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Ogień, lód i żelazo. Historia intryg i wojen, która zainspirowała Grę o tron
Znacie to? Po śmierci ojca młody chłopak mobilizuje wierne mu siły i rusza w bój o władzę. Naprzeciwko niego staje królowa, która na tronie wolałaby widzieć raczej swojego syna sadystę.
A to? Na weselu zamiast wina strumieniami leje się krew.
Albo taka postać: szalony król, lubujący się w torturach. Wrzaski poddawanych kaźni więźniów sprawiają mu przyjemność, ale kiedy sam zostaje lekko ranny, natychmiast zaczyna płakać i zawodzić z bólu.
Brzmi znajomo? Dla fanów serialowej Gry o tron albo Pieśni lodu i ognia George’a R.R. Martina na pewno tak. Przed oczami musieli stanąć wam konkretni bohaterowie – może ulubieni, a może tacy, których kochaliście nienawidzić. To właśnie ich odnajdziecie w tej książce – chociaż może nie do końca tak, jak się tego spodziewacie.
Losy Robba Starka meandrują podobnie jak te Edwarda IV Yorka. Brienne z Tarthu ma zaskakująco wiele wspólnego z Joanną d’Arc, a Tywin Lannister bardzo przypomina Edwarda Długonogiego.
Ed West spędził dziesiątki godzin nad książkami Martina i dziejami Europy. Skrupulatnie sprawdzał, kto został przeniesiony z kart historii na karty powieści, jakie wydarzenia uległy fantastycznemu przeobrażeniu i przede wszystkim – o co chodziło z tymi smokami?
A to? Na weselu zamiast wina strumieniami leje się krew.
Albo taka postać: szalony król, lubujący się w torturach. Wrzaski poddawanych kaźni więźniów sprawiają mu przyjemność, ale kiedy sam zostaje lekko ranny, natychmiast zaczyna płakać i zawodzić z bólu.
Brzmi znajomo? Dla fanów serialowej Gry o tron albo Pieśni lodu i ognia George’a R.R. Martina na pewno tak. Przed oczami musieli stanąć wam konkretni bohaterowie – może ulubieni, a może tacy, których kochaliście nienawidzić. To właśnie ich odnajdziecie w tej książce – chociaż może nie do końca tak, jak się tego spodziewacie.
Losy Robba Starka meandrują podobnie jak te Edwarda IV Yorka. Brienne z Tarthu ma zaskakująco wiele wspólnego z Joanną d’Arc, a Tywin Lannister bardzo przypomina Edwarda Długonogiego.
Ed West spędził dziesiątki godzin nad książkami Martina i dziejami Europy. Skrupulatnie sprawdzał, kto został przeniesiony z kart historii na karty powieści, jakie wydarzenia uległy fantastycznemu przeobrażeniu i przede wszystkim – o co chodziło z tymi smokami?
576 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2019
175 people are currently reading
705 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 4, 2022
Ed West needs an editor.
What you get with Iron, Fire and Ice is a 409-page draft of a work purportedly providing an overview of the historical events that inspired George R.R. Martin's fantasy opus, A Song of Ice and Fire. I say it is a draft because there are a number of sentences missing. Also, because there are a number of errors any proofreader (including Mr. West) would have caught had he bothered to read the work through. Example:
In Westeros Lady Maege Mormont of Bear Island, brother of Lord Commander Jeor (who doesn't like her much) is described fighting in "full armor and brandishing arms," while her young daughter is equally belligerent.
Additionally, the formatting is rather awful; bold-faced, all-capped snippets from Martin's opus (and/or HBO's rendition) sit directly atop their subsequent paragraphs as if, somehow, page-space were under ration. One might expect an author whose flyleaf bio states he has written several books, "blogs for the Spectator" and claims himself "a popular Twitter personality" would have some sort of sense for the configuration of prose.
Hidden beneath all these obstacles is a man who knows his history. A man who just might shine if he were given a bit of an assist in the arena of presentation.
What you get with Iron, Fire and Ice is a 409-page draft of a work purportedly providing an overview of the historical events that inspired George R.R. Martin's fantasy opus, A Song of Ice and Fire. I say it is a draft because there are a number of sentences missing. Also, because there are a number of errors any proofreader (including Mr. West) would have caught had he bothered to read the work through. Example:
In Westeros Lady Maege Mormont of Bear Island, brother of Lord Commander Jeor (who doesn't like her much) is described fighting in "full armor and brandishing arms," while her young daughter is equally belligerent.
Additionally, the formatting is rather awful; bold-faced, all-capped snippets from Martin's opus (and/or HBO's rendition) sit directly atop their subsequent paragraphs as if, somehow, page-space were under ration. One might expect an author whose flyleaf bio states he has written several books, "blogs for the Spectator" and claims himself "a popular Twitter personality" would have some sort of sense for the configuration of prose.
Hidden beneath all these obstacles is a man who knows his history. A man who just might shine if he were given a bit of an assist in the arena of presentation.
August 13, 2019
When I first heard about this book, I was so excited to read it. I knew, of course, that GRRM was inspired by a lot of different aspects of world history and he utilized that to create the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, but I was absolutely thrilled to see that someone had explained and compiled it all in one place. So I had no hesitation in borrowing a copy from my library.
For the most part, I enjoyed what I read. Seeing what historical figures and cultures inspired the likes of Tywin Lannister what events inspired the Red Wedding was absolutely enthralling. That being said, though, there were some serious issues:
1. The myriad of errors that pop up. Things like "... Lady Maege Mormont of Bear Island, brother of Lord Commander Jeor..." (p. 314) and "The Queen's mother was humiliated..." (p. 215) (the Queen in question would have been Anne of Bohemia, whose mother never set foot in England in her life, and given the wider context of the paragraph, one has to assume that it is Richard II who is being referred to). These are all issues that should be caught before the book goes to print.
