The most recommended books on the House of Plantagenet

Who picked these books? Meet our 8 experts.

8 authors created a book list connected to the House of Plantagenet, and here are their favorite House of Plantagenet books.
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Book cover of Plantagenet Ireland

David Green Author Of Edward the Black Prince: Power in Medieval Europe

From David's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Professor Medievalist Dog owner (Occasional) Walker

David's 3 favorite reads in 2023

David Green Why did David love this book?

I read this for professional reasons, which is not to say that I didnā€™t get great pleasure from it. Frame is a fine writer, and this isnā€™t always true of those who are also great scholars. This is a collection of essays, some new but mostly older works, lightly edited in a couple of cases.

Much of Frameā€™s work deals with that nebulous concept of identity in its various forms. He has explored much of the medieval history of Ireland after the English (or Anglo-Norman) invasion began in 1169. He has done so from perspectives both close and detailed and more broadly comparative. He was one of the most important figures in encouraging us to consider Ireland alongside and as part of a wider collective that includes Wales, Scotland, England, and parts of France.

For a time, I was rather annoyed because it seemed like every good idea I hadā€¦

By Robin Frame,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Plantagenet Ireland as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

For two centuries after 1199, Ireland was ruled by Plantagenet kings, lineal descendants of Henry II. The island became closely tied to the English crown not just by English law and direct administration, but through other networks, above all the allegiance of a settler establishment led by aristocratic, ecclesiastical, and civic elites that benefited from being within the orbit of royal patronage and service. This book contains fifteen interlinked studies, several of which appear here for the first time. The opening chapters trace Irelandā€™s changing place within a wider Plantagenet realm that itself altered geographically and institutionally during the period.ā€¦


Book cover of Richard III: The Self-Made King

John Gribbin Author Of Six Impossible Things: The Mystery of the Quantum World

From John's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Bookworm Science buff Short distance walker Chess player Pedagogue (aka know-all)

John's 3 favorite reads in 2023

John Gribbin Why did John love this book?

Everybody knows the name of Richard III, the short-lived king of England whose defeat ushered in the Tudor dynasty. But the story everyone knows and argues about is his time as king and the fate of the ā€œprinces in the tower.ā€ 

Michael Hicks tells the story of Richardā€™s life before he became king, his loyal support for his brother Edward IV, the political scheming that made him the ruler of the north of England, and his reforming zeal, which might have transformed the country had he lived. 

Nothing like Shakespeareā€™s caricature (written to please the Tudors!), Richard emerges as a complex and fundamentally decent man of his time, whose story deserved this telling.

By Michael Hicks,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Richard III as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An "excellent new biography" (Keith Thomas, New York Review of Books) of the wily and formidable prince who unexpectedly became monarch-the most infamous king in British history

"An intricately detailed account of Richard's every recorded move on his journey from younger son of the powerful Duke of York to the last of England's mediaeval monarchs."-Mark Jones, Albion Magazine

The reign of Richard III, the last Yorkist king and the final monarch of the Plantagenet dynasty, marked a turning point in British history. But despite his lasting legacy, Richard only ruled as king for the final two years of his life.ā€¦


Book cover of Lord Darcy

Ju Honisch Author Of Obsidian Secrets

From my list on combining fantasy with ā€œthe pastā€.

Why am I passionate about this?

History and legend: The actual past and all the myths and stories that ride along with it. I have an M.A. in history and have always been interested in old folklore and myth. So I write fantasy novels set in the 19th century. The flair is steampunk-ish, the setting strictly historical ā€“ except for the fact that magic and mythical creatures exist. Magic is taught in Arcane Lodges, mythical beings can be pretty much anything: vampire, body-snatcher, werewolf, dryad, nymph, etc. My first novel Obsidian Secrets (Das Obsidianherz) won the Deutscher Phantastik Preis. Wings of Stone of the same series won the SERAPH as the "Best Fantasy Novel" at Leipzig Book Fair.

Ju's book list on combining fantasy with ā€œthe pastā€

Ju Honisch Why did Ju love this book?

Set in an alternate history environment in England, the Lord Darcy stories superbly combine the flair of an ā€“ albeit non-historical ā€“ ā€œdark romanticā€ age with the classic whodunnit framework in a parallel world where magic is possible and can be used to solve crimes.

The archetypal characters of the highly intelligent detective and his brainy sidekick here give the reader a ā€˜prince-detectiveā€™ with a ā€˜mage-assistantā€™. The book is not new, but good reads do not go stale.

