This is the first major biography for a generation of a truly formidable king - a man born to rule England, who believed that it was his right to rule all of Britain. His reign was one of the most dramatic and important of the entire Middle Ages, leading to war and conquest on an unprecedented scale, and leaving a legacy of division between the peoples of Britain that has lasted from his day to our own. Edward I is familiar to millions as 'Longshanks', conqueror of Scotland and nemesis of Sir William Wallace ('Braveheart'). Yet this story forms only the final chapter of the king's astonishingly action-packed life. Earlier Edward had defeated and killed the famous Simon de Montfort in battle; travelled across Europe to the Holy Land on crusade; conquered Wales, extinguishing forever its native rulers, and constructing - at Conwy, Harlech, Beaumaris and Caernarfon - the most magnificent chain of castles ever created. He raised the greatest armies of the English Middle Ages, and summoned the largest parliaments; notoriously, he expelled all the Jews from his kingdom. The longest-lived of all England's medieval kings, he fathered no fewer than fifteen children with his first wife, Eleanor of Castile, and after her death he erected the Eleanor Crosses - the grandest funeral monuments ever fashioned for an English monarch. In this book, Marc Morris examines afresh the forces that drove Edward throughout his relentless career: his character, his Christian faith, and his sense of England's destiny - a sense shaped in particular by the tales of the legendary King Arthur. He also explores the competing reasons that led Edward's opponents (including Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Robert Bruce) to resist him, and the very different societies that then existed in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The result is a sweeping story, immaculately researched yet compellingly told, and a vivid picture of medieval Britain at the moment when its future was decided.
A Great and Terrible King
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Review
'A direct, forthright and welcoming book... Edward I was called a "great and terrible king" and he has been well served by Marc Morris' -- Scotland on Sunday
'A highly readable account of an important reign' -- Scotsman
'A splendid example of the genre. Edward's life is in many ways an ideal subject for such an approach, full of incident and action... An excellent, readable account of his reign'
-- Literary Review
'Historical biography's newest star'
-- Bookseller
'The title of Marc Morris' book is apt. No king of England had a greater impact on the peoples of Britain than Edward I... he has succeeded in writing a book for today'
-- TLS
'Uncommonly good ... He was a remarkable man, and a great king. Marc Morris does him justice, brings him clearly before our eyes ... It's compelling stuff'
-- Allan Massie, Daily Telegraph
I enjoyed A Great and Terrible King
-- Robert Salisbury, Books of the Year, Spectator
Morris tells Edward's story fluently and conveys a compelling sense of the reality, and the contingency, of personal rule -- Guardian
'A highly readable account of an important reign' -- Scotsman
'A splendid example of the genre. Edward's life is in many ways an ideal subject for such an approach, full of incident and action... An excellent, readable account of his reign'
-- Literary Review
'Historical biography's newest star'
-- Bookseller
'The title of Marc Morris' book is apt. No king of England had a greater impact on the peoples of Britain than Edward I... he has succeeded in writing a book for today'
-- TLS
'Uncommonly good ... He was a remarkable man, and a great king. Marc Morris does him justice, brings him clearly before our eyes ... It's compelling stuff'
-- Allan Massie, Daily Telegraph
I enjoyed A Great and Terrible King
-- Robert Salisbury, Books of the Year, Spectator
Morris tells Edward's story fluently and conveys a compelling sense of the reality, and the contingency, of personal rule -- Guardian
Book Description
The first popular biography of Edward I in a generation by a major new historian. (20041109)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By acrossthesea
Format:Paperback
A fantastic book. I bought it mainly to increase my understanding of the Scottish wars of independence, but I found myself getting caught-up in the history of the Whole British Isles. Edward's reign was a turning point in British history and Marc Morris clearly describes how Edward first stamped his authority on an England that was running out of control and then turned his attention to neighbouring countries, culminating in the wars with Scotland. I particularly liked the sections on his subjugation of Wales, and his description of the break-down on cordial relations between Scotland and England. The book is informative as well as being very well written, and I recommend it to anyone interested in understanding the complex relationship between the different countries of the UK.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Nigel Davies
Format:Paperback
This must be one of the best history books that I have ever read. It is a real page-turner and a definite "one more chapter before lights out". I can open the book at any page and become engrossed in the story that is being told. It is written in a clear manner and one learns some very interesting facts. The preface explains the reasoning behind why the man is called Edward I and the confusion over who he was and this gets one into the mood for entering the main text. The first paragraph (in the preface) actually reads a bit like a Winnie-the-Pooh book, which I found amusing but then once you are settled down with a cup of tea and begin the story it is fairly hard to stop reading. And when you have finally finished the book you will want to turn to the first page and start it all over again. Superb.
