Product Description

In 1215, the Barons of England forced King John to sign a revolutionary document which would change the political landscape of Britain and beyond for the next 800 years. Magna Carta was the forerunner of the Constitution that limited the powers of the crown and its echoes can be found in the seventeenth century Civil Wars, the struggles for American Independence, the work of Thomas Paine and in the bedrock of all contemporary liberal nations. As civil liberties and the rule of law are increasingly under question as part of the ‘War on Terror’, it has never been more essential to return to the original document, signed at Runnymede in June 1215. Leading medieval historian Geoffrey Hindley retells the story of events leading up to the conference and looks at the document itself, showing how it has resonated over centuries and throughout the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #299214 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author
Geoffrey Hindley is a distinguished medieval historian. He is the author of A Brief History of The Crusades, and A Brief History of the Anglo Saxons as well as the biographer of Saladin.

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
There is a good deal of detail in this book, although it is sometimes difficult to understand its relevance to the actual narrative. That apart, I found myself questioning the qualifications of the writer as much of the text is peppered with value judgements and side-swipes at politicians, Europe and tired talk of "abandoning our sovereignty" which more properly belong in an opinion piece, not in a supposedly academic work

Superb
In his accessible and highly readable style, Geoffrey Hindley provides a fascinating insight into the nascence of Magna Carta - the complex geopolitics of Europe; the religious dimension; the tensions in the kingdom - it is all thoroughly covered along with an excellent explanation of what the Charter itself is actually about, and how it became a beacon of freedom and democracy for so many. Fabulous.