2. The errors in accuracy. I mean, if you're going to leave a small additional tidbit of a comment at the bottom of the page, at least make sure it's correct. When you say that the Mad King Aerys angered his wife by naming Lyanna Stark the Queen of Love and Beauty, it really begs the question of whether you've read the series or even seen the show before.
3. The organization. I get that the author was attempting to kind of mirror GRRM's style of jumping from one POV to another, but while that works in a fictional narrative, not so much in a book featuring historical facts and analysis. One chapter we're talking about the growing feuds between the Percy and Neville families, as well as the wider feud of the Houses of York and Lancaster, and them BOOM, a new chapter starts and we're suddenly talking about the Dothraki and the Mongols who inspired them. It is very jarring and confusing to have sudden jumps in subject like that. Again, it works all right in fiction, but when you're dealing with a more scholarly-type of work, it feels more like sloppiness and bad writing. I was able to follow along all right, owing to my own educational background (I have a Bachelors in History) and already knew at least the basics of what was being discussed, but not everyone has that.
4. The length. While I get that there is a lot of material to cover, it feels like there should have been more of an attempt to edit this a bit, to tighten things up and perhaps make it a little bit shorter. By the last 150 pages, I felt like I was trudging through mud in trying to finish this book. Too much of a slog.
Overall, the information presented is fairly interesting, though I do disagree with the author's interpretations of some events. Still, seeing how real life events and people inspired GRRM's creation was utterly fascinating and I enjoyed the book for the most part.
For the most part, I enjoyed what I read. Seeing what historical figures and cultures inspired the likes of Tywin Lannister what events inspired the Red Wedding was absolutely enthralling. That being said, though, there were some serious issues:
1. The myriad of errors that pop up. Things like "... Lady Maege Mormont of Bear Island, brother of Lord Commander Jeor..." (p. 314) and "The Queen's mother was humiliated..." (p. 215) (the Queen in question would have been Anne of Bohemia, whose mother never set foot in England in her life, and given the wider context of the paragraph, one has to assume that it is Richard II who is being referred to). These are all issues that should be caught before the book goes to print.
2. The errors in accuracy. I mean, if you're going to leave a small additional tidbit of a comment at the bottom of the page, at least make sure it's correct. When you say that the Mad King Aerys angered his wife by naming Lyanna Stark the Queen of Love and Beauty, it really begs the question of whether you've read the series or even seen the show before.
3. The organization. I get that the author was attempting to kind of mirror GRRM's style of jumping from one POV to another, but while that works in a fictional narrative, not so much in a book featuring historical facts and analysis. One chapter we're talking about the growing feuds between the Percy and Neville families, as well as the wider feud of the Houses of York and Lancaster, and them BOOM, a new chapter starts and we're suddenly talking about the Dothraki and the Mongols who inspired them. It is very jarring and confusing to have sudden jumps in subject like that. Again, it works all right in fiction, but when you're dealing with a more scholarly-type of work, it feels more like sloppiness and bad writing. I was able to follow along all right, owing to my own educational background (I have a Bachelors in History) and already knew at least the basics of what was being discussed, but not everyone has that.
4. The length. While I get that there is a lot of material to cover, it feels like there should have been more of an attempt to edit this a bit, to tighten things up and perhaps make it a little bit shorter. By the last 150 pages, I felt like I was trudging through mud in trying to finish this book. Too much of a slog.
Overall, the information presented is fairly interesting, though I do disagree with the author's interpretations of some events. Still, seeing how real life events and people inspired GRRM's creation was utterly fascinating and I enjoyed the book for the most part.
January 17, 2020
Love the concept - as any GOT/ASOIAF fan with the slightest interest in the inspiration behind GRRM's incredible worldbuilding and characters would. Much of the history and the parallels the author draws between real historical figures and events and their fictional equivalents are fascinating, although on some occasions West stretches a little far in his comparisons. The problem with this book is that it is, to put it mildly, a bit of a mess. The structure (if one can call it that) is terribly unorganized, with the author jumping from subject to subject, era to era and country to country (real and fictional alike) seemingly at random, while the text is replete with errors, both factual ones and such a profusion of typos that I feel compelled to dock it a star for those alone.
December 19, 2019
Great read! Full of historical detail and comparisons to the fictional world of Game Of Thrones. I really enjoyed the many different areas of history discussed, as well as the various time periods. I highly recommend for history lovers and those who want to understand the historical basis for George R. R. Martin's A Song Of Ice and Fire.
October 23, 2022
Bardzo ciekawa książka. W zasadzie z grubsza wiedziałem, jakimi postaciami, wydarzeniami historycznymi inspirował się George R.R. Martin pisząc Pieśń Lodu i Ognia. Niemniej niezbyt mnie to ekscytowało i nie czułem potrzeby podążania tropami historycznymi. Dlatego nie dawałem tej książce zbyt wielu szans. Głównie dlatego, że historię średniowiecza na Wyspach i kontynentalnej Europie lubię i nawet nieźle znam. Królewskie dynastie Anglii interesują mnie niemal od dzieciństwa i czytam wszystko co mi wpadnie w ręce. Jednak autor zaskoczył mnie wieloma szczegółami, których nie znałem. W zasadzie w tej książce jest mnóstwo ciekawej historii, także tej z drugiego planu. Drugim zaskoczeniem było to, jak wieloma faktami Martin się inspirował.
Ta książka okazała się nie tylko przypomnieniem historii, którą juz znałem, ale przede wszystkim odkryciem tej, która zazwyczaj pozostaje poza zainteresowaniem historyków skupiających się na „głównych” tematach. Do tego może spełniać rolę popularyzacyjną wśród tych czytelników, którzy za sprawą powieści Martina mogą sięgnąć po historie prawdziwe i znacznie ciekawsze od wymyślonych.
Być może wadą tej książki jest brak jakiejś wewnętrznej systematyki. Choć może tzw. Wojnę Dwóch Róż można od biedy uważać za jej główną oś. Niemniej autor często skacze od tematu do tematu. Specjalnie to nie przeszkadzało i może to kwestia indywidualnych upodobań. Aczkolwiek zastanawiam się, czy udałoby się ją „uporządkować” chronologicznie. A może to bez znaczenia.
