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Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II: : An insightful take on an infamous murder
The story of a queen known as 'the she-wolf' and a fresh view of an infamous murder...In a colourful non-fiction narrative, which provides an evocative setting for a scramble for wealth and power, Paul Doherty traces the life of Queen Isabella and her part in the mysterious death of her husband, King Edward II. Perfect for fans of Michael Jecks and Kathryn Warner.'Riveting... Nobody reading could be left in any doubt that... Edward's murder at Berkley is open to question' - Alison Weir, Sunday Times In chess, from the time of Queen Isabella of England, the queen has been considered the most powerful and feared piece on the board. Known to chroniclers as the 'she-wolf', Isabella, daughter of Philip IV of France, married King Edward II of England in 1308 in a union intended to create a lasting peace between the two countries. But after 13 years of enduring her husband's unkind and dissolute nature she fled abroad. With her lover, the exiled Roger Mortimer, she raised an army of mercenaries and invaded England, successfully deposing Edward.Popular belief holds that Edward was murdered in an infamous manner at Berkeley Castle near Gloucester, at the order of his wife and her lover. But after Mortimer's execution a letter arrived at court that cast doubt over Edward's death and raised the possibility of his escape. The evidence remains controversial to this day, and here Paul Doherty examines it in his fascinating detective study, set in one of the most turbulent and exciting periods of English history.What readers are saying about Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward 'A scholarly and very readable biography of the woman known as the 'She Wolf of France'''Paul Doherty has done a wonderful job in sketching the life and career of this remarkable Queen - it's a real historical page-turner''I could not stop reading this book by Paul Doherty as it is very well written, immensely readable and fascinating. For me an absolute MUST'
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2003
About the author
Paul Doherty
263 books619 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
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July 9, 2017
She’s been called a ‘She-Wolf’, eliciting disgust. She has also been reviled in her strength and resourcefulness with allegations that she influenced the queen character in the game of chess. Who is this formidable lady who can procure such contradictory views? Isabella of France. Having married Edward II of England at the tender age of 12; what followed was scandal, intrigue, adultery, the disposal of the King, and possible murder. Historian Paul Doherty explores this tumultuous relationship in, “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II of England”.
Doherty begins “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II of England” with a background look at Edward and Isabella individually, the coming together of their marriage, and the political landscape which influenced their breakdown. Doherty does well with mixing a scholarly writing style with a more accessible and readable flow that draws readers in, helping to both entertain and educate.
The main problem, therein, is a lack of smoothness. “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” is jumbled both in the presentation and the writing. Doherty constantly jumps back-and-forth in chronology and also repeats information making it very difficult for the reader to grasp and ‘stay on the topic’. The text tends to thus be confusing and not easy-to-maintain. Perhaps, this is a result of Doherty attempting to offer too much info in a little space but maybe a stronger editor would have been ideal.
That being said, Doherty does offers detective work and deciphers intricate theories to break down causes and effects concerning relations between Edward and Isabella. Even readers familiar with the subject will learn some new information in “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II”.
Doherty backs the text with a suitable mix of primary and secondary resources. Therefore, even though the text is clumsy and cluttered; it is quite credible. “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” also maintains an even slate genuinely presenting the information like a court case versus biases in either direction.
In the latter half of “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II”, Doherty applies a heavy hand at sleuth work, breaking down multiple theories concerning Edward’s death (or faux death) and motives. Although intriguing, Doherty doesn’t dive deep enough and often just makes a sweeping statement and then moves on. The intentions and thesis is sharp but the execution is reserved and flawed.
Doherty approaches the final quarter of “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” by relating his theories and beliefs on whether Edward was murdered or escaped. This isn’t a definitive and conclusive repeal as many of the tabulations are based on flimsy evidence or more of Doherty’s opinions. However, these still present an angle up for consideration and Doherty makes some illuminating and enlightened points.
The conclusion of “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” sums up Doherty’s work appropriately by stipulating why, if Edward was still alive after his supposed death, he didn’t create a ruckus. This ending provides ‘food for thought’ and highlights an emotional sensory response from the reader.
Doherty includes a ‘Notes’ section (although, sadly, hardly annotated) and a ‘Bibliography’ for the staunch fact-checkers.
“Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” is a wonderful premise with Doherty taking a mostly educated approach to the topic. Some more in-depth analysis would have tightened the strings of the text but there are successful, riveting moments. “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” is a solid-enough read and suggested for those interested in the topic of Medieval England.
Doherty begins “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II of England” with a background look at Edward and Isabella individually, the coming together of their marriage, and the political landscape which influenced their breakdown. Doherty does well with mixing a scholarly writing style with a more accessible and readable flow that draws readers in, helping to both entertain and educate.
The main problem, therein, is a lack of smoothness. “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” is jumbled both in the presentation and the writing. Doherty constantly jumps back-and-forth in chronology and also repeats information making it very difficult for the reader to grasp and ‘stay on the topic’. The text tends to thus be confusing and not easy-to-maintain. Perhaps, this is a result of Doherty attempting to offer too much info in a little space but maybe a stronger editor would have been ideal.
That being said, Doherty does offers detective work and deciphers intricate theories to break down causes and effects concerning relations between Edward and Isabella. Even readers familiar with the subject will learn some new information in “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II”.
Doherty backs the text with a suitable mix of primary and secondary resources. Therefore, even though the text is clumsy and cluttered; it is quite credible. “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” also maintains an even slate genuinely presenting the information like a court case versus biases in either direction.
In the latter half of “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II”, Doherty applies a heavy hand at sleuth work, breaking down multiple theories concerning Edward’s death (or faux death) and motives. Although intriguing, Doherty doesn’t dive deep enough and often just makes a sweeping statement and then moves on. The intentions and thesis is sharp but the execution is reserved and flawed.
Doherty approaches the final quarter of “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” by relating his theories and beliefs on whether Edward was murdered or escaped. This isn’t a definitive and conclusive repeal as many of the tabulations are based on flimsy evidence or more of Doherty’s opinions. However, these still present an angle up for consideration and Doherty makes some illuminating and enlightened points.
The conclusion of “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” sums up Doherty’s work appropriately by stipulating why, if Edward was still alive after his supposed death, he didn’t create a ruckus. This ending provides ‘food for thought’ and highlights an emotional sensory response from the reader.
Doherty includes a ‘Notes’ section (although, sadly, hardly annotated) and a ‘Bibliography’ for the staunch fact-checkers.
“Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” is a wonderful premise with Doherty taking a mostly educated approach to the topic. Some more in-depth analysis would have tightened the strings of the text but there are successful, riveting moments. “Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II” is a solid-enough read and suggested for those interested in the topic of Medieval England.
March 12, 2018
3.5
Contents:
Prologue: England under Edward I
1. A Fitting Marriage
2. Isabella and the King’s Favourite
3. The New Favourite and Isabella’s Disgrace
4. The She-Wolf Triumphant
5. The Burial of a King
6. The Downfall of the She-Wolf
7. The Immortal King
8. The King is Dead, Long Live the King
Notes
Bibliography
Index
A child bride at 12 and a mother at 16 Isabella had to grow up quickly. (and we worry, rightly, about child abuse now!)She and Edward produced 4 healthy children all of whom survived infancy. The young King and Queen seemed happy together even with a third person in the marriage – Piers Gaveston, the King’s favourite, perhaps the great love of his life. Edward had known him longer than he had known his French Princess, Isabella. The King would never be the same again after the barbarous murder of Gaveston by jealous nobles after a supposed trial found him guilty of treason.
