Plantagenets: History of a Dynasty [Hardcover]

Jeffrey Hamilton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 2010

The story of the Plantagenet dynasty is the story of one of the pivotal ages in English history. Attitudes and outlooks were formed with regard to a vast array of profoundly important issues. Such fundamental issues as the relationship between church and state, the nature of government/governance, the interaction of social and economic classes, and ultimately the idea of what it means to be English were all shaped to a great degree by the events of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The rare snippets of information revealing the sorts of people these kings really were brings the narrative to life ... There is much to recommend this book, which skilfully interweaves into a familiar narrative the latest theories and interpretations of a period which defined not just the monarchy, but the English nation as a whole.

(Bbc History Magazine )

The rare snippets of information revealing the sorts of people these kings really were brings the narrative to life ... There is much to recommend this book, which skilfully interweaves into a familiar narrative the latest theories and interpretations of a period which defined not just the monarchy, but the English nation as a whole.

(, )

About the Author

Jeffrey Hamilton is Professor and Chair of History at Baylor University. An authority on the political history of 13th &14th-century England, he specialises in the reign of Edward II.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (July 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1441157123
• ISBN-13: 978-1441157126
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #854,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, June 7, 2011

By 

Phyllis Eddings - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plantagenets: History of a Dynasty (Hardcover)

to receive the book and not discover until reading the introduction that Dr. Hamilton begins with Richard II. He categorizes the early Plantagenets as Angevins, which they are, but they are also Plantagenets. The nickname comes from Planta genista, or common broom plant that dates to Henry II's father, Geoffrey of Anjou. Geoffrey wore a sprig of it in his hat. I think Dr. Hamilton should have chosen a more accurate title for the book. It felt like a bait-and-switch to get people who love the early Plantagenets to pay attention to the later ones.

Otherwise, great reading.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Who knew?, October 7, 2010

By 

I. Beavis (Long Beach USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Plantagenets: History of a Dynasty (Hardcover)

As a history buff, I have consumed volumes on British History from the Tudors onward. I always wanted to know more about earlier periods and this book did the trick. This is an easy read that spans the dynasty and casts light on the incredible influence the Plantagenets had on future generations.