Ta książka okazała się nie tylko przypomnieniem historii, którą juz znałem, ale przede wszystkim odkryciem tej, która zazwyczaj pozostaje poza zainteresowaniem historyków skupiających się na „głównych” tematach. Do tego może spełniać rolę popularyzacyjną wśród tych czytelników, którzy za sprawą powieści Martina mogą sięgnąć po historie prawdziwe i znacznie ciekawsze od wymyślonych.
Być może wadą tej książki jest brak jakiejś wewnętrznej systematyki. Choć może tzw. Wojnę Dwóch Róż można od biedy uważać za jej główną oś. Niemniej autor często skacze od tematu do tematu. Specjalnie to nie przeszkadzało i może to kwestia indywidualnych upodobań. Aczkolwiek zastanawiam się, czy udałoby się ją „uporządkować” chronologicznie. A może to bez znaczenia.
February 21, 2020
A 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle 🧩 is easier to complete when the frame is completed first. This book is the frame. Page burning world history, updated with confirmation genetics, archeology and anthropology. Guidance for pre1066 to 1450s end of War of Roses. Tribal histories, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Saxons, Norman’s, Scythians, (Huns, Avars, Mongols (Ghenghis/Tamerlane)), Persians, Byzantines, Saladin/Berbers, different Caliphates/Arab/Turkic). Intertwined with little ice age, plague, Catholic Church schism, the Assassins, Templar’s, Venetian bankers traders, Eunuchs, military weapons evolution, rules of engagement.....Thank you Ed West....
August 16, 2019
2 and 1/2 stars. I was really excited to read this book. I love the history George R.R. Martin used to inspire his books. I thought this would be a great way of looking at it. It wasn't. It wasn't a bad book, but it could have been and should have been better. For one, the structure of the book followed the plot flow of "A Song of Ice and Fire." In theory, this sounds like a great way of structuring the book. But the reality was that the book would break off in the middle of one time period's events or people to follow another for awhile because that was how Martin structured it. It made for a confusing mess in some parts in trying to follow it.
The other major problem was the author's bias, and in some cases misleading and false facts. When he talked about shieldmaidens and how there is no evidence to suggest that women ever did such a thing. This is patently false and outdated information. We now know that women did indeed go "a-Viking." In fact, many graves we always thought were male warrior graves are proving to have female corpses in them. The other part that bothered me was in the language he used for Eleanor of Aquitaine. He exaggerates her story, repeating false rumors. (There is no historical evidence to suggest she ever poisoned one of Henry's mistresses.) And that he blamed her for how John turned out, even though the author admitted himself that John was Henry's favorite son. The author also totally glossed over the reasons the younger Henry, Richard, and Geoffrey rebelled against their father, making it seem like the pique of teenage rebellion when it was actually the miscalculation of a ruler who refused to allow his sons to take up responsibility or power in their own rights.
So those were missteps, and it makes me wonder how accurate the rest of the history in the book was. However, for what there was, it was enjoyable.
The other major problem was the author's bias, and in some cases misleading and false facts. When he talked about shieldmaidens and how there is no evidence to suggest that women ever did such a thing. This is patently false and outdated information. We now know that women did indeed go "a-Viking." In fact, many graves we always thought were male warrior graves are proving to have female corpses in them. The other part that bothered me was in the language he used for Eleanor of Aquitaine. He exaggerates her story, repeating false rumors. (There is no historical evidence to suggest she ever poisoned one of Henry's mistresses.) And that he blamed her for how John turned out, even though the author admitted himself that John was Henry's favorite son. The author also totally glossed over the reasons the younger Henry, Richard, and Geoffrey rebelled against their father, making it seem like the pique of teenage rebellion when it was actually the miscalculation of a ruler who refused to allow his sons to take up responsibility or power in their own rights.
So those were missteps, and it makes me wonder how accurate the rest of the history in the book was. However, for what there was, it was enjoyable.
January 22, 2019
This book was received as an ARC from Skyhorse Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
Game of Thrones has become a huge phenomenon in all the media formats. Rather its print, tv, or the Internet Game of Thrones is blowing up. What was the original inspiration of this worldwide phenomeon? That was the mission Ed West wanted to find out when writing Iron, Fire and Ice. The book had me hooked in realizing the real events that inspired the Red Wedding, the battle of the king and queen and the struggles of their children from inheriting their kingdom. This book from beginning to end left me breathless and fans of the show and books will definitely appreciate this book and want to keep on reading it.
We will consider adding this title to our Non-Fiction section at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
Game of Thrones has become a huge phenomenon in all the media formats. Rather its print, tv, or the Internet Game of Thrones is blowing up. What was the original inspiration of this worldwide phenomeon? That was the mission Ed West wanted to find out when writing Iron, Fire and Ice. The book had me hooked in realizing the real events that inspired the Red Wedding, the battle of the king and queen and the struggles of their children from inheriting their kingdom. This book from beginning to end left me breathless and fans of the show and books will definitely appreciate this book and want to keep on reading it.
We will consider adding this title to our Non-Fiction section at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
September 20, 2024
I think the author knows his history. I’m not convinced he knows Game of Thrones all that well, or how to organize a history book of this scale. There were ways this could have been written—chronologically, by region, etc—that would have lent some logic and even help in keeping track of details to readers, but instead chapters jump centuries and kingdoms and even continents with little reason, until it’s unreasonably difficult to keep track of all the Edwards and Henrys and Joans and Annes. Then there’s the blatantly incorrect references to major GoT plot points that are like first book/FIRST EPISODE knowledge, as well as misquoting characters, mixing up character relationships, and general writing issues throughout.
Maybe the book just needed a better editor or two than it got. It was a decent enough read—it was just sort of infuriating at the same time
Maybe the book just needed a better editor or two than it got. It was a decent enough read—it was just sort of infuriating at the same time
Want to read
October 13, 2019Not a GOT fan ..... jic you wondered 🙃
October 31, 2023
Byłoby spoko jakby autor trzymał się chronologii a nie skakał pomiędzy stuleciami.
