The Last Plantagenets (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Late Medieval England, Dynastic Rivalry, and the Wars of the Roses from Richard II to Bosworth FieldBy Thomas Bertram Costain
Length19h 19m
About this audiobook
The Last Plantagenets completes Thomas B. Costain's vivid historical sequence on the Plantagenet dynasty, carrying the reader through the turbulent fifteenth century from the reign of Richard II to the catastrophe of Bosworth Field. Blending narrative history with novelistic pacing, Costain reconstructs court intrigue, dynastic rivalry, civil war, and the fraught personalities of Lancaster and York. Written in an accessible yet learned style, the book belongs to the mid-twentieth-century tradition of popular historical scholarship, making complex political transitions intelligible without sacrificing drama or moral nuance. Thomas Bertram Costain, a Canadian-born journalist, editor, and bestselling historical novelist, brought to history the instincts of a storyteller trained in periodical writing and fiction. His long engagement with English medieval history reflects both archival curiosity and a novelist's fascination with character under pressure. Costain's experience in publishing helped him shape historical material into lucid, compelling prose aimed at serious general readers. This book is recommended to readers seeking an engaging entry into late medieval England, the Wars of the Roses, and the decline of a great royal house. It will especially appeal to those who value history that is carefully organized, richly peopled, and animated by narrative force.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreHistory
Length19 hrs 19 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 25, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
34CHAPTER XXIX The King Had No Horses and No Men
2Introduction
35CHAPTER XXX The Little Queen Fights for the Throne
3Synopsis
36CHAPTER XXXI The King Who Lost His Life
4Historical Context
37PART TWO THE RED AND THE WHITE
5PART ONE THE KING WHO LOST A SHOE
38CHAPTER I A Sick King and a Dull Reign
Show all chaptersShow less
6CHAPTER I A Prince Is Born
39CHAPTER II The Welsh Magician
7CHAPTER II The Struggle over the Succession
40CHAPTER III The King and Fair Kate
8CHAPTER III The King Who Lost a Shoe
41CHAPTER IV The Red and the White
9CHAPTER IV Passed Over, Tolerated, Winked At!
42CHAPTER V The Gentle Henry
10CHAPTER V The First English Bible
43CHAPTER VI The Fourth Edward
11CHAPTER VI When the Bell Was Rungen
44CHAPTER VII The Kingmaker
12CHAPTER VII The Blaze Spreads
45CHAPTER VIII The Queen of Sorrows and Enmities
13CHAPTER VIII The Voice of John Ball
46CHAPTER IX The Butt of Malmsey
14CHAPTER IX Not a Blow Struck, Not a Head Broken
47CHAPTER X William Caxton
15CHAPTER X The Boy King Takes Hold
48PART THREE THE GREAT MYSTERY
16CHAPTER XI “I Will Be Your Chief and Captain”
49CHAPTER I The Whipping Boy
17CHAPTER XII The Days of Retribution
50CHAPTER II How It Began
18CHAPTER XIII The Gay Court of the Young King
51CHAPTER III Throwing the Book
19CHAPTER XIV Good Queen Anne
52CHAPTER IV The King Is Dead, Long Live the King
20CHAPTER XV The Bully of Woodstock
53CHAPTER V Richard Takes the Throne
21CHAPTER XVI The Daring Grocer
54CHAPTER VI A Short and Unhappy Reign
22CHAPTER XVII The King’s Favorite
55CHAPTER VII On Bosworth Field
23CHAPTER XVIII England Faces Invasion
56CHAPTER VIII Some Curious Measures and Omissions
24CHAPTER XIX The Merciless Parliament
57CHAPTER IX The Murder of the Princes
25CHAPTER XX The King Raises a Hand
58CHAPTER X The Great Impersonations
26CHAPTER XXI The Death of Good Queen Anne
59CHAPTER XI The Hired Historian
27CHAPTER XXII The Days of Development
60CHAPTER XII The Bones in the Tower
28CHAPTER XXIII “I Shall Then Be a Great Lady”
61CHAPTER XIII The Evidence of an Eyewitness
29CHAPTER XXIV The King Strikes
62A Personal Postscript
30CHAPTER XXV “Vengeance Is Mine, I Will Repay”
63Analysis
31CHAPTER XXVI The Absolute King
64Reflection
32CHAPTER XXVII Two of the Five
65Memorable Quotes
33CHAPTER XXVIII The Great Mistakes
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