Customer Reviews

Great Tales from English History: The Truth About King Arthur, Lady Godiva, Richard the Lionheart, and More

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Lacey's latest effort is superlative simply because it achieves what it states in its introduction. Namely, to provide a series of anecdotal storeis regarding historical figures any English person simply should know about. As he blandly states, history drops of the curricula quite early on in the english school and the history there is focuses on thematic history rather than factual. I recall dropping history at an early age because it was all about the political twentieth century and didn't really go into our history prior to the Industrial Revolution.
Lacey seeks to rectify that with his delightful and accurate stories about the greatest historcial figures from England's past, cheerfully admitting where he is simply adding to the `word-of-mouth' means of keeping history alive (albeit in the written format) and that he has no primary evidence for the stories. As such we are treated to stories that are part of English folklore, such as King Arthur, Whitby, Cheddar Man, King Alfred, Robin Hood and more. Each is told is a factual manner but doesn't forget that the primary motive for history is storytelling, hence the anecdotal style. The sequence of short tales means you can dip in and out of the book, rather than having to read it staight through (though this is just as pleasurable a read) and, by the end, as it so often is, you remember a lot about many of the tales for the human gossip element that prevails throughout.

Robert Lacey has compiled a chronicle of anecdotal English History from 7150 BC through Richard II's reign in AD 1381, when the first faint rumblings of democracy spread across the land, as well as an awareness of the economic opportunity that sometimes arises from the misfortune of others. In this compact tome, Lacey tackles some of the stories that have been cloaked in mystery and mythology, told and retold over the years, exposing obvious fallacies and offering more sensible, if less colorful explanations for such phenomenon as Lady Godiva's naked romp, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table and the true adventures (?) of Robin Hood, who "stole from the rich to give to the poor."

By demythologizing history, Lacey breathes life into pivotal characters, placing them in an appropriate context from which we can view their exploits with a grain of common sense. Of even greater value and a welcome addition to this slim volume are the bibliography and source notes provided at the back of the book. Lacey takes advantage of the electronic age, offering a series of internet sites where the reader may indulge his curiosity for English history in general, or individual stories as listed in the Table of Contents, whether it be Henry I and the tragedy of The White Ship, The Domesday Book or The Fair Maid of Kent and The Order of the Garter.

Myriad small, but important details abound: once the Romans left Britain in 410 AD, written records of civilization were not kept until nearly 600 AD because the Anglo- Saxons did not keep recorded accounts; the Venerable Bede was the first real English historian and it is he who tells of the insults passed between the Irish and the English, the first documented poet, Caedemon, the popular disciplines of science, mathematics, astronomy and poetry and the process of AD dating; after the battle of Hastings in 1060, William the Conqueror introduced the element of the people's consent into governance, hence the phrase, "Long live the King!"; the White Ship incident was the Titanic of the Middle Ages, carrying the heir of Henry I, as it tragically sunk with the hopes of the future and the lack of an heir led to the first prolonged civil war; and the first anti-Semitic atrocities were committed during the reign of Richard the Lionheart, heir of Henry II, who did his best to stop the attacks, but later went on Crusade to Palestine, where he showed no mercy in the slaughtering of Muslims.

Certainly, you can research your favorite stories or indulge in a great historical romp through the centuries, beginning with the bones of Cheddar Man. I wasn't sure which route to take, but once I started with Cheddar Man, I just kept reading, tracking the evolution of civilization until I reluctantly came to the end of this volume. At that point, I carefully read the chapter notes and made a list of topics that especially piqued my curiosity. No Condensed Reader's Digest this, but a concise, brilliant compilation of facts guaranteed to spark any reader's interest. Luan Gaines/ 2004.