August 13, 2019
Read More Book Reviews on my blog
It's Good To Read
Summary:
Game of Thrones (GoT), the HBO series based on George Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, has been one of the most successful TV series ever. The series is fictional, but in reality Martin was largely inspired by the English War of the Roses, and through this book you find that, sometimes, the truth is bloodier than fiction!
This book gives, in well-researched detail, the struggle for the English throne in medieval times, up to and after the War of the Roses. It also includes events happening continent-wide, that also find echoes in GoT.
Unlike its fantasy counterpart (the “Song Of Ice and Fire” is an epic series in their own right, much better read than watching the TV series imo), Iron Fire and Ice gives life to the real monsters that walked the earth. Ruthless power struggles, betrayals, the bloody end to the age of chivalry – this book shows how England was born. Dysfunctional families abound!
Main Characters:
Henry VI: This man became increasingly deranged as the years progressed, and rumours had it that his wife was the real power behind the throne. She also had many children, and given Henry’s – ah – indisposed condition, rumours also surrounded their immediate ancestry!
He was a depressive, not a murdering maniac – but who is his Game of Thrones Character? If you mentioned Joffrey, you could be right!
Edward IV: Young. Handsome, polyamorous, he becomes a fat debauched monarch at the end. He reminds you of…? King Robert Baratheon!
Margaret of Anjou: A fifteen year old bride who rose to lead a kingdom, in an era when women were seen as chattel, to be bartered for alliances. Strong-willed and power-hungry, she is most like Cersei.
Richard III: One of the most controversial figures in English history, he can be seen as an outright villain (thanks, Shakespeare), or a great reformer. As Lord Protector (of his nephews), he stabilised the economy, his Council of the North brought regional governance under central control, and had the law translated into English (from French). He may have killed his nephews to gain the throne, and was the last English King to die in battle. Tyrion, anyone?
Henry VII: A teenage exile, scouring Europe essentially as a beggar looking for support to raise an army. He seems to be most like Daenerys. The clincher? His banner was red, with – you guessed it – a dragon on it!
Plot:
If you loved GoT, you will find this real-life world fascinating.
The author has done a superb job in linking real history with the GoT fantasy, for example the “Black Dinner” and The Red Wedding”, each hugely controversial because of the complete disregard of the laws of hospitality.
The author also steps back and show the wider, international picture, where far-off events had resonances in England, where for example the French had to suspend their alliance support to the Scots, as a civil war had broken out.
The author also contextualises the conditions that people were living in, the extremely cold weather causing widespread starvation, and social unrest. Throw in the Black Plague, and you see the feudal system breaking down.
What I Liked:
- The level of research is superb. Definitely one for the history buffs, but also accessible to a more general readership.
- The clear linking of the similarities really brings the period to life, in all its goriness.
What I Didn’t Like:
- It is a long read. The author does cover a huge amount in the book, and the events are so intertwined that it is hard to leave some stuff out.
Overall:
I liked reading this book. It was a violent, grimy, brutal time to be alive, and it was worse for the peasantry! This books gives a great flavour of the period, and the continual references to Game of Thrones will keep the interest. Well worth reading!
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to my fantastic library for stocking this book!
Summary:
Game of Thrones (GoT), the HBO series based on George Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, has been one of the most successful TV series ever. The series is fictional, but in reality Martin was largely inspired by the English War of the Roses, and through this book you find that, sometimes, the truth is bloodier than fiction!
This book gives, in well-researched detail, the struggle for the English throne in medieval times, up to and after the War of the Roses. It also includes events happening continent-wide, that also find echoes in GoT.
Unlike its fantasy counterpart (the “Song Of Ice and Fire” is an epic series in their own right, much better read than watching the TV series imo), Iron Fire and Ice gives life to the real monsters that walked the earth. Ruthless power struggles, betrayals, the bloody end to the age of chivalry – this book shows how England was born. Dysfunctional families abound!
Main Characters:
Henry VI: This man became increasingly deranged as the years progressed, and rumours had it that his wife was the real power behind the throne. She also had many children, and given Henry’s – ah – indisposed condition, rumours also surrounded their immediate ancestry!
He was a depressive, not a murdering maniac – but who is his Game of Thrones Character? If you mentioned Joffrey, you could be right!
Edward IV: Young. Handsome, polyamorous, he becomes a fat debauched monarch at the end. He reminds you of…? King Robert Baratheon!
Margaret of Anjou: A fifteen year old bride who rose to lead a kingdom, in an era when women were seen as chattel, to be bartered for alliances. Strong-willed and power-hungry, she is most like Cersei.
Richard III: One of the most controversial figures in English history, he can be seen as an outright villain (thanks, Shakespeare), or a great reformer. As Lord Protector (of his nephews), he stabilised the economy, his Council of the North brought regional governance under central control, and had the law translated into English (from French). He may have killed his nephews to gain the throne, and was the last English King to die in battle. Tyrion, anyone?
Henry VII: A teenage exile, scouring Europe essentially as a beggar looking for support to raise an army. He seems to be most like Daenerys. The clincher? His banner was red, with – you guessed it – a dragon on it!
Plot:
If you loved GoT, you will find this real-life world fascinating.
The author has done a superb job in linking real history with the GoT fantasy, for example the “Black Dinner” and The Red Wedding”, each hugely controversial because of the complete disregard of the laws of hospitality.
The author also steps back and show the wider, international picture, where far-off events had resonances in England, where for example the French had to suspend their alliance support to the Scots, as a civil war had broken out.
The author also contextualises the conditions that people were living in, the extremely cold weather causing widespread starvation, and social unrest. Throw in the Black Plague, and you see the feudal system breaking down.
What I Liked:
- The level of research is superb. Definitely one for the history buffs, but also accessible to a more general readership.
- The clear linking of the similarities really brings the period to life, in all its goriness.
