William Rufus (English Monarchs) [Paperback]

Frank Barlow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2000

William II, better known as William Rufus, was the third son of William the Conqueror and England's king for only 13 years (1087-1100) before he was mysteriously assassinated. In this vivid biography, here updated and reissued with a new preface, Frank Barlow reveals an unconventional, flamboyant William Rufus a far more attractive and interesting monarch than previously believed. Weaving an intimate account of the life of the king into the wider history of Anglo-Norman government, Barlow shows how William confirmed royal power in England, restored the ducal rights in France, and consolidated the Norman conquest. A boisterous man, William had many friends and none of the cold cruelty of most medieval monarchs. He was famous for his generosity and courage, and generally known to be homosexual. Licentious, eccentric, and outrageous, his court was attacked at the time by Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, and later by censorious historians. This highly readable account of William Rufus and his brief but important reign is an essential volume for readers with an interest in Anglo-Saxon and medieval history or in the lives of extraordinary monarchs.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Frank Barlow is emeritus professor of history at the University of Exeter, and author of many major books on medieval history, including the Yale English Monarch volume on Edward the Confessor (ISBN 0 300 07156 6, #13.95*).

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 2nd edition (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300082916
• ISBN-13: 978-0300082913
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #995,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars remarkable detail on a rare subject, June 2, 2002

By 

Brian Smith (Hudson, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: William Rufus (English Monarchs) (Hardcover)

I was impressed with the amount of detail on William Rufus by Frank Barlow. He pieced together a time in English history that seems to be looked over by most historians. Barlow makes a strong analytical approach to dispelling public perception of William Rufus. He makes sure you understand that the remaining documentaton on William Rufus is so fragmented. And that that does remain is from one point of view, the Church which obvouisly does not favor William Rufus. Barlow points out William II was a more capable ruler than most give him credit for and this angle is enough to make this book a must read for those interested in Norman History and the English crown.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a look at a forgotten king, November 24, 2001

By 

"catback" (Lima, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: William Rufus (English Monarchs) (Paperback)

William Rufus (William the Red), second son of William the Conquer,took over England while his older brother's back was turned and ruled it for little over a decade before being killed in a strange hunting "accident" in the New Forest. That's about all the space he gets in history today, except the claims that he was a homosexual, an atheist, an all-round bad person and the less said the better. While this book takes pains to look at and question these charges,it is not the only subject that the author deals with in William's regin. Despite being a "wild and crazy guy" and running a court that looks like a frat house, William seems also to have been an able adminstor, a good diplomat and a strong enough miltary leader to keep his elder brother out of England and the Saxons quiet. I enjoied this book, one of the few on the subject and a serious study of it's subject. A good source on a rare subject.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Scholarly But Entertaining Work, March 20, 2009

By 

Stuart McCunn (New Haven, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: William Rufus (English Monarchs) (Hardcover)

This book covers the reign of the second Norman king of England. The son of William the Conqueror, William Rufus (A name that he probably never used in his lifetime) was the successor to his fathers kingdom but not his estates in Normandy. As king of England he continued his fathers policies with definite, but more limited success. A homosexual who never married, he fought with the church who thought him a corrupt and immoral man. This biography brings this little known king to life. Although somewhat dry this book maintained my interest throughout. Although not the most interesting figure in early English history, William was an important one and this biography will likely remain the best resource available on him.