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THOMAS BECKETT; WARRIOR, PRIEST, REBEL
- GenresHistory
Hardcover
Published January 1, 2012
22 people want to read
About the author
John Guy
165 books258 followersJohn Guy is recognised as one of Britain's most exciting and scholarly historians, bringing the past to life with the written word and on the broadcast media with accomplished ease. He's a very modern face of history.
His ability for first class story-telling and books that read as thrillingly as a detective story makes John Guy a Chandleresque writer of the history world. Guy hunts down facts with forensic skill, he doesn't just recite historical moments as they stand; he brings names and faces to life in all their human achievements and weaknesses. He looks for the killer clues so we can see how history unfolded. Like a detective on the trail of a crime, he teases out what makes his subjects tick. With his intimate knowledge of the archives, his speciality is uncovering completely fresh lines of enquiry. He's never content to repeat what we already know but rather, he goes that extra step to solve history's riddles. He takes you on a journey to the heart of the matter. Forget notions of musty academics, when Guy takes hold of history the case he states is always utterly compelling. Whether it's Thomas More or Mary Queen of Scots, Guy makes these people so real you suddenly realize you are hearing them speak to you. You enter into their world. You feel you can almost reach out and touch them.
Born in Australia in 1949, John Guy grew up in England and by the age of 16 he knew he wanted to be a historian. In 2001 he made an accomplished debut as a presenter for the television programme Timewatch, on the life of Thomas More. Today he's turning history books on their head as he wins universal praise and the 2004 Whitbread Prize for biography for his thrilling account of the life of Mary Queen of Scots.
As well as presenting five documentaries for BBC 2 television, including the Timewatch film The King's Servant and the four-part Renaissance Secrets (Series 2), he has contributed to Meet the Ancestors (BBC 2), and to Channel 4's Time Team and Royal Deaths and Diseases. Wolsey's Lost Palace of Hampton Court was a short-listed finalist for the 2002 Channel 4 television awards.
John Guy also appears regularly on BBC Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, BBC World Service and BBC Scotland. In print he currently writes or reviews for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Economist, the Times Literary Supplement, BBC History Magazine and History Today.
His broadcast and journalism experience builds upon his impeccable CV as an academic and author.
Having read History under the supervision of Professor Sir Geoffrey Elton, the pre-eminent Tudor scholar of the late-twentieth century, John Guy took a First and became a Research Fellow of Selwyn College in 1970. Awarded a Greene Cup by Clare College in 1970, he completed his PhD on Cardinal Wolsey in 1973 and won the Yorke Prize of the University of Cambridge in 1976.
John Guy has lectured extensively on Early Modern British History and Renaissance Political Thought in both Britain and the United States. He has published 16 books and numerous academic articles.
John Guy lives in North London. He is a Fellow of Clare College, University of Cambridge, where he teaches part-time so he can devote more time to his writing and broadcasting career.
His ability for first class story-telling and books that read as thrillingly as a detective story makes John Guy a Chandleresque writer of the history world. Guy hunts down facts with forensic skill, he doesn't just recite historical moments as they stand; he brings names and faces to life in all their human achievements and weaknesses. He looks for the killer clues so we can see how history unfolded. Like a detective on the trail of a crime, he teases out what makes his subjects tick. With his intimate knowledge of the archives, his speciality is uncovering completely fresh lines of enquiry. He's never content to repeat what we already know but rather, he goes that extra step to solve history's riddles. He takes you on a journey to the heart of the matter. Forget notions of musty academics, when Guy takes hold of history the case he states is always utterly compelling. Whether it's Thomas More or Mary Queen of Scots, Guy makes these people so real you suddenly realize you are hearing them speak to you. You enter into their world. You feel you can almost reach out and touch them.
Born in Australia in 1949, John Guy grew up in England and by the age of 16 he knew he wanted to be a historian. In 2001 he made an accomplished debut as a presenter for the television programme Timewatch, on the life of Thomas More. Today he's turning history books on their head as he wins universal praise and the 2004 Whitbread Prize for biography for his thrilling account of the life of Mary Queen of Scots.