What I Didn’t Like:
- It is a long read. The author does cover a huge amount in the book, and the events are so intertwined that it is hard to leave some stuff out.
Overall:
I liked reading this book. It was a violent, grimy, brutal time to be alive, and it was worse for the peasantry! This books gives a great flavour of the period, and the continual references to Game of Thrones will keep the interest. Well worth reading!
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to my fantastic library for stocking this book!
November 11, 2020
This book sounded interesting. It claims to explain the historical events and situations that inspired the Game of Thrones. Unfortunately it is so poorly organized that I eventually became bored and gave up on it. Although there are interesting pieces of information to be had, the book followed no discernable structure. The author flitted from time period to time period and from place to place seemingly randomly. The book would be discussing the Roman gladiatorial contests and the abruptly be discussing something that took place in 1300s Scotland. It was also disorganized as to whether history or Game of Thrones was being discussed. Unless the reader was familiar with all the names and places both historical and fictional it occassionally became confusing which was being described. all in all this was a disappointing discussion of what should have been a fascinating topic.
November 2, 2019
A book for History lovers, as much or more than lovers of GOT. The author of GOT is a student of the Hundred Yeas War and the War of the Roses and modeled his characters on historical events, persons and behaviors, as am I.
This is why a lover of GOT AND people who dislike the rapine, viciousness and mindless violence of Game of thrones should read this book. When I read complaints about the violence, sexual, physical and psychological, in Game of thrones, I have always wondered why people were upset.
My awareness of the history of the Medieval wars, primed me for the insanity of Game of Thrones.
Iron, Fire and Ice will make the lurid and vicious behavior of GOT completely comprehensible (The Book NOT the TV series).
VERY recommended.
This is why a lover of GOT AND people who dislike the rapine, viciousness and mindless violence of Game of thrones should read this book. When I read complaints about the violence, sexual, physical and psychological, in Game of thrones, I have always wondered why people were upset.
My awareness of the history of the Medieval wars, primed me for the insanity of Game of Thrones.
Iron, Fire and Ice will make the lurid and vicious behavior of GOT completely comprehensible (The Book NOT the TV series).
VERY recommended.
April 17, 2019
Well researched and well written. This book gives a taste of various points in history that Martin has discussed in previous interviews as influencing his GoT universe. Easily approachable for someone with limited knowledge of history, yet also entertaining for someone with greater expertise in the field.
April 30, 2019
I found this book to be fascinating. This area of history is certainly more like the game of thrones than anyone would like to think. I’m again amazed by how cruel humankind can be to one another.
September 5, 2024
PEARL RULE #021 (31%)
Rating: 1* of five because it's so infuriating what they did to this book!
The Publisher Says: Have you read everything George R.R. Martin has every written? Do you know what in Game of Thrones is based in real history?
A young pretender raises an army to take the throne. Learning of his father’s death, the adolescent, dashing and charismatic and descended from the old kings of the North, vows to avenge him. He is supported in this war by his mother, who has spirited away her two younger sons to safety. Against them is the queen, passionate, proud, and strong-willed and with more of the masculine virtues of the time than most men. She too is battling for the inheritance of her young son, not yet fully grown but already a sadist who takes delight in watching executions.
Sound familiar? It may read like the plot of Game of Thrones . Yet that was also the story of the bloodiest battle in British history, fought at the culmination of the War of the Roses. George RR Martin’s bestselling novels are rife with allusions, inspirations, and flat-out copies of real-life people, events, and places of medieval and Tudor England and Europe. The Red Wedding? Based on actual events in Scottish history. The poisoning of Joffrey Baratheon? Eerily similar to the death of William the Conqueror’s grandson. The Dothraki? Also known as Huns, Magyars, Turks, and Mongols.
Join Ed West, as he explores all of Martin’s influences, from religion to war to powerful women. Discover the real history behind the phenomenon and see for yourself that truth is stranger than fiction.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: History is not boring, y'all! Teaching it as a means to pass a standardized test is an outrage, a disservice to our youth, and disrespectful to our ancestors! There is nothing boring in this book. Accurate within my (and Wikipedia's) scope of factual knowledge, to boot.
I have to tell a personal story here. Aeons ago I was a literary agent, and thus would get books from publishers who hoped I'd bring them something fresh and wonderful if I knew what kind of publishing they were doing. I read a book a friend passed on to me that was a reprint from a UK house; no one knew it was uncorrected proofs, and failed at every step in the process of making the book...and there are many!...to go through it page-by-page looking for errors.
The bound book was unreadable for all the errors.
That is what happened here. I could not force myself to finish what was shaping up to be a fun read.
Rating: 1* of five because it's so infuriating what they did to this book!
The Publisher Says: Have you read everything George R.R. Martin has every written? Do you know what in Game of Thrones is based in real history?
A young pretender raises an army to take the throne. Learning of his father’s death, the adolescent, dashing and charismatic and descended from the old kings of the North, vows to avenge him. He is supported in this war by his mother, who has spirited away her two younger sons to safety. Against them is the queen, passionate, proud, and strong-willed and with more of the masculine virtues of the time than most men. She too is battling for the inheritance of her young son, not yet fully grown but already a sadist who takes delight in watching executions.
Sound familiar? It may read like the plot of Game of Thrones . Yet that was also the story of the bloodiest battle in British history, fought at the culmination of the War of the Roses. George RR Martin’s bestselling novels are rife with allusions, inspirations, and flat-out copies of real-life people, events, and places of medieval and Tudor England and Europe. The Red Wedding? Based on actual events in Scottish history. The poisoning of Joffrey Baratheon? Eerily similar to the death of William the Conqueror’s grandson. The Dothraki? Also known as Huns, Magyars, Turks, and Mongols.
Join Ed West, as he explores all of Martin’s influences, from religion to war to powerful women. Discover the real history behind the phenomenon and see for yourself that truth is stranger than fiction.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: History is not boring, y'all! Teaching it as a means to pass a standardized test is an outrage, a disservice to our youth, and disrespectful to our ancestors! There is nothing boring in this book. Accurate within my (and Wikipedia's) scope of factual knowledge, to boot.
