A life of Matilda--empress, skilled military leader, and one of the greatest figures of the English Middle Ages Matilda was a daughter, wife, and mother. But she was also empress, heir to the English crown--the first woman ever to hold the position--and an able military general. This new biography explores Matilda's achievements as military and political leader, and sets her life and career in full context. Catherine Hanley provides fresh insight into Matilda's campaign to claim the title of queen, her approach to allied kingdoms and rival rulers, and her role in the succession crisis. Hanley highlights how Matilda fought for the throne, and argues that although she never sat on it herself her reward was to see her son become king. Extraordinarily, her line has continued through every single monarch of England or Britain from that time to the present day.
A Sunday Times Book of the Week 'A thrilling episode from England's medieval history.' Dan Jones, The Sunday Times An engrossing history of the pivotal year 1217 when invading French forces were defeated and the future of England secured. In 1215 King John had agreed to the terms of Magna Carta, but he then reneged on his word, plunging the kingdom into war. The rebellious barons offered the throne to the French prince Louis and set off the chain of events that almost changed the course of English history. Louis first arrived in May 1216, was proclaimed king in the heart of London, and by the autumn had around half of England under his control. However, the choice of a French prince had enormous repercussions: now not merely an internal rebellion, but a war in which the defenders were battling to prevent a foreign takeover. John's death in October 1216 left the throne in the hands of his nine-year-old son, Henry, and his regent, William Marshal, which changed the face of the war again, for now the king trying to fight off an invader was not a hated tyrant but an innocent child. 1217 charts the nascent sense of national identity that began to swell. Three key battles would determine England's destiny. The fortress of Dover was besieged, the city of Lincoln was attacked, and a great invasion force set sail and, unusually for the time, was intercepted at sea. Catherine Hanley expertly navigates medieval siege warfare, royal politics, and fighting at sea to bring this remarkable period of English history to life.
An investigation of the depiction of warfare in contemporary writings, in both fictional narratives and factual accounts. War and combat were significant factors in the lives of all conditions of people during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries; thousands of men, women and children prepared for, engaged in and suffered from the consequences of almost endemic armed conflict. However, while war and combat feature prominently in many of the forms of literature written at the time, the theme of warfare in some types of narrative source remains a relatively under-studied area. This book offers an investigation of the depiction of warfare in contemporary writings, in both fictional narratives and factual accounts, aiming to bridge the gap between the disciplines of literature and military history. Using both established sources and the latest research, the author examines how the application of what is now known about the practical and technological aspects of medieval warfare can aid us in our understanding of literature. She also demonstrates, via an investigation of a corpus of Old French chronicles, epics and romances, how the judicious study of sources that are not always considered reliable can, in turn, inform us about contemporary perceptions of, and attitudes towards, war and other forms of armed combat. Dr Catherine Hanley was formerly a Research Associate in the Department of French at the University of Sheffield; she is now a freelance editor and historicalnovelist.
An exhilarating, accessible chronicle of the ruling families of France and England, showing how two dynasties formed one extraordinary story The twelfth and thirteenth centuries were a time of personal monarchy, when the close friendship or petty feuding between kings and queens could determine the course of history. The Capetians of France and the Angevins of England waged war, made peace, and intermarried. The lands under the control of the English king once reached to within a few miles of Paris, and those ruled by the French house, at their apogee, crossed the Channel and encompassed London itself. In this lively, engaging history, Catherine Hanley traces the great clashes, and occasional friendships, of the two dynasties. Along the way, she emphasizes the fascinating and influential women of the houses--including Eleanor of Aquitaine and Blanche of Castille--and shows how personalities and familial bonds shaped the fate of two countries. This is a tale of two intertwined dynasties that shaped the present and the future of England and France, told through the stories of the people involved.
Cover page -- Halftitle page -- Title page -- Copyright page -- CONTENTS -- ILLUSTRATIONS -- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- Maps -- Tables -- Plates -- INTRODUCTION -- chapter one THE SHAPING OF A PRINCE -- chapter two FATHER AND SON -- chapter three THE INVITATION -- chapter four KING OF ENGLAND? -- chapter five THE TIDE TURNS -- chapter six FIGHTING BACK -- chapter seven THE END OF THE ADVENTURE -- chapter eight AFTERMATH -- chapter nine KING OF FRANCE -- chapter ten LEGACY -- CHRONOLOGY -- A NOTE ON SOURCES -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX
A collection of delicious recipes features the best of American cuisine from the prize-winning cooks of the nation's state fairs and includes a listing of blue ribbon winners, a metric measurement conversion chart, and much more.
A visiting lord seeking evidence of treachery is murdered, and Edwin is given the arduous task of finding the culprit. His findings may have an effect not only on the people of Conisbrough, but also on the outcome of a civil war and the future of the kingdom.
In the spring of 1217, Lincoln is not a safe place to be. A French army has captured the city, and the terrified citizens huddle in the rubble of their homes as the invaders stalk the streets and attempt to smash down the walls of the castle, the last remaining loyal stronghold in the region. Edwin Weaver, the son of a rural commoner who has risen rather abrubtly to become part of the personal household of Earl William de Warenne, finds himself riding straight towards Lincoln as part of a relieving army led by the legendary regent Lord Marshal. To add to his confusion and fear, his lord the earl has just volunteered him for a dangerous mission: he must infiltrate the city, find the resistance, identify the traitors, and return to apprise the regent of the siutation. The last man who attempted such a thing was captured by the French, his head hacked off and catapulted over the castle wall as a warning.
This sampler collection includes excerpts from three of Catherine McKenzie’s novels, exploring romance, relationships, and the challenges in figuring out who we really are: in Spin, a woman discovers more about herself than she had expected when she follows an It Girl Into rehab in pursuit of the inside scoop; in Arranged, an unlucky-in-love woman signs up for a dating service—only to find out the company specializes in arranged marriage and is hiding a shocking secret; and in Forgotten, when a vacation turns into a six-month stay in a remote village, a woman returns home to discover that life has moved on without her. Featuring excerpts from the Catherine McKenzie’s best-selling titles Spin, Arranged, and Forgotten.
Amy Richards is deathly ill with bulimia, brought on by the death of her brother in the Iraq war. Her father, a doctor, and her mother, a librarian, are frantic. In their desperation, they bring into the household a loving dog named Wendy, leaving Amy in charge of her care during the day. Much to her chagrin, Amy has to get out of bed to let the dog out. When outside, she smells the lilacs and begins to feel that maybe there is something to live for. She attends veterinary classes at her university and discovers that she loves caring for animals despite having to face man's cruelty toward them. When she apprentices in a veterinary office, she gets herself into trouble at a puppy mill and finds her budding career in jeopardy.
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