Edward would next team up with thuggish and arrogant Hugh de Spenser an altogether nastier piece of work than Piers it seems? Whilst massively enriched by the King, de Spenser craved more. Very soon he and the Queen would be mortal enemies, literally, and Edward would side with his male favourite. Isabella had learnt early how to look after herself – enter Roger Mortimer her able protector, lover and powerful Welsh Marcher lord. Exit de Spenser suitably butchered to Isabella’s satisfaction. (Mortimer would be put to death in rather gentler fashion subsequently). Edward deposed, imprisoned, murdered?? History tells us so but I have serious doubts after reading this.
Doherty is quite an able detective, posing and going a long way towards answering lots of questions which arise in the course of the book. Was Edward II murdered and disembowelled by a red-hot poker? If so, on whose orders? The Queen and Mortimer presumably? There is strong evidence that Edward II escaped from imprisonment. Was he recaptured? If not, who lies buried in Gloucester Cathedral if not EIIR? Why when the lavish tomb of a supposed dead king attracted pilgrims from far and near did Isabella never visit or Edward III, EIIR’s son and successor. Why was the latter so keen to protect and rehabilitate his mother if she was responsible for the death of his father? Why did Isabella remain so popular nationally?.. Read on Good Reader..
Apart from this attractive painting of Edward and Isabella’s wedding on the cover of the book there are no illustrations/photographs within it, which is a shame.
Contents:
Prologue: England under Edward I
1. A Fitting Marriage
2. Isabella and the King’s Favourite
3. The New Favourite and Isabella’s Disgrace
4. The She-Wolf Triumphant
5. The Burial of a King
6. The Downfall of the She-Wolf
7. The Immortal King
8. The King is Dead, Long Live the King
Notes
Bibliography
Index
A child bride at 12 and a mother at 16 Isabella had to grow up quickly. (and we worry, rightly, about child abuse now!)She and Edward produced 4 healthy children all of whom survived infancy. The young King and Queen seemed happy together even with a third person in the marriage – Piers Gaveston, the King’s favourite, perhaps the great love of his life. Edward had known him longer than he had known his French Princess, Isabella. The King would never be the same again after the barbarous murder of Gaveston by jealous nobles after a supposed trial found him guilty of treason.
Edward would next team up with thuggish and arrogant Hugh de Spenser an altogether nastier piece of work than Piers it seems? Whilst massively enriched by the King, de Spenser craved more. Very soon he and the Queen would be mortal enemies, literally, and Edward would side with his male favourite. Isabella had learnt early how to look after herself – enter Roger Mortimer her able protector, lover and powerful Welsh Marcher lord. Exit de Spenser suitably butchered to Isabella’s satisfaction. (Mortimer would be put to death in rather gentler fashion subsequently). Edward deposed, imprisoned, murdered?? History tells us so but I have serious doubts after reading this.
Doherty is quite an able detective, posing and going a long way towards answering lots of questions which arise in the course of the book. Was Edward II murdered and disembowelled by a red-hot poker? If so, on whose orders? The Queen and Mortimer presumably? There is strong evidence that Edward II escaped from imprisonment. Was he recaptured? If not, who lies buried in Gloucester Cathedral if not EIIR? Why when the lavish tomb of a supposed dead king attracted pilgrims from far and near did Isabella never visit or Edward III, EIIR’s son and successor. Why was the latter so keen to protect and rehabilitate his mother if she was responsible for the death of his father? Why did Isabella remain so popular nationally?.. Read on Good Reader..
Apart from this attractive painting of Edward and Isabella’s wedding on the cover of the book there are no illustrations/photographs within it, which is a shame.
Read
February 7, 2016Long review here: http://edwardthesecond.blogspot.com/2...
October 28, 2020
Well, this book was a mess.
I’ll start with the things I actually enjoyed. Doherty has a much more nuanced vision of things than I feared he would. He especially treated Edward II with more respect than I expected. There's no overt homophobia, which I obviously appreciated and like... l'm aware that it's kinda sad to even point it out but there's enough books from the same time period that had no problem at all being openly and severely homophobic (this is about Alison Weir if anyone is wondering) that I feel it's worth pointing out. Finally, I have to say that Doherty is a great judge of character. Some of his opinions on Edmund of Woodstock were truly insightful. That's about all the good things I have to say. As for the rest...
First of all, this book is poorly written and I'm not talking about my own personal literary tastes.The entire thing read like a first draft that was never proof read. There's very obvious mistakes (for example, Piers Gaveston's wife’s name change in the middle of a sentence...) grammatical errors and a strange pacing. According to the little biography at the beginning of the book, Doherty is not only an Oxford graduate but also the headmaster of an actual school. I cannot imagine his students passing an english class with a project that was so clearly not proof read and I find it insulting that he went ahead and published this thing without fixing it first.
Even more insulting to me…This book is a cautionary tale on how having many sources doesn't mean having good sources. Doherty rely heavily and completely uncritically on Victorian sources, as if the majority of the things written about the medieval period by Victorian historians was not highly subject to caution. He even quotes some text from the 16th century as if it was a contemporary source. Once again, Doherty is an Oxford graduate. He definitely knows what’s considered a good source or a weak one. And yet, he still went with it probably because he knew that most readers were not gonna check. That's not just bad, that's lazy and intellectually dishonest.
Talking about intellectual dishonesty, he also has no problem purely making things up. There’s already a problem in assigning intentions and feelings to people with no evidence to back them up (such as saying that Isabella saw her husband as a “non-person”) but it’s even worst when he pushes entire narratives on some historical figures with no evidence at all. For example, the idea that Hugh le Despenser the younger MUST have been sexually abusive to Isabella since it’s the ONLY reason she might have hated him so much…I’m sorry but we have numerous evidences of Despenser being unpopular and unpleasant but absolutely none of him being a rapist so why even go there?
Also, that’s not just Doherty but I find it truly fascinating that so many historians are more willing to believe even the strangest things than to just accept that Hugh le Despenser and Edward II were most likely lovers for almost 10 years. No, it cannot be proved without the shadow of a doubts but there’s much stronger evidence than the bizarro idea that they were both swingers who didn’t cared about their wives’ consent (if anyone is wondering…there’s no evidence of that. Absolutely none.).
As for the theory that Doherty defends (the idea that Edward II might have survived his death in 1327)...Look, some historians I actually trust and respect believe in this theory so I get it but I'm gonna be honest, I would need some extremely strong physical evidences to be convinced. Nobody has those evidences so I didn't expect to change my mind here but I sure as hell didn't expected the penultimate sentence of this book to be: "In the end, the true fate of Edward II can only be a matter of speculation." Like, oh ok, cool, we just spent 236 pages messing around for no reason then? I mean, I get it, you can't give us a definitive answer and it would be silly to act otherwise but like...That sure felt like a lost of my time, ngl.
There’re many other things I hated about this book (including how creepy it is to constantly talk about how hot Isabella was as an actual 12 years old…) but I think everyone got it. I had a rotten time and it left a bad taste in my mouth. I’d be curious to read his histfic as quite a few of his weakness could work better in a fiction setting but I’m not that keen on giving him my money after seeing how little he seems to care about his readers.
