Myself as Witness

by James Goldman

A unique recitation of the particulars of the life of King John, youngest son of Henry II, and the peerless Elanor of Acquitaine.

A charter ringing with passion, betrayal, war and excitement in which James Goldman reveals the multi-faceted soul of one of the most maligned medieval monarchs in history...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, British Literature, Historical, Medieval, 13th Century

340 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

James Goldman was an American Academy Award-winning screenwriter and playwright, and the brother of screenwriter and novelist William Goldman.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up primarily in Highland Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. He is most noted as the author of The Lion in Winter and author of the book for the stage musical Follies.

Goldman died from a heart attack in New York City, where he had lived for many years.

Reviews

[Chrisl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quote from start of book

"At Lincoln
The 11th Day of April, A.D. 1212

"It is impossible to think. The hammering and clatter from the yard is terrible. And in my chambers, they are packing me.

"We've had two weeks of rain, the roads to Corfe are fit for frogs.

"I do not choose to go. My place is here. Someone is screaming in the yard; undoubtedly, we've lost another mason. They are putting up a new west face to our cathedral. Pride and wastefulness. The old face kept the weather out.

"I must attempt to be more orderly.

"This morning, I was called from prayer. That's never lightly done. I knew at once that something must be very wrong. A clerk, a man of no particular importance; he was waiting in the cloister with, he said, a message from the King.

"I have the text in front of me. It reads:

"'The King to Giraldus Cambrensis: Whatever greeting is due you. We order you to join us here at once. MYSELF AS WITNESS, at Corfe on the 2nd day of April in the 14th year of our reign.'

"Peremptory. Arrogant. No trace of courtesy. Why am I being summoned?

"For how long? What clothes am I to take? And does he think that I do nothing here? Across the table from me at this moment are the notes for my Prinicipia Universalis. Nothing on this scale has been attempted since Lucretius, who is all right in his way but sadly out of date.

"I've never been much loved by these Plantagenets. Perhaps because I write the truth. And truth, as Esdras tells us--I, 3:10--'beareth away the victory.' Which is more than it has ever done for me. We did not part on happy terms, King John and I.

"They have just come to tell me I am packed. We leave at Lauds, well before the sun is up; this clerk, myself and, of my servants, only Jean, my cook. The King sets an uncertain table; either prodigal or desolate, depending on his mood. I see no reason why, no matter what my future holds, I should not go on dining to the end with some consistency.

"I must go and bid farewell to Hugh. He's not as great a bishop as I might have been; but never mind all that. He is an honest man and I shall miss him.

"Till next time, if God wills its.

"G."

"At Buckingham
The 14th Day of April, A.D. 1212

"How strange it seems, this being on the roads again. We pass through towns I have not seen in years, past churches shuttered by the Inderdict. So much has changed. Or has it? Is it me? Tomorrow, Oxford. Will it be as I remember?

"I was forty-six years younger when I saw it for the first time. I had been in Paris studying the Trivium; to some acclaim, it must be said. 1167. It was then that Becket and King Henry were at one another's throats and all of us in residence, the masters and the students, were recalled to England.

"Oxford in those days was nothing much. One hundred students, possible, attending lectures on theology delivered by the current deacon or the prior, nameless men of small distinction. Then we came, the refugees from Paris. That was the beginning.

"It took time, of course, and labor, none of which was mine. In any case, four years ago, when last I saw it. Oxford was a university of fifteen hundred students with a faculty of scholars led by Map himself. He's gone now, Map is, dead of age at sixty-nine. They buried him with honors. I was there.

"Till next time, if God wills it.

"At Oxford
The 16th Day of April, A.D. 1212

"The university is desolate. The buildings, like so many bones, still stand about, but all the life is gone. It is a shocking thing to see.

"We arrived in time for Vespers yesterday. The sun was shining for a change as we came down the High Road from the north, past Beaumont Castle and Saint Frideswide's. Carts and wagons everywhere. The town itself is thriving. The demand for cloth, I'm told, keeps rising; there are weavers opening up on all sides and the marketplace was thick with people. ...

... "The fellow fled. In rage, the people of the town descended on Saint Mary's and went off with several students. These they held for weeks, and having asked for and received the King's consent, hanged two of them.

"There was a quick diaspora. The masters and the students, reading what was written on the wall, dispersed. Some went to Paris, some to Reading, and a large group went to Cambridge, where, it seems, they hope to form another university.

"It was late when they had finished and they took me to Map's chambers for the night. I've had no rest. The first bells of the morning should be ringing soon. John prowls, he keeps on prowling through my thoughts. He loves books and destroys a university' he studies law and lets two students hang. He's made of parts that will not fit, like all his family. Damn these Plantagents. They plague me, I've had forty years of it. King Henry and Queen Eleanor and all their sons, alive and dead: I've served them, every one.

