Edward I (The English Monarchs Series) [Hardcover]

Professor Michael Prestwich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 21, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0300072090 | ISBN-13: 978-0300072099

Professor Prestwich's study of Edward I, first published in 1988, is a full-length account of one of the leading monarchs of the Middle Ages. A king who pioneered legal and parliamentary change, conquered Wales and came close to conquering Scotland, Edward also governed Gascony in south-west France and played a major part in European diplomacy and war. Examining the full range of manuscript sources, the book reveals a capable monarch facing complex simultaneous challenges.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (July 21, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300072090
• ISBN-13: 978-0300072099
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #686,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, but DRY, February 19, 2000

By 

Jon M. Stallard "Jon M. Stallard" (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Edward I (The English Monarchs Series) (Paperback)

A bit dull, but likely the best researched volume available on E1. I would recommend this title more for scholarly use than for the "armchair historian", as I think it would fail to hold the attention of any but the most devoted reader. Contemporary documentation dealing with the private Edward must be quite limited, so reliance upon administrative documentation is inevitable, but it makes the work less than personable. Prestwich's, "The Three Edwards", though grander in scope actually seems to hone in better on the personalities of the subject (and his son and grandson, to boot!) That being said, I doubt one could find a more detailed and comprehensive study.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent biography on one of England's best rulers, June 1, 2004

By 

lordhoot "lordhoot" (Anchorage, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edward I (The English Monarchs Series) (Paperback)

Along with J.R. Maddicott's biography on Simon de Montfort, I would put this biography as one of the best biographies written for historical figures of this time period. Good thing is, they both compliment each other well.

Michael Prestwich's work proves to be superbly researched, highly informative and above all for me, very readable. It does help to have some previous reading on the subject since Edward I had a long career from his teen age years and it kept going until he died. The thick book covers all aspects of Edward's long and colorful life in richness of details and facts.

In this book, you will not see Edward Longshank of that movie, Braveheart, which probably did its outmost to ruined the reputation of this great ruler. In this book, the reader will understand why many regards Edward I as one of England's greatest rulers, easily in the top five, maybe the top three!!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this subject and had read on this material before. Good background reading would be helpful in getting the most out of this book. Written by a great scholar for other scholars or "scholar want to be".

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars scholarly exposition of the memorable reign, May 15, 2001

By 

Boris Aleksandrovsky (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edward I (The English Monarchs Series) (Paperback)

Edward I (Yale English Monarchs) by Michael Prestwich is an extremely well researched, cross-referenced and influential book on the subject of early Plantagenet history. Drawn on the original records of the age (late 13th, early 14th century) is portrays different achievements of the productive reign - Edward a Lawgiver, Edward a Warrior in Scotland and France, Edward a Family Men, Edward a Diplomat, and ... of course Edward loosing his temper. Especially well presented are the accounts of the Household and Exchequer, and a review of Parliamentary activities of Edward. Books somewhat dry tone is justified by extensive reference collection. A great first scholarly introduction to one of the most important reigns in British history.