132 of 141 people found the following review helpful
By J. Wells
Format:Hardcover
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.
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.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By M. J. White
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Marc Morris has that rare ability of being able to portray detailed historical facts whilst maintaining a gripping narrative storyline. This book is therefore a good read irrespective of the readers interest in history.
I agree with the reviewer who said that this book contains several stories in one, with each era of Edwards life offering enough material to be a fantastic book in its own right. The hardest part of creating this book must have been in deciding what to include and what to leave out as every page leads you excitedly onto the next.
I can understand why a great many people would resent the word "great" being used in context with this English king. His insatiable appetite for land and unjust treatment of the Scots, the Welsh, the Irish and the Jews prevent Edward from winning a popular monarch contest but he was a man of his age and cannot be fairly compared to tyrants of the modern era. Indeed, he successfully fought off a far greater xenophobe in the form of Simon De Montford.
This book represents a truley facinating part of British history that anyone with an interest in the development of English, Scottish, Irish or Welsh history must read.
I agree with the reviewer who said that this book contains several stories in one, with each era of Edwards life offering enough material to be a fantastic book in its own right. The hardest part of creating this book must have been in deciding what to include and what to leave out as every page leads you excitedly onto the next.
I can understand why a great many people would resent the word "great" being used in context with this English king. His insatiable appetite for land and unjust treatment of the Scots, the Welsh, the Irish and the Jews prevent Edward from winning a popular monarch contest but he was a man of his age and cannot be fairly compared to tyrants of the modern era. Indeed, he successfully fought off a far greater xenophobe in the form of Simon De Montford.
This book represents a truley facinating part of British history that anyone with an interest in the development of English, Scottish, Irish or Welsh history must read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Darren
Format:Kindle Edition
An utterly gripping read that brilliantly conveys the political and military tensions of the period, and evokes a sense of personality of the key players.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Marc Genesi
Format:Paperback
If you're only knowledge of Edward I is based on Mel Gibson's bowel movement known as Braveheart, then Marc Morris's book will truly open your eyes to a man and period in history that has truly shaped the country we live in today. Far from Gibson's pantomime character, the real Longshanks was battle proven by his early twenties and would become known as a great negotiator and intermediary between European leaders. Morris's exploration of the Welsh campaigns and how these came about were of particular interest to me, being Welsh myself, so discovering the in-fighting between Llewellyn Ap Gryfedd and his brother Dafydd and the lasting impact that this has had on Welsh history was brilliant. Not only this but the polictical and social views of the time relating to all nations of Britain and how they viewed each other is put accross amazingly well. This is one of those books you really can't put down, which i don't say often, but Edward's legacy is still felt today and also visibly seen in the Welsh landscape. You don't need fiction when you've got this kind of material !! And lets hope Gibson stops making films soon.......
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fine Account of a major period in British History
An excellent and well written book about the period when, as the sub-title says, Britain was forged. Read more
Published 15 days ago by C.M.Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
Edward, William and Carlyle
While reading Peter Ackroyd's "Foundation (History of England Vol 1)I decided I wanted to read more about Edward I. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Honrus Publicus
5.0 out of 5 stars
what a strong character and gambler
England has for a long time been both an example as an nuisance to the european mainland: can't do with, can't do without ;o)
Still, learning that England was kind of... Read more
Still, learning that England was kind of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Pc Storm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most Addictive Biog I've Read in Years.
Let me start by admitting that I am far from well read on this period of history. Over the last decade I've read biography's of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce but 90% of my... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Spittle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magnificent
A real page turner. Cannot recommend highly enough - this is a 'must read' book about this period of history.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. A. Robertson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Waste of money
I love historical books but not this one! I had to skip pages, because I found it extremely boring. It was like reading a book of history, the one I have studied at school. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Angela Puddu
5.0 out of 5 stars
Genius
I bought this after reading his other book on the conquest. This guy doesnt put it in the book as fact if it isnt verifed. His research is astounding. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Julieb
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this book
History to me has always been a subject of fleeting interest but, put simply, I am 80% through this book and am fearing reaching its end. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Terence Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Hammer of the Scots
A very informative book that puts in to perspective the times of Edward and the intrigue surrounding those times. His personal quirks and family problems are also given credence.
Published 2 months ago by Paul Guest
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
A well researched book, even though it does show Henry and Eleanor in a more favourable light than some other accounts I have read. Read more
Published 4 months ago by pricklyone
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