If you're looking for in-depth analysis of English history, look elsewhere. However, if you want to get a grasp of the major figures and events of early English history, and have fun reading it, this is the book for you. The author has an eye for the details of history which tell a great deal about how the people of the time lived, without getting bogged down in dry trivia. He spends some time debunking popular myths, such as King Arthur and Lady Godiva, but the actual history on which the myths were built is far more fascinating. I especially appreciate his acceptance of historical figures as they were, as opposed to the judgemental, politically-correct attitude so many modern historians bring to their work. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a quick overview of English history.

This, the first in a projected series of three, is an anecdotal romp through real and legendary figures of early English history. If you like your history easy to digest, you'll appreciate the accessible storytelling style and the short, manageable chapters. Robert Lacey provides three maps and an index. Dates are supplied alongside the chapter titles in the Contents.

The cavalcade of "A"-listers features Julius Caesar, Christ, Boadicea, Arthur, St Augustine, Bede, Alfred, Thomas a Becket. Less familiar personalities include, e.g., King Oswy, the Lady of the Mercians, Hereward the Wake. Other chapters deal with moments of historical importance, such as "Simon de Montfort and his Talking Place" which details the origins of Parliament (from the French parler = to talk).

The value of the book is that every chapter enshrines - somtimes quite cunningly - a point of general knowledge. So you're getting two books for the price of one. For example, the chapter on Caedmon, the First English Poet, not only tells the legend of his creativity, but points out his innovation - singing Bible stories in the vernacular ENGLISH, as opposed to the more educated Latin. The bit on the Domesday Book tells not only of that survey, but describes how English imported many French words from the conquering Normans. The Julius Caesar story describes the invading Roman army while telling us about the Julian calendar.

A wonderfully interesting book, especially for the beginner.

I first discovered Robert Lacey as an author from his book 'The Year 1000'. Interesting, accessible, easy to follow, with a good balance of detail and breadth (always a tricky task when writing a popular history), that book was one of my favourites around the turn of the second millennium. I discovered this book after finding the second volume of this set on the shelves of my local library, and have found it equally worthwhile and fun to read.

This book focuses upon the period from Britain's prehistoric period up to the Middle Ages (the second volume concentrates on the late Middle Ages to the post-Reformation era in English history) - in royal terms, the times of the pre-Norman Conquest kingdoms and invasions, and the early Plantagenets. In years, this goes from the years around 7000 BC to the late 1300s (Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt).

One of the things that I like a lot about this particular history is that the stories are brief and self-contained while being part of the overall flow of the history of England. They make for good bed-time reading (the longest of the stories is barely seven pages long, in easy print and easy, storytelling language). Many of the characters are already familiar figures even to those who aren't Anglophiles - William the Conqueror, Alfred the Great, Boadicea, Thomas Becket and Richard the Lionhearted. Then there will be figures that are lesser known but just as interesting - the Cheddar Man (no, he wasn't made of cheese) from 7000s BC and the Fair Maids of Kent (a story with the foundation of the Order of the Garter). These are tales told in a simplified but memorable manner, and could serve for younger and older readers as a stimulus for further reading and investigation about topics brought up in the text.

There are a few maps, royal lineage charts, and woodcut/line art drawings throughout the text. Lacey includes a bibliography for further reading (this contains a good number of website addresses for making further research very easy). There is also an index, which many popular histories forget, but Lacey is to be highly praised for including one here, making looking up particular names, places and events very easy.

This book consists of chapters about famous (and not so famous) people in English history, written in an easily readable style that even a person not interested in history might enjoy.

The author seperates truth from fiction and all the while keeps it interesting. And the chapters are only three or four pages, so if you get bored with a chapter, go on to the next! But boredom setting in with this book is highly unlikely.

Highly recommended

These stories are entertaining and informative. He tells a continuous narrative of early British history by piecing together vignettes.

As a poorly-educated American I often lost the strand of the vignettes. Kings from one century merged into another. Basically, the idea I get from this book is that historically the lives of Brits were nasty, brutish and short.

The book finishes with the tale of Wat Tyler. Britons are as oppressed at the end of the book as they are at the beginning.

