The House of Beaufort: The Bastard Line that Captured the Crown

by Nathen Amin

The Wars of the Roses saw family fight family over the greatest prize - the throne of England. But what gave the eventual victor of these brutal and complex wars, Henry Tudor, the right to claim the crown? How exactly did an illegitimate line come to challenge the English monarchy? While the Houses of York and Lancaster fought brutally for the crown, other noble families of the kingdom also played integral roles in the wars; grand and prestigious names like the Howards, Mowbrays, Nevilles and Percys were intimately involved in the conflict, but none symbolised the volatile nature of the period quite like the House of Beaufort. Their rise, fall, and rise again is the story of England during the fifteenth century, a dramatic century of war, intrigue and scandal, both at home and abroad. This book uncovers the rise of the Beauforts from bastard stock of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, to esteemed companions of their cousin Henry V, celebrated victor of Agincourt, and tracks their chastening fall with the House of Lancaster during the 1460s and 1470s. The hopes and fortunes of the family gradually came to rest upon the shoulders of a teenage widow named Margaret Beaufort and her young son Henry. From Margaret would rise the House of Tudor, the most famous of all England's royal houses and a dynasty that owed its crown to the blood of its forebears, the House of Beaufort. From bastards to princes, the Beauforts are medieval England's most captivating family.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Tudor Period, Biography, Audiobook, Medieval History

344 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2017

About the author

Nathen Amin is an author from Carmarthenshire, West Wales, who focuses on the 15th Century and the reign of Henry VII. He wrote 'Tudor Wales' in 2014 and 'York Pubs' in 2016, followed by the first full-length biography of the Beaufort family, 'The House of Beaufort' in 2017, an Amazon #1 Bestseller in three historical categories (Wars of the Roses, Norman England, and The Plantagenets & Medieval History). His fourth book, 'Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders; Simnel, Warbeck and Warwick', is due for release in 2021

Nathen is an experienced public speaker, presenting talks on the Beauforts, Wars of the Roses, and Henry VII, for several societies and book festivals, including the BBC History Weekend, Essex Book Festival, HistFest, Gloucester History Festival, Oundle Festival of Literature, Lancaster Historical Writing Festival, Bosworth Medieval Festival, Barnet Medieval Festival, Richard III Society, and as guest expert for Alison Weir Talks. He has also featured on BBC radio and television, as well as in print and online media across the UK @NathenAmin

Reviews

[``Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about the illegitimate Beaufort offspring of Prince John of Gaunt and his mistress Katherine Swynford and their life and times during the Hundred Years War. Since each generation seemed to have the same names either John or Henry it was sometimes difficult to tell them all apart but this book was a big help distinguishing one John or Henry from the other.

The first generation of Beauforts were legitimized after John of Gaunt married Katherine late in life. They were always loyal and supportive of their half-brother King Henry IV of England when he took the crown from King Richard II.

They were capable leaders and soldiers when King Henry V renewed the Hundred Years War in 1415.
King Henry V died young leaving his infant son King Henry VI in the hands of his Beaufort cousins who were highly placed within the government by this time.

I always wondered why out of the 4 royal sons of Henry IV only 1 grandchild was born - the future Henry VI and this book made clear that with the nonstop warfare in France they were rarely home in England. The same with their Beaufort kin, the men were constantly waging war in France and their love life suffered as well with few offspring being the result.

The Beauforts were heavily involved in the regency government of the child King Henry VI. By the time the second generation of Beauforts came to power only Duke Humphrey, the only surviving brother of King Henry V could put a check on their ambitions. And the second generation were extremely power hungry and greedy. Their insatiable greed and mismanagement of the War in France led to the Wars of the Roses with the Duke of York and other highly placed nobles actively trying to reign in the Beauforts treasonous activities.

The third generation of Beauforts during the Wars of the Roses managed to get themselves killed off with the only survivor being young Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry Tudor. This generation was so despicable I was glad to see them go.

This well written book was so informative I could hardly put it down and should be helpful if you're interested in this clan.

[Carolina Casas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book every history buff needs to read if they are interested in finding out about the roots of one of the most infamous dynasties in world history, who will continue to fascinate us in decades to come.
I absolutely loved how descriptive how Nathen Amin was. From start to finish, I was hooked. And this is one of those books that I just had to re-read again because being a huge history buff, I wanted to see what important things I hadn’t highlighted. Turns out that with a book like this, everything is a highlight so you might as well be stuck taking notes and going back to the original source when you want to check something you might have missed.
Writing a biography is not easy, especially one that takes on the challenge of chronicling the life of a family that has been largely obscured by their most infamous and famous contemporaries. Nathen Amin begins with Henry Tudor’s ascension to the throne of England following Richard III’s defeat at the Battle of Bosworth. It is a tale that takes you back through time, to an era of deceit, love, loss, shifting loyalties and above all, survival.
When Margaret Beaufort watched her son being crowned, her confessor, later Bishop Fisher, said that they weren’t tears of joy but of fear. She was the only surviving member of the eldest son of John of Gaunt and his mistress (later wife) Kathryn Swynford. The fact that she had seen her family nearly fade into oblivion and lived through many reigns, was more than enough to worry about her son’s future.
But through it all, she like most of the first Beauforts persevered.
This is a tale of one’s family unlikely rise to power and whose descendants still sit on the throne of England. Those who are new to this era will learn a great deal about it from this book, and those who are already familiar with it won’t be disappointed either because unlike pop historians, the author was objective and the least bias possible, drawing his conclusions from what is known about this period, contemporary and later (reliable) sources, and archaeological evidence.

I’m proud to say, this is a great addition to my collection of favorite books and I am guessing you will feel the same way after you finish it. This is a reminder that the impossible often became possible and that there were no shortages of twists and turns, often due to kings and aristocrats’ excesses and their miscalculation and plain sheer luck, that led to these least likely outcomes.
If you are new to this era, this is a good book to start that sheds light on the roots of Henry VII's maternal family and if you already are, it will still be a good book to read because it highlights a lot of good facts about this period rarely explored.

Read the rest of my review here: https://tudorsandotherhistories.wordp...

