This Sceptred Isle: The Dynasties, Volume Two: The Mortimers, the Berkeleys, the Irish Dynasties

This Sceptred Isle: The Dynasties #2

by Christopher Lee

This Sceptred Isle provided the radio account of the British nation, from 55BC to the end of the 20th century. Now it’s attention turns towards the incredibly powerful families which have wielded power behind the scenes for the past 1,000 years. The Dynasties relates how the loyalties of this privileged elite, many of whom are older than the monarchy itself, were tested and rewarded; it also uncovers a multitude of murderous plots, bloody battles, adulteries, intrigues and shocking executions.

In the second volume Christopher Lee looks at the Mortimers, one of whose number became Edward IV. He relates the story of the Berkeleys, who lent their name to a fashionable London Square and in whose castle Edward II was murdered and finally he chronicles the fortunes of a triumvirate of warring Irish dynasties, Macmurroughs, the Fitzgeralds and the O’Neills.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook

3 pages, Audio Cassette

First published March 18, 1996

About the author

Christopher Lee was a British writer, historian, and broadcaster, best known for creating and writing the acclaimed BBC Radio 4 documentary series This Sceptred Isle. His career spanned journalism, academia, military service, and historical writing.
After an early life at sea, he studied history at London University before joining the BBC as a defence and foreign affairs correspondent, with postings in Moscow and the Middle East. He later transitioned into academia, becoming the first Quatercentenary Fellow in Contemporary History at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and conducting research at Birkbeck College. He also served in the Royal Navy's Joint Intelligence Reserve Branch, reaching the rank of captain.
Lee’s This Sceptred Isle, originally broadcast in 1995, chronicled British history from Roman times to the 20th century and was expanded with additional series covering the 20th century and the British Empire. His historical works include 1603, Nelson and Napoleon, and Monarchy, Past, Present… and Future?, as well as an abridgment of Winston Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples. He was also a prolific radio playwright, penning over 100 plays and series for BBC Radio 4.
Beyond writing, he served as a defence and foreign affairs adviser to the British Forces Broadcasting Service for 30 years and was involved in policy analysis.
He divided his time between Sussex and Florence, Italy, and was married to portrait painter Fiona Graham-Mackay. Lee passed away in 2021 at the age of 79.

Reviews

[Bettie]

NB Most recent updates are at the top.

I have just got to the part where Æthelred is King and I wanted to listen to this version of events as I am currently reading A Hollow Crown The Story of Emma, Queen of Saxon England, which is a fictionalised account of those times.

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It opens with Julius Ceasar's visit to Britain and Britains at this time are Celts.

[Kyla Squires · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not as interesting or complete as the others in this series.