What do you think?
Rate this book
The Plantagenets #1
The Conquering Family
An analysis of the historical impact of the reigns of the Plantagenets, Henry II, and his sons Richard, the Lion-Hearted, and John
291 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1949
387 people are currently reading
3458 people want to read
About the author
Thomas B. Costain
128 books185 followersCostain was born in Brantford, Ontario to John Herbert Costain and Mary Schultz. He attended high school there at the Brantford Collegiate Institute. Before graduating from high school he had written four novels, one of which was a 70,000 word romance about Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. These early novels were rejected by publishers.
His first writing success came in 1902 when the Brantford Courier accepted a mystery story from him, and he became a reporter there (for five dollars a week). He was an editor at the Guelph Daily Mercury between 1908 and 1910. He married Ida Randolph Spragge (1888–1975) in York, Ontario on January 12, 1910. The couple had two children, Molly (Mrs. Howard Haycraft) and Dora (Mrs. Henry Darlington Steinmetz). Also in 1910, Costain joined the Maclean Publishing Group where he edited three trade journals. Beginning in 1914, he was a staff writer for and, from 1917, editor of Toronto-based Maclean's magazine. His success there brought him to the attention of The Saturday Evening Post in New York City where he was fiction editor for fourteen years.
In 1920 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He also worked for Doubleday Books as an editor 1939-1946. He was the head of 20th Century Fox’s bureau of literary development (story department) from 1934 to 1942.
In 1940, he wrote four short novels but was “enough of an editor not to send them out”. He next planned to write six books in a series he called “The Stepchildren of History”. He would write about six interesting but unknown historical figures. For his first, he wrote about the seventeenth-century pirate John Ward aka Jack Ward. In 1942, he realized his longtime dream when this first novel For My Great Folly was published, and it became a bestseller with over 132,000 copies sold. The New York Times reviewer stated at the end of the review "there will be no romantic-adventure lover left unsatisfied." In January 1946 he "retired" to spend the rest of his life writing, at a rate of about 3,000 words a day.
Raised as a Baptist, he was reported in the 1953 Current Biography to be an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was described as a handsome, tall, broad-shouldered man with a pink and white complexion, clear blue eyes, and a slight Canadian accent. He was white-haired by the time he began to write novels. He loved animals and could not even kill a bug (but he also loved bridge, and he did not extend the same policy to his partners). He also loved movies and the theatre (he met his future wife when she was performing Ruth in the The Pirates of Penzance).
Costain's work is a mixture of commercial history (such as The White and The Gold, a history of New France to around 1720) and fiction that relies heavily on historic events (one review stated it was hard to tell where history leaves off and apocrypha begins). His most popular novel was The Black Rose (1945), centred in the time and actions of Bayan of the Baarin also known as Bayan of the Hundred Eyes. Costain noted in his foreword that he initially intended the book to be about Bayan and Edward I, but became caught up in the legend of Thomas a Becket's parents: an English knight married to an Eastern girl. The book was a selection of the Literary Guild with a first printing of 650,000 copies and sold over two million copies in its first year.
His research led him to believe that Richard III was a great monarch tarred by conspiracies, after his death, with the murder of the princes in the tower. Costain supported his theories with documentation, suggesting that the real murderer was Henry VII.
Costain died in 1965 at his New York City home of a heart attack at the age of 80. He is buried in the Farringdon Independent Church Cemetery in Brantford.
His first writing success came in 1902 when the Brantford Courier accepted a mystery story from him, and he became a reporter there (for five dollars a week). He was an editor at the Guelph Daily Mercury between 1908 and 1910. He married Ida Randolph Spragge (1888–1975) in York, Ontario on January 12, 1910. The couple had two children, Molly (Mrs. Howard Haycraft) and Dora (Mrs. Henry Darlington Steinmetz). Also in 1910, Costain joined the Maclean Publishing Group where he edited three trade journals. Beginning in 1914, he was a staff writer for and, from 1917, editor of Toronto-based Maclean's magazine. His success there brought him to the attention of The Saturday Evening Post in New York City where he was fiction editor for fourteen years.
In 1920 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He also worked for Doubleday Books as an editor 1939-1946. He was the head of 20th Century Fox’s bureau of literary development (story department) from 1934 to 1942.
In 1940, he wrote four short novels but was “enough of an editor not to send them out”. He next planned to write six books in a series he called “The Stepchildren of History”. He would write about six interesting but unknown historical figures. For his first, he wrote about the seventeenth-century pirate John Ward aka Jack Ward. In 1942, he realized his longtime dream when this first novel For My Great Folly was published, and it became a bestseller with over 132,000 copies sold. The New York Times reviewer stated at the end of the review "there will be no romantic-adventure lover left unsatisfied." In January 1946 he "retired" to spend the rest of his life writing, at a rate of about 3,000 words a day.
Raised as a Baptist, he was reported in the 1953 Current Biography to be an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was described as a handsome, tall, broad-shouldered man with a pink and white complexion, clear blue eyes, and a slight Canadian accent. He was white-haired by the time he began to write novels. He loved animals and could not even kill a bug (but he also loved bridge, and he did not extend the same policy to his partners). He also loved movies and the theatre (he met his future wife when she was performing Ruth in the The Pirates of Penzance).
Costain's work is a mixture of commercial history (such as The White and The Gold, a history of New France to around 1720) and fiction that relies heavily on historic events (one review stated it was hard to tell where history leaves off and apocrypha begins). His most popular novel was The Black Rose (1945), centred in the time and actions of Bayan of the Baarin also known as Bayan of the Hundred Eyes. Costain noted in his foreword that he initially intended the book to be about Bayan and Edward I, but became caught up in the legend of Thomas a Becket's parents: an English knight married to an Eastern girl. The book was a selection of the Literary Guild with a first printing of 650,000 copies and sold over two million copies in its first year.