Occasionally this author lets us know his opposition to the recent US and UK led war against Saddam, and possibly, to other US policies in the Mideast. If I were Mr. Lacey's editor I would have deftly incised these passages from the text in order to produce a timeless narrative that concentrates on an ancient era.

If you're an American like me, and have been overburdened by English histories that either assume too much knowledge or mire you in detail, this book and its sequel (I believe another is in the works as well) are exactly what you're looking for. The tales are framed within historical context so you get a good handle on the broader overall English history, but they're also enjoyably written, as well as presented in easily digestible bite-sized chunks.

I sincerely hope Mr. Lacey applies his talent for distilling history to its essentials in many more books.

The author, Robert Lacey, states on page p-xiv "There may be such a thing as pure, true history-what actually, really, definitely happened in the past-but it is unknowable". He notes "Heroes and herorines are judged to have had their day. The un-teaching of history concentrates on `themes rather than personalities. But personality-human nature-is surely the essence of history." In forty-four brief essays, Lacey narrates the stories of the greatest English personalities from the 7150 BC Cheddar Man to Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt in 1381 AD.

Often early history is based on myths because records are lacking and accounts sometimes were written four or five hundred years after the event. King Arthur is a prime example and while he probably lived there are questions regarding his reign. In brief accounts, the author discusses several characters of English history. The text's account of Lady Godiva is most interesting. Godiva was a "generous, kind-hearted and, by all accounts, highly respectable." Regarding her famous ride Lacey writes "Godiva may have ridden out symbolically naked-that is, stripped of the fine jewelry and sumptuous costume that denoted her status as one of the great of the land." Lacey notes "But real nudity is much more fun, and that is how the story has just not endured but developed." Robin Hood (AD 1225) doesn't come out as well in the text. The only record of his existence is that he came before Royal Judges as an outlaw, and it wasn't until 1589 that we read he took from the rich and gave to the poor. Lacey laments "But it is surely ironic that the national heart has been so stirred down the centuries by a man who started out a thief."

One of the most intriguing events noted is that in 1010 AD a monk named Elmer built and flew a glider in which he "managed a downward glide of some 200 metres before he landed-or, rather, crash-landed." This was over 800 years before glider experiments began in Europe. The text states "Modern aeronautical experts have recreated Elmer's flight...."

The book is not limited to debunking myths, but rather tells the story of medieval England, its monarchs, leaders and history. This is an account filled with drama, intrigue, betrayal, and passion. The text includes many familiar personages such as Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, Richard the Lionheart, John Lackland and the Magna Carta, etc. In many respects this is a tale of the early efforts at democracy in England from its first brief tragic appearances to Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt in 1381 AD. Interestingly, while the Magna Carta was the "first written document limiting the powers of the king", it's enforcement provisions were soon deleted and it benefited only the barons, not the common man. In 1381 AD the peasants revolted protesting a head count tax that climaxed in a confrontation on the meadows of Smithfield. Confronting the rebel leader,Wat Tyler, King Richard II, agreed to the rebel's demands; but when Wat Tyler appeared ready to stab the king, Wat Tyler was killed by the Mayor of London. The action of the boy King Richard II prevented further bloodshed. The king later "rescinded every concession he had had granted under the pressure of rebellion - in his value system, promises made under duress did not count."

The book concludes stating "The processes of democracy and consultation that we enjoy today saw their origins in the years whose story is told in this book" ending with "In the Peasants' Revolt we have heard cries for liberty and equality that resound to this day, and we have seen those demands brutally suppressed."

This is a well-written narrative and is an "easy read." Even the reader who has little interest in medieval English history will find this book enjoyable. The author indicated in his preface, that he is working on another volume that "will follow the great tales of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales..." I look forward to this next volume.

If you are merely curious about some of the stories from British History and don't want to have to read a thick tome, then this is a good book. It's really enjoyable to read from cover to cover, but also a good quick reference book. Maybe by reading this book, you may discover a deeper interest in some of the stories. I feel they really are a set, make sure you get the second book too.