In conclusion, this is not the worst book on Isabella of France I've read in my life. Doherty is clearly knowledgeable on the topic and has some interesting points to make. To me this book is not bad because Doherty is ignorant and couldn't do better but because he decided that he didn't cared enough to actually put an effort in his work and that’s even worst.
I’ll start with the things I actually enjoyed. Doherty has a much more nuanced vision of things than I feared he would. He especially treated Edward II with more respect than I expected. There's no overt homophobia, which I obviously appreciated and like... l'm aware that it's kinda sad to even point it out but there's enough books from the same time period that had no problem at all being openly and severely homophobic (this is about Alison Weir if anyone is wondering) that I feel it's worth pointing out. Finally, I have to say that Doherty is a great judge of character. Some of his opinions on Edmund of Woodstock were truly insightful. That's about all the good things I have to say. As for the rest...
First of all, this book is poorly written and I'm not talking about my own personal literary tastes.The entire thing read like a first draft that was never proof read. There's very obvious mistakes (for example, Piers Gaveston's wife’s name change in the middle of a sentence...) grammatical errors and a strange pacing. According to the little biography at the beginning of the book, Doherty is not only an Oxford graduate but also the headmaster of an actual school. I cannot imagine his students passing an english class with a project that was so clearly not proof read and I find it insulting that he went ahead and published this thing without fixing it first.
Even more insulting to me…This book is a cautionary tale on how having many sources doesn't mean having good sources. Doherty rely heavily and completely uncritically on Victorian sources, as if the majority of the things written about the medieval period by Victorian historians was not highly subject to caution. He even quotes some text from the 16th century as if it was a contemporary source. Once again, Doherty is an Oxford graduate. He definitely knows what’s considered a good source or a weak one. And yet, he still went with it probably because he knew that most readers were not gonna check. That's not just bad, that's lazy and intellectually dishonest.
Talking about intellectual dishonesty, he also has no problem purely making things up. There’s already a problem in assigning intentions and feelings to people with no evidence to back them up (such as saying that Isabella saw her husband as a “non-person”) but it’s even worst when he pushes entire narratives on some historical figures with no evidence at all. For example, the idea that Hugh le Despenser the younger MUST have been sexually abusive to Isabella since it’s the ONLY reason she might have hated him so much…I’m sorry but we have numerous evidences of Despenser being unpopular and unpleasant but absolutely none of him being a rapist so why even go there?
Also, that’s not just Doherty but I find it truly fascinating that so many historians are more willing to believe even the strangest things than to just accept that Hugh le Despenser and Edward II were most likely lovers for almost 10 years. No, it cannot be proved without the shadow of a doubts but there’s much stronger evidence than the bizarro idea that they were both swingers who didn’t cared about their wives’ consent (if anyone is wondering…there’s no evidence of that. Absolutely none.).
As for the theory that Doherty defends (the idea that Edward II might have survived his death in 1327)...Look, some historians I actually trust and respect believe in this theory so I get it but I'm gonna be honest, I would need some extremely strong physical evidences to be convinced. Nobody has those evidences so I didn't expect to change my mind here but I sure as hell didn't expected the penultimate sentence of this book to be: "In the end, the true fate of Edward II can only be a matter of speculation." Like, oh ok, cool, we just spent 236 pages messing around for no reason then? I mean, I get it, you can't give us a definitive answer and it would be silly to act otherwise but like...That sure felt like a lost of my time, ngl.
There’re many other things I hated about this book (including how creepy it is to constantly talk about how hot Isabella was as an actual 12 years old…) but I think everyone got it. I had a rotten time and it left a bad taste in my mouth. I’d be curious to read his histfic as quite a few of his weakness could work better in a fiction setting but I’m not that keen on giving him my money after seeing how little he seems to care about his readers.
In conclusion, this is not the worst book on Isabella of France I've read in my life. Doherty is clearly knowledgeable on the topic and has some interesting points to make. To me this book is not bad because Doherty is ignorant and couldn't do better but because he decided that he didn't cared enough to actually put an effort in his work and that’s even worst.
September 15, 2018
Edward II was not a popular king. When he once again let a favourite get too close and take more power, Queen Isabella decided enough was enough and all out civil war began. Isabella has gone down in history as a she-wolf but Doherty sets out to prove that she was just responding to threats made against her and her family. This was an interesting biography of the period and written in an easily accessible style that made following the narrative effortless.
December 10, 2022
This is a well research non fiction title from Paul Doherty.
I reread it after reading his Brother Athelstan book "The Great Revolt" which deals with the death of Edward II amongst other events of England in the 14th century. (see title)
I found it to be quite moving and a little sad, as various actions played out for Edward II, Isabella his queen was not called the she wolf for nothing. We can see now how various people plotted and how events played out from 700 years ago.
The Plantagenet house was neither a stable nor trustworthy one and many events in history reflect this.
I reread it after reading his Brother Athelstan book "The Great Revolt" which deals with the death of Edward II amongst other events of England in the 14th century. (see title)
I found it to be quite moving and a little sad, as various actions played out for Edward II, Isabella his queen was not called the she wolf for nothing. We can see now how various people plotted and how events played out from 700 years ago.
The Plantagenet house was neither a stable nor trustworthy one and many events in history reflect this.
September 30, 2014
On the one and only time I visited Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, way back in the sixties, the chamber where Edward II was reputedly murdered was billed as a highlight of the tour. Later, as a student at Southampton University in 1969, I remember Ian McKellen playing Edward II in Marlowe’s play of the same name, raising shocked intakes of breath as he entered planting a kiss on the lips of the King’s favourite, Piers Gaveston.
The notorious manner of the king’s death — “by a red hot poker being thrust up into his bowels” according to the contemporary Swynbroke chronicle — often overshadows the complicated life and reign of Edward. Paul Doherty’s study promised a new look not only at Edward but also at Isabella, the wife he was betrothed to when both were still young.
Edward was the only surviving legitimate son of Edward I, Hammer of the Scots. Born in 1284 at Caernarfon Castle (thus supposedly meriting the title Prince of Wales) he seemed singularly unsuited to ruling, preferring, as Doherty tells us, “hunting, horses and music”. Subjected to dynastic politicking and match-making between Philip the Fair of France and the English king, on the death of his father the young king resisted marrying the French princess Isabella as long as he could. But while he fathered four children in relatively quick succession, not to mention at least one illegitimate son, Edward’s real interest was his favourite Piers Gaveston, the son of a Gascon landowner. In 1307 he succeeded to the throne, but Gaveston’s speedy advancement excited resentment from the nobility (a commoner made Earl of Cornwall!) and he was judicially murdered in 1312, the same year as the birth of Edward’s legitimate son, the future Edward III.
1314 was an eventful year. The downfall of the Knights Templar order in France, instigated by Isabella’s father Philip IV, was eventually followed by their dissolution in England — though in a less brutal fashion — but the French king didn’t savour his triumph for long, dying within the year. Isabella, on a state visit to the land of her birth, did not endear herself to her compatriots by unwittingly exposing her three brothers, Charles, Louis and Philip as cuckolds. Back in Britain Edward, no credit to his militarist father, oversaw the worst ever English defeat since the battle of Hastings when the Scottish decisively crushed his army at Bannockburn. Edward’s star, never much in the ascendant, continued to slide until he found a new ‘favourite’, the younger Hugh de Spencer in 1320.
