King of the North Wind: The Life of Henry II in Five Acts

by Claudia Gold

Henry II conquered the largest empire of any English medieval king. Yet it is the people around him we his wife Eleanor, whom he seduced from the French king; his son Richard the Lionheart; Thomas Becket, murdered in his cathedral. Who was this great, yet tragic king? For fans of Dan Jones, George RR Martin and Bernard Cornwell. The only thing that could have stopped Henry was himself. Henry II had all the gifts of the gods. He was charismatic, clever, learned, empathetic, a brilliant tactician, with great physical strength and an astonishing self-belief. Henry was the creator of the Plantagenet dynasty of kings, who ruled through eight generations in command of vast lands in Britain and Europe. Virtually unbeaten in battle, and engaged in a ceaseless round of conquest and diplomacy, Henry forged an empire that matched Charlemagne’s. It was not just on the battlefield that Henry excelled; he presided over a blossoming of culture and learning termed ‘the twelfth century Renaissance’, pursued the tenets of reason over religious faith, and did more to advance the cause of justice and enforce the rule of law than any other English monarch before or since. Contemporaries lauded his greatness and described him as their ‘Alexander of the West’. And yet it is the people around him who are his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom he seduced away from the French king; his sons Richard the Lionheart and John; Thomas Becket, murdered in his cathedral. Henry – so famed during his lifetime – has slipped into the shadows of history. King of the North Wind offers a fresh evaluation of this great yet tragic ruler. Written as a historical tragedy, it tells how this most talented of kings came into conflict with those closest to him, to become the most haunted.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Medieval, Royalty, British Literature, Medieval History

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overshadowed

Henry II (1133-1189) should be remembered as one of England’s greatest kings, but isn’t. I’ve always wondered why this is the case and so turned to Claudia Gold, who does an excellent job in explaining it. Like Edward III (1312-1377) he just lived too long in a world where kings were expected to be tireless warriors and lawgivers. True Henry made mistakes and was almost the master of his own downfall, but this paints the picture of why medieval kings and aristocracy behaved the way they did. Henry was too forgiving in an unforgiving world and shows that they had to be just, but strong at the same time. Much like his grandfather Henry I (1068-1135). What is true is that Henry II was one of England’s most significant yet complex monarchs. He was the first Plantagenet king, is known for his substantial influence over medieval England and his vast Angevin Empire, which stretched from the Scottish border to the Pyrenees. In this book, Gold delves deep into Henry’s life, reign, and relationships, offering a detailed and nuanced portrayal of his political achievements, personal struggles, and the conflicts that defined his rule.

What stands out most in King of the North Wind is Gold’s balanced treatment of Henry II’s character and reign. She neither glorifies nor vilifies him but presents a king who was both a remarkable statesman and a deeply flawed individual. Henry is portrayed as an astute politician and a legal reformer, whose introduction of the common law laid the groundwork for modern judicial systems. Yet, he was also a man prone to ruthlessness, impatience, and overreach, qualities that alienated allies and family alike. Furthermore, Gold’s narrative is rich with personal details, particularly regarding Henry’s tumultuous relationships with his family. The book vividly explores his fraught marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful and independent women of the time, and his often disastrous relationships with his sons, most famously leading to the Revolt of 1173-74. The author’s exploration of these personal dynamics adds emotional depth to the historical account, showing how Henry’s ambitions for a unified empire were often undermined by familial discord.

Gold is particularly effective in framing Henry II’s reign within the broader European context. She highlights his role not just as King of England but as a ruler whose empire was deeply entangled with continental politics. His battles with the French kings, especially Louis VII and his successor Philip II Augustus, are given due weight, as are his disputes with the Church, most famously epitomized by his conflict with Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Gold’s account of the Becket affair is one of the highlights of the book, as she unpacks the complexity of the rift, moving beyond the simplistic narrative of martyrdom to explore the political and personal dimensions of the dispute.

King of the North Wind’s strength also lies in its narrative style. Gold writes with clarity and vividness, making Henry II’s world feel immediate and alive. Her descriptions of the political landscape, the court intrigues, and the personalities that shaped Henry’s reign are compelling and accessible, even for readers who may not be deeply familiar with medieval history. If there is a critique to be made, it is that while Gold covers Henry’s reign in great detail, there are moments where the book becomes bogged down by the sheer volume of events and names, potentially overwhelming readers unfamiliar with the intricacies of medieval politics. The Angevin Empire was vast and complex, and at times, the narrative can feel dense as it weaves through the many conflicts and rivalries Henry faced.

Nevertheless, King of the North Wind is a comprehensive and engaging biography that succeeds in illuminating the life of one of England’s most formidable monarchs. She offers both an intimate portrait of Henry the man and a broad analysis of his political legacy, making this book an essential read for anyone interested in medieval history or the foundations of English monarchy. Through Gold’s thorough and empathetic lens, Henry II emerges as a figure of immense ambition, brilliance, and tragedy; an extraordinary king whose legacy still resonates centuries later. She stated that her mission is to reclaim Henry II as one of our greatest monarchs. She achieves this here and as much as Henry II was one of our great monarch she is a great writer.

[Julie Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, focused, with an engaging narrative. Perfect book for those who want to broadly understand the reign of Henry II but don't necessarily want to read 600 pages of Warren.

Starts with the White Ship disaster and then the ensuing 19 years of civil war. Jumps right into why Henry "had" to marry Eleanor of Aquitaine. Gold dispenses with many myths about Eleanor, especially that their marriage was a love match as compared to a clear eyed political union.
What if, in return for the advantages he would gain from their marriage, Henry had promised Eleanor something that Louis never had, and never would have, given her: the change to rule her own duchy as she chose, under the loose auspices of Henry's domains. One thing is for sure: a promise of this potency - a promise made to a woman desperate for the independence that power confers - once given, is best kept.

One of Gold's recurring themes is that Henry, for whatever reason, was unwilling to hand over true power to his heir (first Henry the Young King and later Richard) and thus they were emasculated - without money for an independent court, members of their household chosen for them, and especially in the Young King's account a crowned king with no power. Of interest, Gold repeatedly calls the Young King as unable to rule, but I'm not sure I agree.] Gold's main point is that Henry never could give up power - he "allows" Eleanor and Richard to go "rule" Aquitaine but continued to meddle and place his own men in her court; never gave Henry the Young King his marital castles; tried to make Richard give up Aquitaine to become a figurehead heir. Gold also does a wonderful job of pointing out Henry's mistakes, how he learned nothing from the rebellion of 1173-74 and how that directly lead to the second sons' rebellion in 1183.

Also includes a very well written chapter about the changes Henry II made to the functioning government: the beginning (or at least the expansion of) the exchequer, and how Henry II created the court system. It is a testament to the author's skill that I found this interesting as compared to awful!

[G. Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engagingly told, well-written, but there are various inaccuracies which are presented as fact. A highly enjoyable read, but sadly not as reliable as it might be.

[Jacob Stelling · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable account of the rule of Henry II, one of England’s strongest and yet most forgotten kings.

Beginning with the White Ship disaster under his grandfather, Henry I, the author proceeds with an authoritative and evaluative account of Henry’s reign, with a particular focus on those around him and mistakes/decisions made which - had they been done differently - could have altered the course of his reign.

The latter half of the book is naturally dominated by characters such as Thomas Becket, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henri the Young King, all of whom - as the author aptly points out - are more well-known than the title king.

[Taylor's♡Shelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarks: The issue with being generous with ratings on this site is that when I come across a truly phenomenal read I have no greater rating than five stars. Gold's King of the North Wind I desperately wish I could give more. Don't let the subtitle fool you, this is literally just a biography. But an extremely enthralling one at that.

To be honest, this was my first read about the Angevins that didn't focus primarily on the eaglets themselves. Most biographies about John and/or Richard preface with chapters about Henry's reign so I already knew his story in great detail. That being said, this narrative was written beautifully and the transition between events was seamless. The author also focused on the sources (preferably facts that were confirmed by more than one source) and stayed away from using too many assumptions (nothing kills a historical biography more than too many "Henry must/may have..."). Also, I appreciate when history writers mention when facts can be confirmed by more than one source and when some should be taken with a grain of salt. Gold is one of those writers.

I desperately hope Gold decides to focus more of her future writings on English/French history. I'll be the first in line.

[Christopher Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptionally well told story, mixing fact and story telling perfectly.

Henry II, unfortunately is somewhat of a forgotten king and is usually out-remembered by his son’s, Richard and John but, describes as the ‘Alexander of the west’ Henry certainly deserves more acclaim, which Claudia Gold does perfectly.

The amount of detail and back story that Gold adds to this book is fantastic, with The Anarchy and Crusades adding further context and colour to the subject matter, describing relationships with not just the french king but, the lesser lords and nobles of both England and France.

My only complaint about this book is that it ended, I could have kept reading on into the 13th century and beyond.

[Best British Biographies]

One of the noticeable trends in medieval history in recent years is the effort to piggyback books off the success of the Games of Thrones franchise. Ever since George R. R. Martin’s brainchild became an international phenomenon, publishers have sought to take advantage of Martin’s explicit debt to medieval history by emphasizing the inspiration provided by various events, or by otherwise invoking an association through marketing. With its evocative title (a nickname given to him by Richard of Poitiers, and one that I have not encountered in any of the previous biographies that I have read) and the jacket copy explicitly beckoning “fans . . . of George RR Martin” to read her book, Claudia Gold’s biography of Henry II is simply marketed more blatantly to exploit the connection.