His research led him to believe that Richard III was a great monarch tarred by conspiracies, after his death, with the murder of the princes in the tower. Costain supported his theories with documentation, suggesting that the real murderer was Henry VII.
Costain died in 1965 at his New York City home of a heart attack at the age of 80. He is buried in the Farringdon Independent Church Cemetery in Brantford.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
June 27, 2023
Thomas B. Costain was one of the twentieth century’s finest writers of popular British history and historical fiction. He combined the skills of a journalist and novelist to make history come alive with sharp characterizations and detailed descriptions of time and place while maintaining an historian’s perspective based upon a solid foundation of research and analysis.
“The Conquering Family” is taken from Costain’s larger four volume work, “The Plantagenets.” “The Conquering Family” covers the period following the Norman Conquest, from the harsh but capable reign of Henry I to the odious tyrant John. Most of the focus is on the Angevin* monarchy, Henry II and his queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, their sons who succeeded to the throne, Richard and John, and their greatest nemesis, Phillip II of France. Add conflicts among church, state, barons, and commoners, not to mention the Third Crusade, and you have quite a story.
Henry II built an Angevin empire that, at its height, included all of England, approximately half of France, parts of Wales and Ireland. John lost most of his continental possessions, but his misrule resulted in Magna Charta, the codification of individual rights to life, liberty and property protected by due process and, most importantly, the principle that the king and his government were not above the law.
*Angevin, taken from Henry II’s title, Count of Anjou.
“The Conquering Family” is taken from Costain’s larger four volume work, “The Plantagenets.” “The Conquering Family” covers the period following the Norman Conquest, from the harsh but capable reign of Henry I to the odious tyrant John. Most of the focus is on the Angevin* monarchy, Henry II and his queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, their sons who succeeded to the throne, Richard and John, and their greatest nemesis, Phillip II of France. Add conflicts among church, state, barons, and commoners, not to mention the Third Crusade, and you have quite a story.
Henry II built an Angevin empire that, at its height, included all of England, approximately half of France, parts of Wales and Ireland. John lost most of his continental possessions, but his misrule resulted in Magna Charta, the codification of individual rights to life, liberty and property protected by due process and, most importantly, the principle that the king and his government were not above the law.
*Angevin, taken from Henry II’s title, Count of Anjou.
March 26, 2009
This is the first volume of Costain's history of the Plantagenets. It begins with the civil war between Stephen and Matilda, covers the story of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine and their children, and ends with the signing of the Magna Carta and the death of King John. This is a lot of history to cover in less than 400 pages, so he's just hitting the highlights.
This is dramatized non-fiction, for lack of a better description, and Costain has a strange writing style. One sentence will be quite elegant, and the next paragraph will contain phrasing that might have come from a high school student's term paper, such as: "This handsome man, who had wanted everyone to like him, was probably the worst king England ever had because of the suffering he brought the people."
Costain is very subjective and uses colorful language, obviously more interested in spinning a yarn than in telling a straight history. I found myself entertained by the sheer glee with which he skewers the historical figures he dislikes.
This is dramatized non-fiction, for lack of a better description, and Costain has a strange writing style. One sentence will be quite elegant, and the next paragraph will contain phrasing that might have come from a high school student's term paper, such as: "This handsome man, who had wanted everyone to like him, was probably the worst king England ever had because of the suffering he brought the people."
Costain is very subjective and uses colorful language, obviously more interested in spinning a yarn than in telling a straight history. I found myself entertained by the sheer glee with which he skewers the historical figures he dislikes.
February 11, 2014
Works of history range from dry, straight up re-counting of the facts to reconstructions and imaginings that have to be called "historical fiction". Even when writing scholarly history, some authors are adept at choosing and quoting facts, characters and order of presentation in such a way as to create a story line and narrative worthy of first rate fiction. If a straight recounting of facts is a 1 in terms of readability (bad), and historical fiction style non-fiction is a 10, then Costain's writing is a 7.
This book was first published in 1949. It's being re-printed and available speaks to it's readability. Costain is clearly re-telling history and can be dry at times, but the period is rich with intrigue and adventure, and Costain does an excellent job of putting the stories together into a very readable tale. And, as interesting as the facts are, Costain acknowledges and explains side stories that add depth and interest. This volume covers the period of King Stephen to King Henry III and includes Henry II, Richard the Lion Heart and King John I. Since the Robin Hood story is joined with Richard and John, Costain takes a chapter and explains the origin of the story, the truth of the tale as well as the evidence that the real Robin Hood live 100 years later.
This is the 1st volume in a series of four books that cover the Plantagenet Kings. Costain does not have the flowing novelistic style of Alison Weir, but he's not far off. I can't wait to start the next volume.
This book was first published in 1949. It's being re-printed and available speaks to it's readability. Costain is clearly re-telling history and can be dry at times, but the period is rich with intrigue and adventure, and Costain does an excellent job of putting the stories together into a very readable tale. And, as interesting as the facts are, Costain acknowledges and explains side stories that add depth and interest. This volume covers the period of King Stephen to King Henry III and includes Henry II, Richard the Lion Heart and King John I. Since the Robin Hood story is joined with Richard and John, Costain takes a chapter and explains the origin of the story, the truth of the tale as well as the evidence that the real Robin Hood live 100 years later.
This is the 1st volume in a series of four books that cover the Plantagenet Kings. Costain does not have the flowing novelistic style of Alison Weir, but he's not far off. I can't wait to start the next volume.
May 26, 2012
I first read Costain's four-volume history of the Plantagenet family back when I was twelve or thirteen--- long, long ago. The books have long ago dropped out of sight--- popular history published first more than half a century ago. And that's a pity. I can't say that they're academic history, or that Costain's interpretations of England from the 1140s to 1485 have held up. But these are the books that introduced me to Anglo-Norman England and to a host of figures (Henry and Eleanor, the over-maligned John, Edward I, the over-praised Henry V, the tragic Richard III) I went on to read about in other, more academic works. I think the Costain books still work as an introduction, and I very much think they're good reads.