Isabella’s position at Edward’s side was now severely compromised, and the couple drifted apart, a situation strengthened by overt antagonism between the Queen and Spencer; that uneasiness was matched by growing unrest in England directed against Spencer’s rapaciousness and Edward’s incompetence. Isabella travelled to France in 1325 to negotiate rapprochement between England and France. Here she was joined by Welsh magnate Roger Mortimer, who had escaped from the Tower of London after falling foul of Spencer in 1322, and the pair plotted a return to England to counter the unpopular rule of Edward and his favourite. Crossing the Channel, they quickly garnered public support; Edward and Spencer fled to South Wales where they were eventually captured. The hated Spencer suffered a particularly barbaric execution and Edward was imprisoned, first at Kenilworth, eventually at Berkeley in Gloucestershire. Forced to abdicate (as effectively happened to another Edward in 1936) he was succeeded by his son, with Isabella and her probable lover Mortimer holding the real reins of power.
And it is here that, traditionally, the life of Edward came to an end on September 21st. Officially he died from grief, but various contemporary or near contemporary stories suggested general ill-treatment or suffocation as cause of death, not to forget that poker as an appropriate instrument of death for a suspected sodomite. But, as Doherty points out, there are far too many inconsistent facts and testimonies to be certain that any of this is true. There is every likelihood that a rescue attempt by a ‘gang’ from the English Midlands led by the Dunheved brothers was successful, and that the King escaped, spent time in secret in Corfe Castle and then went into self-imposed exile as an anonymous hermit in Europe. A curious letter, written around 1340 by Manuel Fieschi to Edward III, claimed that this Italian cleric had actually met the disguised ex-king, with much that was circumstantial but also including information suggesting insider knowledge.
How it was that a body was produced, embalmed and given a right royal burial in Gloucester Cathedral just before Christmas three months later without substitution being suspected might seem incredible to anyone who is not into conspiracy theory but Doherty makes it seem possible, even if he doesn’t necessarily totally endorse it. However, another historian, an academic called Ian Mortimer also published a work along the same lines as Doherty’s in the same year (The Greatest Traitor: the life of Sir Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, Ruler of England 1327-1330) but more strongly espousing the theory of Edward’s survival; and these two writers’ work on the faked death was endorsed by Alison Weir two years later in her Isabella: She-wolf of France, Queen of England.
And Isabella? She and her own favourite Mortimer began to act as outrageously as Edward had with his favourites and soon lost any sympathy that she might have elicited for the cruel treatment she had latterly received before the Edward’s defeat. In 1330 the young king Edward II asserted his authority: Mortimer was seized and executed and Isabella the she-wolf or ‘iron virago’ — exonerated by her son from any wrongdoing, all attributed to Mortimer — finally took a back seat, surviving in comfort until 1358.
Doherty’s book is furnished with a full panoply of notes and sources, and tells an exciting tale of everyday intrigue and violence among upper class folk. Not being too familiar with this period meant some detailed note-taking for me but there is little here that would be incomprehensible to the general reader. I do have some criticisms though, many to be laid at the door of the publisher rather than the author personally I suspect. First, genealogical trees would have helped to clarify relationships, and a couple of maps wouldn’t have gone amiss either. Some basic errors should have been picked up between the hardback and paperback editions, for example France’s ‘western’ borders extending to the Rhine (‘eastern’ is clearly meant), while Brittany is misspelled (both these on page 12); Gaveston was actually married to Margaret de Clare not her mother, Joan of Gloucester (page 50); the river Gesota is interpreted as the Usk on page 186 but the Wye on 194 (the latter is correct); and Howel ap Griffith (that is, Howel son of Griffith) is incorrectly called by his father’s name — only applicable if ap Griffith was anglicised as Griffiths, a practice that was not adopted for at least another couple of centuries.
But credit where it’s due, my eyes were certainly opened by this study. Doherty ends by admitting that “the true fate of Edward II can only be a matter of speculation. However, there is considerable evidence that the corpse in the lead coffin beneath the beautiful Purbeck marble sarcophagus in St Peter’s at Gloucester is not Edward II’s.” Ian Mortimer goes further on his website in pointing to the unreliability of contemporary testimony: “It is still possible to believe that Edward II died in Berkeley Castle. It is still possible to believe that the world is flat and that Father Christmas exists. But to state that we can rely on the bulk of the evidence for the death is like saying we can be sure that most people believe in Father Christmas because the weight of evidence – so many Christmas cards depicting him – outweigh the statements of disbelief.”
Marlowe’s dramatisation of Edward’s gruesome death is certainly memorable. But I know what I’d rather believe.
http://wp.me/s2oNj1-edwardii
The notorious manner of the king’s death — “by a red hot poker being thrust up into his bowels” according to the contemporary Swynbroke chronicle — often overshadows the complicated life and reign of Edward. Paul Doherty’s study promised a new look not only at Edward but also at Isabella, the wife he was betrothed to when both were still young.
Edward was the only surviving legitimate son of Edward I, Hammer of the Scots. Born in 1284 at Caernarfon Castle (thus supposedly meriting the title Prince of Wales) he seemed singularly unsuited to ruling, preferring, as Doherty tells us, “hunting, horses and music”. Subjected to dynastic politicking and match-making between Philip the Fair of France and the English king, on the death of his father the young king resisted marrying the French princess Isabella as long as he could. But while he fathered four children in relatively quick succession, not to mention at least one illegitimate son, Edward’s real interest was his favourite Piers Gaveston, the son of a Gascon landowner. In 1307 he succeeded to the throne, but Gaveston’s speedy advancement excited resentment from the nobility (a commoner made Earl of Cornwall!) and he was judicially murdered in 1312, the same year as the birth of Edward’s legitimate son, the future Edward III.
1314 was an eventful year. The downfall of the Knights Templar order in France, instigated by Isabella’s father Philip IV, was eventually followed by their dissolution in England — though in a less brutal fashion — but the French king didn’t savour his triumph for long, dying within the year. Isabella, on a state visit to the land of her birth, did not endear herself to her compatriots by unwittingly exposing her three brothers, Charles, Louis and Philip as cuckolds. Back in Britain Edward, no credit to his militarist father, oversaw the worst ever English defeat since the battle of Hastings when the Scottish decisively crushed his army at Bannockburn. Edward’s star, never much in the ascendant, continued to slide until he found a new ‘favourite’, the younger Hugh de Spencer in 1320.
Isabella’s position at Edward’s side was now severely compromised, and the couple drifted apart, a situation strengthened by overt antagonism between the Queen and Spencer; that uneasiness was matched by growing unrest in England directed against Spencer’s rapaciousness and Edward’s incompetence. Isabella travelled to France in 1325 to negotiate rapprochement between England and France. Here she was joined by Welsh magnate Roger Mortimer, who had escaped from the Tower of London after falling foul of Spencer in 1322, and the pair plotted a return to England to counter the unpopular rule of Edward and his favourite. Crossing the Channel, they quickly garnered public support; Edward and Spencer fled to South Wales where they were eventually captured. The hated Spencer suffered a particularly barbaric execution and Edward was imprisoned, first at Kenilworth, eventually at Berkeley in Gloucestershire. Forced to abdicate (as effectively happened to another Edward in 1936) he was succeeded by his son, with Isabella and her probable lover Mortimer holding the real reins of power.
