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Product Description
Plantagenet is the name given to the English royal house descended from the union of Queen Matilda of England and her second husband Geoffrey of Anjou. The name derived from Geoffrey's nickname, which came from the sprig of broom (planta genet) which he wore in his hat. The Plantagenets ruled England for more than three hundred years, from the accession of reign of the dynasty's founder, Matilda and Geoffrey's son, Henry II, in 1154, to the death of the last Plantagenet, Richard III, at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. The Plantagenets: The Kings That Made Britain is a compelling, year-by-year chronology of a tumultuous and critical period in the development of the English nation. Each year is covered by a concise, informative and accessible narrative, amplified by extensive quotation from contemporary sources and accompanied by generously captioned and stunning images of the period - including illuminations, portraits, maps, royal seals, tapestries and other artefacts. Authoritative, informative and sumptuous, and compiled by a scholar who is steeped in knowledge of the period, The Plantagenets: The Kings That Made Britain brings a critical era of English history dramatically and vividly to life. It is the perfect gift book for anyone with a love of, or fascination for, medieval English history. Henry II (1154-89); Richard I and John (1189-1216); Henry III (1216-72); Edward I (1272-1307); Edward II (1307-27); Edward III (1327-77); Richard II (1377-99); Henry IV (1399-1413); Henry V (1413-1422); Wars of the Roses (1422-71); Edward IV, Edward V and Richard III (1471-85); Genealogical tables; Maps.
From the Inside Flap
The Plantagenets tells the fascinating story of a forgotten dynasty. Ascending the throne just after the decline of the Normans in 1154 and retaining their grip on power until the rise of the Tudors in 1485, the Plantagenets oversaw a remarkable array of political, social and economic changes: parliament, trial by jury, civil rights, the modern English language and even the perception of a distinct British national identity all emerged under their reign. The Plantagenet dynasty arose from the union of Queen Matilda of England and her second husband Geoffrey of Anjou. The name derived from Geoffrey's nickname, which came from the sprig of broom (planta genet) that he wore in his hat. Many of its key figures rank amongst the most evocative names in British history: the crusading Richard the Lionheart, his treacherous brother John, the hapless Richard II, the heroic warrior king Henry V, and the much maligned Richard III whose defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 put an end to the dynasty. The Plantagenets is a compelling, year-by-year account of a tumultuous and critical period in the development of the English nation. Each year is covered by a concise, informative and accessible narrative, amplified by extensive quotation from contemporary sources and accompanied by stunning images of the period - including illuminations, portraits, maps, royal seals, tapestries and unique artefacts. Authoritative, informative and sumptuous, and compiled by a scholar who is steeped in knowledge of the period, The Plantagenets brings a critical era of English history vividly and dramatically to life. It is the perfect book for anyone with a love of, or fascination for, medieval English history.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having previously read two of Derek Wilson's books: In the Lion's Court & The Uncrowned Kings of England, I was expecting a well-written book about the Plantagenets. What I received is a well-written, sumptuously illustrated, coffee table size book about the Plantagenets.
The text is in the nature of a primer on the dynasty, making it ideal as an introduction to them. Wilson leading the reader on a straightforward, factual journey from 1154 to 1485 and a little way beyond. The more knowledgeable reader, and all points in between, will want this book because of the wonderful illustrations on every page. Extracts from (mainly) contemporary illuminated books, coins, seals, treaties, portraits and maps bring the period to life, encouraging further reading into the history of this turbulent often brilliant family.
For further reading, may I suggest:
A Great and Terrible King
Eleanor: April Queen of Acquitaine
Agincourt (Juliet Barker)
Conquest: The English Kingdom of France
King Stephen (Edmund King)
Towton: The Battle of Palm Sunday Field (John Sadler)
Richard III and the Murder in the Tower
I await with interest the next Derek Wilson book.
The text is in the nature of a primer on the dynasty, making it ideal as an introduction to them. Wilson leading the reader on a straightforward, factual journey from 1154 to 1485 and a little way beyond. The more knowledgeable reader, and all points in between, will want this book because of the wonderful illustrations on every page. Extracts from (mainly) contemporary illuminated books, coins, seals, treaties, portraits and maps bring the period to life, encouraging further reading into the history of this turbulent often brilliant family.
For further reading, may I suggest:
A Great and Terrible King
Eleanor: April Queen of Acquitaine
Agincourt (Juliet Barker)
Conquest: The English Kingdom of France
King Stephen (Edmund King)
Towton: The Battle of Palm Sunday Field (John Sadler)
Richard III and the Murder in the Tower
I await with interest the next Derek Wilson book.
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have had a few books on this period in the past which have been excellent in their own way. Where this particular book differs, is in the accessibility of the information, the clarity of the timeline and sequence of events and openess of the writing.
What also adds to the attraction of this book are the sheer number and richness of the illustrations incorporated (many from works of art/portraits of the time)which help put faces to names and an 'atmosphere' to the whole historical period. It's a great coffee table book in its own right but also an excellent exploration of the importance of these monarchs in bridging the period from the Norman Conquest to the Tudors. Very well worth acquiring.
What also adds to the attraction of this book are the sheer number and richness of the illustrations incorporated (many from works of art/portraits of the time)which help put faces to names and an 'atmosphere' to the whole historical period. It's a great coffee table book in its own right but also an excellent exploration of the importance of these monarchs in bridging the period from the Norman Conquest to the Tudors. Very well worth acquiring.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Derek Wilson has produced a wonderful history of the Plantagenet monarchy, from Henry II to Richard III.
To the Plantagenet novice like myself and to children the book offers a nice introduction. I read it immediately after reading Susan Doran's 'The Tudor Chronicles 1485 to 1603' and immediately noticed Wilson's far superior writing to Doran's. Wilson's flowed very nicely from event to event while Doran's was rather clunky at times, in my opinion.
For those well-read in Plantagenet history, what is offered is nothing new, however. Being rather well-read in Yorkist history I did find the final part of the book from the Wars of the Roses to the death of Richard III a little rushed.
Furthermore, the book is filled with beautiful and clear illustrations; an inviting coffee table book if ever there was one.
To the Plantagenet novice like myself and to children the book offers a nice introduction. I read it immediately after reading Susan Doran's 'The Tudor Chronicles 1485 to 1603' and immediately noticed Wilson's far superior writing to Doran's. Wilson's flowed very nicely from event to event while Doran's was rather clunky at times, in my opinion.
For those well-read in Plantagenet history, what is offered is nothing new, however. Being rather well-read in Yorkist history I did find the final part of the book from the Wars of the Roses to the death of Richard III a little rushed.
Furthermore, the book is filled with beautiful and clear illustrations; an inviting coffee table book if ever there was one.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Plantagenets
This is a very informative book about the Plantagenet kings that ruled England from 1154 - 1485. What makes it unique is the way, year by year, you are given the details about what... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Hilary Clarke
Plantagenets
The book arrived on time as expected. As it was bought as present,so it has not been read by me. A quick glance through it showed it to be reasonably comprehensive with an... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Roy Gordon-smith
The Plantagenets.
Gorgeous book but much larger and heavier then I expected. Beginning to think the Plantagenets were a nicer lot than The Tudors !
Published 4 months ago by Plushrose
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