For the rest of my review, click on the link:

https://www.bestbritishbios.com/2023/...

[Chris Stott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came to this book with minimal knowledge of Henry II's reign, apart from the Becket affair. I closed it with a fuller understanding of both the king as a person and of the main events and characters of the period. However, I did find Gold's style at times a bit disjointed and repetitive, and she often makes statements for dramatic effect with no supporting evidence, such as 'Henry willed himself to die' - really? Nevertheless, overall I found this a useful launching point from which to explore aspects of Henry II's reign in more detail.

[Laura Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle should really read “A Tragedy in Five Acts.” Henry II is the epitome of the tragic king—only his flaws could bring him down.

[Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly readable account of Henry II, not only describing his place in history, but giving a real feel as to what the man was like. I felt really quite sorry for him in the end. Who would want a family like that. I often find with books like this that the sprawling family connections and large amount of incidental hangers on are too much and become confusing. Especially with so many having the same names. Claudia must have been aware of this problem because she deliberately puts clever tricks in to make sure you know which Henry is being referred to and never throws too many people into the same sections. This does read like a novel and I felt very involved with the family, thus making it easy to learn and take in. I did like the way the book started as far back as the White ship disaster and all the pieces she includes from various people's diaries.
I hope Claudia has written many more books as she makes everything so clear and learning fun. Why didn't they give us these kinds of books at school?

[Rina Di Raimo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is something else, mostly because Eleanor of Aquitaine is in it and we all know she makes everything 100000x better. I didn't know Claudia Gold up until now and I must say, she knows how to deliver a pretty great book. Henry's story is truly a tragedy in five acts. And five stars are not enough this time!

[Paul McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent biography of Henry II and Eleanor.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philip II of france literally every time anything happens: “looks like I CAN manipulate mansplain manwhore my way out of this one too!”

[Christine Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cogent, fairly detailed history of Henry 11`s life in 5 acts - The Bargain, Triumph, Pariah, Rebellion and Nemesis. It included a myriad of detail such as English clerics, disallowed from studying in the usual Paris schools for political reasons, returned home and attended Oxford schools instead. Those Oxford schools developed into universities under the weight of these new students who demanded the best tuition. There are maps and family trees to clarify battles and relationships; often missing from other historical narratives. A vivid, at times moving portrayal of a king who has been neglected and deserves more attention not least because of the reformed legal practices and the beginnings of common law as we still know them. An extra half point in the ratings is needed - four and a half.

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This popular biography of King Henry II of England delivers. Thematically, the book presents Henry's life as a tragedy in five "acts" illustrating the king's brilliant rise and tragic fall. The book praises the king for his amazing achievements, but shows as well how his own character authored his eventual destruction. Well presented and worth the time. I listened to the audiobook on Audible and it is well read by the narrator.

[Benj · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what put me a bit off this book. Gold has obviously done deep and widespread research here, and yet the tone felt, well, chatty. A sort of halfway house between a serious biography and a historical novel. It's hard to write a bad book about a character as interesting as Henry II, but I felt rather let down by the end.

[Lisa]

I’m always sad when I have to abandon a book, especially one I had been looking forward to, but I just didn’t gel with this. It jumped around all over the place, and I didn’t like all the repetition either. It’s a shame, as the author has clearly done her research, but the writing let it down. I might give it another try one day, but for now, it’s on to something else.

[Richard Olney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Mum was very interested in the Plantagenets, i'm named Richard John, though it's more likely that i'm named for Richard Burton and for my Dad than it is for the Lionheart or Softsword. As famous and notorious as both Richard and John were and perhaps still are, it's his father who many, including little me just reading history books, believe deserves to be better known.

Through this book Claudia Gold goes some way in showing how and why he was the man he was. It's sympathetic but not sycophantic, showing how difficult it must have been to have been Henry, how much he seems to have loved it, but through most of his difficulties, judges that he got most things right.

The book starts with the beguiling idea of a Shakespeare play based on Henry II packing them in at The Globe. I'm glad i'm not the only one who when faced with studying Shakespeare's history plays wondered why instead of focusing on the Richards and the Edwards, worthy stories all, focused instead on The Anarchy, and the rise and fall of Henry II. Maybe the late 16th/early 17thCE audience might have known too much about Henry from his involvement in the martyrdom of Thomas Becket and perhaps still looked on the Lionheart as a hero of The Crusades to come to any play about Henry without prejudice. Perhaps he had to wait until the late 20thCE and for The Lion in Winter for his fame to spread more widely and to a huge audience. I'm glad that play gets quoted a few times in the book, especially the fine speech at the beginning of the final chapter.

