heartland_hermit427983's review against another edition
3.0
I made the unfortunate mistake of reading a review halfway through this book and now I'm completely adrift. The author of another biography of William Marshal called into question some of Asbrisge's characterizations and judgements and has some seemingly valid criticism. I'm ignorant of this history and unable to adequately judge for myself. The whole affair has robbed me of enthusiasm.
Once I'm over this miserable episode I'll be more diligent of either not looking at reviews until I finish or researching more thoroughly before I begin a book like this. Perhaps one day I'll return to it.
Despite this misery, I'm still grateful to have a somewhat clearer idea of the life and times of man who's name I had read in a picture book as a child.
It was a pleasant surprise to be reading history that connected to movies I'd seen like The Lion in Winter and The Kingdom of Heaven.
Edit: Okay. I finished it. The writing was good enough. I can totally understand folks who rate this a 4 or 5. But for me it was a 2 or 3 experience. The longer sections about wars especially after Richard returns from crusade hit a fine balance of just enough detail to be boring without enough to be good dramatic military history. Amounts of men, days marched, castles and strongholds held or taken. And the prose is uninspired with lots of cliches and ho-hum descriptions.
Much better are the sections that describe specific events like John lying to Williams face about his knights dying in battle in Ireland as well as attempts to flesh out interpersonal relations or medieval cultural specifics.
I'll be staying away from medieval history for awhile until the taste of this experience leaves my mouth.
Once I'm over this miserable episode I'll be more diligent of either not looking at reviews until I finish or researching more thoroughly before I begin a book like this. Perhaps one day I'll return to it.
Despite this misery, I'm still grateful to have a somewhat clearer idea of the life and times of man who's name I had read in a picture book as a child.
It was a pleasant surprise to be reading history that connected to movies I'd seen like The Lion in Winter and The Kingdom of Heaven.
Edit: Okay. I finished it. The writing was good enough. I can totally understand folks who rate this a 4 or 5. But for me it was a 2 or 3 experience. The longer sections about wars especially after Richard returns from crusade hit a fine balance of just enough detail to be boring without enough to be good dramatic military history. Amounts of men, days marched, castles and strongholds held or taken. And the prose is uninspired with lots of cliches and ho-hum descriptions.
Much better are the sections that describe specific events like John lying to Williams face about his knights dying in battle in Ireland as well as attempts to flesh out interpersonal relations or medieval cultural specifics.
I'll be staying away from medieval history for awhile until the taste of this experience leaves my mouth.
a_gillie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
An astoundingly cinematic biography of Medieval history’s most inspiring and impressive figure. The story of Marshal’s life is indeed cinematic in its scope, and Asbridge expertly navigates it and guides the reader through the dense politics and ferocious skirmishes of the period. The story stretches from southern England, all the way to the Holy Land, and back again, taking in the reign of six notorious kings. I was surprisingly moved by many passages, and found the rendering of Marshal’s character to be charming and heroic (some of this owing no doubt to 13th century propaganda). A totally engrossing book which anybody with the slightest interest in history should devour.
arthur_pendrgn's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book about William Marshal. I was intrigued after reading Jeff Wheeler's Ransom series. He drew a great deal upon Marshal's life. This text was an informative and entertaining read. Asbridge contextualizes the events so the reader should be able to see the intertwining of Marshal's decisions and history. I came to this book with a modicum of knowledge about the general time period and the kings. I think if you have no sense of that period of history, you may have some difficulty. Asbridge tries very hard, but he had to assume the reader had some knowledge or the book would have been much longer.
mdross1's review against another edition
4.0
Really fascinating deep dive after some of the books I’ve read recently. Wish this guy had been a household name, I really liked the narrative.
chris_davies's review against another edition
5.0
Some years ago, I listened to the brilliant Radio 4 documentary 'This Scepter'd Isle' and was struck by repeated references to 'The Marshal' in the section on the early Plantagenets (or, as I should now call them, the Angevins). I had never heard of him, despite him clearly being a major figure, and resolved to find out more. Well, far too many years later I have now done so, thanks to this thrilling biography.
