Richard I (Penguin Monarchs)

The Crusader King

Biography & Memoir, Royalty, Nonfiction, History, Medieval
Cover of the book Richard I (Penguin Monarchs) by Thomas Asbridge, Penguin Books Ltd
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Thomas Asbridge ISBN: 9780141976860
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd Publication: February 22, 2018
Imprint: Penguin Language: English
Author: Thomas Asbridge
ISBN: 9780141976860
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Publication: February 22, 2018
Imprint: Penguin
Language: English

Richard I's reign is both controversial and seemingly contradictory. One of England's most famous medieval monarchs and a potent symbol of national identity, he barely spent six months on English soil during a ten-year reign and spoke French as his first language. Contemporaries dubbed him the 'Lionheart', reflecting a carefully cultivated reputation for bravery, prowess and knightly virtue, but this supposed paragon of chivalry butchered close to 3,000 prisoners in cold blood on a single day. And, though revered as Christian Europe's greatest crusader, his grand campaign to the Holy Land failed to recover the city of Jerusalem from Islam.

Seeking to reconcile this conflicting evidence, Thomas Asbridge's incisive reappraisal of Richard I's career questions whether the Lionheart really did neglect his kingdom, considers why he devoted himself to the cause of holy war and asks how the memory of his life came to be interwoven with myth. Richard emerges as a formidable warrior-king, possessed of martial genius and a cultured intellect, yet burdened by the legacy of his dysfunctional dynasty and obsessed with the pursuit of honour and renown.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Richard I's reign is both controversial and seemingly contradictory. One of England's most famous medieval monarchs and a potent symbol of national identity, he barely spent six months on English soil during a ten-year reign and spoke French as his first language. Contemporaries dubbed him the 'Lionheart', reflecting a carefully cultivated reputation for bravery, prowess and knightly virtue, but this supposed paragon of chivalry butchered close to 3,000 prisoners in cold blood on a single day. And, though revered as Christian Europe's greatest crusader, his grand campaign to the Holy Land failed to recover the city of Jerusalem from Islam.

Seeking to reconcile this conflicting evidence, Thomas Asbridge's incisive reappraisal of Richard I's career questions whether the Lionheart really did neglect his kingdom, considers why he devoted himself to the cause of holy war and asks how the memory of his life came to be interwoven with myth. Richard emerges as a formidable warrior-king, possessed of martial genius and a cultured intellect, yet burdened by the legacy of his dysfunctional dynasty and obsessed with the pursuit of honour and renown.

More books from Penguin Books Ltd

Cover of the book Trust No One by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book Artemis Fowl by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book Elective Affinities by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book Reflections by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book Magic Puffin: A Birthday Surprise (Pocket Money Puffin) by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book The Extraordinary Life of the Wildlife Man by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book The Selected Poems of Cavafy by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book The Nibelungenlied by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book Get in the Sea! by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book Sly Fox and Red Hen - Read it yourself with Ladybird by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book St Mary's Catholic School Presents The Vagina Monologues by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book A Sporting Chance by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book James I (Penguin Monarchs) by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book Ladybird Histories: Tudors and Stuarts by Thomas Asbridge
Cover of the book Never Give Up by Thomas Asbridge
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy