The Death of Kings: Royal Deaths in Medieval England

by Michael Evans

Any king's death was a critical and highly dramatic moment, often with major political consequences. Death in battle, whether that of Harold at Hastings or of Richard III at Bosworth, could end a dynasty, while the secret murders of Edward II, Richard II and Edward V blighted the fortunes of their murderers.

The Death of Kings is an account of what is known about the deaths of medieval kings, whether natural, violent or accidental (as William Rufus's death out hunting in the New Forest). It shows how contemporaries and later writers, including Shakespeare, drew morals from such deaths and about the characters of individual kings, giving these deaths an imaginative and symbolic resonance that has lasted until the present day. Personal details about the characters and attitudes of English kings and queens makes The Death of Kings a unique window into the heart of medieval society.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, British Literature, Research

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Stasiu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jak uwielbiam historię, ta książka była po prostu beznadziejna.

Za wzięcie tej książki skusiła mnie okładka - i tylko tyle mogę w niej pochwalić. Napisana jest ona chaotycznie, bez ładu i składu czy odrobiny charakteru. Dostajemy faktotok, jak gdyby autor historyk wyciągnął wszystko co wie na ten temat ze swej głowy i cisnął na papier - brak jakiegokolwiek uporządkowania.

Chciałbym powiedzieć, że tak zanudzić potrafi tylko historyk, ale obraziłbym tym zdolnych historyków, więc powiem po prostu - tak zanudzić potrafi tylko Evans.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting read for anyone who wants an in depth look at the Middle Ages. he author covers different ideas about death, from religion and sainthood, to what physically happens to the body.
This book has some interesting anecdotes about how some of the Medieval kings died and how people around them would have interpreted their manner of death.
It is a little dry at times, and the chapter on purification is not something to read while you have your lunch, but it's worth a look through if you have an interest in the period.
It's also got a very useful list of where all the medieval monarchs and their wives are buried, in case you want to go on tour!

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content is interesting, and especially the first two chapters and the final one were very readable. The main issue is that, owing to the thematic structure the content becomes highly repetitive as (for example) the death of Edward II is mentioned in multiple chapters in very similar ways. The book also feels badly edited, in particular the way it ends very ubruptly. So, do skim through if you like the topic but don't feel required to slavishly read every line.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I am only about halfway through this book and may not finish it. The emphasis is on the political and religious implications of the deaths of the kings featured and I was looking for a more medical slant (to this end I have ordered a copy of The Death of Kings: A Medical History of the Kings and Queens of England, by Clifford Brewer). What I like about Evans' book is that he gives a very neat and concise summary at the end of each chapter in case you missed something when your mind wandered off the page. What I don't like is that Evans himself seems to wander off-topic at times. Also the proliferation of "Henry"s, "Richard"s, and "William"s is a little confusing though that is certainly not Evans' fault. The chapters are divided by theme--regicide, religion, father-against-son, etc--so the content gets a bit repetitive, as the same king(s) mentioned in the previous chapter get discussed from a new angle in the current chapter. As always, I am taking what I find interesting and leaving the rest.

[Kathy Moberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dry but an interesting aspect of medieval British history. The final chapter on the deaths of queens was pretty good, but then the book just ends without any real wrap-up. It's one to get from the library if you have any interest in the subject. I skimmed most of it.

[Melody Siracusa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, if a bit on the dry side. A slow go, but I will finish it. Eventually.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time finishing this one. So repetitive and the only thing I took away from it is that Henry I natural daughter tried to kill him. That would be interesting to read more about.