I have to tell a personal story here. Aeons ago I was a literary agent, and thus would get books from publishers who hoped I'd bring them something fresh and wonderful if I knew what kind of publishing they were doing. I read a book a friend passed on to me that was a reprint from a UK house; no one knew it was uncorrected proofs, and failed at every step in the process of making the book...and there are many!...to go through it page-by-page looking for errors.
The bound book was unreadable for all the errors.
That is what happened here. I could not force myself to finish what was shaping up to be a fun read.
April 9, 2023
Iron, Fire, and Ice: The Real History that Inspired Game of Thrones is a history book, but a very specific and unusual type of history book. It covers a vast swath of history, focusing primarily on the history of England and France, but also branching out to the history of the Roman Empire and the various tribes that erupted out of Central Asia from time to time (such as the Huns, the Mongols, etc.), and relating it to the happenings in the fictional Song of Ice and Fire books and the related Game of Thrones television show. I loved it.
If you like the books and/ or the show and are also interested in the real history that inspired them, you will love this book too. Otherwise, you will probably be less impressed. Although, since the author doesn’t go too deeply into the boring causes and philosophical implications of the events he describes but instead skims rather lightly over the general outlines of the facts with a few select examples thrown in, the various chapters move along swiftly. This enables him to cover a lot of ground in a book that, while it is not small, is not as intimidating as a more serious work containing this much history would be.
The book is not organized in strict chronological order. Instead, episodes and subjects are grouped as they relate to various aspects of the world of ice and fire. We find out that much more of the geography, history, and even weather of Westeros has roots, or parallels in real history even than you might have thought before. While I had recognized some parallels with events like the War of the Roses or places like Hadrian’s Wall, I hadn’t realized how close some of the parallels were, despite the differences that are also there. And I learned some things I hadn’t known before, even about some subjects I have recently read about in other books. I also saw historical tie-ins to several several other books among the episodes here.
If you like the books and/ or the show and are also interested in the real history that inspired them, you will love this book too. Otherwise, you will probably be less impressed. Although, since the author doesn’t go too deeply into the boring causes and philosophical implications of the events he describes but instead skims rather lightly over the general outlines of the facts with a few select examples thrown in, the various chapters move along swiftly. This enables him to cover a lot of ground in a book that, while it is not small, is not as intimidating as a more serious work containing this much history would be.
The book is not organized in strict chronological order. Instead, episodes and subjects are grouped as they relate to various aspects of the world of ice and fire. We find out that much more of the geography, history, and even weather of Westeros has roots, or parallels in real history even than you might have thought before. While I had recognized some parallels with events like the War of the Roses or places like Hadrian’s Wall, I hadn’t realized how close some of the parallels were, despite the differences that are also there. And I learned some things I hadn’t known before, even about some subjects I have recently read about in other books. I also saw historical tie-ins to several several other books among the episodes here.
June 26, 2019
Fun history for all -not just Game of Thrones fans
Ed West gives an exciting retelling of medieval history, focusing on the British Isles. He makes the world feel larger, though, by alluding to tales of 'far away lands' like China and the Middle East. There are some sections that deal with the horse tribes, Mongols, Turks, etc.
In addition to telling the historical people and events behind aspects of George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice & Fire series, West describes castle architecture, shares tidbits of daily life, and explores the religions and cultures of the peoples involved. He even includes quotes from historical documents and other sources. If you're well-read in history, you may not learn secrets you've never heard before, but I think you'll be entertained. Ironically, I found this book much more colorful than the official histories of Ice & Fire that are formally associated with the series.
I listened to the audiobook, as well, and Rory Barnett's posh British accent is perfectly applied. It's exactly what I want to hear from a reader of medieval British history. Pronouncing the Latin is not his strong suit (although I'm just nitpicking - I minored in the classics myself). Barnett reads clearly and with enough enthusiasm to keep the content interesting but not so much as would seem out of place for dark subject matter.
A warning: this book covers medieval wars, torture methods including the rack, and punishments including beheadings, burnings at the stake, and more. This is not for the faint of heart.
Ed West gives an exciting retelling of medieval history, focusing on the British Isles. He makes the world feel larger, though, by alluding to tales of 'far away lands' like China and the Middle East. There are some sections that deal with the horse tribes, Mongols, Turks, etc.
In addition to telling the historical people and events behind aspects of George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice & Fire series, West describes castle architecture, shares tidbits of daily life, and explores the religions and cultures of the peoples involved. He even includes quotes from historical documents and other sources. If you're well-read in history, you may not learn secrets you've never heard before, but I think you'll be entertained. Ironically, I found this book much more colorful than the official histories of Ice & Fire that are formally associated with the series.
I listened to the audiobook, as well, and Rory Barnett's posh British accent is perfectly applied. It's exactly what I want to hear from a reader of medieval British history. Pronouncing the Latin is not his strong suit (although I'm just nitpicking - I minored in the classics myself). Barnett reads clearly and with enough enthusiasm to keep the content interesting but not so much as would seem out of place for dark subject matter.
A warning: this book covers medieval wars, torture methods including the rack, and punishments including beheadings, burnings at the stake, and more. This is not for the faint of heart.
October 8, 2019
Let me begin by saying that this is a very good read for those interested in G.R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones world and the near ancient and medieval periods of history. The reader will be drawn into an interesting narrative crafted by Mr.West where Westeros and Medieval Europe are compared and contrasted with a few other surprises and geographies thrown in for good measure. This is not a book that is meant to give a chronological history of the world, nor was it written to be as some have suggested. Mr. West walks the reader through Martin’s world where he weaves places, events, conditions, and people from our world and it’s history into his narrative. In doing so, Mr.West provides us with not only an entertaining and informative read, but also with a glimpse into the mind of what inspired and influenced Martin in the creation of his world. It was a pleasure to see how Mr.West represented the historical figures without bias — something that is not always easy to do but necessary in order to provide a balanced interpretation of the people and the times in which they lived. Buy the book or check it out at your local library. Mr.West, thank you for this book — it was a real joy to read.
March 20, 2025
This is a great and accessible starting point for those who are fans of George R.R. Martin’s universe and want to get into historical nonfiction. This book primarily follows Western medieval history, focusing mainly on English and French history. At times, I even forgot that this was supposed to be the real history that inspired Game of Thrones, as it focuses so much on historical details with only little tidbits about the series.
I did learn a lot, though, and I didn’t realize how much of the show, even little things like "The Rains of Castamere," the song, are inspired by real European history. I do wish this book had been edited better. I would have preferred it to be told in a more chronological style because we would get to the 1400s, and then the next chapter would go back 200 years to the 1200s. It made me wonder why we didn’t get that information when we were discussing events based in the 1200s.
I also noticed a few typos, so I think this book needed another round of editing before being published. However, I would recommend this book if you are a fan of the Wars of the Roses or its fantastical counterpart, Game of Thrones. This is a good little book, and you’ll learn a lot!
Check out my blog here: https://izzyreads.blog/2025/03/19/iro...
I did learn a lot, though, and I didn’t realize how much of the show, even little things like "The Rains of Castamere," the song, are inspired by real European history. I do wish this book had been edited better. I would have preferred it to be told in a more chronological style because we would get to the 1400s, and then the next chapter would go back 200 years to the 1200s. It made me wonder why we didn’t get that information when we were discussing events based in the 1200s.
I also noticed a few typos, so I think this book needed another round of editing before being published. However, I would recommend this book if you are a fan of the Wars of the Roses or its fantastical counterpart, Game of Thrones. This is a good little book, and you’ll learn a lot!
Check out my blog here: https://izzyreads.blog/2025/03/19/iro...
June 30, 2021
Buku ini cukup informatif dalam menjelaskan sejarah dunia nyata dan perbandingannya dengan kisah dalam Game of Thrones baik versi serial televisi maupun versi buku
Banyak kejadian sejarah yang perilaku manusia jauh lebih sadis dan mengerikan daripada versi televisi dan buku, bahkan kejahatan brutal di jaman modern tidak ada apa-apanya dibanding deskripsi kebuasan dan kesadisan manusia yang ditulis dalam buku ini
Selain sejarah politik, ditulis juga gaya hidup, budaya, agama-agama, kondisi geografis dan musibah atau bencana seperti Black Death dan Jaman Es Kecil yang mempengaruhi kehidupan manusia di Abad Pertengahan di Eropa
Meski cukup informatif dan memuat penjelasan lintas bidang ilmu baik sains, budaya, antropologi, sosiologi dan lain-lain, penulis sering sengaja menutup akhir bab dengan kalimat yang memancing rasa penasaran pembaca tentang kelanjutan kejadian sejarah, namun tidak selalu melanjutkan pada bab lain. Bab terakhir bahkan ditulis dengan kalimat yang sangat menggantung dan sulit ditebak tentang apa yang terjadi selanjutnya setelah Keluarga York berkuasa di Inggris
Banyak kejadian sejarah yang perilaku manusia jauh lebih sadis dan mengerikan daripada versi televisi dan buku, bahkan kejahatan brutal di jaman modern tidak ada apa-apanya dibanding deskripsi kebuasan dan kesadisan manusia yang ditulis dalam buku ini
Selain sejarah politik, ditulis juga gaya hidup, budaya, agama-agama, kondisi geografis dan musibah atau bencana seperti Black Death dan Jaman Es Kecil yang mempengaruhi kehidupan manusia di Abad Pertengahan di Eropa
Meski cukup informatif dan memuat penjelasan lintas bidang ilmu baik sains, budaya, antropologi, sosiologi dan lain-lain, penulis sering sengaja menutup akhir bab dengan kalimat yang memancing rasa penasaran pembaca tentang kelanjutan kejadian sejarah, namun tidak selalu melanjutkan pada bab lain. Bab terakhir bahkan ditulis dengan kalimat yang sangat menggantung dan sulit ditebak tentang apa yang terjadi selanjutnya setelah Keluarga York berkuasa di Inggris
November 26, 2024
Anyone looking for groundbreaking scholarship will have to look somewhere else. This is pop history, more for fun than study. Some factual errors: Eleanor of Aquitaine was not nine years old when she married Edward Longshanks, she was thirteen. Depending on time period, Gladiator Fights to the death were uncommon In Ancient Rome(though criminal executions were) in addition the gladiators had referees, and after the fight were cared for by health care professionals. In addition, the Roman Colleaseum was only open certain days and months of the year. There are a number of factual errors regarding the duel between Le gris and Carrouges that the movie The Last Duel was based on. If you want to know more sources are listed below.
Sources:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ab7mhar...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1oiuvpT...
https://www.historyvshollywood.com/re...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwar...
Sources:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ab7mhar...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1oiuvpT...
https://www.historyvshollywood.com/re...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwar...
June 19, 2019
I came for the Game of Thrones historical connections, but I stayed for the medieval history. The book starts out making a connection between one of the scenes in GOT and one in history. The author’s point being that truth is stranger than fiction. I have studied bits and pieces of European history but Mr. West puts it into an interesting perspective by adding a narrative to it as well as historical context.
The main bulk of the book is the story of the conflict between the Lancaster’s and the York’s, aka The War of the Roses. I had heard of this conflict but didn’t know much about it. He also weaves in details from around Europe and Asia, which is often ignored.
My one big complaint is the many editorial mistakes in this book. There were many spelling errors, words crammed together, and anachronisms. I also think there could be some better editing to pull the thread of the War of Roses closer together.
If you’re interested in history AND GOT, I would recommend this book to you.
The main bulk of the book is the story of the conflict between the Lancaster’s and the York’s, aka The War of the Roses. I had heard of this conflict but didn’t know much about it. He also weaves in details from around Europe and Asia, which is often ignored.
My one big complaint is the many editorial mistakes in this book. There were many spelling errors, words crammed together, and anachronisms. I also think there could be some better editing to pull the thread of the War of Roses closer together.
If you’re interested in history AND GOT, I would recommend this book to you.
April 18, 2025
This book was interesting, fun, and informative. I only gave it 4 stars because it was not chronologically written, which, especially for people not familiar with the Medieval world, might be a bit distracting. It is rather tricky to go from the 13 century, to the 10th, or from the 14th century to pre-history! Also, there are several typos in this book, most glaringly, the misspelling of Simon de Montfort's name (with a "d" at the end!), as well as numerous smooshed together words, ie: "thereis" when it should have been there is. This book needs an editor badly!
Having said all that, I actually really enjoyed reading this and even learned a bit while reading. I originally borrowed it from the library, but ended up liking it enough that I bought it for myself. If you are interested in the real history and happenings that inspired "Game of Thrones" (and other authors!), this is an informative book, chock full of history that is truly stranger than fiction!
Having said all that, I actually really enjoyed reading this and even learned a bit while reading. I originally borrowed it from the library, but ended up liking it enough that I bought it for myself. If you are interested in the real history and happenings that inspired "Game of Thrones" (and other authors!), this is an informative book, chock full of history that is truly stranger than fiction!
December 9, 2022
Ed West odsłania zaistniałe wydarzenia historyczne, które posłużyły - lub mogły posłużyć - jako inspiracje dla cyklu "Pieśń Lodu i Ognia". Autor przygląda się średniowiecznemu światu, przełomowym wydarzeniom z zakresu ówczesnej polityki, oraz prądom społecznym i kulturowym, które - o czym często wspominał sam George R. R. Martin - znalazły swoje odzwierciedlenie w fantastycznej historii krainy Westeros.
Ponadto West przygląda się bacznie postaciom, których losy, jako żywo przypominają (często tragiczne!) "życiorysy" bohaterów książkowej serii Martina. Tak więc czytelnik ma okazję poznać historyczne pierwowzory Targaryenów, Starków i Lannisterów.
Doskonała publikacja, zarówno dla wielbicieli serii książkowej Georga R. R. Martina, jej serialowej adaptacji i czytelników lubujących się w dobrze napisanej literaturze historycznej. Polecam!
Ponadto West przygląda się bacznie postaciom, których losy, jako żywo przypominają (często tragiczne!) "życiorysy" bohaterów książkowej serii Martina. Tak więc czytelnik ma okazję poznać historyczne pierwowzory Targaryenów, Starków i Lannisterów.
Doskonała publikacja, zarówno dla wielbicieli serii książkowej Georga R. R. Martina, jej serialowej adaptacji i czytelników lubujących się w dobrze napisanej literaturze historycznej. Polecam!
November 24, 2023
3.5 stars. I agree with a lot of people that this book could benefit greatly from better organization, although I'm not sure what would be the best way to do it. For the most part it seems to be thematic, with long stretches devoted to a chronological recounting of English history, much of which could probably have been left out if the book is supposed to be concentrating on the connections to ASOIAF/GoT. Of course, I also just finished another book that covered a lot of the same material so that might have made me a bit impatient with it.
On the other hand, there was a lot of good information and it probably helped that I already know a lot of the history, though not as in depth, but I could see people who don't have that background finding it very confusing, so rounding up based on my own personal experience.
On the other hand, there was a lot of good information and it probably helped that I already know a lot of the history, though not as in depth, but I could see people who don't have that background finding it very confusing, so rounding up based on my own personal experience.
June 29, 2019
I generally avoid history books written by non-historians (West is a creditialed journalist and blogger) and I find some of Ed West’s other work to be problematic at best, but this was impeccably researched and presented without bias in a compelling narrative style. Fans of “Game of Thrones” may be familiar with the more obvious historical parallels (Wars of the Roses) present in George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series, but “Iron Fire and Ice” brings to light even more inspired historical plot points and uses them as a spring board to introduce some fairly hardcore history. It’s a great way to introduce real historical events to a “Thrones” fan, get a history buff interested in Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” series as well as a delight for those already in both those categories.
October 26, 2021
West definitely shows in this volume how real history inspired George R. R. Martin for his Game of Thrones series of books. There is LOTS of good, solid information here, but it wasn't organized well, skipped around a lot, and the pace of it just crawled. Most of the book focuses on medieval French and English history, but there are side trips into ancient Rome, the Byzantine Empire, the Middle East during the Crusades, the Far East, the Mongol Empire, and ending with the War of the Roses. Huge amounts of information, West provides many examples of historical events paralleling sections of Martin's books, enormous amounts of graphic detail on various forms of execution, torture, murder, etc. In the end, I found it simply overwhelming and exhausting.
October 12, 2023
The real episodes from history that Game of Thrones is based on.
It's an eye opening summary why Game of Thrones is so effective and believable - because it's a kind of a remix of the real history. A virtuoso band jam, inspired by the tunes everybody knows or has heard of. Or if they haven't, then read this quick retelling of the relevant events in world history.
Similar reading as Raul Sulbi's War of the Roses book in Estonian, titled "Troonide mäng: Rooside sõjad Yorkide ja Lancasterite vahel 1455–1487". But Ed West doesn't concrete only on the Roses, but also on many other interesting parallels.
A road trip book for me again. I think I finished it in the darkness of Poland. Enjoyable deep dive through history.
It's an eye opening summary why Game of Thrones is so effective and believable - because it's a kind of a remix of the real history. A virtuoso band jam, inspired by the tunes everybody knows or has heard of. Or if they haven't, then read this quick retelling of the relevant events in world history.
Similar reading as Raul Sulbi's War of the Roses book in Estonian, titled "Troonide mäng: Rooside sõjad Yorkide ja Lancasterite vahel 1455–1487". But Ed West doesn't concrete only on the Roses, but also on many other interesting parallels.
A road trip book for me again. I think I finished it in the darkness of Poland. Enjoyable deep dive through history.
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