Thomas Becket: English Saint and Martyr

by David Hilliam

The story of Thomas Becket is one of the most powerful dramas of the Middle Ages. This informative book discusses the struggle for power between church and state in twelfth-century England. Fought by two warring factions—that of King Henry II of England and that of Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury—it was a struggle that ultimately ended in the death of the beloved Thomas. With stunningly illustrated text, the author provides the rich details of Thomas’s life during these tumultuous times.

Genres: History

112 pages, Library Binding

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a British elementary school teacher, obviously for 9-13 year olds, this book fits within a context of the classroom; outside, however, it's not quite a stand-alone. It demands a lot of previous knowledge of history and personalities. And isn't complete without a lot of ancillary material. But, once the "sides" are clearly defined, the narrative involving Thomas and Henry moves along swiftly. A very modest bibliography, including one other book by the same author, doesn't lead me to read more by the author. However, I would like to explore more about Becket.

[Gael Herrera-Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute Cinema.