'In Matthew Stricklands study of King Henry, royal son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, we have not just the fascinating narrative of a flawed heros turbulent life but also a brilliant analysis of the culture of politics at the Angevin court.' - John Gillingham, author of Richard I -- John Gillingham
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 WOLFSON PRIZE -- Wolfson Prize * Wolfson Foundation *
[Henry] was at the centre of European politics, as Matthew Stricklands excellent biography (the first book length study for nearly a century) demonstrates Drawing his considerable expertise in the Angevin world and on close engagement with his source materia, Strickland paints a compelling portrait of the Young King as a flawed hero.Katherine Harvey, TLS -- Katherine Harvey * TLS *
Stricklands book is a marvellous act of recovery of a mostly forgotten life, and a recreation of a world veering between elaborate chivalry and uncompromising realpolitik enriches our understanding of the Middle Ages, and to banish once and for all the notion that this was a time any less sophisticated, cultured or more mindlessly violent than our own.David Horspool, Spectator -- David Horspool * Spectator *
Stricklands deeply researched, richly textured work will be of enormous value to specialists, while general readers will also find much to enjoy in a commendably lucid and entertaining book.Thomas Asbridge, BBC History -- Thomas Asbridge * BBC History *
Prof. Strickland is too good and balanced a historian to be seduced by the glamour and poignancy of the Young Kings story. The young mans faults are never ignored, they are simply contextualised and explained better than any previous author has done.David Crouch, Reviews in History -- David Crouch * Reviews in History *
Strickland rescues Henry from obscurity in this deeply researched biography . . . [a] splendid piece of craftsmanship.L. W. Marvin, Choice -- L. W. Marvin * Choice *
Strickland expertly addresses this imbalanced legacy, building on his previous work to argue that Henrys role in twelfth-century Angevin politics is not only more complex than has been previously considered, but is also crucial to understanding the nature of events at the time . . . in renegotiating familiar source material, Strickland has provided readers with a fresh picture of an important Medieval figure who has long been deserving of such an excellent biography.Thomas Chadwick, Royal Studies -- Thomas Chadwick * Royal Studies *