May 11, 2025
Rated 3 stars. This is the 1st in a 4 book non-fiction series written in the 1940's and 1950's about the Plantagents. The author, Thomas Costain, is most likely remembered for his historical fiction novel The Black Rose.
I enjoyed this version of the events from 1066 through the death of King John in 1216. The reason for 3 stars instead of 4 is that most readers would need some knowledge of this time in history to keep track of all the minor historical people. Medieval England is one of my favorite historical periods to read and I was confused at times and used Google which slowed down my reading. I will note that the author did insert some humorous opinions which at times had me lol!
As an example this is one of the author's observations of Henry II:
"Henry had full faith in his own judgment, no matter how quickly it might have been formed and on what slight evidence."
Two authors of fictional Medieval history that I highly recommend are Elizabeth Chadwick and the late Sharon Kay Penman.
This series isn't available for Kindle at my library so I bought the series when each title was only $0.99. Looking forward to continuing with #2 The Magnificent Century.
I enjoyed this version of the events from 1066 through the death of King John in 1216. The reason for 3 stars instead of 4 is that most readers would need some knowledge of this time in history to keep track of all the minor historical people. Medieval England is one of my favorite historical periods to read and I was confused at times and used Google which slowed down my reading. I will note that the author did insert some humorous opinions which at times had me lol!
As an example this is one of the author's observations of Henry II:
"Henry had full faith in his own judgment, no matter how quickly it might have been formed and on what slight evidence."
Two authors of fictional Medieval history that I highly recommend are Elizabeth Chadwick and the late Sharon Kay Penman.
This series isn't available for Kindle at my library so I bought the series when each title was only $0.99. Looking forward to continuing with #2 The Magnificent Century.
March 20, 2014
I absolutely loved this book! It is the first book in a series of 4 detailing the history of England from the Conqueror to the end of the Plantagenet dynasty. It's an older book, and the historian feels free to make commentary on the history, drawing conclusions about human nature and placing value judgments on what happened. That has been a real joy. For instance, he hates the code of chivalry and points out whenever it leads rulers to focus less on the good of their subjects and more on winning glory. The book has really changed my opinion of Henry II, deepened my appreciation of and fascination with Thomas A'Beckett, given me a new and more balanced view of Eleanor of Aquitaine, completely changed my opinion of Richard, and, though I knew John was a very bad king, I now know exactly why. :)
Lots of fun, very informative, and I immediately bought the next in the series.
Lots of fun, very informative, and I immediately bought the next in the series.
January 18, 2021
2021 reread via Kindle book from OCLN:
Just as good as I had remembered - I had forgotten most of the details of Costain's 4 book history of the Plantagenets but the wonderful way that he wrote stuck with me. This first book covers Henry II, Richard I (the Lionhearted) & John - the 3 Angevin kings.
Just as good as I had remembered - I had forgotten most of the details of Costain's 4 book history of the Plantagenets but the wonderful way that he wrote stuck with me. This first book covers Henry II, Richard I (the Lionhearted) & John - the 3 Angevin kings.
October 6, 2022
AUDIOBOOK! This is early Plantagenet history as from your gossip and rumor loving old uncle - so not all of it is true and is written as almost historical fiction. (We have the weather, what they ate and wore, exactly what they said.) However, totally worth listening to if only because the narrator, David Case, sounds like a pompous, disdainful, white guy; which absolutely fits Costain's condescending style. Some problems with the chatty style is that a fair number of inaccuracies are mentioned, as is always the case with gossip, and also new information has come to light since this was written in 1950 or so. But a brisk, often funny overview of Henry I - death of King John. [There are no footnotes, nor cited works.]
Some fun examples of the writing (Just a sample! The text is hilarious!) :
"Matilda brought back three things from Germany: the richly jeweled crown she had worn, the sword of Tristan, and the most imperious temper that ever plunged a nation into conflict."
"The mind functioning in this mass of fatty degeneration was keen, nonetheless..."
"Poor, feeble Louis; always at the beginning of something and never at the conclusion of it!"
"Phillip was concentrating his forces for a drive on Normandy up the Seine, the path his father had followed so often and so badly."
I have to say the last few paragraphs were offensive in the championing of brutal outcome the Norman Conquest as a necessary evil. According to Costain the Saxons had "certain racial weaknesses which would have held them back" and "They were a gross people, dull, sensual, inclined to a degree of drunkenness" and "London would never have become the great city" without the help of the (extremely brutal) Normans. This is UTTER NONSENSE and any research into the vibrant Saxon kingdom shows any idea that the Normans were intellectually superior to the Saxons to be false.
That said: this was quite the romp once you know what you are getting into. I listened to the audiobook and Case is perfect for the part (!!) but it can also be found at https://openlibrary.org/
Some fun examples of the writing (Just a sample! The text is hilarious!) :
"Matilda brought back three things from Germany: the richly jeweled crown she had worn, the sword of Tristan, and the most imperious temper that ever plunged a nation into conflict."
"The mind functioning in this mass of fatty degeneration was keen, nonetheless..."
"Poor, feeble Louis; always at the beginning of something and never at the conclusion of it!"
"Phillip was concentrating his forces for a drive on Normandy up the Seine, the path his father had followed so often and so badly."
I have to say the last few paragraphs were offensive in the championing of brutal outcome the Norman Conquest as a necessary evil. According to Costain the Saxons had "certain racial weaknesses which would have held them back" and "They were a gross people, dull, sensual, inclined to a degree of drunkenness" and "London would never have become the great city" without the help of the (extremely brutal) Normans. This is UTTER NONSENSE and any research into the vibrant Saxon kingdom shows any idea that the Normans were intellectually superior to the Saxons to be false.
That said: this was quite the romp once you know what you are getting into. I listened to the audiobook and Case is perfect for the part (!!) but it can also be found at https://openlibrary.org/
June 4, 2009
This is an EXCELLENT read. Not DRY at all and is a fast exciting read of history. I love the PLANTAGENET'S they are one of my all time favorite families in history!
Publisher's Summary
Thomas B. Costain's four-volume history of the Plantagenet's begins with The Conquering Family and the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066, closing with the reign of John in 1216.
The troubled period after the Norman Conquest, when the foundations of government were hammered out between monarch and people, comes to life through Costain's storytelling skill and historical imagination.
I am definitely moving on to Volume two "The Magnificent Century" and I recommend this book to History lovers and even to more serious HF fans as it will give you a concise and true background to many things you may read about in your HF travels! You will have no trouble following and he does history in a well organized and easy manner to follow. Very enjoyable!
Publisher's Summary
Thomas B. Costain's four-volume history of the Plantagenet's begins with The Conquering Family and the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066, closing with the reign of John in 1216.
The troubled period after the Norman Conquest, when the foundations of government were hammered out between monarch and people, comes to life through Costain's storytelling skill and historical imagination.
I am definitely moving on to Volume two "The Magnificent Century" and I recommend this book to History lovers and even to more serious HF fans as it will give you a concise and true background to many things you may read about in your HF travels! You will have no trouble following and he does history in a well organized and easy manner to follow. Very enjoyable!
June 17, 2025
This was very readable and easy to follow. Reads like his novels. Will definitely use with my girls to cover this period in our British history year.
January 22, 2016
The Conquering Family is the first of four books chronicling the Plantagenet Kings of England; and traces the origins of the family from the marriage of Matilda (granddaughter of William the Conqueror) and Geoffrey of Anjou. Since Henry I (son of William) had died without a male heir, he named his daughter Matilda successor, but not all in England were happy with this choice, and there was a period called The Anarchy which took place as Matilda and her cousin Stephen of Blois struggled for the crown. Eventually Matilda's son Henry (later to be known as Henry II) assumed control and founded the dynasty. This book ends with the death of King John in 1216.
So much of European royal history seems to me to be mired in a mixture of similar names and lists of place names and events that I have a hard time putting into context--I have difficulty affixing all these details firmly onto a timeline. When a particular king or count or battle is mentioned in another source, I often have trouble understanding its value since I have no idea of its place in the larger scheme of things. When I saw all four volumes of Thomas Costain's Plantagenet series on sale at a recent discard sale, I took a chance on it despite its original published date of 1949, rightly guessing that it would be a relatively easy and entertaining way of digesting a large chunk of English history that I was woefully under-familiar with.
While the book did exactly what I expected it to, it did take some time for me to get comfortable with Costain's style. It felt a bit as if I were running to catch a train that had already left the station and was picking up speed, but I did manage to get into the swing of things after the first couple of chapters. Probably the biggest hurdle to overcome was Costain's method of historiography--in my mind I pictured a man who had studied quite intensely about his subject, and then settled comfortably into his raconteur's chair to tell a good yarn. I was most reminded of Costain's contemporary, Harold Lamb, whose biographies of figures from the far east and the classical world also seem more like narratives than history.
What Costain and Lamb and others like them have going for them, in my mind, is a method that tends to stick. Have these historical personalities that they were writing about undergone reevaluation in the 60+ years since The Conquering Family? I can't believe they haven't, especially as there seems to be a whole industry devoted to reinterpreting and revising history that's sprung up in the last forty or so years. Costain is no slouch himself when it comes to imprinting his own opinions on the storyline, but in the end, while I might come away with a slightly skewed idea on some of the minute details, the larger picture falls solidly into place.
I believe that the time when Costain was writing also affects the narrative--were someone to try and cover this same period now (and writing in a 'popular' style), our contemporary sensibilities would no doubt influence what the author would feel was worthwhile to emphasize. I know that for myself, I seem to absorb these mid-century texts better than I do our modern ones--in my opinion I think they tend to be more in-depth, more interesting, and less worried about offending anyone. They also require a bit more effort from the reader, but, other than a bumpy beginning, I think Costain is very readable, and very entertaining. Looking forward to the remaining three books.
So much of European royal history seems to me to be mired in a mixture of similar names and lists of place names and events that I have a hard time putting into context--I have difficulty affixing all these details firmly onto a timeline. When a particular king or count or battle is mentioned in another source, I often have trouble understanding its value since I have no idea of its place in the larger scheme of things. When I saw all four volumes of Thomas Costain's Plantagenet series on sale at a recent discard sale, I took a chance on it despite its original published date of 1949, rightly guessing that it would be a relatively easy and entertaining way of digesting a large chunk of English history that I was woefully under-familiar with.
While the book did exactly what I expected it to, it did take some time for me to get comfortable with Costain's style. It felt a bit as if I were running to catch a train that had already left the station and was picking up speed, but I did manage to get into the swing of things after the first couple of chapters. Probably the biggest hurdle to overcome was Costain's method of historiography--in my mind I pictured a man who had studied quite intensely about his subject, and then settled comfortably into his raconteur's chair to tell a good yarn. I was most reminded of Costain's contemporary, Harold Lamb, whose biographies of figures from the far east and the classical world also seem more like narratives than history.
What Costain and Lamb and others like them have going for them, in my mind, is a method that tends to stick. Have these historical personalities that they were writing about undergone reevaluation in the 60+ years since The Conquering Family? I can't believe they haven't, especially as there seems to be a whole industry devoted to reinterpreting and revising history that's sprung up in the last forty or so years. Costain is no slouch himself when it comes to imprinting his own opinions on the storyline, but in the end, while I might come away with a slightly skewed idea on some of the minute details, the larger picture falls solidly into place.
I believe that the time when Costain was writing also affects the narrative--were someone to try and cover this same period now (and writing in a 'popular' style), our contemporary sensibilities would no doubt influence what the author would feel was worthwhile to emphasize. I know that for myself, I seem to absorb these mid-century texts better than I do our modern ones--in my opinion I think they tend to be more in-depth, more interesting, and less worried about offending anyone. They also require a bit more effort from the reader, but, other than a bumpy beginning, I think Costain is very readable, and very entertaining. Looking forward to the remaining three books.
August 14, 2015
I first read this book, oh gosh, maybe thirty years ago. In fact, it was the very first book I ever ready about the Plantagenets, and one of the first I ever read about the middle ages. What a good choice! His writing style is so smooth (I guess you would call him Popular History) that the book almost reads like a novel. This is a good thing for a history novice. I gobbled up the rest of the series, and I think his interpretations latched into my memory as the definite versions of events. This is the reason I picked him up again; by now I consider myself pretty well versed in the period, and I wanted to see if his books carried the same "punch" they did on the first reading. Amazingly, they do!
Volume one starts essentially with the Matilda vs. Stephen civil war, which leads naturally to Henry II; it ends with the death of King John. Even though I have read many books about my favorite king (which interest was launched, I admit, by "The Lion In Winter"), I still found Costain's descriptions entertaining, and at times original to me. For instance, leading up to the death of Becket: "Before the performance of high mass Thomas a Becket preached in the chapter house...He made it clear that he knew the fate in store for him. With great emotion he referred to the death of Alfege, the primate who had been killed by the Danes, and when he said, 'There will soon be another,' people laid their heads in their hands and sobbed. The backs of the monks in the choir shook with the grief which filled them." To be literal, I suppose Costain couldn't have possibly known whether the backs of the monks shook with grief, but such imagery makes a scene stick in the mind of a reader, and his books are full of this kind of writing. I had forgotten that Becket predicted his end in front of so many witnesses, and little details like this appear frequently.
Admittedly this account is somewhat general, but I think this is to be expected when reading an overview. For instance, in referring to the squabbles Henry II had with his sons, "There was so much switching of sides and betraying of allies that to recite the whole sequence of events would be repititious and would, moreover, serve no useful purpose." On the other hand, he went into detail describing Henry's last humiliating meeting with King Philip of France, who forced him to agree to a long list of demands. Finally: "He had given in and accepted these debasing terms without a protest. His spirit was so broken, in fact, that he said nothing when Geoffrey ordered his squires to lift him from the saddle and place him in a litter." Off to Chinon and the final humiliation of seeing John's name on the top of the list of conspirators. So I would venture to say that Costain would pick and choose the tastiest tidbits to include, but he tied them all together very cleanly.
In the end, it seems he couldn't resist a little moralizing, and essentially concluded that the Norman invasion was a good thing for the country (in the long run). I could have lived without that! However, there are three more books in the series and I have every intention of continuing the story of my favorite dynasty. There are more "facts" I am clinging to that I need to uncover... something about Richard II. But more on that, later!
Volume one starts essentially with the Matilda vs. Stephen civil war, which leads naturally to Henry II; it ends with the death of King John. Even though I have read many books about my favorite king (which interest was launched, I admit, by "The Lion In Winter"), I still found Costain's descriptions entertaining, and at times original to me. For instance, leading up to the death of Becket: "Before the performance of high mass Thomas a Becket preached in the chapter house...He made it clear that he knew the fate in store for him. With great emotion he referred to the death of Alfege, the primate who had been killed by the Danes, and when he said, 'There will soon be another,' people laid their heads in their hands and sobbed. The backs of the monks in the choir shook with the grief which filled them." To be literal, I suppose Costain couldn't have possibly known whether the backs of the monks shook with grief, but such imagery makes a scene stick in the mind of a reader, and his books are full of this kind of writing. I had forgotten that Becket predicted his end in front of so many witnesses, and little details like this appear frequently.
Admittedly this account is somewhat general, but I think this is to be expected when reading an overview. For instance, in referring to the squabbles Henry II had with his sons, "There was so much switching of sides and betraying of allies that to recite the whole sequence of events would be repititious and would, moreover, serve no useful purpose." On the other hand, he went into detail describing Henry's last humiliating meeting with King Philip of France, who forced him to agree to a long list of demands. Finally: "He had given in and accepted these debasing terms without a protest. His spirit was so broken, in fact, that he said nothing when Geoffrey ordered his squires to lift him from the saddle and place him in a litter." Off to Chinon and the final humiliation of seeing John's name on the top of the list of conspirators. So I would venture to say that Costain would pick and choose the tastiest tidbits to include, but he tied them all together very cleanly.
In the end, it seems he couldn't resist a little moralizing, and essentially concluded that the Norman invasion was a good thing for the country (in the long run). I could have lived without that! However, there are three more books in the series and I have every intention of continuing the story of my favorite dynasty. There are more "facts" I am clinging to that I need to uncover... something about Richard II. But more on that, later!
January 17, 2021
Containing no footnotes or end notes, this first of four volumes comprising a history of the Plantagenets presents a highly readable history from the Norman Conquest until the death of King John. The narrative offers a wealth of information on Eleanor of Aquitaine, Thomas a Becket, and others. The Magna Carta's text appears in the volume's final chapters. Although its lack of citations makes it inappropriate for scholarly pursuits, its readability endeared it to the masses.
January 3, 2012
Page 9:
It was in an early year of the twelfth century that a handsome young man named Geoffrey, son of the Count of Anjou, fell into the habit of wearing a sprig of the yellow bloom (planta genesta) in his helmet.
A magnificent historical review by Thomas Costain with plenty of details of all important characters involved in the medieval history in Great Britain.
It was in an early year of the twelfth century that a handsome young man named Geoffrey, son of the Count of Anjou, fell into the habit of wearing a sprig of the yellow bloom (planta genesta) in his helmet.
A magnificent historical review by Thomas Costain with plenty of details of all important characters involved in the medieval history in Great Britain.
November 19, 2017
Conquering Family is a marvelous summary of the Angevin era. Having previously read several works on this period, I was initially skeptical that an overview would be of much interest. However, Costain quickly proved me wrong. His insightful treatment added to my knowledge and his wonderful prose never failed to keep me engaged and entertained.
April 16, 2018
From the introduction: It must be said at the outset that there is no need for another history of England unless it can be given popular appeal. History, on which people depended once for enlightenment and entertainment in reading, is now little read except in classrooms, and this is due to the stern limits which historians have set for themselves.
From chapter one: It was late in September, the year was 1066, and that section of the great north highway which crosses the Aire and the Wharfe and rolls on to the city of York was black with marching soldiers.
Premise/plot: Thomas Costain wrote four (nonfiction) books on the Plantagenets. This is the first in that series. It begins with William the Conqueror and ends with the death of King John. It is packed with drama and adventure. It is an entertaining read. Plenty of familiar details--of course--but I learned many things as well.
From chapter two: The strongest of the three men had won. Never in history, perhaps, have the qualities which make a successful dictator been combined more perfectly and completely in one vigorous frame and one keen brain. William was a great warrior as well as an astute general. (13)
From chapter three: There is only one good thing to be said about the reign of William II, called Rufus or the Red. It was brief. (30)
From chapter four: Good news travels fast, even in a land where most of the roads are no better than cow trails. The word which swept over England immediately after the accession to the throne of the youngest son of William the Conqueror was so good that it set the whole countryside ablaze with joyful expectations. Henry wanted to take a Saxon princess as his bride. (43)
From chapter five: Henry I was not a great man, but was in many respects a great king. (62)
My thoughts: I enjoyed this one very much! I would recommend it to anglophiles everywhere! I enjoyed the narrative style. I enjoyed the stories. It is written to be entertaining to the masses, if you will.
The overall 'so what' of the book is that Costain believes that England was ultimately better off because of the Norman invasion led by William the Conqueror. That it was the blending of Anglo-Saxons and Normans that made the English people GREAT. Yes, these turbulent years might have been bloody at times, unfair to some perhaps--but the ends justify the means.
From chapter one: It was late in September, the year was 1066, and that section of the great north highway which crosses the Aire and the Wharfe and rolls on to the city of York was black with marching soldiers.
Premise/plot: Thomas Costain wrote four (nonfiction) books on the Plantagenets. This is the first in that series. It begins with William the Conqueror and ends with the death of King John. It is packed with drama and adventure. It is an entertaining read. Plenty of familiar details--of course--but I learned many things as well.
From chapter two: The strongest of the three men had won. Never in history, perhaps, have the qualities which make a successful dictator been combined more perfectly and completely in one vigorous frame and one keen brain. William was a great warrior as well as an astute general. (13)
From chapter three: There is only one good thing to be said about the reign of William II, called Rufus or the Red. It was brief. (30)
From chapter four: Good news travels fast, even in a land where most of the roads are no better than cow trails. The word which swept over England immediately after the accession to the throne of the youngest son of William the Conqueror was so good that it set the whole countryside ablaze with joyful expectations. Henry wanted to take a Saxon princess as his bride. (43)
From chapter five: Henry I was not a great man, but was in many respects a great king. (62)
My thoughts: I enjoyed this one very much! I would recommend it to anglophiles everywhere! I enjoyed the narrative style. I enjoyed the stories. It is written to be entertaining to the masses, if you will.
The overall 'so what' of the book is that Costain believes that England was ultimately better off because of the Norman invasion led by William the Conqueror. That it was the blending of Anglo-Saxons and Normans that made the English people GREAT. Yes, these turbulent years might have been bloody at times, unfair to some perhaps--but the ends justify the means.
June 11, 2024
A popular history of the Plantagenets, beginning in the Norman Invasion of 1066 and ending with the signing of the Magna Carta and the death of King John in the early 13th century. The marvellous thing about this book is that it reads like a novel! This was my very first history read, and I am not disappointed. I can’t wait to read the next books in the series, and to discover other history books too.
June 30, 2023
There’s been much more research done on the Plantagenets in the 70+ years since The Conquerors was first published, but I find Costain’s quaint mid-century storytelling style right up my alley. It reminds me of a 1950s Disney documentary. This first of four Plantagenet volumes ends with the death of King John, so Henry III awaits in The Magnificent Century.
July 22, 2024
A bit hard to read quickly because of the 1949 vocabulary, etc. But the historical details about the forming of a nation after the conquest of William the Conqueror are interesting. A fascinating read of the Magna Carta awaits the reader at the end. A great research read.
January 18, 2025
I could read about these wily Plantagenets all day. David Case is an excellent narrator on the audiobook.
February 5, 2020
Trochę obawiałem się tej książki. Nie jest to bowiem typowe historyczne dzieło. Choć autor zastrzega wierność faktom, to nie waha się nieco fabularyzować, nie ukrywa stosunku do kolejnych władców. Ponadto często zbacza z "głównej" drogi, cieszy czytelnika pogłębionym kontekstem, tłem historycznym. Dzięki temu książka charakteryzuje się żywą narracją, daleką od wspomnianego historycznego wykładu. To bardziej gawęda historyczna, bogata w fakty i szczegóły.
Do tej pory czytelnik interesujący się historią Plantagenetów (w sensie: ja), miał do dyspozycji dzieło Dana Jonesa. Ale Thomas B. Costain dostarcza dzieło bogatsze i ciekawsze.
To pierwsza z czterech części. Obejmuje okres od normańskiego podboju po fatalne rządy Jana Bez Ziemi. Czekam na kolejne. Warto.
Do tej pory czytelnik interesujący się historią Plantagenetów (w sensie: ja), miał do dyspozycji dzieło Dana Jonesa. Ale Thomas B. Costain dostarcza dzieło bogatsze i ciekawsze.
To pierwsza z czterech części. Obejmuje okres od normańskiego podboju po fatalne rządy Jana Bez Ziemi. Czekam na kolejne. Warto.
January 26, 2014
Originally published in 1949, Thomas Costain's Conquering Family is a history of Henry II and his family. It is the first volume in a series about the Plantagenet Dynasty and is told from a wonderfully British perspective.
The work discusses the succession problems created when Henry I's son died in the White Ship crash. He continues through the death of that famously hated king, John.
Costain uses his British style to introduce readers to the Plantagenet's with detail and an entertaining voice. For example, in describing Richard the Loinheart: Richard was always the knight, never the king.
The author also addresses court rumor and works to help readers distinguish fact and fiction. However, because the book has an older publication date there are a few things that historians have discovered in the past 60 years. It seems history is always coming to light. One example of this is Henry II's illegitimate son, William. New research has discovered William is not Rosamund's son-- the child of one of Henry's other mistresses, Ida.
Throughout the work, the author provides useful asides. For example, he gives a good description of Strongbow's conquest of Ireland, the Robin Hood Legend and the life of a villen during the period. These details help paint a picture of the times beyond just what was happening to the Plantagenet dynasty.
One aspect that maybe tough for new readers to this period of history are the author's speculations. Every once in while he adds his own opinion of events. I enjoyed his ideas, however, people less well versed in the period my be confused and take his musings as fact. As long as you give the book a close reading, I don't think readers will be confused.
I was reading this concurrent with The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England by Dan Jones. Jones' book is more recent (2013) but Constain's book is much better, more entertaining and readable. Over and over I found myself wishing I was reading Costain's when I was reading Jones'.
Finally, I had the extra treat of listening to Conquering Family on audio and the narrator David Case does a wonderful job. His voice, accent, and timing add a lot to the book!
The work discusses the succession problems created when Henry I's son died in the White Ship crash. He continues through the death of that famously hated king, John.
Costain uses his British style to introduce readers to the Plantagenet's with detail and an entertaining voice. For example, in describing Richard the Loinheart: Richard was always the knight, never the king.
The author also addresses court rumor and works to help readers distinguish fact and fiction. However, because the book has an older publication date there are a few things that historians have discovered in the past 60 years. It seems history is always coming to light. One example of this is Henry II's illegitimate son, William. New research has discovered William is not Rosamund's son-- the child of one of Henry's other mistresses, Ida.
Throughout the work, the author provides useful asides. For example, he gives a good description of Strongbow's conquest of Ireland, the Robin Hood Legend and the life of a villen during the period. These details help paint a picture of the times beyond just what was happening to the Plantagenet dynasty.
One aspect that maybe tough for new readers to this period of history are the author's speculations. Every once in while he adds his own opinion of events. I enjoyed his ideas, however, people less well versed in the period my be confused and take his musings as fact. As long as you give the book a close reading, I don't think readers will be confused.
I was reading this concurrent with The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England by Dan Jones. Jones' book is more recent (2013) but Constain's book is much better, more entertaining and readable. Over and over I found myself wishing I was reading Costain's when I was reading Jones'.
Finally, I had the extra treat of listening to Conquering Family on audio and the narrator David Case does a wonderful job. His voice, accent, and timing add a lot to the book!
October 23, 2017
The Conquering Family is non-fiction that reads like fiction. I know that is often claimed nowadays in publisher’s blurbs to try and reach a larger audience than pure non-fiction aficionados but with The Conquering Family it really is true. Costain takes what is known and fleshes out the description. (“Reginald was a fat little fellow who walked pompously and oozed self-importance from every pore.” p272) George RR Martin claims the author, Thomas B Costain, as one of his inspirations.
Costain covers the history of the Plantagenets, who ruled England from 1154 to 1485, in a series of four books. This is the first and covers the reigns of Henry II, Richard I (aka The Lionheart,) and Bad King John. There was enough scandal and gossip surrounding this family (locked up Queen, kidnapped King, murdered Archbishop, rebellious sons) to compete with a soap opera and that is just from the known history. There are also the myths that have sprung up around them, like that of the Fair Rosamunde and the maze, which Costain relates because they are entertaining but then proceeds to disclose what scholars really believe. Before you think that the book is just about royal shenanigans, Costain also takes the time to describe the lot of the common people, whether they were part of the growing town populations or the majority peasantry who worked the land, he highlights the evolving justice system (an accidental by-product,) and speaks of the dissolving divisions between the Normans and the Saxons to form the English nation.
With the exception of the Magna Charta, Costain quotes sparingly from the source material choosing to relay just the truly bizarre or enlightening; he knows his audience is the layman. This is an older book (1949) and my copy was literally falling apart as I read it but if you come across one in an old book shop or garage sale it is worth picking up. You can learn a lot of history from The Conquering Family but its primary purpose is entertainment.
Costain covers the history of the Plantagenets, who ruled England from 1154 to 1485, in a series of four books. This is the first and covers the reigns of Henry II, Richard I (aka The Lionheart,) and Bad King John. There was enough scandal and gossip surrounding this family (locked up Queen, kidnapped King, murdered Archbishop, rebellious sons) to compete with a soap opera and that is just from the known history. There are also the myths that have sprung up around them, like that of the Fair Rosamunde and the maze, which Costain relates because they are entertaining but then proceeds to disclose what scholars really believe. Before you think that the book is just about royal shenanigans, Costain also takes the time to describe the lot of the common people, whether they were part of the growing town populations or the majority peasantry who worked the land, he highlights the evolving justice system (an accidental by-product,) and speaks of the dissolving divisions between the Normans and the Saxons to form the English nation.
With the exception of the Magna Charta, Costain quotes sparingly from the source material choosing to relay just the truly bizarre or enlightening; he knows his audience is the layman. This is an older book (1949) and my copy was literally falling apart as I read it but if you come across one in an old book shop or garage sale it is worth picking up. You can learn a lot of history from The Conquering Family but its primary purpose is entertainment.
January 29, 2018
What starts off as a confusing jumble of Matilda's slowly becomes more clear as the historical figures make their mark on history. Costain has a different style than many historians and some may find it annoying, he takes down chivalry and a historical personage or two, to his evident delight. But, nonetheless, I enjoyed his style.
More than once I recognized similarities to Game of Thrones, both in the 'black of hair' writing style and the historical figures such as Longchamp, a splendid mix of Tyrion and Littlefinger. If nothing else the history of the Angevin era is incredibly interesting. The King and the Archbishop chapter was riveting. The Angevin three kings, the French menace, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the third crusade (fought against Saladin), William Marshall, Longchamp, and Thomas Beckett all provide ample room for further research. If you're unsure of picking up this specific book (which is a series of 4) at least do yourself the favor or reading about this incredibly complex and fascinating era elsewhere.
More than once I recognized similarities to Game of Thrones, both in the 'black of hair' writing style and the historical figures such as Longchamp, a splendid mix of Tyrion and Littlefinger. If nothing else the history of the Angevin era is incredibly interesting. The King and the Archbishop chapter was riveting. The Angevin three kings, the French menace, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the third crusade (fought against Saladin), William Marshall, Longchamp, and Thomas Beckett all provide ample room for further research. If you're unsure of picking up this specific book (which is a series of 4) at least do yourself the favor or reading about this incredibly complex and fascinating era elsewhere.
January 19, 2014
"The Conquerors" is the first of four books in Thomas B. Costain's series "The Pageant of England". The version I borrowed from the library covers the Battle of Hastings through the death of King John. What a tumultuous and interesting 150 years!
This is NOT your typical history book. "The Conquerors" is not full of dry facts nor is it an avalanche of dates/tedium. Costain keeps the reader's interest with the correct(IMO) mixture of historical detail and juicy tidbit.
If you are like me, you probably learned about William the Conqueror in school. You probably did not learn that without the successful invasion of the Normans in 1066, England may never have attained superpower status she later achieved. This book splendidly makes that case. Costain does not apologize for the greedy, self-centered Norman invaders. He merely gives them credit for being the royal(pun intended) bastards that spurred(unintentionally) the English to greatness.
This is NOT your typical history book. "The Conquerors" is not full of dry facts nor is it an avalanche of dates/tedium. Costain keeps the reader's interest with the correct(IMO) mixture of historical detail and juicy tidbit.
If you are like me, you probably learned about William the Conqueror in school. You probably did not learn that without the successful invasion of the Normans in 1066, England may never have attained superpower status she later achieved. This book splendidly makes that case. Costain does not apologize for the greedy, self-centered Norman invaders. He merely gives them credit for being the royal(pun intended) bastards that spurred(unintentionally) the English to greatness.
December 28, 2013
This is a good history, if somewhat lacking in historiography. What I mean by that is that it relates the story of the historical events, and remains accurate to the information of the time, but may delve into speculation and elaboration upon occasion based upon the author's suppositions and conjectures. In this case, only educated opinions are offered up by the author, though they may not be entirely as logical and certain as the author might suggest. Readers should be particularly wary of sentences that contain the words "must have" or "can only" in them....
Nonetheless, it makes for an entertaining read, and a nice overview for those looking to get a solid presentation of several generations of English rulers. I'll more than likely be checking out other books in the series, as Costain's description of dynasty and the personalities of royals, as well as those close to them, provides a neat "big picture" of British history.
Nonetheless, it makes for an entertaining read, and a nice overview for those looking to get a solid presentation of several generations of English rulers. I'll more than likely be checking out other books in the series, as Costain's description of dynasty and the personalities of royals, as well as those close to them, provides a neat "big picture" of British history.
September 13, 2007
this one surprised me. it had been on my shelf forever, it had taken me forever to find. old-school historical fiction is no longer in print after all. right off the bat i started wondering why in the world i would like this book. the writing is dry, the style is scholarly english gentleman (who i envision composing this in a huge jane austen like library), a few exclamation points were used, all in all it read more like a textbook than novel.
but i "really liked it" as goodreads terms 4 stars and it definitely had me researching the entire plantagenet and tudor line on wikipedia. yes, all of it. it took hours. but im still fascinated.
but i "really liked it" as goodreads terms 4 stars and it definitely had me researching the entire plantagenet and tudor line on wikipedia. yes, all of it. it took hours. but im still fascinated.
June 20, 2011
History for those who hate reading history. Costain does a remarkable job of bringing to life the dry historical record of the earliest Norman kings of England. He intimately describes the character of the august personages that ruled that age and brings an immediacy to the world of the late 11th and early 12th centuries. If you are one of those (and there are a great many of you) who hate reading history this is the book for you. It is a wonderful examination of an interesting aspect of English history that is never dull or dry. It is not a text book with nothing but dates and names, but rather a living text, a Capotean non-fiction novel.
October 16, 2011
Costain said he wanted to write a history of England that reads like a story. Wow, did he succeed! And it really is a history with no dialogue, but he writes in such a way that you don't lose interest. An older lady I know recommended Costain to me and I've been searching for his books for about a year. I finally got the spelling of Costain right and found them a couple weeks ago. My library's catalog says they have one copy of each of his books. When I got the book, it still had one of the old cards in the back from the precomputer days! All the dates were from the 1950s so this one hasn't been popular in awhile. Great great book; best history of England I've read to date...
August 7, 2012
This is a great history book. Costain focuses not on dates or battles but on the personalities of the characters involved. After reading this book, you really feel like you know these famous people as people and not just as faceless drones that march through history. Its told in a type of story form, but it isn´t dumbed down either. It is a historically rich text. This is one of those books that is great for the hard core history reader and also the casual reader who is interested in English royalty.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews