Who Would Like This Book:
If you love big, dramatic stories full of battles, royal intrigue, and colorful personalities, this is your ticket to medieval England. Dan Jones turns machinations, wars, betrayals, and power plays into page-turning narrative - think Game of Thrones, but true! Even if you know the broad strokes, you’ll find plenty of vivid details, from drunken shipwrecks to the origins of Magna Carta. This is perfect for anyone craving an approachable and entertaining history, whether you’re a history buff or just curious about the roots of modern Britain.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the sheer size and scope of the book overwhelming, and wished for more depth on certain figures - especially the women and the everyday people, not just the kings. Others felt the focus was sometimes too much on high drama and not enough on the gray areas or complexities of the time. Serious scholars might crave more footnotes and primary source discussion, while people looking for a deep dive into a single monarch or less war-heavy history might want something more focused.
About:
'The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England' by Dan Jones is a detailed historical account spanning over 245 years, chronicling the reigns of a dozen monarchs. The book delves into the lives of the Plantagenet dynasty, exploring their triumphs, flaws, and the turbulent political landscape of medieval England. Jones presents a narrative that is both informative and engaging, shedding light on the complex relationships, power struggles, and significant events that shaped England during this period. The writing style is accessible, making centuries-old history readable and enjoyable for both newcomers and history enthusiasts alike.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of violence, betrayal, and war, as well as discussions around anti-Semitism and the treatment of Jews, particularly during the reigns of certain monarchs.
From The Publisher:
The New York Times bestseller, from the author of Powers and Thrones, that tells the story of Britain's greatest and worst dynasty-"a real-life Game of Thrones" (The Wall Street Journal) The first Plantagenet kings inherited a blood-soaked realm from the Normans and transformed it into an empire that stretched at its peak from Scotland to Jerusalem. In this epic narrative history of courage, treachery, ambition, and deception, Dan Jones resurrects the unruly royal dynasty that preceded the Tudors. They produced England's best and worst kings: Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, twice a queen and the most famous woman in Christendom; their son Richard the Lionheart, who fought Saladin in the Third Crusade; and his conniving brother King John, who was forced to grant his people new rights under the Magna Carta, the basis for our own bill of rights. Combining the latest academic research with a gift for storytelling, Jones vividly recreates the great battles of Bannockburn, Crécy, and Sluys and reveals how the maligned kings Edward II and Richard II met their downfalls. This is the era of chivalry and the Black Death, the Knights Templar, the founding of parliament, and the Hundred Years' War, when England's national identity was forged by the sword.
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About the Author:
Dan Jones is the author of The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queen Who Made England, a #1 international bestseller and New York Times bestseller, and Wars of the Roses, which charts the story of the fall of the Plantagenet dynasty and the improbable rise of the Tudors. He writes and presents the popular Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles. He is also the author of Magna Carta: The Birth of Liberty and Summer of Blood: England's First Revolution and is working on a history of the Knights Templar due out in 2017.
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