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New Medieval Books: The Anarchy: The Darkest Days of Medieval England

The Anarchy: The Darkest Days of Medieval England

By Teresa Cole

Amberley Publishing
ISBN: 978 1 3981 2251 2

When King Henry I died in 1135, his nephew Stephen of Blois seized the English throne, igniting a bitter struggle for power with his cousin Matilda. This book explores the ensuing civil war, known as The Anarchy, a turbulent period that plunged England into chaos and conflict.

Excerpt:

Taking time out for hunting trip late in the autumn of 1135, the king partook of a meal of lampreys, an eel-like fish of which he was very fond, and which almost always disagreed with him. Acute food poisoning was the result. Over the course of a few days the king rapidly weakened and on 1 December 1135 he died. After more than thirty-five years of strong, decisive rule, King Henry was dead. Who could possibly replace him?

Who is this book for?

This book serves as an introduction to one of the most turbulent and violent periods in English history—a bitter civil war that raged from 1135 to 1154. A helpful appendix provides an overview of the primary sources that document this era.

The Author

Teresa Cole has written several history books, mostly focusing on medieval England.

You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.

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