The Plantagenets：The Kings Who Made England

Eightgenerationsofthegreatestandworstkingsandqueensthatthiscountryhaseverseen-fromtheWhiteShiptotheLionheart,badKingJohntotheBlackPrinceandJohnofGaunt-thisisthedynastythatinventedEnglandaswestillknowittoday-greathistorytoappealtoreadersofKenFollet,BernardCornwell,TomHolland"Outstanding.Majesticinitssweep,compellinginitsstorytelling,thisisnarrativehistoryatitsbest.Athrillingdynastichistoryofroyalintrigues,violentskulduggeryandbrutalwarfareacrosstwocenturiesofBritishhistory.'SIMONSEBAGMONTEFIOREThePlantagenetsinheritedabloodied,brokenkingdomfromtheNormans,andsetaboutexpandingroyalruleuntilitstretchedatitslargestfromtheScottishlowlandstothePyrenees,andfromtheIrelandtothefoothillsoftheHolyRomanEmpire.Atthesametime,theydevelopedaspectsofEnglishlaw,government,architecture,artandfolklorethatsurvivetothisday.Despiteallthis,andhavingreignedfortwiceaslongastheireventualsuccessors,theTudors,thePlantagenetsremainrelativelyunknown.Inthisgripping,vividnewbook,DanJonesbringsthePlantagenetsandtheirworldbacktolife.Thisisbothanepicnarrativehistoryofthe'high'MiddleAges,andaspellbindingportraitofafamilyblessedandcursedinequalmeasure.'ThePlantagenets'sweepsfromHenryIIandEleanorofAquitaine'screationofaEuropeanempiretoRichardtheLionheart'sheroicThirdCrusadeandKingJohn'shumblingunderMagnaCarta.ItexploresthebeginningofparliamentunderHenryIII.ItchartsthefierceruleofEdwardLongshanks,whoconqueredWalesandsubduedScotlandbutcouldnevercometotermswithhisownson,theill-fatedEdwardII.Thebookcomestoanexcitingclimaxintheageofchivalry,asEdwardIIIsawEnglandtriumphintheHundredYearsWarwhileplaguestalkedEurope,beforetheBlackPrinceandhisbeautifulprincessJoanofKentraisedason,RichardII,whowouldcometodestroythePlantagenetlegacy.Itisacompelling,fascinatingjourneythroughBritain'smostspectacularage.