And it is here that, traditionally, the life of Edward came to an end on September 21st. Officially he died from grief, but various contemporary or near contemporary stories suggested general ill-treatment or suffocation as cause of death, not to forget that poker as an appropriate instrument of death for a suspected sodomite. But, as Doherty points out, there are far too many inconsistent facts and testimonies to be certain that any of this is true. There is every likelihood that a rescue attempt by a ‘gang’ from the English Midlands led by the Dunheved brothers was successful, and that the King escaped, spent time in secret in Corfe Castle and then went into self-imposed exile as an anonymous hermit in Europe. A curious letter, written around 1340 by Manuel Fieschi to Edward III, claimed that this Italian cleric had actually met the disguised ex-king, with much that was circumstantial but also including information suggesting insider knowledge.
How it was that a body was produced, embalmed and given a right royal burial in Gloucester Cathedral just before Christmas three months later without substitution being suspected might seem incredible to anyone who is not into conspiracy theory but Doherty makes it seem possible, even if he doesn’t necessarily totally endorse it. However, another historian, an academic called Ian Mortimer also published a work along the same lines as Doherty’s in the same year (The Greatest Traitor: the life of Sir Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, Ruler of England 1327-1330) but more strongly espousing the theory of Edward’s survival; and these two writers’ work on the faked death was endorsed by Alison Weir two years later in her Isabella: She-wolf of France, Queen of England.
And Isabella? She and her own favourite Mortimer began to act as outrageously as Edward had with his favourites and soon lost any sympathy that she might have elicited for the cruel treatment she had latterly received before the Edward’s defeat. In 1330 the young king Edward II asserted his authority: Mortimer was seized and executed and Isabella the she-wolf or ‘iron virago’ — exonerated by her son from any wrongdoing, all attributed to Mortimer — finally took a back seat, surviving in comfort until 1358.
Doherty’s book is furnished with a full panoply of notes and sources, and tells an exciting tale of everyday intrigue and violence among upper class folk. Not being too familiar with this period meant some detailed note-taking for me but there is little here that would be incomprehensible to the general reader. I do have some criticisms though, many to be laid at the door of the publisher rather than the author personally I suspect. First, genealogical trees would have helped to clarify relationships, and a couple of maps wouldn’t have gone amiss either. Some basic errors should have been picked up between the hardback and paperback editions, for example France’s ‘western’ borders extending to the Rhine (‘eastern’ is clearly meant), while Brittany is misspelled (both these on page 12); Gaveston was actually married to Margaret de Clare not her mother, Joan of Gloucester (page 50); the river Gesota is interpreted as the Usk on page 186 but the Wye on 194 (the latter is correct); and Howel ap Griffith (that is, Howel son of Griffith) is incorrectly called by his father’s name — only applicable if ap Griffith was anglicised as Griffiths, a practice that was not adopted for at least another couple of centuries.
But credit where it’s due, my eyes were certainly opened by this study. Doherty ends by admitting that “the true fate of Edward II can only be a matter of speculation. However, there is considerable evidence that the corpse in the lead coffin beneath the beautiful Purbeck marble sarcophagus in St Peter’s at Gloucester is not Edward II’s.” Ian Mortimer goes further on his website in pointing to the unreliability of contemporary testimony: “It is still possible to believe that Edward II died in Berkeley Castle. It is still possible to believe that the world is flat and that Father Christmas exists. But to state that we can rely on the bulk of the evidence for the death is like saying we can be sure that most people believe in Father Christmas because the weight of evidence – so many Christmas cards depicting him – outweigh the statements of disbelief.”
Marlowe’s dramatisation of Edward’s gruesome death is certainly memorable. But I know what I’d rather believe.
http://wp.me/s2oNj1-edwardii
June 22, 2026
I adore medieval figures like Isabella of France for a multitude of reasons. There is an indescribable allure to the Middle Ages for me, one rife with secrecy, sanctity, and absolute power.
I have grown familiar with Isabella of France and her story over the past few years and can say that few women from this time period have piqued my interest as much as she has. It may have to do with her incredibly dramatic life, starting as a French princess, becoming the Queen of England so young, and having to navigate the cobweb of court intrigues culminating with her ascension as regent (for a short time) for her son, Edward III. This first half of her life is where most of my study has been focused.
This book was very narrative, and it did not get bogged down by the laundry list of notable names that historical books usually suffer from. While I personally believe that Edward II, Isabella’s husband, was murdered at Berkeley Castle in 1327, it is still interesting to read conjecture from the opposing camp, one that holds the position that Edward not only escaped, but lived for many years on the continent.
This book contextualized a lot of minute details and spun them into a seemingly cohesive picture. It isn’t often that you get to participate in the makings of a medieval mystery. It made me think about the tumultuous time that followed the supposed death of Edward II and the actions taken by those closest to him, as well as the associated sentiments. Why was Isabella notified so much sooner than the public about his death, and why did Edward III not pursue, with vigor, those judged guilty of the regicide of his father? We as modern readers may never know, but it is endlessly amusing to entertain oneself with the what-ifs of history, such as these.
I have grown familiar with Isabella of France and her story over the past few years and can say that few women from this time period have piqued my interest as much as she has. It may have to do with her incredibly dramatic life, starting as a French princess, becoming the Queen of England so young, and having to navigate the cobweb of court intrigues culminating with her ascension as regent (for a short time) for her son, Edward III. This first half of her life is where most of my study has been focused.
This book was very narrative, and it did not get bogged down by the laundry list of notable names that historical books usually suffer from. While I personally believe that Edward II, Isabella’s husband, was murdered at Berkeley Castle in 1327, it is still interesting to read conjecture from the opposing camp, one that holds the position that Edward not only escaped, but lived for many years on the continent.
This book contextualized a lot of minute details and spun them into a seemingly cohesive picture. It isn’t often that you get to participate in the makings of a medieval mystery. It made me think about the tumultuous time that followed the supposed death of Edward II and the actions taken by those closest to him, as well as the associated sentiments. Why was Isabella notified so much sooner than the public about his death, and why did Edward III not pursue, with vigor, those judged guilty of the regicide of his father? We as modern readers may never know, but it is endlessly amusing to entertain oneself with the what-ifs of history, such as these.
May 28, 2024
The history of the changing alliances and violent behaviour in the middle ages. An to what actually happened to Edward 11 that remains a mystery.
October 4, 2014
The reign of Edward II must be one of the most turbulent and, from a historical perspective, fascinating eras in English history. Son of Edward I, Longshanks and Hammer of the Scots, and father of Edward III, the epitome of medieval kingship, Edward II is perhaps proof of the old adage that virtues and vices often skip a generation.
A weak-willed and pleasure-loving prince, obsessed with his favourites, neglectful of his duties and too easily swayed, Edward II was the first king in English history to be 'legally' deposed - and by his wife Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer at the head of an army of disaffected nobles and mercenaries. And the drama doesn't end with Edward II's dethronement - history has it that Edward was murdered in Berkeley Castle, rather unpleasantly by means of a red-hot poker up the anus. However, legend also has it that Edward II did not die but escaped from Berkeley Castle, ending his days as a hermit wandering Europe and eventually dying in Italy.
Paul Doherty argues quite cogently for the latter and the evidence he marshals is compelling. It's not the first time I've heard the theory - it seems to have gained more credence in recent years - but at the remove of 700 years it can only ever be a theory. History is full of supposed miraculous escapes (the Princes in the Tower and Princess Anastasia, to name only two), but history often also proves hope to be hollow. That said, there is enough doubt here to convince me that history's official version might not be entirely accurate, but who can say what really happened to Edward II?
