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Henry III

Son of Magna Carta

ISBN: 1445653575

King of a lost realm. Wearer of a pawned crown. Heir to an empire beyond reach.

From the ashes of Magna Carta, a new England was to be forged.

Henry III

Henry III became King of England within days of his ninth birthday.

His father, King John, had overseen a disastrous period in English history and the boy king inherited a country embroiled in a bitter, entrenched war with itself.

With barons inviting a French prince to take the crown, the young Henry was forced to rely on others to maintain his position. As he grew into adulthood, Henry had to manage the transition to a personal rule, wrenching power from men who had held it almost unchecked for years. With a settled position at home, attention could turn to the recovery of lost territory abroad and the salvaging of Henry’s family reputation. All would not go according to plan.

Failures abroad led to trouble back in England as restless barons became disillusioned. They found a figurehead in Simon de Montfort, a man who would transform himself from Henry’s favourite to a de facto king. Imprisoned and stripped of his power, Henry would again have to fight for his kingdom, now relying not on older mentors but on his immensely capable son.

Henry was handed a monarchy in peril, a crown that was cracked and tarnished. He was given fifty-six years to mend the damage his father had done. It would spell over half a century of highs and lows in a country crying out for stability; the final measure of Henry’s achievement displayed in the crown that he left to his son, Edward I.

Amazon Review
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Sarah

I found the book informative and interesting and the complexities of medieval England were brought to life. Henry was a complex man whose kingship was forged by both his guardian the great William Marshall enabling his succession but I didn't realise what a hold the church in Rome had on his kingdom - no absolute ruler here.

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Carol McGrath

Matthew Lewis's biography of Henry III is euridite and gripping. It is throughly researched and importantly asscessible because of the clarity of the prose. Moreover, this biography is informative about a complicated long reign. As Lewis points out, Henry III could be perceived as boring. Not so. Lewis makes his reign fascinating.

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Mr Tim Cole

Henry was a talented man with a great cultural perspective but lacked the common touch and the ability to control his nobility which Edward clearly had. Lewis, in this powerful study, restores Henry the man after decades of ignorance and this book is a thorough and comprehensive reappraisal of this forgotten and too long neglected king.

Read full review

See all reviews on Amazon.com

See all reviews on Amazon.co.uk

See all reviews on Goodreads.com

Henry III

Henry III became King of England within days of his ninth birthday.

His father, King John, had overseen a disastrous period in English history and the boy king inherited a country embroiled in a bitter, entrenched war with itself.

With barons inviting a French prince to take the crown, the young Henry was forced to rely on others to maintain his position. As he grew into adulthood, Henry had to manage the transition to a personal rule, wrenching power from men who had held it almost unchecked for years. With a settled position at home, attention could turn to the recovery of lost territory abroad and the salvaging of Henry’s family reputation. All would not go according to plan.

Failures abroad led to trouble back in England as restless barons became disillusioned. They found a figurehead in Simon de Montfort, a man who would transform himself from Henry’s favourite to a de facto king. Imprisoned and stripped of his power, Henry would again have to fight for his kingdom, now relying not on older mentors but on his immensely capable son.

Henry was handed a monarchy in peril, a crown that was cracked and tarnished. He was given fifty-six years to mend the damage his father had done. It would spell over half a century of highs and lows in a country crying out for stability; the final measure of Henry’s achievement displayed in the crown that he left to his son, Edward I.

Reviews of Henry III

Amazon Review
Card image

Sarah

I found the book informative and interesting and the complexities of medieval England were brought to life. Henry was a complex man whose kingship was forged by both his guardian the great William Marshall enabling his succession but I didn't realise what a hold the church in Rome had on his kingdom - no absolute ruler here.

Read full review
Amazon Review
Card image

Carol McGrath

Matthew Lewis's biography of Henry III is euridite and gripping. It is throughly researched and importantly asscessible because of the clarity of the prose. Moreover, this biography is informative about a complicated long reign. As Lewis points out, Henry III could be perceived as boring. Not so. Lewis makes his reign fascinating.

Read full review
Amazon Review
Card image

Mr Tim Cole

Henry was a talented man with a great cultural perspective but lacked the common touch and the ability to control his nobility which Edward clearly had. Lewis, in this powerful study, restores Henry the man after decades of ignorance and this book is a thorough and comprehensive reappraisal of this forgotten and too long neglected king.

Read full review


See all reviews of Henry III on Amazon.com

See all reviews of Henry III on Amazon.co.uk

See all reviews of Henry III on Goodreads.com