The Devil's Crown

by Keith Miles

The Devil’s Crown sat on three heads and drove them mad. Henry Plantagenet won the crown through conquest and cleverness after he married the beautiful Eleanor of Aquitaine. Proud and ambitious, he feared only the wrath of God — and his rebellious sons … When Eleanor turned his children against him, he found himself at war with his own sons. Richard Plantagenet inherited the crown from Henry, but not before he’d tried to kill for it. Eleanor’s favourite son, Richard led the crusades and died childless in battle. Chivalrous and cultured, he led his father’ empire to victory and conquest — and was brought low by his sins of pride and lust … John Plantagenet lost the crown, having waited his entire life for it. Treacherous and wholly ruthless, he could not subdue his rebellious kingdom — or the madness that gnawed his soul. Brash and murderous, John died with nothing. British history as you’ve never heard it before. These were the men who wore The Devil’s Crown The Devil’s Crown is a dark and compelling tale based on a BBC Television Series. ‘A merry dance through Britain’s timeline’ – Kirkus Reviews Keith Miles is a writer of historical fiction and mysteries who also writes under the pseudonym Edward Marston. Miles was born and brought up in Wales. He read History at Oxford and lectured in the subject for some years before becoming a full-time freelance writer. He has also written several plays for radio, television and the stage and has contributed to many series and serials.

Genres: History

231 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Pseudonyms: Edward Marston, A.E. Marston, Martin Inigo, Conrad Allen, David Garland, Christopher T. Mountjoy

Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theater. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book.

The protagonist of the theater series is Nicholas Bracewell, the bookholder of a leading Elizabethan theater company (in an alternate non-Shakespearean universe).

The latter series' two protagonists are the Norman soldier Ralph Delchard and the former novitiate turned lawyer Gervase Bret, who is half Norman and half Saxon.

His latest series of novels are based in early Victorian period and revolve around the fictional railway detective Inspector Robert Colbeck.

Series:
* City Hospital
* Action Scene
* Alan Saxon
* Merlin Richards

Reviews

[Eileen Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on the lives of Henry Plantagenet and his family..
Not one that I found to be gripping, but a good read never the less.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Endeavour via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[Robbie Carnegie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly odd book - part dispassionate history, part florid historical drama. Many important characters are brushed over or dispensed with remarkably quickly and incidents rushed through. However, the Plantagenet kings are vivid enough to retain interest.

[Annemarie Macken · Rating 4 out of 5]

A generally good read, but the biggest problem for me was that it wasn't always clear if it was a historical novel, or a piece of historical non-fiction, mostly brought on by the language and style, which was a little inconsistent in parts. It contains a wealth of information, but was hard to engage with as a novel, as the language was too formalised and matter-of-fact at times.
That said, there is a clear story included as the narrative charts the blood line of the Plantagenet kings from Henry II to Richard I to John I of England. The wealth of historical detail is interesting and ensures the reader learns a great deal about these men, more bad than good for the most part, but interesting nonetheless. This is a fascinating time in British history and the astonishing stories contained within the book are filled with intrigues and horrors, stories of a family in turmoil who will stop at nothing to plot against each other, as each in turn wears the Devil's crown and sips from the poisoned chalice, which brings happiness ultimately to none of them.

[Polly Krize · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Compelling and historically accurate, this is an unusual look at the Plantagenets and their turbulent time as the ruling family in Britain.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although fiction, I counted this as history : Of Henry the second, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their rowdy family in the days of Plantagenet rule.