So, a good book, all told, and the final chapters are particularly interesting. It's a fair but brief overview of a tempestuous reign and a catastrophic marriage, but there are better biographical accounts of the three major players out there (Alison Weir's on Isabella and Ian Mortimer's on Roger Mortimer spring to mind) for those wanting more depth and detail.
A weak-willed and pleasure-loving prince, obsessed with his favourites, neglectful of his duties and too easily swayed, Edward II was the first king in English history to be 'legally' deposed - and by his wife Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer at the head of an army of disaffected nobles and mercenaries. And the drama doesn't end with Edward II's dethronement - history has it that Edward was murdered in Berkeley Castle, rather unpleasantly by means of a red-hot poker up the anus. However, legend also has it that Edward II did not die but escaped from Berkeley Castle, ending his days as a hermit wandering Europe and eventually dying in Italy.
Paul Doherty argues quite cogently for the latter and the evidence he marshals is compelling. It's not the first time I've heard the theory - it seems to have gained more credence in recent years - but at the remove of 700 years it can only ever be a theory. History is full of supposed miraculous escapes (the Princes in the Tower and Princess Anastasia, to name only two), but history often also proves hope to be hollow. That said, there is enough doubt here to convince me that history's official version might not be entirely accurate, but who can say what really happened to Edward II?
So, a good book, all told, and the final chapters are particularly interesting. It's a fair but brief overview of a tempestuous reign and a catastrophic marriage, but there are better biographical accounts of the three major players out there (Alison Weir's on Isabella and Ian Mortimer's on Roger Mortimer spring to mind) for those wanting more depth and detail.
October 24, 2013
The fortunes of a whole nation rested on the whims of just a couple of highly placed people, which is why we don't really have a whole lot of governments based on monarchies like this anymore.
July 27, 2022
Isabella was the daughter of King Philip IV 'le Bel' of France who was married to Edward, the first Prince of Wales, the son of King Edward I of England, as a way of ensuring peace between the two countries. They were wed in Boulogne. But Edward became Edward II and he was a weak King. He had favourites. His first was Piers Gaveston. This was probably a homosexual relationship, though of course that can't be proved, and Isabella seems to have tolerated it; Edward was providing her with children. But the Barons hated Gaveston as a Gascon upstart and rebelled against Edward until he agreed to exile Piers and when Piers returned they rebelled again and assassinated Piers. Edward then took another favourite, Hugh Le Spencer, who acted as a gangland boss, greedily laying his hands on all the property he could and flouting the rule of law, both terrorising and alienating the barons. Isabella hated him; Doherty suggests this was because Edward and Hugh insisted on a wife-swap. Eventually Isabella went away to France, where she met rebel baron and exile Roger Mortimer, and soon persuaded Edward to send to her their son Edward, the crown prince. Armed thus, and having hot the useful county of Hainault on side by promising that Philippa, the daughter of the count, would marry her son Edward, she and Mortimer landed an invasion force and defeated and captured Edward II and Hugh. The latter was horribly executed and Edward was deposed and jailed in Berkeley. The story is that he there met his end when a red-hot poker was thrust into his anus, as played on stage in Edward II by Christopher Marlowe. Isabella and Mortimer were, is anyhting, greedier than Hugh Le Spenser, and almost as ruthless, but three years later the now 18 year old Edward III staged a coup and won his own kingdom back; Mortimer was executed and Isabella sent into retirement.
And then rumours started that Edward II was not dead but had escaped Berkeley Castle and was not living abroad. These are the rumours that Doherty, working sometimes from previously unpublished chronicles, dissects, deciding, in the end, that there is some evidence that the body buried in Gloucester Cathedral is not actually Edward II.
And then rumours started that Edward II was not dead but had escaped Berkeley Castle and was not living abroad. These are the rumours that Doherty, working sometimes from previously unpublished chronicles, dissects, deciding, in the end, that there is some evidence that the body buried in Gloucester Cathedral is not actually Edward II.
November 20, 2019
Já tive oportunidade de resenhar outro livro de Paul Doherty, A Murder in Macedon, na qual que ele usou o pseudônimo de Anna Apostolou. Naquele livro, um romance histórico, ele usa de especulações puramente movidas por intuição e comete pecados contra a historiografia e minha resenha não tive como deixar uma dura crítica, dando-lhe apenas duas estrelas. A Murder in Macedon (Alexander the Great Mysteries, Book 1): Intrigue and murder in Ancient Greece (Mystery of Alexander the Great) (English Edition)
Mas já neste livro em questão, Paul Doherty exerce a sua capacidade como historiador e se utiliza de especulações ou hipóteses viáveis baseadas em dados oriundos de farta documentação histórica. Talvez, apenas sua velha mania de especular sobre reputações não o tenha largado quando volta a exercer esta faceta, sem comprovação em fontes conhecidas, em relação ao que poderia ter acontecido a Isabella. Refiro-me ao caráter da suposta vilania exercida por parte de Hugh Despenser, citada nas cartas entre ela e Eduardo II.
Jamais poderemos saber se Eduardo II realmente escapou de sua prisão em Berkeley e se isso ocorreu mesmo, qual foi o seu destino, mas como o autor escreve, temos sérias razões para pensar que o corpo depositado na magnífica tumba, em Gloucester, não seja o de Eduardo II.
Recomendo bastante esta obra de Paul Doherty, que para mim pessoalmente, o reabilita parcialmente da imagem que eu tinha formado dele na outra obra que tinha lido.
Mas já neste livro em questão, Paul Doherty exerce a sua capacidade como historiador e se utiliza de especulações ou hipóteses viáveis baseadas em dados oriundos de farta documentação histórica. Talvez, apenas sua velha mania de especular sobre reputações não o tenha largado quando volta a exercer esta faceta, sem comprovação em fontes conhecidas, em relação ao que poderia ter acontecido a Isabella. Refiro-me ao caráter da suposta vilania exercida por parte de Hugh Despenser, citada nas cartas entre ela e Eduardo II.
Jamais poderemos saber se Eduardo II realmente escapou de sua prisão em Berkeley e se isso ocorreu mesmo, qual foi o seu destino, mas como o autor escreve, temos sérias razões para pensar que o corpo depositado na magnífica tumba, em Gloucester, não seja o de Eduardo II.
Recomendo bastante esta obra de Paul Doherty, que para mim pessoalmente, o reabilita parcialmente da imagem que eu tinha formado dele na outra obra que tinha lido.
February 5, 2018
I really wasn't impressed by this to be perfectly honest. The writing wasn't very good, so I really struggled reading it despite it being something I am interested in. Doherty switches between highlighting (fairly and reasonably) the fact that there is so much we really can't know, to stating things about people's attitudes or emotions as if they were fact. I found this really annoying, particularly in the way he discussed Isabella. Equally, when talking about Edward II's sexuality, he writes about (again) the fact we're never going to know, then makes a sort of a decision. He refutes the idea that Edward II could have been interested in men, by pointing out that he had several children, and doesn't mention the possibility of bisexuality until several chapters later. Why not include it there and then? This seemed to happen quite a lot, jumping about points and time periods rather than organising it logically.
