Henry II (English Monarchs) [Paperback]

W. L. Warren (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0520034945 | ISBN-13: 978-0520034945 | Publication Date: November 28, 1977

Henry II was an enigma to contemporaries, and has excited widely divergent judgments ever since. Dramatic incidents of his reign, such as his quarrel with Archbishop Becket and his troubled relations with his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his sons, have attracted the attention of historical novelists, playwrights, and filmmakers, but with no unanimity of interpretation. That he was a great king there can be no doubt. Yet his motives and intentions are not easy to divine, and it is Professor Warren's contention that concentration on the great crises of the reign can lead to distortion. This book is therefore a comprehensive reappraisal of the reign based, with rare understanding, on contemporary sources; it provides a coherent and persuasive revaluation of the man and the king, and is, in itself an eloquent and impressive achievement.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"This must surely rank as one of the classic historical biographies...it will hold its place not only as a work of reference but as a piece of historical literature."--Observer

"W. L. Warren has written a life of the great Angevin whose scholarship and fair-mindedness should make it the classic account for the next fifty years. . . . Dr. Warren's monumental celebration is made to last."--The Times

"The result is masterly. . . . it is alive all through, a fine work by a professional historian who can write and has an eye for significant detail, without burying us under it."--Sunday Telegraph

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (November 28, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520034945
• ISBN-13: 978-0520034945
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good biography on a great King of England, June 1, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Henry II (English Monarchs) (Paperback)

Unlike the previous reviewer, I found the book to be well written and very readable. The research proves to be fine, informative and gives a great insight into this ruler who created England's first oversea empire.

The author gives all aspects of Henry's life, his strengths and his weaknesses that mold him into a King that he became in history. Henry's victories and failures were also shown with equal light but I would say that the author handled two great conflicts of Henry's life, his struggles against his wife and family and Henry's battle with Thomas Beckett superbly well.

Like most books on this series, it would helped if you had some previous background on the subject period. The book really isn't for a casual reader. The author didn't write this book to be on New York Times best seller list. Its a scholarly work for scholarly minded people. But the book still remains the standard work on Henry II to this day and it has stood the test of time so far.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite King, My Favorite Biography, January 9, 2001

By 

John Hamer (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Henry II (English Monarchs) (Paperback)

In every historical atlas you will see a map of Henry II's dominions streteching from Scotland & Ireland across Normandy and Aquitaine down to the Pyrenees. Henry is also known for his friendship with St. Thomas Becket -- the story which was made into the classic movie "Becket" -- which was quite a good movie, but not very good history. (Henry II is also in "The Lion in Winter" which is an even better movie and much better in its history.) But aside from these notices he seems somewhat overlooked in comparison with other Kings in England's pantheon, especially in comparison with his son, Richard the Lionhearted.
It is therefore very fortunate that Henry should have such an excellent biography. Warren's "Henry II" takes the whole reign topically -- it does a wonderful job of teaching not only about Henry II but also the general topics of Medieval Kingship, English law and government, church & state, etc.

49 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cracking book for a crackerjack of a king, May 25, 2000

By 

Donal Fenlon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henry II (English Monarchs) (Paperback)

Henry II is one of the few monarchs, English or otherwise to visit Ireland. He came to protect himself as some ambitious barons from the Marchs (borderlands) of Wales were trying to set up a rival kingdom here. Fair play to Henry for coming at all. The next English monarch to bother with a personal visit to Ireland was Richard III some two and a half centuries later ! Henry by all accounts was a fascinating person. He travelled all over the territories he ruled with what was said to be a restless energy. He threw himself into government with much energy and is credited with laying the foundations of common law. For example he introduced jury trial to prevent the practice of trial by duel. This helped to bring peace and fairness to judicial proceedings and leaves us with the legacy of jury trial and the O J Simpson case. (Bring back Henry to resolve that one I hear you say.) Still King Henry II was a serious player in his time. When the murder of his Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Beckett was partly said to be his resposibility, Henry had himself publicly whipped as a form of penance and redemption. He clearly believed his stock had to be backed up with real sacrifice, the kind todays politicians seem to think is practised by saying 'I'm sorry' or 'I did not sleep with that woman' whatever good they might be doing elsewhere. Henry had to battle his way to the throne. England was in civil war when he was growing up. It was only after many years in struggle during the period of the anarchy of Stephen, a king the English would like to forget about, did Henry eventually succeed to the English throne. However, Henry was Duke of Normandy as well and could lay claim to larger and richer areas of France than the King of France, who was his nominal overlord and Henry's wife's ex-husband. Hows that for a constitutional set-up. Henry II was surrounded by interesting people not least his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, a high-born, strong willed woman with a rich daddy. His son Richard known as the Lionheart was as blood thirsty an "sob" as you'll ever find, notorious for his massacres in the Holy Land while on crusade. The English seem to think something of him, (check out the statue of him currently outside the English parliament at Westminster) despite his having only spent six months at home as king. Then theres John whose gone down in history as a scheming weiner, but his importance to us can't be dismissed as Magna Carta a legal document of much significance later was signed into law in his reign. Henry II worked hard and did much. He lived a long life, out living several of his offspring, slept with many women (John Kennedy eat your heart out) and was an all round mover and shaker of his time. This book tells the story of this man in great detail, shining a light in many areas of interest to people with little knowledge of this period. I would read this book again for a rundown on Henry II's antics and achievements alone. ((See the film Lion in Winter for a play-adapted to film of Henry's politiking at its most fascinating (won Oscars, great cast, a slice of witty intrigue)