind the violence and politics. It is very well written, and as gripping as I have ever found a history text to be.

Combining the pace and descriptive quality of a novel with the authority of a text book, Alison Weir's study of the revered and reviled Eleanor of Aquitaine should be valuable to anyone with an interest in medieval European history. Wife of Louis VII of France and subsequently of Henry II of England and mother of Richard the Lionheart, Eleanor played a prominent part in the politics of the 12th century. The author of a number of other books on the medieval period, Alison Weir brings all the colour and ever-present dangers of Eleanor's world to life, filling the text with absorbing background detail and revelatory contemporary anecdotes. She is concerned throughout to make critical analysis of the primary sources, the later myths about Eleanor and other modern biographies. This results in a fresh and thoughtful perspective on the energetic 82 years of the life of a determined and ambitious woman living with the sexism, excesses and violence of a society in which the word of a single man could condemn thousands to be put to death. Eleanor of Aquitaine is a vivacious but scholarly book with extensive notes and references appended, giving an objective and rich account of the staunch Eleanor, her feuding family and her complex and unstable world. --Karen Tiley Combining the pace and descriptive quality of a novel with the authority of a text book, Alison Weir's study of the revered and reviled Eleanor of Aquitaine should be valuable to anyone with an interest in medieval European history. Wife of Louis VII of France and subsequently of Henry II of England and mother of Richard the Lionheart, Eleanor played a prominent part in the politics of the 12th century. The author of a number of other books on the medieval period, Alison Weir brings all the colour and ever-present dangers of Eleanor's world to life, filling the text with absorbing background detail and revelatory contemporary anecdotes. She is concerned throughout to make critical analysis of the primary sources, the later myths about Eleanor and other modern biographies. This results in a fresh and thoughtful perspective on the energetic 82 years of life of a determined and ambitious woman living with the sexism, excesses and violence of a society in which the word of a single man could condemn thousands to be put to death. Eleanor of Aquitaine is a vivacious but scholarly book with extensive notes and references appended, giving an objective and rich account of the staunch Eleanor, her feuding family and her complex and unstable world. --Karen Tiley

Totally engaging, 02 Jan 2009
Having read 'The Perfect King' and become interested in the 14th Century (previously my passion was the Tudor Age)I decided to expand my knowledge of the period by picking out this book purely by chance. It is absolutely rivetting and I completed it in just 2 days. There are so many books on the period, most as dry as dust, but the world comes alive through Mortimer's pen. I do not feel it was 'dumbing down' in any way by writing this as a 'guide book' - quite the contrary. The world truly came alive from page one, and my attention was hooked. Mortimer reaches across the centuries into the hearts and minds of people not so very different from ourselves. We learn about their working lives and their leisure. We find out what they eat and what they wear. We can almost feel the horror of parents as they can only stand and watch their whole families being wiped out by plague. The greatest writers of the period are mentioned, not just Chaucer but other authors such as the Gawain poet, writing such poignant verses with emotions that feel just as relevant today. Not only is it a rivetting read, it is truly a handbook to be read in conjuction with other history books of the period. The past is not something long-dead and buried, but has a life all its own and is why we are who we are. A very easy, fascinating read.

extremely readable,, 01 Jan 2009
apparently well researched and, as all the other reviews say, entertaining, so why did I feel this book is an experiment which hasn't quite come off? Maybe 'entertaining' is the trouble. I dislike the sort of historical programme on tv which makes use of 'recreations' which add nothing to my understanding and this book gave me the same sort of sensation - was I really learning anything which I would not have done from a straight social history? I have two specific gripes, one major and one minor. The major gripe is that the role of religion in 14th century life is well-nigh ignored. OK, we find out that there were a great many priests and monks about, but what motivated them to enter the church? What about the beliefs of lay people? Mortimer doesn't get inside their heads in this respect, or seem to think it would be relevant to do so. Yet I can't take a book which describes itself as a guide to 14th century England and doesn't even mention Julian of Norwich entirely seriously. The other gripe is about the poetry... why does Mortimer assume his readers are unable to cope with Chaucer in the original? He gives him to us in a 'translation' which doesn't even scan. Geoffrey must be turning in his grave

Marvellously Entertaining, 24 Dec 2008
A very different & engaging history book almost like a Rough guide to the 14th century. It puts you there in a most realistic way and is spellbinding in its fascinating detail even to someone like myself who reads a lot of history. I can only think of one minor criticism. A carefully illustrated version with illustrations to support the text e.g. on the appearance of clinker ships, hostelleries, apparel etc would make it superbly useful for students of history. The reproductions in it are historically relevant and valuable but still not as graphic and understandable as a good drawing or modern illustration. With these inserted, even at a higher sticker price, I believe this would become truly a best seller for all types of readers in Europe & North America at least and a book to be treasured. Full marks to Mr. Mortimer!!

