Product Description

This biography, written by one of the most distinguished medievalists of his generation, paints a new portrait of Henry I, son of William the Conqueror. Not the brutal, greedy, and repressive king that has been supposed, Henry was the ultimate pragmatist and a man of keen intelligence who desired peace, C. Warren Hollister shows. He vividly describes Henry's life and reign in a time of fundamental change in the Anglo-Norman world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #200072 in Books
• Published on: 2003-08-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 588 pages

Review
"The product of a lifetime's research, a monument to its author's scholarship and teaching alike, this book gives us a Henry I to relish as well as to reconsider... thorough and readable." T.N. Bisson, English Historical Review "A deeply learned, readable, and witty biography, which provides a new assessment of an important reign... a marvelous book." Marjorie Chibnall, Albion "A magisterial biography." Publishers Weekly "A work of outstanding scholarship." Fred A. Cazel, History: Reviews of New Books "A valuable volume, destined to be the standard biography." Expository Times

Marjorie Chibnall, Albion
"A deeply learned, readable, and witty biography, which provides a new assessment of an important reign ... a marvelous book."

Publishers Weekly
"A magisterial biography."

Customer Reviews

A work of outstanding scholarship
The English Monarchs series has brought the highest standards of historical scholarship to the wide audience. Leading historians scrutinize the lives of the kings and queens of England and explore the cumulative impact of the longest permanent governing institution in Europe.

This engrossing biography on Henry I paints a new portrait of Henry I, son of William the Conqueror. Henry was less brutal, greedy, or repressive king as historic reputation suggests, but he was the ultimate pragmatist. C. Warren Hollister describes vividly Henry's life and reign in a time of fundamental change in the Anglo-Norman world.

For me this is the standard biography on King Henry I, a work of outstanding scholarship.

A DECENT BIOGRAPHY AT LAST!!
This is the first major biography on this monarch, and it didn't disappoint. Henry I is one of the most important Kings of England, and the lack of information on this monarch has been unfortunate, but it has been rectified by this book. It is a thorough telling of his reign and the importance of it in the creation of England, and the establishment of the monarchy.

It covers the major aspects of his reign his family, the social aspect of the country at the time and financial policy followed by the King, which makes it an enthralling read. It's a real shame that the author died, he has made a major contribution to our understanding of the medieval world, and he will be sadly missed.

All I hope is that other historians are encouraged by this work to expand on the work of the author.

An excellent account of Henry I
This is a thoroughly enjoyable study of Henry I. It is both scholarly and highly readable at the same time, which is no mean achievement.

Hollister not only provides the biographical details of Henry I, but also firmly puts him the political background of post-Conquest England, and studies his relations with his magnates and the church (especially the Investiture controversy and Henry's patronage of Cluniac monasticism), as well as the growth of royal administration and centralisation (witnessed by the 1130 Pipe Roll). Henry comes across as a highly intelligent, pragmatic and firm - but also fair and loyal, even forgiving in some cases - ruler.

Unfortunately Hollister died before completing the book but the final three chapters are completed by Amanda Clark Frost based on Hollister's notes and previous thoughts on the topics at hand. For me, the most enjoyable and intriguing chapter was the chapter one, which discusses the sources available to the study of Henry I - such as Orderic Vitalis, William of Malmesbury, William of Jumieges and Henry of Huntingdon amongst many others. Hollister discusses the advantages and pitfalls of the sources, including unfortunately lost or incomplete manuscripts.

In conclusion, this is highly recommendable as a readable and authoritative account of Henry I.