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the late Plantagenet era. The Beauforts are a family that hovers around the edges of royalty for a century before they seemingly disappear . . . . except that the last Beaufort, by blood if not by name, is on the throne.

Amin unravels the complicated family ties of the Beauforts, creating clarity for anyone who has wondered how this 'bastard line' managed to hold such incredible power. By the time of the Wars of the Roses, the Beaufort family had spread and married into enough noble lines that there were truly those with Beaufort blood on both sides, including Edward IV himself through his mother, Cecily Neville. Somehow, the author manages to explain all these interwoven relationships without making the reader's head spin. For that alone, this book deserves every one of those 5 stars.

I appreciated that this was a balanced look at each person included. Yes, the focus is the Beauforts, but their weaknesses and mistakes are covered just as thoroughly as their strengths and triumphs. Unlike some modern non-fiction, I do not feel a need to label this as a narrative leaning in any particular direction or favoring a certain point-of-view. It is simply a comprehensive and understandable record of the Beaufort family from its birth, through a tumultuous and stunning rise, until its tragic end. (Unless you count Henry Tudor as a Beaufort, then they claim the ultimate victory.)

This book is the brilliant result of tireless research and a passion to reveal the truth about a family that is always mentioned on the periphery of historical events without often managing to be the focus. The Beauforts deserved this book, and it will help clarify the family's role to anyone who has only encountered them through historical fiction.

I received an electronic copy of this book from the author for review purposes, but I will be purchasing it in hardcover because I see it being a source that I will wish to reference again and again.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive history of this legitimized branch of English royalty, which ultimately built and destroyed and rebuilt its fortunes.

[Michelle Marmelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well written, impeccably researched and very readable. Nathen Amin gives an eye-opening and extremely interesting account in how the originally bastard line of John of Gaunt came to power and ended up, in more ways than one, on the throne of England, and how they helped shape the War of the Roses.

[Starless One · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beauforts are my favourite medieval family. They shaped English history for almost a century and were the direct ancestors of the infamous royal house of Tudor. It has therefore always been a mystery to me that in 500 years, no one has ever written a biography of this incredibly influential family. I was even contemplating writing one myself. Fortunately, Nathen Amin has saved me the trouble.

Despite my enthusiasm for the fifteenth century, it took me a long time to finish this book. There are three reasons for this: a) There are so many different people playing a role in it that it is difficult to keep track of all of them even if you’re familiar with the period. This is not a book for people who have never engaged with the fifteenth century before and you'll probably want to keep google open while you're reading. b) I am more interested in the last generation of Beauforts living through the Wars of the Roses, so the first chapters recounting the Beaufort ancestor John of Gaunt’s life didn’t really keep me invested. c) Although Nathen Amin has done a fantastic job of researching the Beauforts' history and tells their story with empathy and an admirable attempt at keeping things interesting, he is not a novelist. This book is a dense accumulation of historical facts with little storytelling involved. Inventories and family trees are listed in meticulous detail while battles are summarised in a few sentences. To his credit, Amin sticks to the facts without much speculation and if this makes his account of the Beauforts' spectacular lives curiously dry at times, he is to be admired for eschewing any sensationalism.

Strangely, the biography ends with the death of the last Beaufort duke of Somerset after the Battle of Tewkesbury. Despite the book’s subtitle, Amin never describes how the Beauforts eventually ended up “capturing the crown” when Margaret Beaufort’s son Henry Tudor invaded England and subsequently became Henry VII. It’s a curious decision to leave out the event that ensured everlasting fame for the House of Beaufort (even though it had pretty much died out by that point). Although Amin opens with a prologue describing Henry VII’s coronation, Tudor’s actual campaign is not described, leading to the book missing out on a satisfying frame narrative and ending on a rather abrupt note. Tudor fans will probably find this disappointing. Apart from this, the book could have benefited from some careful editing which would have eliminated several typos and occasional sentences of dubious grammatical correctness.

Nevertheless, The House of Beaufort is an admirable and much needed accomplishment. It has long been a thorn in my flesh that you can’t even visit the graves of the last Beauforts in Tewkesbury Abbey because somebody decided to put the Abbey’s tourist shop right on top of them. How you can make money selling tacky Wars of the Roses merch while standing on the graves of people who died in them is beyond me. It just goes to show that, while everybody has at least heard of the Tudors and the Wars of the Roses, nobody remembers the Beauforts who played such a crucial role in this period. Thankfully, Nathen Amin has made a valiant effort to bring them back into the spotlight where they belong. In describing the outstanding achievements of a family of royal bastards who eventually became rulers of England in their own right, he proves successfully why they deserve to be remembered today.

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always knew of the Beauforts as John of Gaunt’s illegitimate children by Katherine Swynford, and I knew about Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor, but everything that happened in between was kind of fuzzy to me. Luckily, Nathen Amin shines a light on this deserving dynasty. This book covers three generations (and a little more) of Beauforts, each with its own superstars to keep the family in the forefront of politics. Much of the action takes place in France during the 100 years' war, for our Beauforts produce a few spectacular commanders—though a few bumblers also slip through. It seems that each generation gets a little watered down, until by Henry VI’s time they do more harm than good, managing to extinguish themselves in the male line. But for a while, they shine very brightly indeed. They came into their own after Henry IV became king, and throughout the Beauforts knew that their fortune—and future—were linked to the crown:

“By 1403 the Beauforts had unquestionably established themselves as a core part of Henry IV’s inner circle, devoted to his cause as the king struggled to maintain control of his crown. Henry recognized the necessity of ensuring his half-brothers were satisfied in their positions, while the Beauforts acknowledged those same positions were only held courtesy of the king’s good grace. It was to the mutual benefit of both parties that this relationship remained in place for the foreseeable future.”

And indeed it remained in place for decades, notwithstanding a few slip-ups during the complicated Wars of the Roses. Their hold over young Henry VI was absolute for much of his minority, though at the same time it was a Beaufort that nearly lost France for England. They were good at landing on their feet, however. The steadying influence (as well as bountiful financial contributions) of Cardinal Henry Beaufort—from the first generation—kept the family in power and the crown afloat until he died in 1447 (by then, Henry VI was 26 years old). The cardinal wasn’t always appreciated, but his unfailing dedication to the “cause” kept his enemies at bay.

