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The Falcon and the Dove: A Life of Thomas Becket of Canterbury
"Thomas Becket was born into the turbulent world of twelfth-century Englsnd. The son of a tradesman, he rose to the position of King's friend, Chancellor, and Archbishop of Canterbury.
"Out of the great wealth of contemporary material, Alfred Duggan has written a fascinating account of the life of Thomas Becket, of his friendship with King Henry, and of the struggle between them which eventually led to Thomas's martyrdom."
"Out of the great wealth of contemporary material, Alfred Duggan has written a fascinating account of the life of Thomas Becket, of his friendship with King Henry, and of the struggle between them which eventually led to Thomas's martyrdom."
- GenresHistory
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1952
About the author
Alfred Duggan
43 books45 followers"There have been few historical imaginations better informed or more gifted than Alfred Duggan’s" (The New Criterion).
Historian, archaeologist and novelist Alfred Leo Duggan wrote historical fiction and non-fiction about a wide range of subjects, in places and times as diverse as Julius Caesar’s Rome and the Medieval Europe of Thomas Becket.
Although he was born in Argentina, Duggan grew up in England, and was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford. After Oxford, he travelled extensively through Greece and Turkey, visiting almost all the sites later mentioned in his books. In 1935 helped excavate Constantine’s palace in Istanbul.
Duggan came to writing fiction quite late in his life: his first novel about the First Crusade, Knight in Armour, was published in 1950, after which he published at least a book every year until his death in 1964. His fictional works were bestselling page-turners, but thoroughly grounded in meticulous research informed by Duggan’s experience as an archaeologist and historian.
Duggan has been favourably compared to Bernard Cornwell as well as being praised in his own right as "an extremely gifted writer who can move into an unknown period and give it life and immediacy" (New York Times).
Historian, archaeologist and novelist Alfred Leo Duggan wrote historical fiction and non-fiction about a wide range of subjects, in places and times as diverse as Julius Caesar’s Rome and the Medieval Europe of Thomas Becket.
Although he was born in Argentina, Duggan grew up in England, and was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford. After Oxford, he travelled extensively through Greece and Turkey, visiting almost all the sites later mentioned in his books. In 1935 helped excavate Constantine’s palace in Istanbul.
Duggan came to writing fiction quite late in his life: his first novel about the First Crusade, Knight in Armour, was published in 1950, after which he published at least a book every year until his death in 1964. His fictional works were bestselling page-turners, but thoroughly grounded in meticulous research informed by Duggan’s experience as an archaeologist and historian.
Duggan has been favourably compared to Bernard Cornwell as well as being praised in his own right as "an extremely gifted writer who can move into an unknown period and give it life and immediacy" (New York Times).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 19, 2020
At first I thought this book was going to be a bit of young adult hagiography, but as I read further I came to see that it was a more nuanced and detailed account of both the characters of King Henry II and Thomas Becket and the issues that brought them to impasse and enmity. Thomas is not made into a plaster saint, but a stubborn, flawed, and courageous man who recognized the importance of the Church not being a vassal of the state. Well written and entertaining.
Displaying 1 of 1 review