Richard and John: Kings at War

by Frank McLynn

Overview

Legend and lore surround the history of kings Richard and John, from the ballads of Robin Hood and the novels of Sir Walter Scott to Hollywood movies and television. In the myth-making, King Richard, defender of Christendom in the Holy Land, was the "good king," and his younger brother John was the evil usurper of the kingdom, who lost not only the Crown jewels but also the power of the crown. How much, though, do these popular stereotypes correspond with reality? Frank McLynn, known for a wide range of historical studies, has returned to the original sources to discover what Richard and John, these warring sons of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, were really like, and how their history measures up to their myth. In riveting prose, and with attention to the sources, he turns the tables on modern revisionist historians, showing exactly how incompetent a king John was, despite his intellectual gifts, and how impressive Richard was, despite his long absence from the throne. This is history at its best-revealing and readable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786726295
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	10/20/2008
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	608
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Frank McLynn is a highly regarded historian and the author of more than twenty critically acclaimed biographies, including Marcus Aurelius and Richard & John A graduate of Wadham College, Oxford, and London University, where he obtained his doctorate, he lives and writes in England.

Editorial Reviews

McLynn has now taken the counter-revisionist tack. He makes a strong case in maintaining that John truly was a disaster, both as a man and a monarch.McLynn knows how to tell a story, and the story of these two complicated but flawed men is worth revisiting.

Booklist

A lively dual biography of two very different kings.An ambitious, accessible account of the lives of two royal brothers.Readers will find McLynn's well-written brief on Richard and John persuasive and engaging.

Magill Book Reviews

McLynn proves that it's possible to make these far-off times and the tales of those who populated them not only comprehensible, but intensely exciting. McLynn's meticulous research and flashy, entertaining prose brings life to the titular monarchs and their dysfunctional family.McLynn is a talented writer.McLynn's engaging style encourages thought and makes following him through the travails of these two figures a pleasure. McLynn's presence is felt on every page, and it's his voice that keeps the narrative moving swiftly as he weaves the rich life stories of Richard and John with a vivid and essential portrait of the political and social climate of the 12th and 13th centuries. His prose is laden with gems, and is a true treasure-trove for lovers of language.He launches adjectives like arrows, and they fall around their target in a fierce volley.Readers will relish the opportunity to converse with an author who loves language and isn't afraid to use it. Richard and John: Kings at War is everything a historical biography should be. McLynn has a keen eye not only for history, but for storytelling and the importance of artfulness in writing. He invites the reader into a world fully populated with colorful characters, endearing heroes, and detestable villains, and through their stories manages to enthrall, proving that, properly told, the true story can be better than fiction.

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