Alas, as usual the Beauforts were not very creative at naming their children, and the plethora of Johns, Henrys, Thomases, and Edmunds were mind-numbing. We were given one very simple family tree at the beginning, but it was not enough—especially since their titles were passed on as well, and not necessarily father to son. And of course, the generations overlapped, so it was hard to remember who was the brother of King Henry and who was the nephew. I made my own cheat sheet but by the Wars of the Roses I gave up trying to keep everyone straight. Also, to keep the page numbers down, the font was incredibly small and it was hard to read for my middle-aged eyes (not the author’s fault, I understand). There was a tremendous amount of information in this book and I tip my hat to Nathen for taking on such a project. I admit I found it a struggle to get through all the way to the end. This is not the kind of book you will read for entertainment, but as a resource it is invaluable.

[Jeremy Hobbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came to learn about the Beaufort family mostly through my reading about Edward III and John of Gaunt. What initially caught my interest was how Gaunt legitimized this 'bastard line' and then of course how this family subsequently came to be interwoven into the major of events of English history. This book then offers an accessible, yet focused look at a family that is important but often mentioned often as a somewhat minor player in the stories of other, more prominent figures like the Lancasters and the Tudors.

In some respects, I think the author may have set too monumental a task for himself. Chronicling the course of an entire family over the course of essentially a hundred years in a way that is accessible is no small task and frankly, the author lost me quite frequently. One of the difficulties of his approach is that first, there are so many people in the Beaufort family named John, Henry, Edmund, or Joan. Second, the author chooses to alternate between using the person's given name and their title. So at times, he is referring to Thomas Beaufort, for example as "Thomas", at other times as "Dorset" and when this person was elevated to Duke, began referring to him as "Exeter". I can appreciate that this is used to avoid repetition, but it can make it extremely difficult to keep track of the players as events unfold and it can make the reading a slog as you have to go back and forth in the book to recall who is who.

This is further exacerbated by the really minimal family tree included in the book. In similar style books, there will be family trees that include dates of birth and death, as well as family trees of related families so you can periodically reorient yourself. For example, the first Joan Beaufort married into the Neville family, but there is no summary of that lineage so by the time of the reign of Edward IV it is very difficult to recall the relationships of people and how they tie back into the Beaufort line.

As an upside, I found the author did attempt to organize the book chronologically and tended to devote chapters of the book largely to single members of the Beaufort family like Thomas, Henry, Joan, and the dukes of Somerset. This did help to draw attention to the unique personalities of these characters and left me with a more lasting impression than I would have had if he had jumped around more.

I found the second half of the book more engrossing than the first, primarily I think because of the churn associated with Henry VI's reign, including battles at St Alban's and Towton. I would say that my impression is that the author treated Henry VI with greater sympathy than other chronicles - no attempt was made to present him as a competent ruler, but having that portion of history told through the lens of the Dukes of Somerset (Edmund and Henry Beaufort) perhaps cast that portion of history in a different light than before (for me at least).

All in all, I would say a worthwhile read but be prepared to devote your attention to this book in order to get the most out of it.

[Annika Hipple · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first generation of Beauforts—John, Henry, Thomas, and Joan—were the illegitimate (though later legitimized) children of John of Gaunt, the third surviving son of Edward III, by his mistress (later third wife), Katherine Swynford (born de Roet). As close relatives of the Lancastrian kings of England (Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI), who also descended from John of Gaunt, they played important roles in the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of the Roses, conflicts that dominated much of the 15th century in England and France. In my extensive reading about the period I have encountered the Beauforts many times, and I had been wanting to read a book that places the family front and center.
(See for example my review of Alison Weir's book about Katherine Swynford.)

This book satisfies that wish by telling the story of the Beaufort family through three generations, from its origins in the 1370s to the death of the last male Beaufort a century later. It ends with a brief mention of the dynasty's ultimate triumph as Henry Tudor, whose mother was Margaret Beaufort, defeats Richard III to claim the throne of England. By the end of the book I had a clear sense of the family's trajectory and its importance in British history.

That said, the book suffers from an abundance of editorial flaws. Many sentences contain extraneous words (along the lines of "He said to the his brother...") or are missing necessary words. There are errors of clausal agreement and misplaced modifiers throughout. Overall, the book does not appear to have been reviewed by a competent copy editor.

Although I am familiar with the places involved, I would have liked a map for easy reference. The family tree was also a bit too basic, lacking birth and death dates and leaving out one daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset. This daughter, Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Devon, is mentioned only a handful of times in the book. It would have been nice to learn a little more about her, even if her children were Courtenays, not Beauforts. Even her namesake niece, the better-known Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor, isn't covered in much depth, though she pops up more frequently in the narrative.

In sum, this was a decent history marred by editorial issues, though still worth a read for anyone interested in this period of English history.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been interested in learning more about the Beaufort family since reading Leanda de Lisle 's Tudor: The Family Story. Books usually focus on the Tudor origins of Henry VII, beginning from Catherine of Valois as the matriarch of the Tudor dynasty, overlooking his maternal ancestry. This book gave me the chance to understand his claim to the throne of England from another perspective and, more importantly, learn about his Beaufort roots.

In the book, the Beauforts are, finally, in the spotlight. It all starts from the beginning, giving the reader a clear understanding of how they managed to reach the top and of their subsequent fall from grace. It was actually sad to read about their great beginnings knowing that they were doomed all along. While reading historical books, I always have the question of "what if" in my mind, imagining what could have happened if things had been different. Of course, the Beauforts were somewhat vindicated by the success of Henry VII in claiming the throne, but so many of his ancestors died defending it, through physical and political battles. Who among them could have imagined that their wars would have led to this outcome, one of their own Beaufort kin sitting on the throne? Is it possible that they could have thought that all this fighting would result in one of their relatives as King, not a member of the "pure" Lancastrian family that they never stopped defending after all?

These questions will probably never be answered, but I like to think that the Beauforts thought of themselves as a family destined for greatness, for a place on the throne of England. This book was a trully fascinating read and succeeds in giving the reader great insight into the story of one of the most historically obscure medieval families. Nevertheless, I think I would have liked more details on Margaret Beaufort who was, after all, significantly instrumental in the events that unfolded, leading towards the accession of her son. I imagine that, since the Beaufort name and house ended with the last male descendant, the book had to stop there and Margaret's life is another story on its own.

