The Feudal Kingdom of England, 1042-1216 (5th Edition)

Rating:
Summary: A Masterly Treatment of the Norman Period
Review: This is one of my very favorite books in the world. Frank Barlow's scholarly account of Edward the Confessor, the Norman Conquest, and the Norman and Angevin kings has never been bettered. I bought this book in the late 1970s and have read it a dozen times since. I cannot sincerely recommend for the casual reader, but for anyone with a real interest in the period, it is a must. Barlow understood that most good history must be written as a narrative, and this is one of the most intricate and interesting stories of all time. I especially like his insights into Richard I and John.