Original and informative social history, 11 Nov 2008
There are already many studies of the Black Death, The Peasants' Revolt and detailed scholarly works on this period of history but this book is quite original and should appeal to a wide readership. The use of the present tense works so well and helps to conjure up a graphic picture of the times. The author draws on a great deal of other studies and develops it into a vibrant overview of what it might have been like to live in this century. I loved it!

Simply superb, 02 Nov 2008
At school I hated history mainly because it was learning boring dates and events.
This book changes all of that; it tells me what I wanted to know in an easy to read and extremely enjoyable way.

What will I see in a 14th Century street, who will I see, what des it smell like, what will I eat, how do I address people I meet? All of this and more is covered in this excellent book. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the period such as the city, the town, the village etc. Very clear and very informative; ideal for casual interest, school pupils, university history reading and so on.

I won't go into the details because that would simply spoil things for you so I suggest you get this book and be transported back some 700 years.

It simply brings history to life.

Finally, a book that lives up to the subject herself..., 28 Nov 2008
Katherine Swynford is a bit of enigma. She's arguably one of the most important figures in British history; she's the ancestress of every monarch since Edward IV, no less than five US presidents and Winston Churchill, among others; and yet most people, if they know of her at all, have only heard of her because of an historical romance, Anya Seton's Katherine. That's largely because so little is known of her, and Alison Weir does a good job piecing together what few fragments of information can be found about her. It's clear she has an affection for her subject, which I always like to see in biography. It may not be entirely unbiased, but I hate reading biographies written by people who clearly have an axe to grind or preconceived conceptions. This is a very good book and, as I said, brings to life a pretty obscure character from medieval England.

(3.5 stars): Insightful, but with a few problems, 21 Nov 2008
Like Alison Weir, I was first introduced to the story of Katherine Swynford through Anya Seton's romanticized 1954 novel, Katherine. Weir's biography is a pretty comprehensive look at this enigmatic, lesser-known medieval woman.

I have a love-hate relationship with Weir's books: I loved The Six Wives of Henry VIII; liked Mary Queen of Scots: And the Murder of Lord Darnley, and Eleanor of Aquitaine: By the Wrath of God, Queen of England; but detested Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England and Innocent Traitor (Weir doesn't do fiction all that well). I put Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and his Scandalous Duchess in the "like somewhat" category.

Katherine Swynford was born Katherine de Roet in 1350, one of the daughters of Sir Paon de Roet. She then married Hugh Swynford, and spent time in the Lancastrian household as the governess to John of Gaunt's children. Katherine's affair with him probably began around the year 1372, and, after producing a number of illegitimate children, married John in 1396. Katherine is the ancestor of most of the royal houses of Europe, plus at least five American presidents. History has seen Katherine as bit of a homewrecker, but in this book, Weir attempts (and mostly succeeds) in portraying her in a more sympathetic light.

This biography of Katherine Swynford is, as with all of Weir's books, meticulously researched. It's less overtly feminist and partisan than some of her other biographies. Pay attention to the subtitle of this biography: the book is more about John of Gaunt than it is about Katherine (in fact, we don't even get a physical description of Katherine until after one is given of John). We also get very detailed biographies of everyone who was related or connected to her, especially Geoffrey Chaucer, her brother-in-law. After finishing this book, I still didn't have a concrete impression of what Katherine was really like. And, because so little is actually known about Katherine's life, Weir makes an awful lot of assumptions here about what her subject "might," "perhaps," or "probably" have done/ thought/ felt.

However, Weir does a wonderful job bringing the details of the period to life. It's an accessible, readable work of history that doesn't get bogged down in pretentious language. For someone who doesn't know medieval Latin or Norman French, Weir does an incredible job of interpreting her sources. And the style of this book is far more lively and engaging than other books written on the Lancasters that I've read. I look forward to reading what comes next from Weir (according to her website, the next book is about Anne Boleyn, though she may be re-treading old water with that one).


if the information isnt there don't write it, 13 Nov 2008
Having read most of Alison Weir's historical works [which i would give 5 stars to] I have to say that this one is a real miss. Her writing style, usually so fluid, just did not flow for me in this book; she is severely hampered by the lack of accurate historical information available on her subject and i found the endless supposition made for a very trying read.

Absorbing as ever but difficult to get a real feel for the main subject, 09 Nov 2008
Absorbing and well researched as ever, but, due to the paucity of available information on its subject, this reads in many places more like a biography of John of Gaunt, as suggested by the book's subtitle. It does give a good feel for 14th century and life and mores, though. Annoyingly, the details/dates in the family trees at the back sometimes contradict the main text.