All in all, I enjoyed this book immensely, delving into its history and emerging with a lot of new facts and a more extensive knowledge on the subject of the Beauforts. I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to expand their awareness of English history and, especially, the Beaufort family and how their role in the Wars of the Roses shaped the country's fate.

[Tony Riches · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beaufort portcullis badge is everywhere, from the one penny coin to the Houses of Parliament, but few people know much about this amazing family, which has had such an impact on British history. I think part of the reason is the story of the Beauforts is complex, so Nathen Amin has to be congratulated for unpicking myth from fact and producing a highly readable account.

It's often said that history has much more drama than fiction, and the House of Beaufort is no exception. This is a story of loyalty and treachery, luck and disaster, which would make a wonderful epic feature film.

My only issue with this meticulously researched book is that my personal favourite Beaufort, Lady Margaret, (mother of Henry Tudor) has a mention in the prologue and only a single paragraph at the end. I'm hoping Nathen Amin is already working on a companion volume, 'The House of Tudor'.

[Bandit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauforts Brought Into the Light

Dr Amin has made an excellent job of bringing a family often maligned and mostly unknown to the public at large into the light of historical knowledge and truth.

He has revealed the kind of father John of Gaunt was, one who provided for his legitimate as well as illegitimate children, the Beauforts and his devotion to his long-term mistress, Katherine Swynford, even after he was forced to abandon her for several years. Dr Amin has researched these early years in detail and made the lives the Beaufort children of Gaunt accessible.
Dr Amin traces the rise of the Beauforts through the reigns of Henry iv, v, and vi and into the first reign of Edward iv until the end of the male line at Tewkesbury 1471. He has expertly put to bed the myth that the Beaufort family had always been barred from the throne, showing that official contemporary documents gave them the same rights of inheritance as if they were legitimate. Gaunt had his sons and dtr legitimated after he married their mother in 1397. However, in the early reign of Henry iv, their legitimate half brother, someone altered the Parliamentary documentation by adding, four words "excepting the royal dignity" changing their status forever and technically barring them from the crown.
The Beauforts went on to serve the House of Lancaster mainly, as Dukes of Somerset and as favourites. They became the focus of hatred from the upwardly mobile House of York, rivals for the English crown, in the shape of Richard, iii Duke of York, who forced Edmund Beaufort out of the Court of Henry vi and imprisoned him while Protector of England. It was against a restored Edmund, 2nd Duke of Somerset and later his sons that York and his son, Edward iv would fight and destroy. Dr Amin traces the rise and fall of three generations of Beauforts, their place in history, their influences here and in France and their service during the wars of the roses. They were soldiers, advisers, kingmakers and companions, they made several glorious marriages, especially Joan, Countess of Westmorland, grandmother of 2 York Kings, they found themselves on the losing side and paid the price for treason. They were married into great Houses like the Howards and Nevilles and even produced a Queen of Scots. They conjure up immigration of schemers and allegations of being the lovers of Queens. Yet they are captivating and their House stole the English crown. Their story is intriguing and here Dr Amin brings these influential men and women to life. By 1471 their direct legitimate male line had been wiped out but their future lay in the hands of a young man and his mother.
Margaret Beaufort was the dtr of John, 1st Duke of Somerset, the 2nd son of the original John Beaufort, son of John of Gaunt. At the age of 12 she was married off to Edmund Tudor, half brother to King Henry 6th and gave birth to the hope of the Beaufort line, Henry Tudor a yr later. It was this young man who fled abroad after Tewkesbury in 1471, carrying the last Beaufort hopes with him. He would return 14 yrs later and take the crown as King Henry vii. Margaret is only a footnote in this book but that's deliberate as her story is left to others and it's the main rise and fall of a family at its height which is masterfully traced here.

I only have one negative point. The paperback has print which is tiny. But then again you have a choice of hardback, audio, paperback and kindle, so really this isn't a problem.

I really enjoyed this book and can't recommend it enough.

5 stars isn't enough. I would definitely give it more.

[Abbi Debelack · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

Learned so much in this one!

[Debby Taylor-Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. I have given only three stars because of errors listed at the bottom of this review. As long as you are aware of these, I highly recommend this work

As a historian who has studied the Plantagenets, specializing in the Beauforts, for over thirty years, I know how evasive this family, especially those from 1455 onward, can be, and the author has done a fantastic job of pulling all the threads together.
Written in such a manner that is suitable for both historical scholars and those new to this, little written about, side of the Plantagenet family, “The House of Beaufort” is an impressive, well researched, book that is overdue by some five hundred years.

Warning – anyone looking for the better-known Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, this is not the book for you. She has many biographies of her own and, whilst mentioned, she is little more than a paragraph in this book.

For the sheer effort that must have gone into this work, I really wanted to give it five stars. However, there are many grammatical/repeat word/mis-spelt errors that should have been picked up by the editors, these reduced my rating to four stars.
The following two historical errors dropped my rating down further to three stars:
Chapter 1-Beaufort of Lancaster 1340-1372, states the Swynford children “… appear to have been born during the mid-1460s… ”. Katherine Swynford DIED in 1403.
Chapter 24-Great Enemies 1462-1464 states that, “… Somerset was unmarried and still only thirty-five years old…” Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset died, by beheading, in 1464, aged TWENTY-EIGHT.
I appreciate that both of these are mis-hits on neighboring keys but a) historical editors should have picked them up, and b) this is a history book and dates/ages MUST be correct.
If both of the above are corrected I will be delighted to come back and update my rating to five stars.

[Toni Kely-Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This period of history is not my strongest although I knew the Beauforts were John of Gaunt’s illegitimate children with Katherine Swynford, who he later married and therefore legitimised them. Other than that, I really only knew Margaret Beaufort was the matriarch of the Tudors as Henry VII’s mother and Henry VIII’s grandmother.

It was interesting to know more about the three or so generations of Beauforts and how they were such an integral part of politics and the War of the Roses. I particularly found the life of Cardinal Henry Beaufort’s life fascinating, and his involvement with the trail and execution of Joan of Arc.

However, the 100 year’s war with France was exhausting to read! There were times where I found it hard going – a lot of information that it took me a almost two months to get through this book. And at times I was confused by the number of Beauforts who were named the same (yes, I know it was common at the time) and also the titles that I would have to check who was who. I thought the author could have perhaps been clearer for readers without having to refer to a family tree.

Not so entertaining but glad I read it for the information was insightful and I’m keen to read more about the 14th and 15th centuries.

[Trina Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the general scheme of England's history, I've always had a very general comprehension of who the Beauforts were - of course, most who are familiar with the Tudors beyond the six wives and Elizabeth I know about the literal mother of the Tudor dynasty: Margaret Beaufort. But there's so much more going on with that last name beyond Margaret's (Edward III's great-great-granddaughter from a bastard line) son and wildest of wildcards with the tiniest splash of royal blood in his veins becoming Henry VII.

It's safe to say that England's history would be radically different of not for Edward III's famous (or infamous) third son, John of Gaunt, and his mistress then wife, Katherine Swynford, because the offspring of that initially illicit union (three sons, one daughter) changed EVERYTHING for generations. And while I've always had a glancing clue about who the Beauforts were, "The House of Beaufort" is the deep dive into this fantastically byzantine family line of questionable beginnings that you never knew you needed.

At times I needed to use family trees to keep up (thank you, Google!) because 14-15th century births, marriages and deaths are the stuff of alliances and power, and the fact that folks weren't very original when it came to naming their kids is maddening (so. many. John. Beauforts.). But that's just the way it was and Nathen does a superb job of putting each Beaufort and their respective impact on the people and events of their time squarely, clearly and directly into view, and trust, the impacts are massive. I finally and ACTUALLY get how Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon from Spain, were related! Yep, that's a thing.

Detailing and presenting the full scope of the Beaufort's line of descent from Edward III to Henry VII was surely a daunting task for Nathen Amin - it would be for any historian. But thanks to "The House of Beaufort", I’ve never had such a clear, fascinating and granular picture of who all of the Beauforts were and their effect on the big picture of England.

And that big, historical picture is very, very important.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story of a powerful family. I was unfamiliar with a lot of the earlier history so the book was easier for me once it got to Henry VI but, in fairness to the author, it was always quite an accessible read, only made hard by the very small print. I have heard Nathan Amin speak and he writes in the same lively, engaging way that he lectures.

The Beauforts never aspired to the throne (until Henry V11) but were loyal to the legitimate Lancastrian line (Henry 1V was John Beaufort’s half brother) which brought them wealth, power and ruin in almost equal measure.
This is largely a story of men but the women aren’t completely neglected. Joan Beaufort is the ancestress of the Yorks via her daughter Cecily. In many ways her legacy was greater than any of her brothers or nephews. Finally the only Beaufort standing is Margaret, who successfully manoeuvres her son to the throne and founds the Tudor dynasty.

A more comprehensive family tree would have helped me - constant recourse to google got a bit tedious. It is complicated with all the intermarriages and everyone being called Henry, Edmund or John (or Joan and Margaret) so a detailed family tree or trees would have made a very positive addition to the book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book! Impeccably well researched and written with a huge amount of passion and insight, this had me gripped from the first page to the last. I thought I already knew most of what there is to know about the Beaufort family, but this certainly proved me wrong! I learnt a lot from it, and it made me realise just what a fascinating bunch of people the Beauforts were, and the huge impact they had on our history. This is historical non-fiction at its very best, and I recommend it for anyone interested in medieval history, the Wars of the Roses and early Tudor history.

[Heidi Malagisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The houses of York, Lancaster, the Nevilles, the Howards, the Mowbrays, the Percys, and the Tudors are often recognized as the families involved in the Wars of the Roses. However, there was one more house that was just as important as the others; the Beauforts. The Beauforts were the sons and daughters of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and his mistress Katherine Swynford. They were considered bastards since they were born out of wedlock, yet they were connected to the house of Lancaster and rose to power by their own right. They would help change not only English history but the history of Europe forever. The Beauforts made a huge impact during the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses, yet many people only recognize Margaret Beaufort and Edmund Beaufort 2nd Duke of Somerset. The Beauforts don’t get much attention. Nathen Amin, the founder of The Henry Tudor Society, wanted to tell the story of this remarkable family. It is in his book “The House of Beaufort: The Bastard Line that Captured the Crown”, that the Beauforts are given the attention that they rightfully deserve.

Nathen Amin explains why he chose to focus on the Beauforts:

The Beauforts are a family often encountered when reading or studying the fifteenth century and the Wars of the Roses, although commonly relegated to supporting roles in the life and times of more prominent figures like Richard, duke of York, Edward IV, and Henry IV, V, and VI. They were always in the background, serving a king, counselling a king, and even fighting for or against a king. …Yet, there were few family units more influential in the governance of England during the period, and none more devoted to defending the Lancasterian dynasty, whether against France in the last vestiges of the Hundred Years War, or against the House of York in a new war of a very different kind. Born as bastards to a mighty prince, the Beauforts were the right-hand men of their royal kinsmen, amassing considerable authority on the national and continental stage. From uncertain beginnings, the Beauforts became earls, dukes and cardinals, and in time kings themselves, their blood seeping into every corner of the English artistocracy within a few generations of their birth. (Amin, 7).

So how exactly were the Beauforts able to accomplish all of this, going from bastards to kings? It starts with John of Gaunt marrying his mistress Katherine Swynford, making his four children with Katherine legitimate and they were given the name “Beaufort”, after his second marriage did not work out. After their half-brother King Henry IV( also known as Henry of Bolingbroke) became king, he allowed his half-siblings to obtain royal status, however, they could not be in line for the English throne.

John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford’s four children found a way to live successful lives without pursuing the English throne and they continued to support their Lancasterian family. John Beaufort became the 1st Earl of Somerset and his children became earls, counts, dukes and his daughter Joan became Queen of Scotland. John Beaufort’s granddaughter was Margaret Beaufort, the mother of the future King Henry VII. Henry Beaufort was able to become a very wealthy man and was promoted all the way to Cardinal of England, quite a feat for an English man at that time. Thomas Beaufort became the 1st Duke of Exeter and his sister Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland was the matriarch of the powerful Neville family.