As a lover of both D. Sayersā€™ Lord Peter Wimsey detective novels and magic wielded in bygone ages, I fell in love with these stories right away. 

By Randall Garrett,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Lord Darcy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Welcome to a world where the Plantagenet kings survived, the laws of magic were discovered and the physical sciences never pursued. In the resulting Anglo-French Empire, a detective like Lord Darcy needs more than a keen mind and an observant eye. Luckily, Darcy can call on the aid of Master Sean O'Lochlainn, forensic sorcerer.

This omnibus contains all of the Lord Darcy stories as well as the only Lord Darcy novel, TOO MANY MAGICIANS, and has a new introduction by Michael Dirda.


Book cover of Henry IV: The Righteous King

Mercedes Rochelle Author Of A King Under Siege

From my list on the Plantagenets.

Why am I passionate about this?

Thirty years as a medieval reenactor gave me the background I needed to step into the past. I learned much about everyday activities and I gained familiarity with physical objects such as weapons and armor. My first four books (including The Last Great Saxon Earls trilogy) took place in the eleventh century, and by then I was ready to jump forward three hundred years to the Plantagenet era. In college, I saw Shakespeare's Richard II play, and I was so enthralled with it that I carried Richard around with me for forty years before tackling this book. It ended up being much more complicated than I could ever imagine!

Mercedes' book list on the Plantagenets

Mercedes Rochelle Why did Mercedes love this book?

Originally published as The Fears of Henry IV, this book gives us a fascinating look into the usurpation of Richard II and reign of the first Lancastrian king. Although they were first cousins, King Richard II and Henry Bolingbroke were perpetually at odds, and Henry's decision to seize the crown opened up a slew of problems that haunted him throughout his reign. He fought one rebellion after another, and once he put down his enemies, Henry was beset with terrible health problems that led to his early death. Because my series covers the reigns of Richard II through Henry VI (I'm currently writing about Henry IV), this book was critical to my understanding of why things went so wrong after his triumphant return from exile. 

By Ian Mortimer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Henry IV as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the saviour of the realm to the subject of multiple attempted assassinations in the space of six years. King Henry IV's reign was characterised by his fear and paranoia, but above all a continued quest for survival.

The son of John the Gaunt, Henry was seen as a confident, well-educated, generous, and spiritually fervent young man. And, in 1399, having ousted the insecure tyrannical Richard II, he was enthusiastically greeted as the new King of England.

However, therein lay Henry's weakness. Upon assuming the crown, he found himself surrounded by men who would only support him as long asā€¦


Book cover of Devil's Brood

Saga Hillbom Author Of Princess of Thorns

From my list on the Tudors and Plantagenets that educate.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of several historical novels covering a wide range of topics, but my main interest remains 12th- to 16th-century Britain. I grew up in Sweden and have been an avid reader of classic literature and historical fiction since I was a child, and am currently studying History at the University of Oxford. When someone asks me what it is that I love about history, I tend to reply that it is all the stories. It sounds obvious, perhaps, but history is made up of countless stories that can be told in countless ways, and there is at least one story for everyone to fall in love with. 

Saga's book list on the Tudors and Plantagenets that educate

Saga Hillbom Why did Saga love this book?

The summer before starting my first year of university, I went in search of historical fiction that was accurate enough to help prepare me for the module I was going to take about medieval Britain. Meticulously researched and packed full of detail that brings historical scenery and relationships to life, Devilā€™s Brood was the perfect starting point. It is a book that I have read and enjoyed three or four times, and each time, I have discovered new passages that made me put the book down on my pillow and stare blankly at the wall for a few seconds, pondering what I just read. In addition, this thrilling account of the early Plantagenets is the first (albeit independent) part of a series, so if you get as hooked as I did, thereā€™s more to be had!

By Sharon Kay Penman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Devil's Brood as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A breathtaking and sweeping epic of a family at its breaking point, Devilā€™s Brood shows how Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaineā€”two monumental figures once bound by all-consuming loveā€”became the bitterest of adversaries...

A.D. 1172. Henry IIā€™s three eldest sons conspire against him and align themselves with his greatest enemy, King Louis of France, but itā€™s Eleanor of Aquitaineā€™s involvement in the plot to overthrow her husband that proves to be the harshest betrayal. As a royal family collapses and a marriage ends in all but name, the clash between these two strong-willed and passionate souls will have far-reaching andā€¦


Book cover of John of Gaunt

Mercedes Rochelle Author Of A King Under Siege

From my list on the Plantagenets.

Why am I passionate about this?

Thirty years as a medieval reenactor gave me the background I needed to step into the past. I learned much about everyday activities and I gained familiarity with physical objects such as weapons and armor. My first four books (including The Last Great Saxon Earls trilogy) took place in the eleventh century, and by then I was ready to jump forward three hundred years to the Plantagenet era. In college, I saw Shakespeare's Richard II play, and I was so enthralled with it that I carried Richard around with me for forty years before tackling this book. It ended up being much more complicated than I could ever imagine!

Mercedes' book list on the Plantagenets

Mercedes Rochelle Why did Mercedes love this book?

No study about Richard II would be complete without an understanding of his uncle, the powerful and intimidating John of Gaunt. Before I read this book, I accepted the usual depiction that he was arrogant, unpleasant, and downright nasty. But really, this was a gross exaggeration. Although many contemporaries assumed he coveted the throne, in reality, it would have been against his honor to usurp the king, no matter how helpless, ungrateful, or deserving Richard may have seemed. Gaunt was the only person who stood between the king and his many enemies. Once Richard discovered this for himself, he treated his uncle with much more respect, and this biography certainly helped me put Gaunt into proper perspective. 

By Sydney Armitage-Smith,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked John of Gaunt as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

As younger brother of the Black Prince, and fourth son of Edward III, John of Gaunt was not destined to play an important role in the Plantagenet dynastyā€™s fortunes.

Yet the Black Prince and Edward died before their time, and John found his influence increased with the accession of his young nephew, Richard II.

Throughout Richardā€™s reign he would face accusations of seeking to usurp the throne, and as a result fluctuated in and out of favour for the rest of his life.

Never enjoying military successes as his brother or father had, John found his form in the dynasticā€¦


Book cover of A Dangerous Inheritance: A Novel of Tudor Rivals and the Secret of the Tower

Saga Hillbom Author Of Princess of Thorns

From my list on the Tudors and Plantagenets that educate.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of several historical novels covering a wide range of topics, but my main interest remains 12th- to 16th-century Britain. I grew up in Sweden and have been an avid reader of classic literature and historical fiction since I was a child, and am currently studying History at the University of Oxford. When someone asks me what it is that I love about history, I tend to reply that it is all the stories. It sounds obvious, perhaps, but history is made up of countless stories that can be told in countless ways, and there is at least one story for everyone to fall in love with. 

Saga's book list on the Tudors and Plantagenets that educate

Saga Hillbom Why did Saga love this book?

I will start by admitting that I had ambivalent feelings about this book for some time simply because it takes a different view on certain historical events and people than I do. Still, I cannot not recommend it, because it stunned me over and over with its vivid characters and the slowly unravelling mystery that is at the heart of the story. Above all, I was delighted to find that this novel centres around two young women who have been overshadowed by more prolific historical figures, bringing lesser-told stories to the forefront.

By Alison Weir,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Dangerous Inheritance as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Two women separated by time but linked by twin destinies investigate the mysterious, tragic fate of the young princes in the tower in this engrossing novel, ā€œa juicy mix of romance, drama, and Tudor historyā€ (Ladiesā€™ Home Journal).

ā€œAlison Weirā€™s strong suit as a fiction writer is making her novels living history.ā€ā€”The Courier-Journal
 
When her older sister, Lady Jane Grey, is executed in 1554 for unlawfully accepting the English crown, Lady Katherine Greyā€™s world falls apart. Barely recovered from this tragic loss she risks all for love, only to incur the wrath of her formidable cousin Queen Elizabeth I, whoā€¦


Book cover of The Brothers York: A Royal Tragedy

Saga Hillbom Author Of Princess of Thorns

From my list on the Tudors and Plantagenets that educate.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of several historical novels covering a wide range of topics, but my main interest remains 12th- to 16th-century Britain. I grew up in Sweden and have been an avid reader of classic literature and historical fiction since I was a child, and am currently studying History at the University of Oxford. When someone asks me what it is that I love about history, I tend to reply that it is all the stories. It sounds obvious, perhaps, but history is made up of countless stories that can be told in countless ways, and there is at least one story for everyone to fall in love with. 

Saga's book list on the Tudors and Plantagenets that educate

Saga Hillbom Why did Saga love this book?

