The Troubled Reign of King Stephen: 1135-1154

by John T. Appleby

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566198488
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Barnes & noble Books
• Length: 218 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A somewhat dry, but detailed look at the reign of King Steven

The period of King Stephen's reign is called the Anarchy, and for good reason. As a usurper he had a weak claim on the throne that was contested by the late king's daughter the Empress Matilda. The kingdom of England was wracked by civil war as both sides fought over the crown. This book covers the entire period and it does so in considerable detail without straying far from its principle protagonist. The period is divided up by year allowing a narrative approach to the time, which is helpful when trying to understand the fluctuating actions of the various nobles. The names of the men are very repetitive, making it rather hard to follow who does what. More maps would also help. Although it includes a great deal of detail, it always seems that Stephen is kept at a distance. This may be inevitable when dealing with subjects from this age, but it does seem like more of a look at his personality would hold this book together better. On the whole, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in this time period, provided that they are not looking for an epic medieval romance or something of the like. This is a very scholarly book, and even though it is a readable one it never loses that.