IST 605: The Ruling Class of Britain

Warrior, law-giver, and scholar, Alfred the Great was an extraordinarily gifted and highly successful king, pushing back the Vikings to preserve what is now thought of as the heart of England. In this, the first major study of King Alfred since Plummer's biography of 1902, the career of King Alfred is followed chronologically and examined in depth. Professor Smyth shows the Chronicle to have been much more closely connected with the court of King Alfred than has hitherto been allowed, and suggests a new date for the completion of the earliest Alfredian section of the Chronicle. The book promotes the idea that the first king of England was a steadfast and stalwart king, who led his people to victory, though lacks explanation on some political activities of the king such as taxation and court organization.

Edward III (1312-1377) was the most successful European ruler of his age. Reigning for over fifty years, he achieved spectacular military triumphs and overcame grave threats to his authority, from parliamentary revolt to the Black Death. Revered by his subjects as a chivalric dynamo, he initiated the Hundred Years' War and gloriously led his men into battle against the Scots and the French. In this illuminating biography, W. Mark Ormrod takes a deeper look at Edward to reveal the man beneath the military muscle. It’s strength is that it goes over things aside from military accomplishments, but it fails to organize itself in a linear timeline, so it can be a bit confusing to look through.

With masterful detail and rich characterization, Bulwer-Lytton weaves a narrative of ambition, loyalty, betrayal, and destiny against the backdrop of one of history’s most pivotal moments—the Battle of Hastings. Through political intrigue, stirring romance, and the relentless march of fate, Harold emerges not merely as a historical figure, but as a man caught between personal honor and the inexorable tide of history. This book’s strength is it’s adherence to facts while working in prose to keep one’s attention. However, it’s big weakness is adding in excessive information that can be superfluous to the book.