The New Murrey and Blue blog

Caroline Burt and Richard ­Partington are prominent historians at the University of Cambridge, and have written a  book entitled Arise, England, which “….is shaping up to be a welcome shelter from the permanent torrent of Tudors….”

Oh, yippee! At last! I’m so sick of the Tudors, on all manner of levels, so a book about what went on before them (yes, there was indeed an England pre-Henry VII) is definitely welcome. It was published on 4 April 2024 and contains biographies of six Plantagenet kings, from John to Richard II, covering the years 1199 to 1399. Not just their biographies, but everything else that went on around them, from the development of the state to warfare. At 640 pages it’s not an overnight read but I’m certain it’s well worth the £20 or so it costs.

And let’s face it, it was pre-1485 England that the Tudors were so hellbent upon grabbing and keeping! They didn’t create it, it was moulded for them by the far more interesting monarchs we like to gather together as the Plantagenets! Plus, I have to point out, two Yorkist kings, Edward IV and Richard III. I choose to ignore the Lancastrian usurpers who cluttered things up a little.

Of course, not having read this tome myself I cannot vouch that it has anything new to say. Maybe it trots out all the usual myths and legends as if they’re fact, but I can only hope it’s more thoughtful than that. However, this link will take you to a review by someone who has read it.