The Conquering Family

Rating:
Summary: The Plantagenets Come Alive
Review: Costain's "The Conquering Family" is a look at the lives of Henry II and his sons. It is very readable, entertaining and enlightening. It is one of those books that you can't put down and are sorry when finished.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic series
Review: I am writing here for all four books instead just the Conquering Family. Its easier that way since most people who read the first book will definitely end up reading the rest of the three books.

This series by Thomas Costain have been around for a long time. Its one of the easiest to read written history on ruling family of the Plantagenats who ruled England from Henry II to Richard III. That's nearly 300 years of English history. Costain's story telling skills mixed with great history make this series one of the best set of books in introducing anyone to mediveal English history.

Having said that, it should be warned that Costain's history isn't exactly very scholarly. The author does take few liberties with the facts, even putting in few liners here and there to advanced the story. Even some events which may be more mythological then true, have been told as if they may be true. Costain also have his own bend to certain views and his sympathic views on certain events and personalities may not reflect history's. (The series almost does read like "historical fiction novels" and has been mistaken for such by the uneducated. Especially by those who worked in bookstores.)

But Costains' creative inputs should not distract from the fact the most of what written in his four books proves to be very entertaining and accurate history. Even those who may not care for mediveal history have enjoyed it since I have recommended this series to several friends who regards such subject as one of the most boring subject next to watching dust bunnies grow. By the time they were done with my books, they were ordering their own set.

Rating:
Summary: History Comes Alive!
Review: I picked up this book and haven't been able to put it down. Mr. Costain has written a vivid and engrossing account of the lives of the Plantagenets who ruled England. He begins with Henry I (who was not a Plantagenet), whose daughter Matilda married, for her second husband, Geoffery of Anjou (who would be the first to be called by the name Plantagenet). The family is handled down to and including John, brother of the so-named Richard the Lion Heart.

His account is respendent with detail where it exsists historically or is highly suggested culturally. He notes the difference by indicating what was probable, what was possible, what is known, and what is thought to be known.

Before I click over into my dry academic language, let me say that this book rocks! It is obviously well researched. I would recommend reading this BEFORE you read Alison Weir's "The Princes in the Tower." After you read "The Conquering Family" may I suggest picking up "The Three Edwards" (also by Costain). This will give you a good portion of the background and backdrop of English History against which the tragedy of the imprisonment and subsequent disappearance of Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York (not to be confused with their uncle who would later become Richard III). THEN read "The Princes in the Tower," which of course examines, in light of ALL of the available historical evidence, the 'who-did-it,' 'when,' and 'how' of the disappearance and death of the two young princes (King and Duke actually).

Given the time period which "The Conquering Family" treats, there are next to no pictures. While I would dread to see enough pictures to warrant calling this a pictorial history, I would suggest that some portraits of the participants and such, would have helped to spark the imagination of the reader and to further engage their interest. Also, while there are maps in the book, there is no listing of the maps in the front of the book, and a map of locations such as Anjou, could only have served to enhance the readers' perspective and understanding of the subject matter.

Now if someone would only buy me "The Magnificent Century" and "The Last Plantagenets"!

Rating:
Summary: I'm a little confused, but I like the author.
Review: I went to a local bookstore that sells used and rare books and found a book titled The Conquerors. It was by Thomas Costain and it was a first edition book from 1949. Being a reader slowly growing to love history, I couldn't help but pick it up after reading the first chapter entitled Three Strong Men. It read like a fictitious novel! Anyway, there were no other books by Mr. Costain and I have no knowledge of him or his works except for an advertisment for The Magnificent Century, the second book in the series The Pageant of England. I assume that The Conquerors is the first book in this twelve-volume series. What I'm confused about is whether or not The Conquerors became The Conquering Family and if the series was never finished (on account of everyone saying that this was book was part of a four part series instead of twelve.) There are twenty chapters in my book, and if anyone has any information on Thomas B. Costain or his books (especially the book The Conquerors or the Pageant of England series) please contact me or post an review in response. Thanks.