The Beauforts went through numereous highs and lows as they worked hard to protect England and the honor of their Lancastrian relations. Nathen Amin is able to navigate the complex world of the English court during both the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses to give us the intricate story of the Beaufort family. As someone who is acquianted with parts of the Beaufort family story, I found this book rather fascinating and very informative. This was my first time reading a book by Nathen Amin and I cannot wait to read more of his books. In a complex time, it would be easy to forget one person, but Amin spends the time to write about each Beaufort child and how they made a difference.

The only real issue I had with the book was the family tree. I wished that there were birth and death dates included because I found myself getting a tad bit confused about who was who, especially when some of the Beauforts shared the same name and a similar title.

Overall, I found this book extremely fascinating and informative. Amin’s writing style is easy to understand and he brings the Beauforts from the background and onto center stage. They may have started as illegitimate children of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford, but they rose to be dukes and kings. If you want to learn more about this remarkable family and their influence in both the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses, I absolutely recommend that you read “The House of Beaufort: The Bastard Line that Captured the Crown” by Nathen Amin.

[Pam Shelton-Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not possible to read books on the history of England in this period without encountering the Beaufort family. This book does very in telling this history with the focus on this important family. There were a few errors in writing/spelling (ceeding vs ceding, noney instead of money) and a fairly big one early in the book where the Swynford children are said to be born in the mid-1460s. This is clearly not possible (and just a bit down Sir Hugh Swynford is noted as dying in Nov 1371). The mid-1460s would seem to be a typo but really should have been caught (with the other errors) in editing. I debated on giving a 3 star for this, but found the writing style very good and the sources used commendable so I upped it. It was an enjoyable and worthwhile book to read and hopefully the errors will be eliminated in a future edition.

[Michele Morrical · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Tudor lovers, there are a plethora of books available about the Wars of the Roses, the rise of the Tudor dynasty, and the reigns of King Henry VIII and his daughter Queen Elizabeth I. Less material exists on a few precursor subjects such as Henry VI, Henry VII and especially the Beauforts in which Henry Tudor’s claim to the throne was based. Without Beaufort blood running through his veins, Henry Tudor would have had absolutely no part in the line of succession and the Tudor dynasty never would have existed.

I have read nearly 100 books on the Wars of the Roses and the reign of the Tudors and in all of these books, the Beauforts were interwoven among the stories of the kings, queens, dukes, and earls, but always treated as minor characters…until now. Nathan Amin’s fabulous book focuses specifically on the triumphs and failures of the Beaufort family through two centuries of loyal service to the kings of England and to the Lancastrian branch of the royal family. Nathan writes that he “hopes this book will finally bring the family out of the shadow of kings to stand alone as one of England’s mightiest dynasties” and without a doubt he has achieved his goal.

The Beaufort family was born out of an adulterous relationship between John of Gaunt and his mistress Katherine Swynford. John of Gaunt was the third surviving son of King Edward III and as such received massive amounts of titles, land, and riches, including the duchy of Lancaster. He was the mightiest prince in the kingdom during his father’s reign as well as the successive reign of his nephew Richard II. Although he was espoused twice in politically advantageous marriages (to Blanche of Lancaster and Constance of Castile), it was his mistress Katherine Swynford that he truly loved. The two were together for more than 20 years and produced four children between 1372 and 1379: John, Henry, Thomas, and Joan. Due to the fact that the children were illegitimate, they could not take the name of either of their parents so instead Gaunt bestowed on them the name of one of his French land holdings, a chateau called Beaufort in the north-eastern region of France. When Gaunt’s second wife died, he made the bold and rather unpopular move of marrying his mistress Katherine and petitioned the Pope to legitimize their children which was completed in 1397. This paved the way for his children to be brought into the fold of the royal family which gave them nearly unlimited possibilities of career and marriage options. Gaunt’s children took full advantage of their new status and it was clear this ambitious family had big plans for themselves.

Gaunt’s eldest Beaufort son, John, was created earl of Somerset and inducted into the Order of Garter. He was trusted upon by his half-brother, King Henry IV, to lead military campaigns in France during the Hundred Years War and was appointed to the King’s council.

Second son Henry was given a religious education and held many ecclesiastical appointments throughout his lifetime including the bishopric of Lincoln but the pinnacle of his career was being named Lord Chancellor in 1403. He now had a heavy influence in government matters, both domestic and foreign, and was entrusted to see that the king’s business was done. As the throne changed hands from Henry IV to Henry V and again to Henry VI, the bishop often clashed with those relatives and noblemen who vied for the new kings’ attention and favour.

Third son Thomas served as one of the king’s knights and made a lucrative marriage to Margaret Neville, the sole heiress to the Neville estates and lordship of Hornby. He became a revered military commander and had bestowed upon him by the king many titles including the Captain of Ludlow Castle, the Marshall of England, the earl of Dorset, the King’s Lieutenant, and the Admiral of England, Ireland, and Aquitaine. He was given the extensive authority by King Henry V to raise troops and levy taxes for his efforts in reclaiming England’s French territories.

Fourth-born child Joan married Ralph Neville, earl of Westmorland, who owned lands in Middleham, Sheriff Hutton, Brancepeth, and the magnificent Raby Castle. Together they had an impressive 14 children including Cecily who married Richard, duke of York, and became mother to two kings: Edward IV and Richard III.

Any hardcore Tudor fan will love this book and the depth of information it provides on the very important but often neglected Beauforts. I specifically love reading Tudor non-fiction and this is one of the most informative and most readable books I have ever encountered. Nathan’s writing style is very fluid and easy to comprehend. He doesn’t succumb to the trappings of a highly academic book which can be heavy and boring to trudge through. Yet his book is highly researched as you can tell by his extensive bibliography. I thought I knew nearly everything there was to know about this time period but there were several passages where Nathan brought about new evidence or new interpretations. I like how he contrasts different reports, chronicles, and writers to discern what was most likely to be the truth. He presents the facts and then draws the most logical conclusion in an unbiased manner.

