Elizabeth’s Reviews > Thomas Becket: Warrior, Priest, Rebel > Status Update

I began reading this earlier in the year but didn't get any further down to other commitments. I am now reading it again in depth.

Remarks in the review column.

Improving, and I am getting a good sense of Becket prior to being Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry II is not being painted in a flattering light at all. (no bad thing) I am still noticing areas being glossed over and smoothed out. Keeping things popular and easy for readers does mean missing nuances and fudging a few details.

And now he tells us that Henry II's mother was dragged out of a convent to be married. But that controversy was over Henry's grandmother, not his mother. It's sloppy and annoying. While I'm enjoying the general narrative and think I'm learning things about church and state, how much else has he got wrong that I don't know about? Sigh.

Right. This is readable. But it is full of 'may have's' 'possibly's' and all the usual tricks of the popular biographers when they don't really know. Several minor historical errors too so far. Listen up. Henry I was already contracting to marry Adeliza of Louvain BEFORE his son died on the white ship, NOT as a result of.
It's okay but I'm not bubbling over with enthusiasm.

Right. This is readable. But it is full of 'may have's' 'possibly's' and all the usual tricks of the popular biographers when they don't really know. Several minor historical errors too so far. Listen up. Henry I was already contracting to marry Adeliza of Louvain BEFORE his son died on the white ship, NOT as a result of.
It's okay but I'm not bubbling over with enthusiasm.

Right. This is readable. But it is full of 'may have's' 'possibly's' and all the usual tricks of the popular biographers when they don't really know. Several minor historical errors too so far. Listen up. Henry I was already contracting to marry Adeliza of Louvain BEFORE his son died on the white ship, NOT as a result of.
It's okay but I'm not bubbling over with enthusiasm.