Devil's Crown: A History of Henry II and His Sons

One of my favorite novels as a young boy was about Richard the Lionhearted and the Third Crusade. I've never lost my interest for this period of English history. Over the years my interest has expanded, though, into readings on King John, Robin Hood and Magna Carta as well as the parents of the brood--Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. There are many good books on these characters, both fact and fiction, and this book by Richard Barber is an excellent example of the former.What Barber has done is create a brief overview of the lives of Henry II and his many sons. With the main body of the text coming in at around 160 pages interspersed with pictures and maps, this book only hits the highlights but it is easy and enjoyable to read. Barber is also able to maintain a balanced approach even when discussing some of the more volatile events such as the murder of Becket and the creation of Magna Carta.Despite its brevity, Barber is able to create a very whole picture of these years of Angevin rule. Anyone looking for a good introduction to a fascinating period of history would be hard pressed to find a better book.

This is a great book of Henry and the relationship and political intrigue he had with his sons. Not only does this describe the conflicts he had with his sons Richard and John but also of Eleanor of Aquantaine and Thomas Becket. Henry was a King to be admired for his smart political skill but also to be pitied for his mistrust of his family. The interesting thing about his mistrust of his family as the book points out, it saved his life and thus made Henry II one of the greatest English Kings.