Nathan is a very talented writer and I cannot recommend this book enough to Tudor lovers. I look forward to reading Nathan’s future books. According to his website he is currently working on his fourth book entitled “Pretenders to the Tudor Crown” which is due to be released some time in 2019.

[Kim Mcclung · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was in 8th grade (many, many moons ago) I read "Katherine", by Anya Seton and began a life-long interest in medieval England, including the 100 Years War and the War of the Roses, so I was delighted to read a book that focused on Katherine Swynford and her illegitimate children with John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and 3rd son of Edward III.
After the death of his 2nd wife (Constance of Castile), Gaunt had his children with Katherine legitimized and married her, making her the highest ranking lady in the kingdom. It was fortuitous that he did so because, by his first wife, Blanche of Lancaster, he had 2 daughters and only one son, who was to become Henry IV. Henry IV was to rely heavily upon his 3 half brothers to wrest the throne from Richard II and maintain power.
Their oldest son, John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, had 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls, from whom Henry VII was descended (through Margaret Beaufort and Edmund Tudor). Somerset's daughter, Joan, married James I of Scotland, and was the ancestor to Mary Queen of Scots and the Stuart Kings of England. John and Katherine's second Henry, became the Cardinal of England and both guided the Lancaster line, but also financed the wars in France, as well as being instrumental in Joan of Arcs burning at the stake. Their 3rd son, Thomas had no children, in contrast to his sister, Joan, who had 2 children with her first husband (Robert Ferrers) and an astonishing (at least) 9 children with her second (Ralph Neville). Her female children married into the Mowbray/Norfolk, Percy/Northumberland, Stafford/Buckingham, and the York family. All very powerful. Her youngest daughter, Cecily, Duchess of York, was the mother of both Kings Edward IV and Richard III.
Through her son, Richard, she was the grandmother of Richard Neville (the Kingmaker).
It was between Joan's children and grandchildren as well as her brother, John's children and grandchildren that the War of the Roses was fought, some on the side of York and some on the side of Lancaster. Looking at both the Beaufort descendants and Henry IV's descendants, the toll on them from the 100 Years War to the War of the Roses was tremendous. Sons, fathers, cousins, uncles and husbands were consumed. Cecily alone lost her husband, 3 of her sons (Edmund, George and Richard III), her son-in-law and 5 grandchildren (at my count!). The descendants of John, the 1st Earl, were also decimated with the lone exception of Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII.
I really enjoyed this book, but had to read it twice as it was very detailed, and had to rely on my own reconstructed family tree to make sense of it all, and this is one of the problems with the book, as other reviewers have mentioned. The book only contained one page for the family tree.
Joan Beaufort had no detail at all, and her Neville family was a cornerstone to this story. The book omits John Beaufort's (1st Earl) daughter, Margaret who lost 3 of her children and son in law in the War of the Roses. Adding a few more pages with these family connections, along with birth and death dates would have made a huge difference in understanding and enjoyment.
Finally, there were no maps! There should have been maps of France to cover the 100 years war and maps of England to cover the War of the Roses! Despite these criticisms, I did enjoy it. Now it's time for "The Brothers York."

[Tahlia Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, switching back and forth between kindle edition and the audiobook, depending on which edition was more convenient to me at the time. The reader was easy to listen to, the author enjoyable to read, and the family discussed very interesting. My main issue was that when the author quoted contemporary sources, he kept their original spelling of words. While I appreciated the authenticity, it made understanding those sections much harder when reading the kindle vs listening to the audiobook. While I usually could figure out the gist of what the sources were saying, it would have been nice if the author had provided a translation underneath as I have seen other authors do (granted, for early medieval English history rather than late medieval); even adding a translation in the footnotes would have been appreciated. Other than that minor stylistic issue, I really enjoyed reading/listening to this book. I had not realized the full scope of how influential the Beaufort family was, and enjoyed learning how they influenced several generations worth of politics, being major players in both the Hundred Years War and the War of the Roses, as well being instrumental in supporting the eventual Henry IV’s seizure of the English crown from Richard II. The reader is advised to pay attention, though; titles and lands change hands often in this era, and the name by which the people are known change with equal rapidity. Several men are known as Somerset at different points, as is the case with Gloucester, York, Warwick, etc. At one point, Thomas Beaufort #1 goes from being referred to as Dorset, to as Exeter once he was elevated to the dukedom of Exeter. Also, there are multiple Henry, Thomas, John, and Joan Beauforts, just to keep the reader on their toes (although they are not the only family to pass their Christian names down to their progeny). It’s not a problem - just typical English medieval nomenclature - but it does keep the reader a little bit on their toes if they want to understand who is doing what. I actually found it interesting to see how the namesake compared to the man he was named after in his actions. And - if the namesake was not named after his own father - how he also compared to his father. It added another layer to an already interesting history, as certain traits as well as names seemed to pass from one generation of Beauforts to the next. The House of Beaufort does not shy away from exposing the messiness of its subjects and their times, and it is glorious.

[Edith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a most irritating book.

I read and enjoyed Amin's "Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders" (which would be a great name for a band), but "The House of Beaufort" is not nearly as good overall. The research is there, but as many have noted, the copyediting is not. Spelling, typos, and grammar mistakes might be forgiven; poor word choice and clunky writing, less likely to find tolerance; confusion and timeline disorders, intolerable. It's really frustrating to find a book on a fascinating subject, well researched, but on which very little effort has apparently been expended to make the content readable and accessible.

The book needs maps; maps of France and England would have been most helpful. The family tree is laughably inadequate--why were no spouses included?--especially given the repetition of given names, and changing titles of nobility. Many collateral and direct relatives of the Beauforts mentioned in the text are missing from the chart.

I also have to object to the title of the book, at least in the context Amin creates. He stops his chronicle with the death of Edmund Beaufort, last surviving male line Beaufort descendant. None of the Beauforts had achieved the crown up to that point. Since Amin doesn't cover the life and accession of Henry VII (Tudor) because, presumably, he is a female line descendant, it is a bit strange to subtitle his book in the way he does. (Henry's wife Elizabeth was a Beaufort descendant too, but of course, also down a female line.) No one surnamed Beaufort ever wore the crown. (I suppose one might also criticize the term "bastard" in the subtitle--the original Beauforts were legitimized after all, making their rise possible.)

