Author: Dan Jones
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 434
Format: Paperback
Genre: History/Non-Fiction
Source: Xmas Gift
The fifteenth century experienced the longest and bloodiest series of civil wars in British history. The crown of England changed hands violently five times as the great families of England fought to the death for the right to rule. Some of the greatest heroes and villains in history were thrown together in these chaotic years. Yet efforts were made to maintain some semblance of peace and order, as chivalry was reborn, the printing press arrived, and the Renaissance began to flourish. Following on from Dan Jones' best selling The Plantagenets, The Hollow Crown is a vivid and engrossing history of these turbulent times. (Goodreads Synopsis)
The Hollow Crown is a marvellous read from start to finish. Dan Jones writes with both authority and style, crafting a tale that, while bursting with detailed research, reads like an exciting action story. In this, he is much like Peter Ackroyd; both can pen captivating tales without loss of academic rigour. The War of the Roses has long fascinated me, but most of my knowledge started with Shakespeare, so I was intrigued to learn some of the deeper causes of the conflict--that it was more than two feuding blood lines. There is never a dull moment in this work, and Jones manages to maintain perfect impartiality throughout, casting no particular figure as either the hero or the villain. This book is a gem and worthy of attention. It should appeal to all history buffs.
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