I enjoyed this book and it's made me think of Henry is a different, perhaps more sympathetic way, i hope he won't mind that and i thank Claudia Gold for doing that.

[Mike Hosking · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to this book on Audible. If you like histories then this is a great book to understand the life of this King of England and this period of Western European history - particularly French and English. It is well written with a personal approach by the author that makes it a gripping read (or listen in my case). Don't be put off by the title if you think it is a play, it isn't; the theme of comparison to Shakespeare's histories is there to make the point that the bard did not value the history of this King enough to give him his own play but that with a deeper understanding of his worth to global/western history perhaps he should have done.

As an addendum I would that although the author is clearly passionate about the subject matter she does not sugar coat the facts. The Plantagenets, like other important historical dynasties may have advanced human culture in fundamental ways but they were also perpetrators of genocides, slavery, child murderers, supreme torturers (red-hot poker up the bum anyone?), molesters, thieves on a grand scale (i.e. of lands and countries) and in many cases utterly evil people. This cannot be excused by 'the times' as most normal people were simple farmers and farm workers with little interest in global domination through acts of monumental violence - which is perhaps why there was (is?) always a gap in the market for such horrendous people.

[Toni Kely-Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read alot on this period and am aware of the context and the players of this era but cannot resist other books I come across, especially about Henry II who is my favourite English King. It's a shame he is not well remembered, as he did introduce centralised administration and a judiciary system with the concept of common law.

However, as the author points out, not only was he considered responsibile for the death of Thomas Becket but he lived too long! Perhaps if he had died in the 1170's instead of in 1189 his legacy would be better known. The turmoil of the last decade of this life with his sons, Eleanor and the French Kings Louis and his son Philip took their toil and Henry made mistakes by not wanting to relinquish control but also lack of judgement that was influenced by the love for his family.

[Keeper of the Privy Seal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gold offers something here that entirely caught me off guard; I came away with a much-changed perspective of Henry II due in no short part to how bloody brilliant this book is! Not only, as others mentioned, are the ‘bread and butter’ events of Henry’s reign covered—Thomas Becket, the (treacherous) family, his rise to power—but also Henry’s continental influence, his legal reforms, his education, and of course his relationship with his French rivals.

The real success of this book, I believe, is how it is able to guide you through the good times and the bad in vivid, complex detail, while also remaining very accessible! I will eventually be reading W.L.Warren’s Henry II (a book I’ve had for a while but haven’t touched, out of intimidation lol), and I feel much more confident in doing so, now that I’ve read this winner.

[Eitan Levy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read except for a bit in the middle section that drags asking a bit, but otherwise Gold makes an excellent narrative of Henry's life. She includes a strong defense of Elenore of Aquitaine whenever possible, which I suppose is only fair as a female historian following a long line of men who generally accepted the worst said about her, though at times it felt like perhaps she should dedicate another book to that subject instead... Helped me understand the role of Normans in England and the long interweaving of English and French history.

[Shahira8826 · Rating 3 out of 5]

"King of the North Wind" by Claudia Gold was an interesting read, but a bit confusing for me, since I'm not an expert of British history. I think trying to make it into a "tragedy in five acts" complicated things unnecessarily, because the author kept going back and forth with the dates and the events, and I ended up getting lost more than once.
I'm sure readers who are already familiar with the history will enjoy this book more than I did.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written analysis of the life and reign of Henry II. For me the 5 Acts structure worked well and it was far more readable than some medieval biographies I have read.

I’m not an expert on this period, so not able to comment on accuracy, but seemed well-researched and prompted me to read more.

[Rasika]

Collected this on last Saturday. What a page turner. I always wanted to know the medieval Europe. I was introduced to the period through "A distant Mirror" by Barbara W. Tuchman. I am still at the early stage of the book. This is a page turner..

[Grace-Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily readable, this is an in-depth and unsentimental look at the reign of Henry II with all his successes and failures. What let it down for me was the frequent repetition and jumping around the timeline, but I'm feeling generous and rounded up to 4*

[Lestat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very readable, I wonder if the framing of the narrative as a tragedy in five acts inevitably leads to bias in the judgment of events however. It would also have been nice to see more primary sources consulted outside of the work of secondary sources. All in all an engaging read!

[Bradley Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason this book was a page turner for me. I knew the story going in about Henry II, but I loved the detail surrounding it. Wonderful work, well worth your time.

[Liam Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. I learned a lot about medieval England, France, and the rest. Was well written with some great digressive scenes.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A damn good read, full of interesting detail and well written.