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The Perfect King: The Life of Edward III, Father of the English Nation

Author: Ian Mortimer
Publisher: Pimlico
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

7 reviews
Sales Rank: 174296

Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 544
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 1.6

ISBN: 1844135306
EAN: 9781844135301
ASIN: 1844135306

Publication Date: April 5, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new. In stock and dispatched within 1 - 2 working days via Royal Mail. All International orders shipped via Airmail.

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Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Edward III:The Perfect King? March 3, 2008
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Being brought up firmly in the school of Edward II -Berkeley Castle - red hot poker in places that made teenage scholars snigger, I approached this book with a great deal of caution. I have to say that Mortimer has made acompelling case for the survival of Edward II, which I personally can go along with. Even if you don't agree with this thesis you should still buy this book if you are interested in: the Fourteenth Century, Edward III, the Hundred Years War. Mortimer takes Edward from vulnerable youth, through warrior king, to manipulated old man, In my opinion this will be the definitive work on Edward III for many years to come. Well written, copiously researched, brilliant, so buy it!

4 out of 5 stars

Very well written biography, but too much speculation January 23, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful

In many ways this is a great work. The author has conducted exhaustive and detailed research and is a very good writer, able to evoke the spirit and colour of a time period and his subject to a remarkable degree, so that one feels he could write a powerful historical novel as well as a factual work. If this were all there was to say, I could agree with Alison Weir's view expressed on the cover that this should be the definitive work on the king.

BUT

...there is a caveat. Despite having read this, the author's biography of Roger Mortimer and Weir's biography of Isabella of France, I am still not convinced by the theory of the survival of Edward II. He raises some interesting points, but I simply cannot make myself believe that Edward III knew his father was still alive for another 14 years, running the risk of Edward the father declaring himself, with his son meanwhile pretending to the world he was dead. There is simply too much speculation built upon speculation built upon the few facts known, sometimes going to ridiculous lengths, for example working out that he died in 1341 simply on the basis of an ambiguous motto from a tournament, "it is as it is". Such speculation is a particular pity when the underlying research is so good.

4 out of 5 stars

Not quite the perfect biography, but close August 23, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

The book comes across as a balanced assessment of Edward's life because it does cover some of the less pleasant rumours of his conduct and the author sets out his views of what may have happened clearly. The book also deals at length with the death of Edward II and whether or not the original official version was true. He marshalls the evidence (albeit circumstantial) for an alternative explanation of events carefully and clearly. The other aspects of his life up to his final expedition to France are covered well and then....The relevant chapter starts with the admission that if Edward had died on his return to England then he would known as "the Great" and proceeds to skate over the remainder of his life. Given that he was ill for this period and the time lacked the drama of his earlier life then it may not have needed in depth analysis. However, the cusory manner in which this period is described its almost as if this would go against the "perfect king" argument. With this reservation, overall it is nearly a perfect historical biography about an individual who played an important role in creating the English people.

5 out of 5 stars

Readable and Enjoyable July 10, 2007
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Ian Mortimer is one of those rarities in history. An author who can dig into the recesses of the past to provide detailed descriptions of events and people without losing sight of the bigger picture. Most importantly, he never loses the reader in labyrinthine argument or over fastidious detail. He can be contentious, I don't neccessarily agree with what is probably the major assertion in his book, but carries it off with aplomb. His tackling of the 14th Century is an excellent accompaniment to people along the lines of Jonathan Sumption, putting flesh on the bones of history. Already bought my copy of his next one :-)

4 out of 5 stars

Mixed feelings about the content, but very bad editing for sure July 16, 2006
53 out of 67 found this review helpful

The renewed interest in the reign of Edward II was bound to trigger new interest in the reign of his son and heir Edward III. Ian Mortimer had already set the stage with his excellent biography on the Earl of March (the Greatest Traitor). It is a welcome and logic move to follow this book up with a biography of Edward III.

The title of the biography is already a clear indication how Ian Mortimer sees the king. However, Ian Mortimer even goes a step further and starts his book however with a chapter how he wants to see Edward III and re-establish the king's reputation. I am not sure that this was a wise move as the following chapter only partly supports the sweeping statement of a perfect king.
Nevertheless the book covers one of the longest reign of an English king in an in-depth manner giving the reader a lot of information to form her/his very own opinion. I am a bit split what to think. On one hand the king laid the foundations for many political, social, military and cultural tradition of the country. His reign was a successful one. On the other hand there was constant war. We might have today a different view on the merits of warfare, so it might be wrong to judge him according to our standards. Nevertheless war was never a good thing - neither then nor today. So you can have your pick what is more important to you.

What I did miss in the assessment were the long-term consequences of his reign and rule. Yes, he established many long lasting traditions and institutions, but his direct legacy was quite disastrous for England as he did not provide for a secure transition of power and many of his action laid as well the foundations for the War of the Roses.

One last word to editing: in my view it is absolutely dreadful. The chapters are far too long, far too detailed and really difficult to read. Honestly, quite often I had enough of this book and had to force myself to continue reading. I do not like this t all. I am not a scholar or want to do my PhD on Edward III, so one should adopt this book more for popular reading. It can be done as the book on the Earl of March proved.

So all in all not a bad book, hard reading due to the dreadful editing, but lots of information giving in spite of the first chapter enough room to form one's own opinion. 4 stars is a fair assesment.