The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest

By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Jennifer Paxton

Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

These 36 lectures tell the remarkable story of a tumultuous thousand-year period in the history of England. Dominated by war, conquest, and the struggle to balance the stability brought by royal power with the rights of the governed, it was a period that put into place the foundation of much of the world we know today. As you journey through this largely chronological narrative - occasionally interrupted for lecture-long explorations of specific topics - you'll see key themes emerge, including the assimilation of successive waves of invaders, the tense relationship between kings and the nobility, and the constant battles over money and taxation. And because so much of history is driven by specific individuals and not just historical circumstance, each lecture is rich in intimate portraits that reveal those individuals at the key moments of their historical destiny, including Alfred the Great, William the Conqueror, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and John Wycliffe.The result is a lecture series that winds up being not only informative but deeply entertaining, with each lecture drawing you in with its own particular fascinations, including a probing look at the scope of the Black Death, a realistic examination of the legends of both King Arthur and Robin Hood, a riveting description of the Battle of Bosworth Field, and a discussion of the surprisingly nuanced penalties of the early Germanic law codes.

These lectures consistently deliver a fresh level of understanding about medieval England, its rulers and subjects, and their significance for the world we live in today. The chain of theme and event that links our world to theirs will never be clearer, rewarding every moment you spend with this series.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2010 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2010 The Great Courses

I savored this one

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this book. I enjoyed the subject and the narrator's voice, inflection and enthusiasm. I will re-listen to this one because it took me so long to finish it. I enjoyed every minute.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest?

The stories of the Lancastrian and Yorkist dynasties (the war of the roses).

Which character – as performed by Professor Jennifer Paxton – was your favorite?

I enjoyed Professor Paxton's entire narraration.

Any additional comments?

I will keep this book. Thank you for this one.

Thrilling!

Honestly one of the best things I’ve ever listened to. I was totally enthralled, not just by the story, but also by the narrator. Highly recommend

One of my favorite TGC faculty

A wonderful look at medieval England. Professor Paxton is one of the very best presenters.

Excellent survey course

Excellent survey course for the interested.

Fine primer for English literature students as well as historians in training. Delivery drivers will find this interesting. Families on long road trips, RVrs, long haul drivers will find this course fun as there are many chapters broken into short times.

Wonderful

Loved this! Dr Paxton does a fantastic job covering the arc of a 1000 yrs of history. My interest was sparked watching The Last Kingdom and I began to wonder about just were did these Anglo Saxons come from? Just fantastic.

Facts and excitement both

A riveting narrative that takes you through centuries of English history, this series focuses more on dynastic developments and personalities than on themes like society, economy and technology, but knows it's strengths and does what it does very well.

This course got me hooked on The Great Courses

Would you listen to The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest again? Why?

There was such a wealth of information. There were a few points I would have loved more detail on but as a survey class it was perfect.

What did you like best about this story?

She did a great job of painting a mental picture of each time period she covered. There was a nice flow through time.

Broad overview but detail is more entertaining

A relatively dry review of a massive amount of history. Historians have to balance real events and an engaging narrative: this one misses the mark. Lecture is most effective with presenting real world experience of commoners and avoiding innumerable royals with the same name.

Excellent

Any additional comments?

The book was a pleasure to listen. The narrator's tone of voice and intonation was nice to hear without tiring. The history well presented and easy to follow.

Excellent narration and a riveting story

A well presented history. The numerous names and plot twists were made clear. Anchored more obscure history with the better know seamlessly. I always finished a lecture craving the next.