The Plantagenets

Dan Jones is a British historian, journalist, and television presenter. He's written several books about English history, including [b:The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses and the Rise of the Tudors 21062298 The Hollow Crown The Wars of the Roses and the Rise of the Tudors Dan Jones https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403831906l/21062298.SY75.jpg 40166938], which picks up where [b:The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England 15811559 The Plantagenets The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England Dan Jones https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1366387829l/15811559.SX50.jpg 17229073] leaves off. This is a rollicking history of eight generations of English royal rule. From the Crusades through the signing of Magna Carta and up to the start of the Hundred Years' War, the House of Plantagenet ruled during some of the most thrilling times of English history.The book starts with Henry II, the first Plantagenet king who rescued England after a bitter civil war. Henry was a wise king, but he fell out with the Archbishop of Canterbury and then his entire family. Henry was succeeded by his son Richard I – the Lionheart. Richard spent most of his life away from England, either fighting or in captivity. Bad king John was next – he lost all his family's lands on the continent and annoyed the barons, who forced him to sign Magna Carta. His son Henry III also had trouble with the barons. Then we had the three Edwards. Edward I was a powerful ruler who conquered Wales, Edward II was known for being weak, and Edward III was the epitome of a Plantagenet king, winning battles in Scotland and France. Finally, there was the prima-donna king, Richard II, who lost his throne to Henry Bolingbroke who becomes Henry IV, the first king of a new dynasty: the House of Lancaster.All in all a gripping read. Worthy of your time.