***

(This "undrat*" in memory, has blended with Sharon Penman's depictions of King John.
Here be Dragons

For readers familiar with the author's screenplay, Lion in Winter, Witness might be a sequel, an informative, entertaining view of King John. (*Under-rated)

***

A copied and pasted KIRKUS REVIEW - contains spoilers, as do most Kirkus reviews.

King John of England, from 1212 to his death in 1216; no, not the badman of Robin Hood and Shakespeare, but a tortured semi-hero of national unity--as seen by the witty, learned Mr. Goldman (The Lion in Winter, The Man from Greek and Roman) through the wary eyes of scholar-cleric Giraldus Cambrensis, a bitter Welshman who's ordered to come out of retirement and chronicle the king's battles against enemies at home and abroad. ""He loves books and destroys a university; he studies law and lets two students hang. He's made of parts that will not fit, like his family. Damn these Plantagenets. They plague me. . . . "" So writes Giraldus in the diary that is the whole of this book, and the chief pleasure here is the dustless, contemporary Goldman/Giraldus approach to history--an unstilted, burly, aphoristic tone (""And the people: they have eyes like little stones and souls like raisins. France is too good for Frenchmen"") that only occasionally slips over into distracting anachronism or shallow phrasemaking (""peace is like fornication: there is no way one can manage it alone""). Unfortunately, however, Giraldus' wry narrative, though sometimes dotted with emotional involvement, always keeps us at a distance from the story--and that story, since Goldman sticks close to the facts, is a disjointed one, bouncing back and forth between two linked, ongoing crises: John's much-planned invasion of France; and his problems with rebellious barons at home, barons who hold the purse-strings and manpower needed for foreign wars. True, there are vivid, ironic vignettes along the way--the sneak-attack disemboweling of the French fleet, an appalling betrayal by John's French ally, John's stone-by-stone dismantling of a rebel baron's castle. And those baron problems culminate, of course, in the Magna Carta--which is thoroughly de-glorified here. ("" 'Free men?' . . . You see much harm in it? . . . Then put it in."") But the central unity-vs.-freedom dilemma never quite focuses; and neith≤r the glimpses of John's psycho-moods (paranoia at worst) nor the too-sketchy build-ups to domestic tragedy (the young Queen's secret affair with John's half-brother) provide enough grounding or momentum for the tangle of political/theological issues. History caught at oblique angles, then, stylish and thoughtful but rather slippery and uncentered--a limited treat, mostly for readers who share Goldman's rigorous passion for those rough, elusive Plantagenets.

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book, by the author of The Lion in Winter. A very sympathetic look at King John, and revealing some of the misery that he must have known in his life as the littlest brother of a very talented family. Worth the hunt to find. Five stars.

[John David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who might be an admirer of “The Lion in Winter” – the original 1968 version with Katherine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole, not the travesty of a remake put out in 2003 – will understand my excitement when I heard about this book via the enthusiastic recommendation of another booktuber. The original play was written by James Goldman just a few years before being turned into the multi-Academy Award-winning film. It wasn’t until several years later in 1979 that Goldman got around to writing this novel not about Henry II and Eleanor, but rather their second most well-known son, King John. Goldman adds a preface to the book suggesting that there has recently been new details discovered about John that suggest he’s not nearly as ruthless and ham-handed as it was once suggested. For what it’s worth, though, Goldman’s portrayal of him is far from what I would call sympathetic. It is, however, human.

“Myself As Witness” begins in the year 1212, with King John abruptly requesting the services of his favorite court historian to accompany him to record his res gustae. His choice is Giraldus Cambrensis, perhaps better known by his anglicized name Gerald of Wales. In 1212, the real, historical Gerald would have been nearly 65 years old, more than old enough to have continued living the rest of his life in secluded retirement as the former bishop of Lincoln. But feeling compelled to serve his King, he lays aside his studies and decides to join John and his confreres on his travels. The real, historical Gerald traveled with King John, but only in 1185 on his expedition to Ireland. There is no evidence that John actually called Gerald out of retirement at any time so late as 1212 (though Gerald was still alive at that time).

The events that Gerald records in the next few years weren’t the ones John was anticipating: he is defeated at the hands of the French army, forced to give way to the demands of the Pope, and has to deal with the group of his own insurgent barons who are petitioning him for greater and greater liberties. Of course, these events all culminate in what – what else? – the only thing anyone really knows King John for: the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215.

