A Brief History of the Magna Carta

by Geoffrey Hindley

In 1215, the Barons of England forced King John to sign a revolutionary document which would change the political landscape of Britain and beyond for the next 800 years. Magna Carta was the forerunner of the Constitution that limited the powers of the crown and its echoes can be found in the seventeenth century Civil Wars, the struggles for American Independence, the work of Thomas Paine and in the bedrock of all contemporary liberal nations. As civil liberties and the rule of law are increasingly under question as part of the 'War on Terror', it has never been more essential to return to the original document, signed at Runnymede in June 1215. Leading medieval historian Geoffrey Hindley retells the story of events leading up to the conference and looks at the document itself, showing how it has resonated over centuries and throughout the world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature, Law, Medieval History, Reference, European History

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2008

About the author

Geoffrey Hindley (1935-2014), educated at Kingswood School, Bath and University College Oxford, was a lecturer and writer. He was three times an invited participant at the International Congress on Medieval Studies, Western Michigan University; was visiting associate professor at the University of Florida, Gainesville; and lectured in Europe and America on European culture,
medieval social history and Magna Carta, and the history of music. From 1994 to 2000 he taught English civilization at the University of Le Havre. Right up until his death he was co-president of the Society for the History of Medieval Technology and Science of Oxford and London.

Reviews

[Julian Worker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visitors can see Magna Carta and The Charter of the Forest at Lincoln Castle where they occupy a room of their own.

Outside the entrance, writ large on the wall, are excerpts from Magna Carta and once you read what this document gave the ordinary (non-royal) people of England it makes you realise what few rights those people had prior to the signing of this significant piece of paper. The author does point out that King John didn't sign Magna Carta as he almost certainly couldn't write, but someone signed it on his behalf with his authority.

If anything, the Charter of the Forest was more significant to contemporary English land users (I won't say landowners) at the time it was signed, but Magna Carta has endured simply because of the civil liberties and rule of law it enshrined in writing.

The details provided are enthralling including the fact the ink comprised oak-gall sap and either soot or lampblack. The oak tree produces oak-gall sap to protect itself from the stings of wasps who want to penetrate the bark to lay their eggs.

The book covers the history of the life of King John who seemed a complex character to put it mildly and the after effects of the signing including the relevance of Magna Carta today where its existence appears to be more appreciated in the USA than in the UK.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It did not have as much information on the charter as I hoped for, but the title does say brief... I did think some of the chronology was a bit confusing until the chapter in part three which lays it out better. I did appreciate the discussion of the clauses related to widows and heirs. I also liked the discussion on the pr value of the charter. I would have enjoyed more detail on the actual negotiations. But what can you do...... I did find the book I read on kings John and richard to have a fair amount of info on the build up to the charter. All and all an okay read for someone who knows next to nothing about the charter.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absorbing read detailing the historical background, composition and influence of one of the most important documents in history. A very well researched book, written in an accessible and witty style it covers the baronial rebellion against the excesses of King John, the subsequent creation of Magna Carta, and how it has been used to defend people's rights over the subsequent centuries from abuses of power by those in charge.

[Paul Clarkson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, although I had to take small but frequent bites to digest. It’s titled a ‘brief history’, but it was easily ample.
Set during a period of English history I had limited knowledge of, except the school stories of John losing his Crown Jewels crossing the Wash off Norfolk and Richard the Lionheart’s crusades. This book has given me a far deeper insight of the period, the lead up to the Charter and the impact of it through time.

[Wes Pue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely written book which places Magna Carta in it's immediate context and traces forward to the Glorious Revolution and the foundations of the USA constitution. Concise, informative, and readable. The author sprinkles unhelpful anti-EU asides throughout. This diminishes a good book, as his reasons for doing this are opaque, at best.

[Francesca Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - kind of skimmed this book after the first 100 pages. Really interesting subject and such an important story of how the foundations of freedom and liberty came about in England and then the rest of the world. But there was something so boring about how it was written I just couldn’t get motivated to read it.

[Tedders · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief history of the Magna Carta was massively informative, easy to read and understand, but it was just so hard to motivate myself to read it.
I rarely find myself in a situation where a book (especially one with a topic so relevant to my interests)leaves me so luke warm, and wondering whether my time coild be more enjoyed with otherthings.
Also there is a section round about page to hundred where twice Hindley slips and interjects a first person, which I found very jarring.

Is it entertaining? not really.
Is it worth the read? If the topic is to your interests... More or less.

[Darren]

A tough read. Some very interesting stuff, but I still had to push my way through it.

[Roderigo · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a good covering of the period of Richards reign through John's and his problems with the barons. Covered a lot briefly, not how I prefer my history, hence rated 2 stars.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been infused with the meanings that people have wanted it to have for centuries. I don't remember when I read it.