The Conquering Family (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. The Conquering FamilyBy Thomas Bertram Costain
Length18h 19m
About this audiobook
The Conquering Family opens Thomas B. Costain's vivid chronicle of the Plantagenets, tracing the explosive reign of Henry II, the formidable presence of Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the ambitions and rebellions of their sons, including Richard the Lionheart and King John. Written as popular narrative history rather than academic monograph, the book combines political drama, character portraiture, and pageant-like pacing, situating medieval England within the wider Angevin world of France, crusade, law, church conflict, and dynastic struggle. Costain, a Canadian journalist, editor, and historical novelist, brought to history the instincts of a storyteller trained in narrative momentum and human interest. His long career in publishing and fiction shaped his approach: he sought to make the medieval past intelligible and compelling without stripping it of complexity. His fascination with monarchy, personality, and institutional change helps explain his attraction to the Plantagenets, a family in whom private passion and public power were inseparable. This book is recommended for readers who want an accessible yet richly textured entry into twelfth-century England. Scholars may note its popularizing style, but general readers will value its clarity, sweep, and dramatic understanding of how one turbulent dynasty helped shape English history.
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
Rating★★★★ 4.2 (6.3K)
Includes Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing, StoryGraph
GenreHistory
Length18 hrs 19 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 25, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Introduction
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6CHAPTER I Three Strong Men
7CHAPTER II The Strongest Man Rules
8CHAPTER III A Dangerous King, a Saint, and a Rogue
9CHAPTER IV Good Queen Mold and the Charter
10CHAPTER V A Bad Man Can Be a Good King
11CHAPTER VI A Royal Triangle and the Wars It Caused in the Sorry Reign of Stephen
12CHAPTER VII The Epic Reign of a Great King
13CHAPTER VIII The King and the Archbishop
14CHAPTER IX The Invasion of Ireland
15CHAPTER X The Sin of Absalom
16CHAPTER XI The Milch Cow of the Third Crusade
17CHAPTER XII The Lord of the Manor and the Villein
18CHAPTER XIII Melech-Ric
19CHAPTER XIV While the Devil Was Loose
20CHAPTER XV The Unsolved Mystery
21CHAPTER XVI John Softsword
22CHAPTER XVII With Bell, Book, and Candle
23CHAPTER XVIII Magna Charta
24CHAPTER XIX Twilight of a Tyrant
25CHAPTER XX A Nation Again
26Analysis
27Reflection
28Memorable Quotes
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