The entire book is epistolary in form, stitched together from journal entries Gerald made during his trip abroad. While this has the virtue of letting you get a better feeling for Gerald’s own psychological drives and desires, it somewhat robs you of getting the same thing from other characters. The book’s plot and fast-paced, leaving only a little room for Gerald’s occasional reflection on the nature of history and the writing thereof.

For those of us who are interested in a more meditative reading experience, Gerald’s diary entries can read as a bit too quick, brusque, and staccato to come off as good writing. Granted, it adds a tint of verisimilitude. But it also leaves little time for characters to think back on events. We see Gerald as a delightful combination of cynical, wise, detached, and showing deep solicitude for his King. As someone who is much more used to slow-paced, more self-consciously literary fiction, I enjoyed this for what it is, but the short, choppy journal entries and uneven character development really left me wanting more.

Perhaps the Angevins are just better-suited to the stage than the novel.

[DoctorM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lost gem. A novel of the reign of King John, and one that doesn't subscribe to the old Robin Hood/Magna Carta version of John-as-villain. Goldman based his novel on W.L. Warren's biography of John--- itself worth reading. And as Goldman did write "The Lion in Winter" long ago, "Myself as Witness" makes a very nicely-done follow-up.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goldman's unofficial official sequel to THE LION IN WINTER is a beautifully written, fast-paced historical romance that presents the life of the tortured and unloved Prince John, now king, but as petty and insecure as ever- what Goldman essentially argues is that he may have had much reason to be, and like all human beings is complex beyond the legacy he leaves. Contrasted with John is William Marshall, considered England's greatest knight, and one of the most beloved figures of medieval history, whose existence effortlessly over-shadows John's and whose legacy is as celebrated as John's is reviled, but whose strong sense of duty and adherence to conduct codes often renders him emotionless and cynical, even cold. The third protagonist is John's half brother, also named William, a cheerful optimist and charming warrior prince who strives for popularity and worldly recognition and achieves both in his lifetime, but of the three, ends up the one we least remember, sidelined to B-celebrity status in the end by the brother he betrays to stay on the winning side, the court that witnesses it, and the Queen, with whom he is having an affair. Of the principals Isabelle is the only woman, no other woman in the book appears for more than a scene or two, but Goldman gives us a dynamic lady of the times, living in the shadow of Queen Eleanor (whose haunting presence almost constitutes a supporting role) and desperately trying to figure out her own place in a world where women have great power or no power, but rarely an equal place at the table. Beautiful and intelligent, Isabelle is also manipulative, enabling, and frequently ignorant of the greater implications of her actions, the product of a world that doesn't want her in the room that she progressively demands a place in. The antagonists, FitzWalter and Lord Stephen, are both intriguing characters as well but noticeably less developed than the principals because the novel is much less about the events of John's reign as it is about the things which drive him and motivate the reactions he has to opposition. What they do well, though, is help us better sense the narrator, Geraldus, and provide us with a better understanding of who he is through an examination of his own conflicted feelings over these two men who want to limit the power of the King- FitzWalter out of vengeance, Lord Stephen out of humanist idealism. The novel moves with tremendous speed and is never every musty and dusty history, but there are times you feel events and situations are reported on or just glimpsed, not really experienced by the narrator, even though he is present. This of course supports the whole premise (given in the title) for the book, but it can result in a distancing effect that renders what should be dramatic moments as interesting instead compelling. Still, a powerful and satisfying read for people interested in the period and the figures of the time.

[Kathleen Kirkwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goldman's use of language is exquisite. This is one of my all-time favorite novels.

[Bob H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant and well-written novel of King John, told in a sympathetic and genuine-seeming way. It's rather startling to have a new look at an historically unpopular figure, but this tale, told as a diary by a court historian, is well worth the reader's time. Highly recommend.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional novel. As a fan of The Lion in Winter I was completely enthralled by this epistolary chronicle of the later years of King John's reign. The characters are rendered with richness and affection, and James Goldman's keen prose and flair for drama make every page a pleasure.