Despite containing a massive amount of information, this is one of the most readable non-fiction books I've read. Marshal's story is told in a lucid, fast paced style that never lets up. The large cast is clearly characterised, and descriptions of the many battles and military campaigns are very clear (experience reading other histories indicates that this is not easy to do.) The wider context of Marshal's life is very skilfully described. I also appreciated the effort made to separate known fact from speculation.
I see that some reviewers have spotted some inaccuracies in the text. To my mind these seem pretty trivial, and if they are the worst that can be found then I guess this is a pretty accurate telling of Marshal's life. In any case, I challenge anyone to show me any work of history - especially on a distant period like the 12th century - that is demonstrably 100% accurate.
It's a cliché to say that a work of non-fiction reads like a thriller, but this one really does! Even the story of how Marshal's life was rediscovered is fascinating. I haven't read any of the other books on Marshal, and to be honest after reading this tour de force I don't really feel that I need to. Strongly recommended.
Despite containing a massive amount of information, this is one of the most readable non-fiction books I've read. Marshal's story is told in a lucid, fast paced style that never lets up. The large cast is clearly characterised, and descriptions of the many battles and military campaigns are very clear (experience reading other histories indicates that this is not easy to do.) The wider context of Marshal's life is very skilfully described. I also appreciated the effort made to separate known fact from speculation.
I see that some reviewers have spotted some inaccuracies in the text. To my mind these seem pretty trivial, and if they are the worst that can be found then I guess this is a pretty accurate telling of Marshal's life. In any case, I challenge anyone to show me any work of history - especially on a distant period like the 12th century - that is demonstrably 100% accurate.
It's a cliché to say that a work of non-fiction reads like a thriller, but this one really does! Even the story of how Marshal's life was rediscovered is fascinating. I haven't read any of the other books on Marshal, and to be honest after reading this tour de force I don't really feel that I need to. Strongly recommended.
slferg's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Very interesting history of England with the central figure of William Marshall, a second son held as hostage by King Stephen in the Civil war between Steven and Matilda. Stephen threatened to kill hi when his father went over to Matilda, but the boy was do young he relented. He grew to manhood and served as knight to 5 English kings and led the fight to put 9 year old Henry III on the throne after the death of his father King John. He was said to be the only knight to defeat Richard the Lion Heart in a battle (a personal encounter during the battle).
The author’s assumptions about what Williams must have been thinking and trying to do got a little aggravating at times and are probably best skimmed over. But the information obtained about the overall events are quite interesting and clarifying.
Apparently the author was quite correct in saying the King John was so corrupt and loathsome to his subjects that there has never been another king so named.
The author’s assumptions about what Williams must have been thinking and trying to do got a little aggravating at times and are probably best skimmed over. But the information obtained about the overall events are quite interesting and clarifying.
Apparently the author was quite correct in saying the King John was so corrupt and loathsome to his subjects that there has never been another king so named.
smbla's review against another edition
4.0
The life of William Marshal is quite literally the stuff of legends-young captive of King Stephen, impoverished younger son, tournament champion, loyal to 5 Angevin Kings and instrumental in the Magna Carta. I first learned of William Marshal through Elizabeth Chadwick's two works The Greatest Knight and Scarlet Lion-this non fiction work is as engrossing as the fictionalized accounts. Granted Marshal is an exceptional character to work with but Asbridge does a great job of presenting a balanced view of his life and even when done you are still in awe of the subject.
porteryarbrough90's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
mactammonty's review against another edition
4.0
The author did a fabulous bringing William to life. I could not put the book down curious who were the kings and how he did it.
This book made so many others make sense linking different pieces of history into a bigger whole.
I highly recommend this book.
This book made so many others make sense linking different pieces of history into a bigger whole.
I highly recommend this book.