Fascinating story stitched together from very little cloth, 16 Sep 2008
Although Weir has written historical biographies of women who were intrinsically interesting -- Eleanor of Acquitaine and Isabella (the She Wolf) of France -- I have always found them a little dry. It's surprisingly, then, that her most lively and readable book so far should be about a woman about whom so little is known.

We can conjecture who Katherine de Roet's father was but the identity of her mother remains unknown; we cannot be sure how many children she bore, assuming that some died young, as was almost inevitable; Weir makes silly statements such as 'Katherine may well have been there that day but there is no evidence of it' a little too often.

Even so, the character of Katherine shines through, the first royal mistress ever to achieve the status of wife, ancestor of every English monarch since 1461, loving the larger-than-life John of Gaunt.

Weir mischievously quotes the late Queen Mother as saying that men of status do not marry their mistresses.

I suspect that most British people would say 'Katherine Who?' I'm delighted that Weir has introduced Katherine back into history, where she belongs and whence some of her descendants, a little ashamed of her humble birth, tried to expunge her.


Come for Edward, stay for Henry, 28 Dec 2008
I got this book for Christmas and from the very beginning it is clear how much research has gone into Morris' work. He is not content just to include troop numbers and tax yields, like some other writers, instead he really paints a picture, right down to what furnishings adorned the young Prince Edward's homes.

However, while this book gives a great insight into the life of this famous Plantagenet, it was the account of his father that i most enjoyed. To this day, i have never found a great text on Henry III, which is of constant frustration to me. For this reason alone, the early chapters will be of interest to many in illuminating this part of Henry's reign.

Basically, a well researched and skillfully written piece on two English monarchs. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the period!

Building Castles..., 18 Nov 2008
As a lover and student of late medieval and renaissance history, I was hoping that this book would give me a solid knowledge of the events and issues that were to become the foundation of 'Britain'.... and that's exactly what I found!

This is a great book for anyone that is interested in the history of Britain. I have read many 'history' books that assume the reader has an in-depth knowledge of the subject before they begin, but happily this is not the case. All of the events are explained in a full, interesting and (on the whole) entertaining way. As the book is written in a very personal style you really get the feeling of riding alongside Edward for all of his 68 years, however this is no way undermines the tremendous amount of work that has obviously gone into writing it.

Most of us know of Robert Bruce, William Wallace, Simon de Montfort and have heard about the 'confiscation' of the Stone of Scone, and the origins of the Prince of Wales title, but this book explains the 'whys', 'hows' and 'whens' that makes history real.

If I had one complaint, (and it's so small that the book still gets Five stars), it's that you get the feeling that Marc Morris is sometimes over-justifying Edwards decisions. Yes, the things he did were not always 'PC' but, and as Mr Morris does quantify at the end of the book, he was a bigotted king in a bigotted time.

That aside, this is a great book for the serious student, the history lover and anyone else that enjoys expanding their knowledge of such an important time in history.

A Great and Terrible King: Edward 1 and the Forging of Britain, 13 Jun 2008
For the person like myself with a sketchy knowledge of medieval Britain and her Kings this excellent book filled a lot of gaps especially the chapters dealing with Wales

Edwards Legacy, 02 May 2008
As a long term student of Edward 1st, I have to say I found this a superb, and highly readable account, of an era, and a king who continues to exert a profound, and I would go as far to say, malign influence, on the four corners of the U.K. Unlike the previous biography by Michael Prestwich, this is not a biography aimed at an academic audience, more it is aimed at a general audience who have an interest in the subject.

To 21 century sensibilties with our focus on human rights, the casual and bloody brutality, not to mention anti semitism, comes as a shock. One can only imagine the reaction, of the son of Simon de Montfort, arriving late at the battle of Evesham, to see his fathers head being paraded around the battlefield, on the end of a spear, or the way in which the author describes the execution of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. ( In truth the last true Prince of Wales) to see that life in 13/14 c England was nasty, brutal and short.

More shocking still is Edward's treatment of the Jews. From taxing them out of existence, to fund the Crusades, and the Welsh wars, until their final explusion in 1290, the story is one of increasing attempts to hound the Jewish community out of public life, often with the tacit if not unconditional backing of the papacy.

This is a highly readable and very well illustrated account of an era, whose consequences, are still being felt across the four nations of the U.K. Does history resonate down the ages? Yes very much so.



The first ruler of an united Britain - but only for a short time, 28 Apr 2008
It is for a long time that I have some difficulties forming an opinion abut a book I have finished. Usually latest after the first 100 pages one does like or dislike a book, but here it was difficult. Till the very end I am not sure what to think and even now while writing I am not sure.

After the recent interest in the life of Edward II, his lover and his Queen this interest was bound to spill over to the reign of his father, Edward I. who seem to have been to contemporaries of Edward II the role model for a king. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that young Edward when heir to the throne was quite at odds with his father and rather festering his own nest than thinking of the monarchy as such. His reign turned out to be a rollerc