I first heard about The Brothers York on a history podcast and immediately knew I had to get my hands on it. Before reading this brick of a book, my understanding of the Wars of the Roses was sketchy, even rather confused. After having read it, however, I had the idea and the outline for my own novel set during that time, which I ended up publishing shortly thereafter. Of course, my writing process required more research than what The Brothers York could help with, but this book nonetheless laid the foundation of my own knowledge of late 15th-century England. I would recommend it to anyone who finds the Wars of the Roses even remotely interesting; despite being non-fiction I was never once bored while reading it.

By Thomas Penn,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Brothers York as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Vicious battles, powerful monarchs, and royal intrigue abound in this ā€œgripping, complex, and sensationalā€ (Hilary Mantel) true story of the War of the Rosesā€”a struggle among three brothers, two of whom became kings, and the inspiration for Shakespeareā€™s Richard III.

In 15th-century England, two royal families, the House of York and the House of Lancaster, fought a bitter, decades-long civil war for the English throne. As their symbols were a red rose for Lancaster and a white rose for York, the conflict became known as the War of the Roses.

During this time, the house of York came to dominateā€¦


Book cover of Richard II: A True King's Fall

Saga Hillbom Author Of Princess of Thorns

From my list on the Tudors and Plantagenets that educate.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of several historical novels covering a wide range of topics, but my main interest remains 12th- to 16th-century Britain. I grew up in Sweden and have been an avid reader of classic literature and historical fiction since I was a child, and am currently studying History at the University of Oxford. When someone asks me what it is that I love about history, I tend to reply that it is all the stories. It sounds obvious, perhaps, but history is made up of countless stories that can be told in countless ways, and there is at least one story for everyone to fall in love with. 

Saga's book list on the Tudors and Plantagenets that educate

Saga Hillbom Why did Saga love this book?

This book might be my definition of ā€˜fact more entertaining than fictionā€™. It is a relatively light read that was easy to get through, without feeling under-researched in the least. I bought it as an introduction to the life, reign, and personality of Richard II, who incidentally is one of Englandā€™s most fascinating kings in my view. Warnerā€™s analysis of his character and relationships was what truly got me flipping the pages, anxious to read more about potential romances and debated narcissism.

By Kathryn Warner,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Richard II as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Richard II is a figure famous in England's national myths - the king who went insane, the narcissist, the tyrant of Shakespeare's play. History regards his rule either as that of a superhuman monarch or a crazed and vicious ruler. But Richard II was a complex and conflicted man - a person with faults and shortcomings thrust into a role that demanded greatness. In this book, Kathryn Warner returns with the first modern biography of Richard II in decades, to paint a portrait of the king with all of his strengths and imperfections left in the picture. An aesthete andā€¦


Book cover of Secrets of the Tudor Court

Saga Hillbom Author Of Princess of Thorns

From my list on the Tudors and Plantagenets that educate.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of several historical novels covering a wide range of topics, but my main interest remains 12th- to 16th-century Britain. I grew up in Sweden and have been an avid reader of classic literature and historical fiction since I was a child, and am currently studying History at the University of Oxford. When someone asks me what it is that I love about history, I tend to reply that it is all the stories. It sounds obvious, perhaps, but history is made up of countless stories that can be told in countless ways, and there is at least one story for everyone to fall in love with. 

Saga's book list on the Tudors and Plantagenets that educate

Saga Hillbom Why did Saga love this book?

If there is a single book that introduced me to historical fiction, this is it. I bought it at random for 50p at a flea market while on vacation in Scotland. And I read it. And I criedā€”a lot. It is possible that my young age at the time played a part in the enchantment, but the memory sticks with me. The protagonist Mary Howard was unknown to me before I read this novel, and I believe she has been largely forgotten in history, but that was one of my favourite aspects of the reading experience. Both as a reader and a writer, I believe that a main character who was relatively obscure but nevertheless close to pivotal historical events allows fact to be paired with the authorā€™s creative liberties.

By Bonnette,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Secrets of the Tudor Court as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

She holds the key to a kingdom's future...

When young Mary Howard receives the news that she will be leaving her home for the grand court of King Henry VIII, to attend his mistress Anne Boleyn, she is ecstatic. Everything Anne touches seems to turn to gold, and Mary is certain Anne will one day become Queen. But Mary has also seen the King s fickle nature and how easily he discards those who were once close to him...

Discovering that she is a pawn in a carefully orchestrated plot devised by her father, the duke of Norfolk, Mary dareā€¦


Book cover of Plantagenet Ireland
Book cover of Richard III: The Self-Made King
Book cover of Lord Darcy

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