The Restless Kings

Delving into the tumultuous histories of the first three Plantagenet kings of England, Barratt (The Forgotten Spy) crafts a concise, riveting look at a family destroyed by ambition and the complexities of Anglo-Norman politics. Beginning with the dramatic events leading to the ascent of Henry II, great-grandson of William the Conqueror, Barratt illustrates how the Angevins--Henry II and his sons, Richard I and John--left a lasting imprint upon both Great Britain and France through war, loss, and administrative innovation. Struggling to hold his continental lands as well as his English kingdom, Henry II maintained a peripatetic court that necessitated the creation of a centralized bureaucracy, established the importance of the Chancery and Exchequer in British government, and provided the mechanisms necessary to finance armies and fortifications. Yet, his decision to divide his holdings among his contentious sons led to the fracturing of the family and a series of conflicts resulting in the eventual loss of the continental Angevin domains during John's notoriously disastrous reign. VERDICT A highly readable exploration of a strong-willed family who left an indelible mark on European history.--Sara Shreve, Newton, KS