As well as presenting five documentaries for BBC 2 television, including the Timewatch film The King's Servant and the four-part Renaissance Secrets (Series 2), he has contributed to Meet the Ancestors (BBC 2), and to Channel 4's Time Team and Royal Deaths and Diseases. Wolsey's Lost Palace of Hampton Court was a short-listed finalist for the 2002 Channel 4 television awards.
John Guy also appears regularly on BBC Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, BBC World Service and BBC Scotland. In print he currently writes or reviews for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Economist, the Times Literary Supplement, BBC History Magazine and History Today.
His broadcast and journalism experience builds upon his impeccable CV as an academic and author.
Having read History under the supervision of Professor Sir Geoffrey Elton, the pre-eminent Tudor scholar of the late-twentieth century, John Guy took a First and became a Research Fellow of Selwyn College in 1970. Awarded a Greene Cup by Clare College in 1970, he completed his PhD on Cardinal Wolsey in 1973 and won the Yorke Prize of the University of Cambridge in 1976.
John Guy has lectured extensively on Early Modern British History and Renaissance Political Thought in both Britain and the United States. He has published 16 books and numerous academic articles.
John Guy lives in North London. He is a Fellow of Clare College, University of Cambridge, where he teaches part-time so he can devote more time to his writing and broadcasting career.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 19, 2024
A bit tedious in places.
February 11, 2025
Where do I start. Thomas Beckett, the son of a sheriff from the area of London called Cheapside rises from a lowly clerk in the church to become the right hand of Theobald, the arch bishop of Canterbury. When Henry the second rises to the English throne, Theobald suggests the young king should take Thomas, as an advisor and chancellor. Soon Henry and Thomas are best of friends and while Beckett runs the income, Henry runs the country.
On the death of Theobald, Henry has a wise plan for Thomas to become both chancellor and Archbishop of Canterbury. That way, Henry can rule both church and country thus holding all the power but this didn’t go to plan.
Whilst away in France, Henry received notice from Thomas of his resignation as chancellor so he could concentrate on the church and the Popes edicts. This proves Thomas’ undoing. Henry had wanted to be both ruler of the church and king of England. That way holding all of the power but Thomas would not let that happen. Church and state were two separate entities.
Now his nemesis rather than friend, Henry on trumped up charges of embezzlement during Thomas’s time as chancellor looked to imprison Thomas. Fleeing the castle by horse, Beckett fled to France while Henry took all of the churches land and properties. Then he cast out of all Becketts relations.
After a six year stand off, on fear of excommunication by the Pope, Henry relented and Thomas returned to Canterbury. Within a few months he was murdered by knights on Henry’s off hand comment, which in reality Henry was pleased to have Thomas out of the way.
It’s a sorry tale of a despot king, who’s attempt to control both church and country led to Becketts murder for insolence. This would later come to fruition with Henry the eighth in the 1500s and Thomas More would be martyred that time. It wasn’t a good time to be alive or named Thomas .
The author does well with it’s in depth account but it does feel rather monotonous.
On the death of Theobald, Henry has a wise plan for Thomas to become both chancellor and Archbishop of Canterbury. That way, Henry can rule both church and country thus holding all the power but this didn’t go to plan.
Whilst away in France, Henry received notice from Thomas of his resignation as chancellor so he could concentrate on the church and the Popes edicts. This proves Thomas’ undoing. Henry had wanted to be both ruler of the church and king of England. That way holding all of the power but Thomas would not let that happen. Church and state were two separate entities.
Now his nemesis rather than friend, Henry on trumped up charges of embezzlement during Thomas’s time as chancellor looked to imprison Thomas. Fleeing the castle by horse, Beckett fled to France while Henry took all of the churches land and properties. Then he cast out of all Becketts relations.
After a six year stand off, on fear of excommunication by the Pope, Henry relented and Thomas returned to Canterbury. Within a few months he was murdered by knights on Henry’s off hand comment, which in reality Henry was pleased to have Thomas out of the way.
It’s a sorry tale of a despot king, who’s attempt to control both church and country led to Becketts murder for insolence. This would later come to fruition with Henry the eighth in the 1500s and Thomas More would be martyred that time. It wasn’t a good time to be alive or named Thomas .
The author does well with it’s in depth account but it does feel rather monotonous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews