Richard the Lionheart: In Life and in Legend

Medieval Lives

by Heather Blurton

A deep dive into the myth and history surrounding England’s crusader king.

How did Richard the Lionheart, who once said he would sell London if he found a buyer, become celebrated as the ideal of English chivalry? This book examines the life of Richard I (1157–1199) through the captivating stories told about him, from the Middle Ages to today.

Tales of Richard’s exploits were as colorful as they were varied, ranging from tales of wielding King Arthur’s sword to his descent from the devil (or just a cannibal). Instead of separating fact from fiction, this book explores how tales about Richard I shaped his legacy in his time and ours.

Valuable to general readers and scholars alike, and combining medieval and modern literature, this book is the only account to study Richard I from the perspective of history and literature.

200 pages, Hardcover

First published January 21, 2026

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book definitely was informative but I sadly found my attention slipping around quite often, as it was written in the style of a college essay analyzing another book. 3/5 of the book was going over Richard Cœur de Lion the medieval romance, which is fine, but I was hoping for a simple biography of Richard as a whole rather than just analyzing pre-written texts about him. Although I will say I enjoyed the parts about Richard Cœur de Lion more than the few beginning chapters.

[Ben Thibeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and concise history of King Richard’s life, and how he has been viewed through the ages. If you’re looking to learn about Richard I for the first time or looking for a quick refresher, this is the book for you!

[Andrea Engle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four contemporaneous historians, Roger of Howden, Richard of Devizes, Ambroise, and Gerald of Wales, create the framework for biographies of Richard the Lionheart. The troubadours of southern France build on these serious writers to found his legend. This is continued by novelists, such as Sir Walter Scott, and finds its modern equivalent in film. The author weaves all these disparate threads together to form a web of information … satisfactorily complete …

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, but the section on his actual real life was far too short. I learned almost more about Richard the Lionheart from reading the previously book on King John than here.

With that said, it is true that the book explains itself as a book about his life and his legends, so you are somewhat warned of this in the beginning. However, an additional 50 pages on more of the documented events in his life would have been much appreciated, even if they are controversial ones.