Still, there is a lot of good information in here. There are very nice color plates of many of places significant to the Beauforts. Amin, while recognizing the misdeeds and character flaws of his subjects, remains conscious of their humanity. (With a few exceptions, notably poor Eleanor Cobham, the wife of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, who was accused of plotting Henry VI's death, and whom Amin excoriates, saying she brought it on herself, when there is more than a little suspicion that she suffered as a result of political differences between her husband and his uncle, Cardinal Beaufort.)

I would recommend the book if you have ready access to Google, for figuring out who's who. It does reward a bit of patience.

[Dantheman68 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read that tells the story of the English Kings from around 1380 to 1471 but from the perspective of the Beaufort family. They were integral to the House of Lancaster taking and securing the thrones of England and France and ultimately losing both of them.
Originally born out of wedlock to Edward IIIs son John of Gaunt to his mistress Katherine Swynford, they were unusual in that they were late legitimized by John of Gaunt when he took Katherine as his third wife.
Legitimized in the eyes of the Church but not to the House of Lancaster's bitter rivals the House of York.
The book takes in 3 generations of Beauforts who's as Dukes, Earls and Bishops raised Henry IV to the throne, fought in Henry Vs campaigns in northern France and then fought to keep Henry VI on the thrones of France and England.
I see other reviews that the Beaufort family tree may have benefitted from birth and death dates to aid recognition of characters. I'm not sure I totally agree as this would act as a spoiler in the reading. Also the main possible confusion which can't be helped is the Medieval penchant for recycling of names every generation. Henry ,John, Joan, Thomas and Edmund are all duplicated or triplicated. But rarely do their lives and stories interlap.
Ultimately the House of Beaufort genealogy will leads to Henry Tudor who became Henry VII.
Normally when you read about the War of the Roses, the civil war that tore England apart for 35 years, when Henry Tudor pops up late in the story you think where did he and his claim to the throne come from?
This book helps understand the integral importance of the Beauforts to the Lancastrian Kings of England through their strong family blood ties.
Highly recommended.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally completed the “Trilogy” of Nathen’s books. This one was fascinating tracking the family of bastards of John of Gaunt (son of Edward III) and how they were legitimized and ended up tied closely and bloodline in the Crown of England, as well as the Hundred Years War, Wars of the Roses, and “end” full circle, with the young Henry Tudor. Read after Son of Prophecy, this is kind of like watching Godfather II before I. Both classics, no complaints!

Now just need more fantastically researched, noted and written books from Nathen, who has very much expanded my knowledge and understanding of the Yorks and the Lancasters.

I have my favourites (Richard of York, Jasper Tudor, and Thomas Beaufort Duke of Exeter), but I can see it’s far more complex than good or evil, though even the good ones do horrible things sometimes.

I have to say it makes my theory about Richard III change, that having seen what a child king and regency did to England, maybe the Princes in the Tower disappearing just avoided another regency and further issues…? Plus it did help pave the way for the Tudors, and would we even remember Richard III without Bosworth and Shakespeare?

Bravo. So much fun, so good.

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical book concerns a timeline that dates from late 14th century to mid-15th century. We are presented to a branch of the Plantagenet line few of us are familiar with: the house of Beaufort, responsible through the maternal lineage to place Henry Tudor on the English throne in 1485.
The Beaufort were key players throughtout most of the 15th century, descending from John of Gaunt's third marriage to Katheryn Swynford. They supported the rise of the House of Lancaster with whom Gaunt's offspring worked closely reaching three generations until Edward IV's ascension, which resulted not only in the downfall of the house of Lancaster but also the product of the conflict we know by the name of Wars of the Roses.
This book is very well researched and documented, and for those eager to know the period better, interested in diving for another perspective of England's late Middle Ages, "House of Beaufort" is for you. It's so well written that it captures the reader's eyes and places them centred in the events of 15th century that shaped England's policy.

[Jake Newitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year or so ago I found out that I was descended from John Beaufort 1st Earl of Somerset and the rest of his line from Edmund Beaufort 2nd Duke of Somerset. Since then I have been fascinated with one England’s lesser known noble dynasties. I stumbled upon this book looking for books about the Beaufort and it did not disappoint. This book takes you on a journey through the Beaufort family from the first brood of John of Gaunt’s illegitimate children and how they found their footing in the reign and later deposition of Richard II to the early years of Lancastrian rule with Henry IV and more notably Henry V on the throne of England. This book takes you from the highs and lows of the family whilst meeting some of the family’s must notable members. This is a prefect book for those who want to learn about the Beaufort’s or those who just interested in the Wars of the Roses which plays a major part in this book. Well written and well researched. I’m looking forward to reading some more of Nathan Amin’s work.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fabulous book! This is one of the best non-fiction history books I have ever read. It was informative but it didn't deliver the facts in a dry way. It made you care about pretty much all the 'characters' and tried to show them in a balanced light. It also gave you hypotheses while letting you know precisely what evidence there was for it but explaining the thinking too using absences in historical records as much as entries. It was just really clever but not too academical and really accessible from a knowledge point of view. Now on to the bad...

The font size is a joke. I know I'm getting old (43) and my eyes aren't great (they have never been great, I had glasses as an 18 month old) however I showed the book to my partner who has 20/20 vision and even he said the font size was ridiculously small. I got a headache every time I sat down to read. If the book wasn't so interesting I would have definitely given up!

[Artie LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been woefully ignorant about the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses. This book has helped to fill the gap. I have learned so much about the Beauforts that I actually recognised their coat of arms on the monument in Southwark Cathedral.

It is, however, somewhat unbalanced, spending the bulk of the book on the three sons of John of Gaunt. Their sister Joan, and the later family, get rather less airtime. It is unclear whether this is because the archives are (relatively) silent, or whether the author found them less interesting. There is, on occasion, too much detail - lists of payments or purchasesare included almost for the sake of it, adding little to the thrust of the argument. This, together with myriad small typos and errors, indicates to me that the author has been let down somewhat by his editor.

Notwithstanding this, I am happy to recommend this book.