The Plantagenets: A Comprehensive History of England's Royal Dynasty

Jane Dodd: Great read

United Kingdom on Oct 26, 2023

Angela McFadden: Fighting fighting fighting. Fighting the Scots, fighting the French, fighting each other, fighting the barons, fighting the Scots again and then fighting the French. Then fighting the French some more. Then more fighting with the French. Then the Scots. Then the French. Fighting. Lots of it.

Good stuff though!

United Kingdom on Oct 16, 2023

Kindle Customer: The book is as described, maybe even better. Arrived in a timely manner. Very pleased with the service. Second Sale.com

United States on Oct 13, 2023

Anthony: A really enjoyable read giving a good sense of the personalities of the main figured involved in this period of history as well as the facts.

United Kingdom on Sep 08, 2023

Peter Hughes: Ok I've read 5 history books from Jones now.

Jones writes popular histories of a biased British Christian bent and he doesn't practice the professional historian concept of not passing subjective ethical value judgements on the behaviour of historical figures. Jones is in fact lavish with his own ethical judgements on the conduct of almost everyone in his all his history books. And Jones never discusses the ethical criteria he uses either.

Jones does it again here and he's full of praise basking in the alleged glory of almost all the Plantagenet Kings. To be fair he passes some negative judgment on some of King John's ethical conduct but he's a big fan of many of the most evil men in history. I also note Jones never passes ethical judgment on Popes.

As Jones is very free with passing ethical judgments on historical figures I'll do the same. Fact is the Plantagenets, Popes and Clergy of the middle ages were allegedly devote Christians reading a very similar version of the Bible as we have today - the 10 Commandments and New Testament included. So I'll judge their ethical conduct by their own standards - The Bible.

Assuming Jones has got most of his...

Australia on Apr 16, 2023

CASSINI24: As a newcomer to this period of history, I found this a comprehensive, engaging and and well-written account. Inevitably in a book that covers 250 years of history, the narrative cannot linger too long on some of the episodes and personalities that merit more detailed examination, notably Thomas Beckett, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Piers Gaveston, not to mention some of the more charismatic kings.

Which brings me to another point .. this is primarily a book about kings. No fault of Dan Jones - the lives of the kings were the only ones considered worth recording at that time in history. Apart from the Peasants' Revolt and one or two other rebellions, we don't really get much sense of what life was like for most men and women (particularly women) living during the Plantagenet era.

The obsession with war - mostly with France - is a hard thing to comprehend from the modern day perspective. 250 years that could have been devoted to economic growth were squandered on reckless wars and endless militarisation, with no discernible beneficial outcome on either side.

The book is also an examination of kingship and nationhood. At a time when Britain begins its transition to...

United Kingdom on Oct 09, 2022

Kindle Customer: I started this book back in the spring and then got very distracted by my crazy summer. I am just now getting around to writing the review.

Dan Jones is a British historian who specializes in the medieval period of European history. I first discovered him through documentaries then started reading his books that the documentaries. The books go into much deeper detail concerning the historical events. His books, while heavy on detail, are easy to comprehend. This is not the sort of book that you can read in one tea fueled weekend as there is so much information that you will need to take breaks in order to adequately absorb the information. Dan Jones teaches history in the way I personally find most affective…as though he is telling a highly detailed and interesting story. There are flawed heroes, conflicted villains, intrigue, conspiracies, idiotic governmental decisions, rebellions, and so much more. You can see how each period he takes you through could easily be turned into a gripping movie.

The Plantagenets were the ruling family during the period most people associate with "the Middle Ages". The truth is that the Middle Ages really began in the 5th century...

United States on Sep 15, 2020

Bonnie Forman: It was over eight generations and 245 years that the dynasty of the Plantagents held the throne of England. Certainly, none of them were saints but there were a couple that could stand as the personification of tyrant. Some were strong nation builders that inspired their people and supporters, while others were ineffectual, tyrannical, self-serving and unraveled many of the gains their predecessors achieved be it territory, alliances, laws and support of the people both noble and common.

At the beginning of the book - even as the grandson of William the Conqueror dies in a shipwreck off the coast of Normandy - England and Europe were still controlled by the feudal structure based on land and the exchange of services. That of the warrior nobility. The power of the clergy who also owned land and had vassals obligated to the Christian church. Where castles were being built of stone with the intent to be defensive citadels across the land.

But this was also the time of the signing of the Magna Carta - which was re-issued several times during this period not only re-affirming it's intent but adding new clauses. Then there is the Charter of the Forest which defined the...

United States on Jul 06, 2020