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Magna Carta
A revised edition of J. C. Holt's classic study of Magna Carta, the Great Charter, offering the most authoritative analysis of England's most famous constitutional text. The book sets the events of 1215 and the Charter itself in the context of the law, politics and administration of England and Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Additionally, a lengthy new introduction by two of Holt's former pupils, George Garnett and John Hudson, examines a range of issues raised by scholarship since publication of the second edition in 1992. These include the possible role of Archbishop Stephen Langton; the degree of influence of Roman and Canon Law upon those who drafted the Charter; other aspects of the intellectual setting of the Charter, in particular political thinking in London; the Continental context of the events of 1212–15; and the legal and jurisdictional issues that affected the Charter's clauses on justice.
486 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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About the author
J.C. Holt
24 books7 followersProfessor Sir James Clarke Holt FBA (born 26 April 1922) is an English medieval historian and was the third Master of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University.
Educated at Bradford Grammar School, Holt graduated, and subsequently took his DPhil, at the University of Oxford. He held the positions of Professor of Medieval History at the University of Nottingham (1962 - 1965), Professor of History at the University of Reading (1965 - 1978) and Professor of Medieval History at the University of Cambridge from 1978 until his retirement in 1988. From 1981 until 1988 he served as the Master of Fitzwilliam College.
Holt became a Fellow of the British Academy in 1978 and was its Vice President from 1987 - 1989, president of the Royal Historical Society (1981–1985), and was knighted for his work as an historian.
Holt made his fame with the book Magna Carta, which came out in its original edition in 1965. In this work he treated the charter in the context of the political framework of its time. The book has since been fully revised, and is still considered authoritative within its field. He has also published other works on the same period, such as The Northerners: A Study in the Reign of King John, and Robin Hood.
Educated at Bradford Grammar School, Holt graduated, and subsequently took his DPhil, at the University of Oxford. He held the positions of Professor of Medieval History at the University of Nottingham (1962 - 1965), Professor of History at the University of Reading (1965 - 1978) and Professor of Medieval History at the University of Cambridge from 1978 until his retirement in 1988. From 1981 until 1988 he served as the Master of Fitzwilliam College.
Holt became a Fellow of the British Academy in 1978 and was its Vice President from 1987 - 1989, president of the Royal Historical Society (1981–1985), and was knighted for his work as an historian.
Holt made his fame with the book Magna Carta, which came out in its original edition in 1965. In this work he treated the charter in the context of the political framework of its time. The book has since been fully revised, and is still considered authoritative within its field. He has also published other works on the same period, such as The Northerners: A Study in the Reign of King John, and Robin Hood.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 5, 2021
Dense survey of the political and legal climate surrounding the formulation of the Magna Carta. Sags in the middle from the weight of all the case studies he uses, but that’s authoritative for you. Excellent appendixes with practically ever pertinent document in Latin and English.
August 28, 2016
I enjoye Magna Carta a lot but my setting was unique that would allow me the time and attention I could give this history. I was in Saudi Arabia in Riyadh (working on DOD contracts) and there was a lot of time on my hands. I would be occupied with massive computer backups and restorations on mainframe computers with software updates etc. etc. so I would be constantly sticking my nose in a books killing time while going through reels of magnetic tapes. You get the picture.
This history of the Magna Carta, the Great Charter, which sets the events of 1215 and the Charter itself in the context of the law, politics and administration of England and Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The author revised his first edition (1965) with a lot of further comment on the development of local liberties, the significance of the famous provision nullus liber homo, the political manoeuvres of 1215, and the later history of the Charter, and many other matters. The book is broadened by the addition of an extensive chapter on justice and jurisdiction which embodies an entirely new approach to some of the most crucial and longest-lasting provisions of the Charter. New appendices have been added. Some of these are concerned with the political crisis of 1213-15, for example the alleged meeting at Bury St Edmunds; others examine the Anglo-Norman translations of the Charter and related documents, or the development of perpetual liberties. References are brought up to date throughout, and there is an entirely new index.
I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in history and how it applies to current events.
This history of the Magna Carta, the Great Charter, which sets the events of 1215 and the Charter itself in the context of the law, politics and administration of England and Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The author revised his first edition (1965) with a lot of further comment on the development of local liberties, the significance of the famous provision nullus liber homo, the political manoeuvres of 1215, and the later history of the Charter, and many other matters. The book is broadened by the addition of an extensive chapter on justice and jurisdiction which embodies an entirely new approach to some of the most crucial and longest-lasting provisions of the Charter. New appendices have been added. Some of these are concerned with the political crisis of 1213-15, for example the alleged meeting at Bury St Edmunds; others examine the Anglo-Norman translations of the Charter and related documents, or the development of perpetual liberties. References are brought up to date throughout, and there is an entirely new index.
I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in history and how it applies to current events.
July 22, 2014
I read a compressed abridged version of the book mentioned. It is by the same authour but I believe that the copy I had was redone for early high school as the book was filled with illustrations of such a nature and written in a youth friendly manner.
A nice read which covers English political history around the time of the drafting of this famous document. The copy that I read is a superb introduction to any one who is interested in English history, law or political philosophy.
54 %
A nice read which covers English political history around the time of the drafting of this famous document. The copy that I read is a superb introduction to any one who is interested in English history, law or political philosophy.
54 %
June 1, 2013
The author's exploration of the political and legal crises in medieval times conveys how this charta was a result of war and injustice. The author connects many legal principles, such as individual rights, of the modern era and roots them in their medieval past. This book is detailed and long, but worthwhile. Worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews