The Plantagenet Chronicles 1154-1485: Richard the Lionheart, Richard II, Henry V, Richard III

by Derek Wilson

The Plantagenet Chronicles tells the fascinating story of a forgotten dynasty. Ascending the throne just after the decline of the Normans in 1154 and retaining their grip on power until the rise of the Tudors in 1485, the Plantagenets oversaw a remarkable array of political, social and economic parliament, trial by jury, civil rights, the English language and even the emergence of a distinct British national identity all came about under their reign. The Plantagenet Chronicles is a compelling, year-by-year account of a tumultuous and critical period in the development of the English nation. Each year is covered by a concise, informative and accessible narrative, amplified by extensive quotation from contemporary sources and accompanied by stunning images of the period — including illuminations, portraits, maps, royal seals, tapestries and other artifacts.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Medieval History, Biography, Historical, Reference

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Derek Wilson has been a writer of historical fiction and non-fiction for 50 years. His much acclaimed prize-winning works have largely centred on 16th and 17th century Europe. He has used various pen names for his fiction, his current Thomas Treviot Tudor crime series being written under the name D.K. Wilson. The first 2 books in this series - The First Horseman and The Traitor's Mark are based on real unsolved Tudor mysteries and have received enthusiastic plaudits. Readers have favourably compared this innovative series with the books of C.J. Sansom and S.J. Parris.
Recent non-fiction triumphs include The Plantagenets, Holbein: Portrait of an Unknown Man, and Charlemagne: a Biography.
Derek Wilson graduated from Cambridge and spent several years travelling and teaching in Africa before becoming a full-time writer and broadcaster in 1971. He has frequently written and appeared on radio and television and is popular as a public speaker having appeared at several literary festivals,British Museum, Hampton Court Palace, The British Library and other prestigious venues.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations alone are enough to make the book worth the buy, there are tapestries and paintings, maps, letters written and side notes about everything from castles to the crusades.
I was a little disappointed in how the author glossed over Edward IV, Edward V, and Richard III. He smashed them into a total of 7 pages and left his analysis of Richard III to saying that after his brother died, he locked up the sons in the tower, had them killed, and then he was killed at Bosworth Field. Most of the Authors other works are about the Tudors, so it is probably safe to say he has a bit of a Tudor agenda, but even with that, on the whole, the book is still a very comprehensive history of the Plantagenet line.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent look at the Plantagenet Kings of England from Henry II to Richard III.

Some kings are covered with more depth than others, but the book is readable, interesting and entertaining.

Ideal for anyone who knows little about England's Kings and wishes to learn.

Highly recommended.

[Orsolya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Plantagenets (from Henry II to Richard III) are generally known for mischief and being the center of what we call the ‘Wars of the Roses’. That’s what makes history so great, right? Drama? Derek Wilson reveals the dynastic figures in this lineage in, “The Plantagenet Chronicles: 1154 – 1485”.

“The Plantagenet Chronicles” is an oversized, full-color, glossy-paged coffee table book which explores the reigns of the Plantagenet monarchs. Wilson divides the chapters in chronological lineage order with each chapter/monarch also subdivided per major events in time/year chunks. Wilson focuses on major events during each reign and thus “The Plantagenet Chronicles” is more of an overview versus an in-depth consolidation. Despite this, it is still evident that Wilson conducted thorough research.

Wilson’s prose is solid and not dummied down for coffee table book audiences but it is also a bit ‘reserved’ which results in the text being less than memorable. “The Plantagenet Chronicles” is best suited as introductory material to those new to the topic or as a quick fact checker for those already well-read.

“The Plantagenet Chronicles” is filled with photos, illustrations, paintings, quotes, documents, etc; which certainly strengthens the entirety of the book. Even the captions add essence as they don’t merely describe the photo but explain the context so the reader learns from illustrations, as well.

At times, “The Plantagenet Chronicles” is a bit overrun with facts (especially with the names of nobles) and is therefore a bit dry. Plus, the focus is mostly on governmental policies with very little to no mention of personal lives, Queens, or families and therefore the text lacks a personal element which tends to dry scholarly historic texts. However, “The Plantagenet Chronicles” is a solid work if that is what you are seeking.

Wilson’s text livens starting with the discussion of Edward II and is maintained into the section specifically focusing on the Wars of the Roses. This is relative, though, as “The Plantagenet Chronicles” overall is still somewhat filtered and unexciting. Basically, Wilson doesn’t seem to do the topic justice.

“The Plantagenet Chronicles” offers a summarized post script, Plantagenet succession chart, and a sources list (not as many sources were used as one would expect, but at least most are primary).

Wilson’s “The Plantagenet Chronicles” is a visual feast and a perfect choice for the coffee table of an English Medieval times fan. However, the staunch historian and those familiar with the topic won’t gain much from the text. “The Plantagenet Chronicles” is best suited for the novice reader or to be visually glanced through and read here-and-there. Despite my complaints, though, it isn’t a bad coffee table history book.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief history, not very detailed, but hits the general points.

[Tony Bertram · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quite enjoyable read but there is a bit of carelessness at times with dates and a bit of slipshod editing. Edward 1V's gaining the crown gets little acknowledgement.

[Michelle Feist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who wants to make sense of all the various Plantagenet kings and how they "fit" into history. I became interested in this particular dynasty when I realized that many of the historical fiction books I was reading featured Plantagenet kings and families. The "Mistress of the Art of Death" series features King Henry the II, "Pillars of the Earth" and "World Without End" by Ken Follett are set during the reigns of Plantagenet kings, "The Forest Laird" by Jack White which retells the life of William Wallace involved King Edward III, and of course all my favorites by Sharon Kay Penman, Anne Easter Smith and Phillipa Gregory revolve around the last 2 Plantagenets - King Edward IV and his brother, King Richard III. This beautiful "coffee table book" was on sale at Indigo for only $25 and so I had to have it! It has greatly helped me get a better sense of history and of the important role that this family has played in many of the social and political changes in Europe. (Although I'm still bitter that Henry Tudor killed Richard in 1485...)What's great about a book like this is that you can read it cover to cover, or just choose a king/chapter and read the sections in any order you like. Great for those times you just want to read a "little something" while waiting for your favorite program on TV, or before bed.

[Stacie (MagicOfBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like "The Tudors Chronicles" and "The Borgias Chronicles," "The Plantagenet Chronicles" is a comprehensive guide to the Plantagenet dynasty. It's not the full history---more like the highs and lows of each king, what they achieved and what they failed at. The book contains beautiful artwork of the era as well as contemporary commentary of the time.

I think the one thing I was most disappointed about (and I've seen another reviewer mention this), is that the Wars of the Roses is very brief. For a civil war that was pretty complicated and intense, I was surprised that that whole section of the book barely took up 50 pages.

In need of more Plantagenet history outside of this book? I suggest reading Philippa Gregory's fictional narrative of the Wars of the Roses in her "Cousin's War" series, which follows some of the leading woman of the dueling families. And I also suggest watching the BBC miniseries "The Hollow Crown" based off of Shakespeare's "Richard II," "Henry IV Parts 1 and 2," and "Henry V" starring Ben Whishaw, Jeremy Irons, and Tom Hiddleston.

[Jacob Stelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, useful as a short summary of Plantagenet rule from Henry II to Richard III. However, in my opinion some parts were far too brief, and in this book the author seems to have tried to condense too much history into scarcely more than 250 pages.

In all, this book, upon a second reading, felt like a condensed and limited version of Dan Jones’ ‘Plantagenets’ and its sequel, ‘The Hollow Crown’, which together cover the same period in much more depth, and so are better for in-depth reading of the period.

[Miki Persson Caracciolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good whistle stop tour of the Lancastrian kings. simple and clear writing style with some good details, enjoyable and easy read if interested in British medieval history. I really liked how at the end the author highlights how the Lancastrians contributed to modern Britain. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Henry V, John I and Richard I. However I wish it was more detailed in certain areas, especially towards the end.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the Plantagenets. Not as detailed as Dan Jones' book, but then it's not nearly as long, either. I'd definitely recommend it to someone who's curious about English royalty and politics in the Plantagenet era if they're not interested in hashing the fine points of of events.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and informative, this history of the Plantagenet dynasty and the 300 years it ruled England provides a great overview over the country's medieval kings and their times.

[N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly an enjoyable read, only near the end everything felt rushed, and I would've liked more about the Wars of the Roses.
Also Shakespeare has obviously spoilt me w/r/t Richard II. This felt stale.

[G. Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview, bit of a whistle stop tour and surprisingly short, really, for the amount of time it covers. A good read, not the best on the subject.

[Giacomo Casale · Rating 3 out of 5]

A casual overview of 300 years’ worth of history - not sure how useful/accurate that is! But Edward III still remains my favourite.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derek Wilson reminds us in The Plantagenets: The Kings That Made Britain that England was not really the singular country as we know it today until the reign of the Plantagenent kings, beginning with Henry II in 1178 up to the reign of Richard III that ended in 1485. I chose to read this book that was just under 300 pages, as opposed to tomes of almost twice the length on the same subject because I wanted to learn this history without getting bogged down in the minutia of research and historical debate that sometimes tell lay readers more than we really want to know. Happily, Wilson relates the chronology of these Medieval kings in a storytelling way without taking lengthy detours into scholarly asides. While occasionally primary sources pepper the story here and there, largely it is Wilson telling us what happened, and we put our trust in his knowledge and research as a historian that he knows what he is talking about. We learn about how much the English world in the 12th to 15th centuries was determined by men staking a claim for the throne, and how the kings used military might to quash rebellious subjects who often questioned the king's rights and authority. What stands out, then, is how much the Plantagenet kings were at odds with their own subjects, especially the Barons who finally insisted that King John sign the Magna Carta, because they felt too much power was concentrated in the throne. Wilson also reveals the human side to these men, and they often show far more human weaknesses than is often attributed to kingly men. Even Richard the Lionheart is shown with much less deft than his iconic name would suggest. Wilson tells us that the development of English law was largely a result of power struggles between the kings that hoarded power, and Barons and even rebels who wanted to wield their own influences on their homeland.

If I have a criticism of The Plantagenets it is perhaps that Derek Wilson's prose tells us a lot of overall events rather than engaging in specific anecdotes about a particular episode in the king's life. Perhaps this explains why the book is rather short, each king's reign is covered in roughly 20 to 30 pages. While he tells us what happened in colorful and energetic prose, there is a lot of forest in his narrative but relatively few individual trees to admire. The narrative chooses to tell of overall events while avoiding the nugget of history, the day in the life of any particular king that might reveal as much about his personality as the blow by blow account of what happened during the reign. Yet, this book is engaging and compelling because it is told in a no bars hold style, not shying away from the humorous, the grotesque, and the horrific, even though from our school days we may have believed that kings and heroism are almost synonymous.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Plantagenets were the dynasty that ruled England from the 12th century through the 15th century. Their dynasty started with Henry II and his end to the "Anarchy", not that his reign still didn't have some and ended with the War of the Roses and Richard III. The book has a lot of who, what, when, and where, but generally does not delve much into the how or why.

Wilson's writing style is simple and straightforward. He limits his use of primary sources, and his writing really does not challenge the reader. The book can be considered as a brief introduction to a very turbulent period in the history of England--wars with Scotland and Wales, and plenty of intrigue! The later is why i wish there would have been more on the how and why....

[Pieter Baert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice general overview of the Plantagenet dynasty but for me it lacked detail. I would have prefered a more detailed outline of the individual king's rules. Also some very important events were left to the sidelines. The Hundred Years War f.e. is taking place only in the margins and the War of the Roses is given a bit more body but it makes it look weird to see it detailed quite ok but not other major events in English history.

Still a good book for who wants to know more about these English Kings and likes broad overviews.

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for beginners interested in British history, particularly the medieval period. It gives a concise overview that spans about 3 centuries and doesn't rely on speculation too much. There are pictures of each monarch, family trees and other informative imagery that labours the point further

In conclusion, if you know nothing about the Plantagenet Kings, this is a good place to start. I would supplement it with further reading specifically regarding each monarch individually but as an overview it's spot on.

[Piotr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A number of times - despite knowing a real lot (as for non-Brit) about British history - had to stop reading to think over: "is that BARBARIC story about the country that laid the very foundations of the so-called Western Civilization??" Not about Attila and his Huns, Mongolian or Tatar herdsmen-invaders?
Written just a few years before the pathethic Brexit, this extraordinary book perfectly reminds WHY Britain became GREAT, WHAT had bo be done (and so often: suffer) to achieve that greatness.
As concise as captivating.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This very concise history of the Plantagenet era was, alas, a trial to read. Clearly, the writer had a tough task - covering so many events and keeping the book a modest length. However, there were significant details left out or glossed over, particularly when it came to the consorts/queens of the kings. I found it difficult to follow and had to re-read sections. Not at all a bad introduction but certainly I am glad this was a library borrow as I would not buy my own copy. I shall focus on reading about individual kings, queens and shorter periods.

[Ross Firth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wilson is obviously knowledgeable and has a passion for this era of English history. His voice is authoritative and his skilled balance of simplifying complicated historical events without "dumbing it down" for the reader is admirable.
However, with Wilson's passion comes the text's downfall, as it is prone to bias and some of the entries contain massive accusations without any reference.
In short, a good and interesting read, but not without its share of flaws

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book, gives a brilliant, basic knowledge regarding the monarchs and a wider situational awareness of English and Continental affairs. Both give the reader a fantastic perspective of affairs. However, you do find yourself reading a few paragraphs over and again because the punctuation is lacking and requires you to pause and really think what the author is trying to convey.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great companion when reading British historical fiction and you need to do a spot of fact checking. Also fantastic when sorting out the Richards, Edwards and Henrys as I keep getting confused. Had to dip into this when reading Queen of the North, but perfect for anyone who loves Sharon Penman's novels.

[Brooklyn Tayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

An immaculate book covering each King from the Plantagenet reign in England. I really liked how each chapter was devoted to a monarch, and I learnt lots. I'd definitely read more of this authors' books. Very well researched and I couldn't put it down.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book. From a historical point of view it is well written and it offers a broad analysis of the Plantagenet kings. But from a bookworm point of view I love how the publisher dealt with the book. It’s more than good, the pictures and the titles are really nice.

[Luke Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read overview of the Plantagenet history. A good starting point.

[J Grimsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to remember the Plantagenet Kings

[C.H. Elton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really informative and easy to read.

[Matt Handley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best English monarchical dynasty? Me thinks so

[Emily Jarzembski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great read. I sped through it quickly. The fact that it is broken up into very easily digestable sections keeps it from getting dry, and makes for clear distinctions among the kings. The information doesn't run together so it was easy for me to remember what I read about specific people, and it was also easy to refer back to each of them.

Wilson shatters a lot of illusions I previously had about certain kings, Richard I and Edward I in particular, which I found immensely interesting. As it contians informantion on so many people it doesn't dive too deep, but rather gives a nice overview of each king's character and rule.

I have already recommended this book to several people and will continue to recommened it to anyone interested in English history.