Rating:
Summary: What family doesn't have its ups and downs?
Review: THE CONQUERING FAMILY is the first book of four by Thomas Costain on the Plantagenet kings of England. In my opinion, this set, and the 3-volume masterpiece by Shelby Foote on the U.S. Civil War, are the best historical series I've ever read. (The last three volumes in the Costain quartet are: THE MAGNIFICENT CENTURY, THE THREE EDWARDS, and THE LAST PLANTAGENETS.)

THE CONQUERING FAMILY chronicles the reigns of Henry II (1154-1189), and his sons Richard I "the Lionhearted" (1189-1199) and John (1199-1216). Henry II, in my opinion the greatest of English monarchs, created an empire that included not only Britain, but perhaps as much as two-thirds of present day France (thanks, in great part, to his marriage to the dynamic Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Duchess of that province and the former Queen of France.) By the end of John's reign, virtually all French possessions were lost and England was racked by civil war. No chip off the old block was John.

The general public usually associates Henry II with his quarrel with, and eventual murder of, Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury. Richard I is, of course, "the Lionhearted" king who crusaded in the Holy Land against the infidels, and who has a fictional association with Robin Hood. And, lastly, there's the misfit King John, of Magna Carta fame.

A perfect companion piece to this volume is the 1968 film THE LION IN WINTER, starring Peter O'Toole as Henry and Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor, the latter winning an Academy Award for her performance. The film's story evolves over Christmas, 1183, in the royal castle of Chinon, as Henry, Eleanor, and sons Richard, Geoffrey and John quarrel, backstab, and plot amongst themselves as to which son will inherit the thrown on Henry's death. It's my all-time favorite film for reasons given in my review of it on this website. More to the point, the book and the film are consistent in their portrayal of this royal family as dysfunctional with a capital "D". It's a quote from Hepburn's Eleanor that heads this review, and which says it all. (By comparison, the current English royal family is merely a bunch of trivial sissies.) Both the book and the film are powerful portrayals of a ruling dynasty, the likes of which the world will likely never see again. If you're at all interested in English history, you absolutely must not overlook either the Costain series or the movie.

Rating:
Summary: What family doesn't have its ups and downs?
Review: THE CONQUERING FAMILY is the first book of four by Thomas Costain on the Plantagenet kings of England. In my opinion, this set, and the 3-volume masterpiece by Shelby Foote on the U.S. Civil War, are the best historical series I've ever read. (The last three volumes in the Costain quartet are: THE MAGNIFICENT CENTURY, THE THREE EDWARDS, and THE LAST PLANTAGENETS.)

THE CONQUERING FAMILY chronicles the reigns of Henry II (1154-1189), and his sons Richard I "the Lionhearted" (1189-1199) and John (1199-1216). Henry II, in my opinion the greatest of English monarchs, created an empire that included not only Britain, but perhaps as much as two-thirds of present day France (thanks, in great part, to his marriage to the dynamic Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Duchess of that province and the former Queen of France.) By the end of John's reign, virtually all French possessions were lost and England was racked by civil war. No chip off the old block was John.

The general public usually associates Henry II with his quarrel with, and eventual murder of, Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury. Richard I is, of course, "the Lionhearted" king who crusaded in the Holy Land against the infidels, and who has a fictional association with Robin Hood. And, lastly, there's the misfit King John, of Magna Carta fame.

A perfect companion piece to this volume is the 1968 film THE LION IN WINTER, starring Peter O'Toole as Henry and Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor, the latter winning an Academy Award for her performance. The film's story evolves over Christmas, 1183, in the royal castle of Chinon, as Henry, Eleanor, and sons Richard, Geoffrey and John quarrel, backstab, and plot amongst themselves as to which son will inherit the thrown on Henry's death. It's my all-time favorite film for reasons given in my review of it on this website. More to the point, the book and the film are consistent in their portrayal of this royal family as dysfunctional with a capital "D". It's a quote from Hepburn's Eleanor that heads this review, and which says it all. (By comparison, the current English royal family is merely a bunch of trivial sissies.) Both the book and the film are powerful portrayals of a ruling dynasty, the likes of which the world will likely never see again. If you're at all interested in English history, you absolutely must not overlook either the Costain series or the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Thorough but dated
Review: The title of the book led me to believe that this book would encompass the entire "conquering" family of Normandy as they became the rulers of England. However, I was disappointed that the actual conquest was bypassed and the book opens with introduction of the first Plantagenets and not with William the Conqueror as I incorrectly assumed from the title. The book is very thorough where the author choses to be. For example, he can hit a few highlights of history and move the story along very rapidly and then suddenly spend page after page on one segment of one chapter of one person's life. I know I bought the book used, but the original publication date of 1949 and the republication in 1964 seemed obvious in the authors style and tone. I think the book is very informative, and if you are interested in the Plantagenets, it is something you'd enjoy. Just be aware of the "late" start of the book. The actual Conquest is over before this book begins.

Rating:
Summary: Monumental and Magnificent
Review: These are some of the words that come to my mind when describing this work, but I am speaking of the entire 4 volume set - not just The Conquering Family by Mr.Costain who is a blest and gifted authorin my opinion. I first bought the 4 Volumes in paperback and after reading them cover to cover, I bought the hard cover set because I feared I wouldn't be able to get them later - they might go out of print or become more expensive. I have reread all of them 3 times and I would advise anyone interested in World History or an Anglophile to purchase all 4 Books because they are a must for your library. Each volume is thoroughly researched, full of dates, characters, events, battles, but at the same they are an easy read - never boring or drawn out and tiresome - you just want to keep reading and reading to learn more.

Rating:
Summary: The most engaging medieval history I have ever read.
Review: While I do not think that Mr Costain stands in the first rank of medieval historians, His four volume history of the Plantagenet family in England is the best written, most engaging work of medieval history I have ever encountered. He makes the people of the time come alive, maintains an outstanding general chronology, and has enough interesting asides from the main story to light the passions of those only casually interested in his subject matter. I cannot recommend it highly enough! One note of caution: his treatment of John and Edward II is somewhat unfair, but may be more a result of the age of his work than any bias....

Rating:
Summary: Good Historian; Good Story-teller
Review: [Note: This review also appears under Mr. Costain's "The Last Plantagenets," the fourth of his four-volume history of the Plantagenets. If you read but one volume, read this one. Appreciate Eleanor of Aquitaine; experience the early crusades and the trials of Richard, the Lionheart; and learn just how magnanimous was (or was not) John in his signing of the Magna Carta.]

Mr. Costain is a very good historian. His scholarship is thorough and his conclusions are always logically wrought and sometimes surprising. His sensibilities are contemporary, although I would not term him a "revisionist," (he wrote this history in the 1950s). For example, in this first volume, the author dashes myth and idle folklore to side with those historians who portray Eleanor of Aquitaine as the wise and effective check on Henry II and her sons that she no doubt was. In so doing he disperses, through well-reasoned argument, the rumors and "Entertainment-Tonight" kind of fluff (History-Lite) that many still believe. Additionally, Costain's defense of Richard III (in the final volume) he travails against conventional opinion to demonstrate why King Richard was, indeed, not the Richard III of Thomas More as popularized by Shakespeare and held true to this day.

I had been told these four volumes were classics. After reading them, but without being a scholar of history, I think those critical readers might be right. Certainly, Mr. Costain opened my eyes to a different kind of history telling, one in which an historian does not hesitate to conjecture or opine openly and to honestly make his case and then leave it for a reader's judgement. From front to back, from first through fourth volumes, this is a valuable and pleasurable experience. Mr Costain, presents, argues, harangues convention and, always entertains with a use of the language that is as sharp as his reasoning and as precise as his scholarship. Mr. Costain is a very good story-teller.