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Plantagenet England 1225-1360
Contemporary Review, Summer, 2006
Plantagenet England 1225-1360. Michael Prestwich. Clarendon Press, Oxford. [pounds sterling]35.00. xxiii + 638 pages. ISBN 0-19-822844-9. This valuable volume in the New Oxford History of England starts with the beginning of Henry III's personal reign and ends in 1360 with a lull in the Hundred Years' War.
The object is to avoid a 'reign by reign' history so as to see 'different themes' emerging. These include the involvement of religious orders in daily life or the importance of financing wars as a stimulus to the growing importance of Parliament. Admittedly there are drawbacks to this approach but also bonuses. He divides his coverage into three parts. The first, an extended introduction, looks at the setting--England's climate, buildings, landscape etc--and then at the monarchy both in its role and structure, and finally at government. The second, which makes up the bulk of the text, has nine chapters which follow a chronological approach and look at the reigns of Henry III, Edward I, Edward II and Edward III, the conquest of Wales, the wars with Scotland and France, and the armies of Edward III, an interesting chapter that shows how vital an understanding of armies is to the overall picture. The third part looks at 'society and people' and considers the nobility, knights, gentry, landownership and agriculture, the peasantry, town life, trade, the law, the horrific effects of the Black Death and, finally, a conclusion. (A.C.)
COPYRIGHT 2006 Contemporary Review Company Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