To his credit, it seems very well researched, and if you are interested in the period, the information on sources will be very interesting, I suspect. If you're interested in looking at the possibilities of history or different theories, this might be more your sort of thing. His analysis of the letter was interesting, and it felt to me like that was kind of the point of the book - it would have been better as a separate article in my opinion.
To his credit, it seems very well researched, and if you are interested in the period, the information on sources will be very interesting, I suspect. If you're interested in looking at the possibilities of history or different theories, this might be more your sort of thing. His analysis of the letter was interesting, and it felt to me like that was kind of the point of the book - it would have been better as a separate article in my opinion.
October 30, 2018
Was Isabella of France, wife of Edward II of England, a She-Wolf? Doherty does lean a bit on the sensational during some of his narrative -- but I don't think it is intentional. As usual with distant history, especially of female figures, the records are scarce and hard to interpret away from the time-period and context of their being written. Many a strong, capable, intelligent woman of the Medieval period has been reduced to evil intent, sorcery or disloyal inconstancy. Now you add infidelity (it is assured that Isabella did work with Roger Mortimer--although proof of a physical relationship early on is hard to pinpoint) and historical records are not disinterested.
Kudos to Doherty for his fine text.
Kudos to Doherty for his fine text.
April 14, 2024
Mostly some pretty dry stuff here, but all of it excellently annotated. My main complaint is the author's apparent assumption that we've all memorized every detail he shares. This is a very long and complex saga involving a literal plethora of people involved in all-but-countless machinations and secret schemes -- spanning decades -- throughout, yet it doesn't seem to have occurred to either Mr. Doherty, nor his editors, that some minor baron or other character that got a brief mention on page 30 will not be as immediately recognized to the reader as they are to him after disappearing for a hundred or more pages in the narrative. Some reminder of WHICH double-dealing agent from WHICH conspiracy has returned to the scene would have been most helpful.
April 3, 2020
I have read several fiction and non-fiction books on this topic. I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the author's take on this subject. From my earlier readings I came to agree with the author's last premise of what happened to Edward II.
March 12, 2022
A very interesting story, well told, drawing on well sourced evidence. A bizarre mystery indeed.
December 31, 2022
Game of thrones source material
May 31, 2013
Paul Doherty goes deep within the medieval world, and comes up with a new theory of the death of Edaward II. Doherty digs into the royal family and dirty secrets that the monarchy would have rather kept hidden..
Isabella, the French princess that was supposed to bring peace, instead she was jealous and was determined to see anyone who vied with her position with her husband brought down. Edward II was a strange king. He preferred to not have to govern to much, delegating as much as he could to those around him, which earned him the disrespect of his barons and lords. They wanted a strong king, one that would expand their holding, instead they got a weak king, governed by his favorites to the detriment of everyone else around him.
Hugh de Spenser was by far the worst thing that could have happened to the King. He was greedy, looking to expand his power and prestige by any means necessary. De Spenser and Edward did more to poison the queen and most of the country against them than they might have realized at the time,although most kings operated under the assumption of divine right, therefore they could do no wrong.
Queen Isabella went to France looking for help in reclaiming her husband. Instead she found Roger Mortimer, and fell in love. She then brought her lover and an army to England, in order to regain control. She wanted it all. In many ways she wasnt any different than De Spenser, although she used the country against the King, at first having a reason to invade, then sweeping in and claiming all that she wanted. After Edward and De Spenser were captured, Edward III came to the throne, of course being ruled by his mother and Mortimer. They were hoping that they could control the king for as long as they wanted, but the underestimated the desire of the teen to be his own person, and rule his own kingdom as he saw fit. After several years of chaffing under his mothers thumb, he quietly gathered his support and captured both the queen and her lover. Mortimer was executed after a short imprisonment, while the queen was sent quietly from court for a while, then regained her place as the queen mother. Edward III held his mother in high regard, either refusing to believe or actually thinking that his other was completely ruled by Mortimer and had no thoughts of treason on her own.
The death of Edward II has long raised speculation, as it has been completely shrouded in mystery for hundreds of years. Doherty does a great job of fleshing out the mystery and adding his own theory to the mix. I enjoy a historian who is not afraid to look outside the box and not take the "accepted" view of history. As he looks into the death he finds several pieces of evidence that do support Edward II having escaped somehow from Berkeley Castle, and living out his life elsewhere, although we do not know what happened after he escaped. The accepted view is that Edward II was quietly murdered at Berkeley, and then quietly covered up so that many questions would not be asked, and allow the country to move on into a new rule. There are questions however as to how Edward could have escaped from his prison. One theory that Doherty does not bring up, and may not have considered is that, Edward's servant knowing he was about to be murdered, helped his master to escape, but how?? If Mortimer and the queen sent men to murder the king, they would have wanted as few people as possible to be in the area at the time. By putting the rumor about that men were trying to help the king to escape, it could have drawn out the majority of the men who were stationed at the castle, and giving more secrecy to the men that were sent to kill the king. Instead it would have given the King the perfect opportunity to escape unnoticed. But how did it happen? We will probably never really know how or what happened.
I loved this book! It was a great read, well documented and researched, with some interesting new theories thrown into the mix! Anyone who wants to think about the what if's of history, this is a good one to read!
Isabella, the French princess that was supposed to bring peace, instead she was jealous and was determined to see anyone who vied with her position with her husband brought down. Edward II was a strange king. He preferred to not have to govern to much, delegating as much as he could to those around him, which earned him the disrespect of his barons and lords. They wanted a strong king, one that would expand their holding, instead they got a weak king, governed by his favorites to the detriment of everyone else around him.
Hugh de Spenser was by far the worst thing that could have happened to the King. He was greedy, looking to expand his power and prestige by any means necessary. De Spenser and Edward did more to poison the queen and most of the country against them than they might have realized at the time,although most kings operated under the assumption of divine right, therefore they could do no wrong.
Queen Isabella went to France looking for help in reclaiming her husband. Instead she found Roger Mortimer, and fell in love. She then brought her lover and an army to England, in order to regain control. She wanted it all. In many ways she wasnt any different than De Spenser, although she used the country against the King, at first having a reason to invade, then sweeping in and claiming all that she wanted. After Edward and De Spenser were captured, Edward III came to the throne, of course being ruled by his mother and Mortimer. They were hoping that they could control the king for as long as they wanted, but the underestimated the desire of the teen to be his own person, and rule his own kingdom as he saw fit. After several years of chaffing under his mothers thumb, he quietly gathered his support and captured both the queen and her lover. Mortimer was executed after a short imprisonment, while the queen was sent quietly from court for a while, then regained her place as the queen mother. Edward III held his mother in high regard, either refusing to believe or actually thinking that his other was completely ruled by Mortimer and had no thoughts of treason on her own.
The death of Edward II has long raised speculation, as it has been completely shrouded in mystery for hundreds of years. Doherty does a great job of fleshing out the mystery and adding his own theory to the mix. I enjoy a historian who is not afraid to look outside the box and not take the "accepted" view of history. As he looks into the death he finds several pieces of evidence that do support Edward II having escaped somehow from Berkeley Castle, and living out his life elsewhere, although we do not know what happened after he escaped. The accepted view is that Edward II was quietly murdered at Berkeley, and then quietly covered up so that many questions would not be asked, and allow the country to move on into a new rule. There are questions however as to how Edward could have escaped from his prison. One theory that Doherty does not bring up, and may not have considered is that, Edward's servant knowing he was about to be murdered, helped his master to escape, but how?? If Mortimer and the queen sent men to murder the king, they would have wanted as few people as possible to be in the area at the time. By putting the rumor about that men were trying to help the king to escape, it could have drawn out the majority of the men who were stationed at the castle, and giving more secrecy to the men that were sent to kill the king. Instead it would have given the King the perfect opportunity to escape unnoticed. But how did it happen? We will probably never really know how or what happened.
