Thomas Becket

by Frank Barlow

Book Overview

On 29 December 1170, Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury was brutally murdered in his cathedral by four knights from the household of his former friend and patron, King Henry II. The horror that the killing inspired and the miraculous cures performed at Thomas's tomb transfigured him into one of the most popular saints in Western Christendom, and Canterbury became one of the greatest pilgrim shrines in the West. Yet these were unexpected results. Thomas's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520071751
• ISBN13: 9780520071759
• Release Date: August 1990
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Biography of an exceptional man

This is a balanced biography of a saint, looking at the records and avoiding the pitfalls of backdating a saint's character. Thomas Becket had a strong personality, rising from merchant's son to Chancellor of England Archbishop of England, and then sainthood. He lived at a time when the upper class was tightening its boundaries, although there were a few others who made this journey, most notably Nicholas Breakspear, Pope Adrian IV. This should not be the first book on medieval England that you read. Try The Civilization of the Middle Ages: A Completely Revised and Expanded Edition of Medieval History as a starter. The author focuses on Thomas, Henry II and their companions, rarely commenting on the overarching social and religious situations. He does discuss the particulars of the political situation. For a biography that discusses the society as a whole try Chaucer: His Life, His Works, His World. I am more of a student of social and cultural history rather than biographies, but this was a very good biography.

Thomas Beckett book by Frank Barlow

A wonderful friend of mine who lives in England requested that I purchase this book and read it. I am going there to visit him and see the culture and beautiful landmarks of history and he felt this book would help me to understand more before I get there. Thank you for your help of providing this book on some of that history.

Strong character study

I'd always enjoyed the movie version of this play, with Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, so I decided to read the play. There are, naturally, some differences in the scripts. And, one can't help hearing Burton's voice when reading Becket's lines. The play is a strong, yet not overly sympathetic, portrayal of Thomas Becket. He's shown with both strengths and weaknesses, although the king is seen more as flawed throughout. If someone had not seen the film version, I'd recommend reading the play before seeing the movie in order to make an independent judgment. But then, do yourself the favor of seeing the film.

A good book for an outstanding character

The author has read all documents, all letters and memoranda, all notes and chronicles from eye-witnesses and other people around Thomas Becket. Maybe even too much or too many. He tries to rebuild a full biography with all personal intentions and meanings from this imbroglio and forest of testimonies. He succeeds quite well, though at times he seems to be overwhelmed with details. Yet he clears up a few facts. Becket was of Norman extract by both his parents and his father was a merchant in London. Jean Anouilh's myth of a Saxon father and a Saracen mother is clearly ousted. The book is also clear about Thomas Becket's life. He sure was the friend of Henry II, in spite or because of a ten years age difference. But this did not mean he took part in Henry's drinking and womanizing. In fact he appears to be a very serious and tedious person who does not really like the pleasures of life, even if, as the Chancellor, he is obliged to have an apparently ritzy life. The point is he was a good Chancellor and had a good influence on Henry, though as the Chancellor, he had no real power, except on church services for the King and the copying service of the crown. He probably taught Henry his job and kept him within some limits. When he was the Chancellor he did all he could to impose and improve the King's power, and limit and contain the Church's. He forced the Church to accept to pay the various taxes the King needed for his wars. But Henry tricked him. Was it with his agreement or against his will? We will never know. Henry appointed him Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the church in England. This enabled Thomas Becket to finally lead the life of austerity and rule-governed behavior he desired. He was able to wear the monastic underwear under his archiepiscopal dress. This will determine in his new life intransigence and exaction for himself and the others, including the king. He became the best defender of the church and refused the king's power in the judicial field that was encroaching on the church's courts of justice. He refused criminal clerks to be tried by lay royal or feudal courts, monks who became such to escape serfdom to be in any way recaptured, and his appointing priests to be in any way questioned by local feudal barons. The book though never enters the question of the contradiction between Saxons and Normans. The author uses the word English and we do not know if he means Saxons or Normans born in England. Barlow thus avoids questioning the main problem of that time: the colonization of England by the Normans and the integration of the Saxons in the new emerging English society. From this moment though Thomas Becket became Henry's archenemy. The king will do all he can to destroy him. Thomas Becket will go in exile and use the French church and the Pope to get a reconciliation, though he must have thought it was a foolish bargain knowing the king the way he did. But he accepted against all odds to go back to Canterbury where he w

All You Ever Need to Know About Thomas Becket

Frank Barlow set out to write the definitive Becket biography. Mission accomplished. Thomas Becket, the 12th century english politican/archbishop/martyr/saint, rose from semi-obscurity to become chancellor of england under Henry II and then became Archbishop of Canterbury. After becoming Archbishop, he promptly got into it with the King (his buddy) over whether religious clerks could be subject to the king's punishment (among other issues), fled to France and spend five years arguing with Henry II over who was right and who was wrong. Upon his long awaited arrival in England to resume his position as Archbishop, he was promptly murdered by some over zealous nights. The rest, as they say, is history. He was soon made a saint because his blood had miraculous healing properties(eww.) Barlow knows his primary and secondary sources. When the sources are unclear, he says so. When the sources are absent, he tells you. It is clear that Barlow is not overburdened with a love of Becket or King Henry. His understanding of 12th century politics and religion (really the two were inseperable) is unimpeachable. In summation, I found this book just as interesting for its portrait of 12th century society (albeit the elite side of society) as for the story of Thomas Becket. I doubt I will ever read another book about Becket after reading this one.