[Geoff Boxell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book in 1980. Being now retired (and a mite poorer) I have started to re-read a lot of the 2,500 books in my library rather than just buy new ones. This is about 50 books in. I know I enjoyed it when I first read it and have found that it is just as enjoyable the second time around.
The book consists of a series of diary entries by a monk known as Geraldus, an historical figure, but not one actually involved in the incidents cover by the novel. As it Robin & Marion, and even more so in The Lion in Winter, the author, James Goldman takes an historical shell and, with skillful use of fiction and imagination mixed into the history, tells a story that shews the personalities of the historical characters. Goldman makes Geraldus a very real character with a real and believable voice.
There are small historical errors as well as fiction, but, even so, this is a book that you will always appreciate for the light it throws on a dark period of English history. The King John we meet is not the one of Robin Hood stories, nor is he a whitewashed hero: he is a very complicated and misunderstood person. In the same way one finds that John is in fact a good, but very unlucky, general.
One point the book raises is why the English lower classes flocked to his banner in 1213 when the French were threatening to invade England. Geraldus, in the book, cannot understand why they did so, especially as the French had been given a Papal Banner and England lay under a Papal Interdict. I know why, and answer it in my own novel: https://www.amazon.co.uk/If-You-Go-Do... . The English lost all when William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, seized the Crown of England and distributed all the land to his followers - the last thing the English wanted was for another invasion of England by French speakers causing the land to again be given over to strangers.
Anyway: let's get away from one of my hobby horses and back to Myself as Witness: it is a good book, reads well, moves quickly and informs.

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical fiction covers a time span during the tumultuous reign of King John, the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

This is the same author who wrote the screenplay The Lion in Winter, which I’ve seen and enjoyed.

King John appoints a chronicler, Giraldus Cambrensis, this is complete fiction as the real Giraldus was living in retirement. In the novel, he lives and travels with the King from the year 1212 until the King’s death in 1216.

It is written in journal form which makes it a fast read with only important conversations and happenings reported. It is extremely well done and fascinating.

Well worth the time. I feel as if I’ve gained an insight into a time in history so far removed. From the author’s A Note to the Reader at the beginning of the book, we see that through his research, he sees King John much differently than history has painted him, and it plays out in this story.

4 stars. Great read.

[Babylon · Rating 2 out of 5]

An important and interesting time period. The diary/ chronicle format was a good idea but the brief snippets of writing for each entry never really let you get to know the characters who were one dimensional or feel the intensity of what was happening.
I liked that the author tried to humanise John and give him a complicated relationship with Isabelle. I also liked that it was from the perspective of Gerald of Wales. The historical events of that time period were intense and dramatic (Magna Carta and the invasion of the French!) but the novel was low key and its tone never reflected the gravity and drama of this great unfolding of English history.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mid-60s Welsh monk/chronicler, Giraldus, is charged by King John in 1202 to keep a chronicle of his reign. The author attempts to partially rehabilitate John, presenting him as conflicted but not fundamentally evil. William Marshal and Queen Isabelle (despite her affair with John’s bastard-brother) are sympathetically portrayed as influences on John, although the King himself, through Magna Carta, is a bit of an elusive character. 340 pages would work better as 170 but the voice and attitudes are consistent

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fictionalised account of the last 4 year's of King John of Magna Carta fame. First published in 1979. The author uses the device of diary excerpts written by Girlaldus, a man chosen by John, to form a chronicle and thus ensure John's story is not lost to history. The author also wrote the screenplay for "The Lion in Winter" which is a favourite film of mine. This story adds enough extra detail to make it just a 3 star effort.

[Ageliki · Rating 1 out of 5]

couldn't get into this at all. such a shame , as I'd wanted to read it for ages and had such high hopes ! it was the diary format and the flippancy of giraldus which sank it for me. I couldn't get into any of the characters in this format and with such brusque, short entries. the people were simply were not described , only observed in flashing one dimensional scenes. very flat as a result.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I enjoyed this epistolary take on King John, the often vilified brother of Richard the Lionheart. The author’s narrator was a delightful medium for us to understand the person and world of King John. Well written, too.

[Laura Whichello · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unequivocal five stars - this was so effective, and heartbreaking.

[Kani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interestingly framed as the journal entries of an old monk in service to King John of England of the early 13th century, this book filled in more English history for me. Having recently read Penman's novels that include King John, it was nice to have a different perspective on the events during his eventful life, to have another's viewpoint on the strength's and weaknesses of this oft misunderstood king. Some of it is pedanctic and boring, but there is some good inner searching and i liked the diary framework.

[Skylar Burris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goldman's writing style will seem a bit choppy to some, but the events of the novel and the historical background are fascinating. This novel, written in diary form, gives the reader a different picture of King John than the Robin Hood tales have created. The novel asks the question--what makes a legend?

[Alexus Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lost gem. A novel of the reign of King John, and one that doesn't subscribe to the old Robin Hood/Magna Carta version of John-as-villain. Goldman based his novel on W.L. Warren's biography of John--- itself worth reading. And as Goldman did "Lion in Winter" long ago, "Myself as Witness" makes a very nicely-done

[Darkpool · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's one I'd love to give a re-read. I recall finding it quite fascinating at the time, as I was quite clueless about the details of John's reign. (Some would say not much has changed...)

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books. Out of print now.