I loved this book! It was a great read, well documented and researched, with some interesting new theories thrown into the mix! Anyone who wants to think about the what if's of history, this is a good one to read!
August 14, 2014
I've just had to change this to 4 stars instead of 3. (Probably actually it's around 3.5 like the average seems to be). Not least because it pulled me through in only a few days and the bibliography is so detailed at the back that it invited me to appreciate the work that had gone into it. The writing style is great again from the author and I especially liked the thought that had gone into his own theory of Henry II's escape from the castle at Berkeley. Henry II starts out as a likable rogue and I like the reference to the idea that he would have been a successful country squire had that been his fate, being King was seemingly not so in-keeping with his character which makes for a more compassionate view of him. who would want to be a successful King if it meant you had to be like his father Edward I.
Isabella is also a very likeable character, quite a phenomenon in fact from an extremely young age. The book certainly made me wonder what she would have been like to meet and what were her intellectual capabilities. I found it interesting too that she turned to Franciscan ideas in the last years of her life. On the other side of the coin Gaveston and Hugh De Spencer ("both favourites") had far less redeeming qualities, the same can safely be said for Mortimer as well the Welsh Baron, Isabella's later lover, who came to a serious misfortune as so many did around this time. Through Mortimer I lost the soft spot for Isabella but at the end of the day she must have been acting out of fear her whole life, and maybe only found equanimity and peace at the very end.
Isabella is also a very likeable character, quite a phenomenon in fact from an extremely young age. The book certainly made me wonder what she would have been like to meet and what were her intellectual capabilities. I found it interesting too that she turned to Franciscan ideas in the last years of her life. On the other side of the coin Gaveston and Hugh De Spencer ("both favourites") had far less redeeming qualities, the same can safely be said for Mortimer as well the Welsh Baron, Isabella's later lover, who came to a serious misfortune as so many did around this time. Through Mortimer I lost the soft spot for Isabella but at the end of the day she must have been acting out of fear her whole life, and maybe only found equanimity and peace at the very end.
July 30, 2007
Well written history book. Despite the prurient interest we have in Edward II’s life (was his relationship with his favorites sexual? Did Isabella join in? Etc.) and his death (did Isabella actually order him killed? Was he killed with a red hot poker up the ass, so as to avoid detection? Or did he escape to live in Wales , as the author seems to believe?), we know little about him or his queen. No portraits or letters by their own hand—the best we have are their monuments and clerks’ inventories. This lack of personal touches makes medieval history hard for me to get into, and despite all the battles and child brides and executions, this was not an exciting book. Part of the problem is pacing; Doherty jumps back and forth throughout the reigns of Edward II and III in a confusing and not very effective manner, and the last third of the book is a rambling look at what happened to Edward II after he was deposed. Doherty would have benefited greatly from a vicious edit of his book.
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July 26, 2011A very interesting and highly readable revisionist/counterfactual reworking of the life and death of Edward II, and the role played in both by his either much-maligned or complete bitch of a wife, Isabella. Doherty suggests that Edward was not murdered unpleasantly (by having a red-hot poker shoved up his backside) at Berkley Castle, as centuries of bloodthirsty schoolboys have been taught, but may have actually been helped to escape and either travelled to the continent or hid out in Wales, where he had a great deal of support. I'm not sure I'm entirely convinced by Doherty's argument, but he does argue it well, and the evidence he uses for it certainly causes pause for thought. An interesting volume for Medievalists in particular.
July 30, 2016
Especially well written, this is a book for the everyday person that does't take masses of historical knowledge for granted. Doherty unravels the story of Edward II's life and fall , which happens at the expense of the rise of his French wife and Queen Isabella and her dubious lover, Roger Mortimer. Although there is much speculation- which is unavoidable as the authors explains- this book helps to demystify the mysterious death of Edward II and presents a remarkable theory, that Edward II didn't actually get murdered at the hands of Mortimer and Isabella.
This book reads like a detective novel, yet still maintains historical accuracy and is careful not to keep a balanced outlook, not exaggerating or glossing over certain facts. Fantastic book.
This book reads like a detective novel, yet still maintains historical accuracy and is careful not to keep a balanced outlook, not exaggerating or glossing over certain facts. Fantastic book.
March 31, 2011
strong woman survives less than loving spouse and his preferred favorites but makes the mistake of falling in lust with the warrior who overthrows her spouse, the king of england and then poses threat to her son, the new king, edward III. She is known as the she wolf of england. If she had avoided the sex outside of her marriage or at least kept it more discreet during the 14th century she might have kept her reputation. Her son, Edw.III whitewashed her reputation afterwards. However, turns out Edw.II, the overthrown king might NOT have been murdered after all.
July 11, 2016
The history presented in this book is interesting and it is presented clearly. I did feel like the writing, as storytelling, could be better. It felt distant & rushed, particularly in the earlier chapters 1-6. The final 2 chapters are the heart of the book, where the author presents his theory. It does feel like the first 6 chapters presenting the history surrounding his theory were grudgingly written in order to get the reader up to speed. The book has certainly piqued my interest and I will read & listen to more about Isabella, and the Edwards: I, II, & III.
December 23, 2008
Having read 'The Perfect King' by Ian Mortimer, I wanted to dig a little more into the death of Edward II. I've visited Berkeley Castle many moons ago, scene of the so called murder. I've also visited the tomb of Edward's in Gloucester Cathedral.
I think Paul Doherty investigates this 700 year old whodunnit, and comes up with the truth behind what happened. No need to visit Gloucester Cathedral again then!
I think Paul Doherty investigates this 700 year old whodunnit, and comes up with the truth behind what happened. No need to visit Gloucester Cathedral again then!
November 22, 2011
I adore Paul Doherty's mediaeval mysteries but the early part of the Strange Death of Edward II is merely re-stating most of what he has covered elsewhere. It isn't until right at the end of the book that Doherty puts forward less than compelling evidence concerning Edward's demise. If he had written the first part with as much verve and panache as the ending, I might not have felt so disappointed.
February 7, 2016
I found this book rather interesting, it gave me a more enlightened knowledge on the life of Edward ll. Also I liked at the end the hypothesis of - Is he really entombed in Gloucester or did he escape, and if so where did he end up?
I never knew much about Isabella and really you have to feel for her and how she was mistreated, no wonder she turned to another man. I surely wouldn't have wanted to been living as a royal in those times !
I never knew much about Isabella and really you have to feel for her and how she was mistreated, no wonder she turned to another man. I surely wouldn't have wanted to been living as a royal in those times !
July 2, 2010
Wow--if you think fantasy novels are full of devious characters and twisted plotlines, you won't believe this history book! It's fascinating reading, full of love, betrayal, vengeance and murder.
the author also writes historical mysteries, and his deft prose is easy and enjoyable. Highly recommended if you're interested in royalty, intrigue or the Middle Ages.
the author also writes historical mysteries, and his deft prose is easy and enjoyable. Highly recommended if you're interested in royalty, intrigue or the Middle Ages.
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