Matilda: Lady of Hay

by Peter Ford

120 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[GRANT · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is good to find a good book written by someone you know! The author is one of the people behind the Hay History Group and the Hay Castle Trust. I met him on a tour of the castle and visited with him again when I made a presentation to the History Group about an ancestor of mine who married in Hay in 1810.

This is well-written explaining many aspects of the history and legend surrounding one of the more interesting women of Britain in the middle ages. The De Braose Family does not have a good reputation among the Welsh principally based on the Abergavenny Christmas Massacre of 1175 and the slaughter at the siege of Painscastle in 1195. King John ordered Matilda's disturbing death by starvation that became a basis for the Magna Charta's Article 39, the establishment of the Rule of Law that has guided Western Civilization for the past several centuries (including the UN Declaration of Human Rights). This book explains it all very well along with the background of the Marcher Lords with fairly free hands governing their buffer between England and Wales. Without needing to argue about "who killed whom," this book explains much and is respectful to different interpretations. Sources are well documented.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little history book. Learnt a few things, always a plus. Hadn't realised an anchoress was bricked in to a cell in the side of a church! 😁

[Nicole Sackin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and short look into the history of this section of Wales and the political drama of the time. Lots of exact dates and family tree information.

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Matilda by Peter Ford offers a look into the life of Matilda de Braose during the reign of King John. While the subject is undoubtedly intriguing, I found both Matilda and her husband, William III de Braose, to be difficult figures to sympathize with, as their actions and personalities came across as unlikable. Moreover, the book seemed to struggle with the limited material available from this period, leading to repetition that detracted from the narrative flow. Despite these drawbacks, I did gain some insight into the historical context and Matilda’s contentious relationship with King John. Overall, while informative in parts, the book’s structure and presentation left me wanting more.