Marc Morris's new bestseller: the definitive and brilliantly compelling biography of the treacherous and tyrannical King John. Published in the run-up to the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and written by a historian at the top of his game.
The brilliantly compelling new biography of the treacherous and tyrannical King John, published to coincide with the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.
King John is familiar to everyone as the villain from the tales of Robin Hood greedy, cowardly, despicable and cruel. But who was the man behind the legend? Was he truly a monster, or a capable ruler cursed by ill luck? In this book, bestselling historian Marc Morris draws on contemporary chronicles and the king's own letters to bring the real John vividly to life.
John was dynamic, inventive and relentless, but also a figure with terrible flaws. In two interwoven stories, we see how he went from being a youngest son with limited prospects to the ruler of the greatest dominion in Europe, an empire that stretched from the Scottish border to the Pyrenees. We discover how, having lost most of his lands in France, he battled for the rest of his life to win them back. His rise to power involved treachery, rebellion and murder. His reign saw oppression on an almost unprecedented scale: former friends hounded into exile and oblivion; Wales, Scotland and Ireland invaded; harsh fines and huge taxes, the greatest level of financial exploitation since the Norman Conquest.
A quarrel with the pope led to the king being excommunicated and England being placed under Interdict; for six years, the church bells remained silent and the dead were buried in unconsecrated ground. John's tyrannical rule climaxed in conspiracy and revolt, and his leading subjects famously forced him to issue Magna Carta, a document binding him and his successors to behave better in future. The king's rejection of the charter led to civil war and foreign invasion, bringing his life to a disastrous close.
Authoritative and dramatic, Marc Morris's King John offers a compelling portrait of an extraordinary king, whose reign marked a momentous turning point in the history of Britain and Europe.
Contains a translation of Magna Carta: 1215
About the Author
Dr Marc Morris is an historian and broadcaster, specialising in the Middle Ages. Following the success of his bestselling biography of Edward I, A Great and Terrible King (Hutchinson, 2008), he has recently completed a major new book, The Norman Conquest (Hutchinson, 2012). A definitive new account of King John will be published in 2015, the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.
In 2003 Marc presented the highly acclaimed six-part series Castle for Channel 4 and wrote its accompanying book (now published in paperback by Windmill). He has also contributed to history programmes such as Time Team, as well as other shows on both television and radio.
An expert on medieval monarchy and aristocracy, Marc has written numerous articles for History Today, BBC History Magazine and Heritage Today. In a recent academic paper he proposed a new date for the construction of King Arthur's Round Table at Winchester.
Marc speaks regularly to schools, historical societies and literary festivals, and also leads specialist tours of UK castles. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Industry Reviews
Fine, timely... jaunty, authoritative... Morris has already proven himself as a 13th-century royal biographer - his study of Edward I is a modern classic. He is on form here, too. His split-chronology approach to John's life before and after the loss of Normandy highlights just how disastrous it was for the king's reign and reputation. -- DAN JONES * Sunday Times *
Outstanding ... This is by far the best book on the monarch's reign since W L Warren's trail-blazing biography, King John, written in 1961 - with the literary bravura of which Morris' book may not unfavourably be compared. * BBC History Magazine *
An excellent and sardonic new biography of King John. It will delight all who enjoyed his books on 1066 and Edward I. -- TOM HOLLAND
A masterpiece of historical writing... Morris is a wonderful storyteller * TLS *
A riveting and timely portrait of an execrable king -- Jessie Childs, author of God's Traitors
