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katierussek's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This book. If you want to get started on learning about English History this is the book I would recommend. This might seem like the wrong suggestion but if you were to start learning about US history, you would not start with history of the colonies or the New Deal, you would start with the Founding Fathers and the Revolutionary war. The things the country is based on and the culmination of history at that point.
This book is that. It is about the greatest knight, William Marshall, and his front row seat to the unfolding of English culture, law, custom, and a fight for its survival. He served five kings and they were each larger than life. This author writes beautifully, it is an exciting historical read. If you read this book, the Plantagenets and William Marshall will become your Roman Empire.
This book is that. It is about the greatest knight, William Marshall, and his front row seat to the unfolding of English culture, law, custom, and a fight for its survival. He served five kings and they were each larger than life. This author writes beautifully, it is an exciting historical read. If you read this book, the Plantagenets and William Marshall will become your Roman Empire.
bfordham's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating history. Asbridge puts a lot of effort into building drama, and does not disappoint.
dangerous_beans's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
acardattack's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
5.0
William Marshal is a fascinating man. Truly the most interesting man in the universe, did so much, was important to multiple kings and was a hell of a knight. Well written book as well, so easy to read and enjoy this remarkable man
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.