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

Table of contents

1-From Britannia to Britain
2-Roman Britain and the Origins of King Arthur
3-The Early Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
4-The Conversion of the Anglo-Saxons
5-Work and Faith in Anglo-Saxon England
6-The Viking Invasions
7-Alfred the Great
8-The Government of Anglo-Saxon England
9-The Golden Age of the Anglo-Saxons
10-The Second Viking Conquest
11-The Norman Conquest
12-The Reign of William the Conqueror
13-Conflict and Assimilation
14-Henry I—The Lion of Justice
15-The Anarchy of Stephen’s Reign
16-Henry II—Law and Order
17-Henry II—The Expansion of Empire
18-Courtly Love
19-Richard the Lionheart and the Third Crusade
20-King John and the Magna Carta
21-Daily Life in the 13th Century
22-The Disastrous Reign of Henry III
23-The Conquests of Edward I
24-Edward II—Defeat and Deposition
25-Edward III and the Hundred Years’ War
26-The Flowering of Chivalry
27-The Black Death
28-The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381
29-Chaucer and the Rise of English
30-The Deposition of Richard II
31-Daily Life in the 15th Century
32-Henry V and the Victory at Agincourt
33-Henry VI—Defeat and Division
34-The Wars of the Roses
35-Richard III—Betrayal and Defeat
36-England in 1485

I'm sad it's over!

Where does The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I can't answer this question because it's just . . . different. I'm a literary fiction person, and I've tried to get into historical texts before with little success (I know it's sacrilege, but I stopped part way through 1776). I've had some success with biographies.

This was my first attempt at a Great Courses program, and I picked it up because I had just read Pillars of the Earth (and, side note, READ THAT), and I couldn't get enough of Medieval England. The complexities really drew me in. So I somewhat reluctantly downloaded this program and had one of those glorious experiences where I couldn't unplug. I've reorganized my entire home and office to have some excuse to keep listening.

History has always been tough for me because I'm not a great linear thinker, but Paxton really helped with her guideposts at the beginning and end of each lecture, as well as at the beginning and end of the series. I can't say enough good things about this lecture. I keep bringing it up in my real life.

I didn't think I'd have a good experience with lecture series (though lectures have always been my favorite part of school--related to the fascination with audiobooks), but I am so enamored with this one that I'm moving on to the Ancient Egypt lecture. If you're hesitating, don't. Paxton is a great storyteller and keeps you engaged throughout.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love how much Paxton loved the wife of Bath. She is audibly exited to talk about her, an as an amateur Chaucer scholar (read: I took a course once), I got a kick out of her discussion.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely.

I was happily surprised!

Where does The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This lecture series is hard to compare to other audiobooks, but I've greatly enjoyed listening to it. The story is fascinating, and Professor Paxton delivers a very intelligently crafted story that ties in all the major historical events in England. It provides a real sense of depth while still being quickly paced and simply stated.

What did you like best about this story?

I really enjoyed how this story lays out the events and people so it is easy to follow as you move from beginning to end. Sometimes it felt like there was a lot of trivial information, but it usually came back around to play a larger role. Because of how the story was organized it never got boring or too dry.

What does Professor Jennifer Paxton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Reading something like this can sometimes seem like something that should be reserved for academics, but having Professor Paxton narrate the story brought energy to an otherwise dry tale. There is very little indication that she's actually reading anything at all, so the overall sense is like you're just being told a story by someone who knows A LOT about this stuff. I would have never been able (or even wanted) to get through all of this information without an energetic voice to guide me through it.

Any additional comments?

I was initially concerned when I downloaded the audiobook that I wouldn't be able to sit and listen to someone drone on and on about ancient history. I didn't want to be buried in all the names of lords and kings and various locations of interest. I was pleasantly surprised that the delivery of the information was so lively compared to what I was expecting.

There are obviously going to be a lot of names and places in a story like this, but they are only mentioned as far as their relevance will allow. Trying to fit the whole history of Medieval England into one volume is a daunting task, and this book does a great job of trimming the fat.

Absolutely OUTSTANDING!!!

I've purchased several of these Great Courses Lectures. I've been pleased with nearly all of them. However, this is one that goes above and beyond my expectations. I am just thrilled with this particular book/course.

I'm definitely an anglophile. I have read/listened to many, many books of English history. Especially concentrating on medieval English history. I wasn't planning to get this course, as I thought I had exhausted the subject. But I had an extra credit...
What a treat I had coming!!!

This professor presents the material in new ways, adding a depth and breadth of information and analysis that is truly edifying and fascinating! I could not stop listening!! The material is presented in a way fosters a more complete and well-rounded comprehension. It's exceptional.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this to anyone interested in English history. Outstanding Professor!! I'm incredibly pleased with this lecture series!!

The Real Game of Thrones

I never had an interest in the history of England until, per my headline, I was introduced to Game of Thrones, Pillars of the Earth and other medieval books. The (his)story in itself is fascinating and Dr. Paxton filters a 1000 years of history in a very informative and succinct way. Given that she is delivering a lecture series, I guess this what she is trained to do. Regardless, as a non-fiction work, it is highly entertaining and it moves very well. My only caution is to be ready for endless royal family tree connections that become confusing, but that is the essence of the subject and it is necessary. Also, Dr. Paxton does not make any pretensions about being a great narrator but her enthusiasm for the subject make up for the delivery.

LEAVING MY WIFE

Midway through this series of lectures by Jennifer Paxton, I decided that even though my wife and I have been married for fifty-one years, it was time to go somewhere new. Professor Paxton has a wonderful speaking voice, an incredible command of her subject, and an awareness of her audience that few lecturers have. I have been an English history buff for sixty years, but the extent of her knowledge and her way of connecting important facts made listening to two or three lectures in a row compulsory, something not so good because I listen while I hike while listening. One lecture is about four miles. Three lectures nearly killed me.

Outstanding

This is one of the best Great Courses history courses that I have taken so far. The professor is enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The difference between a good history professor and a great history professor is the ability to turn the history into a story. This professor is excellent at turning history into a story. I learned a great deal about both the history and politics of the era and feel much more educated about the early history of England.

Excellent book and value for your money

I have read and listened to many books and podcasts on medieval England. This was my area in college and I felt I knew it fairly well. This program gave me more information about the people and the eras, but more than that, it made the people seem more real than most books I have read. The professor made the times, people, and places feel interacted. I understood the relationships between events and people better after listening to this lecture series. I also felt the professor was more than reading notes, she was telling a story, and telling it well. I recommend this program to anyone who wants a stroll down the lanes of the medieval English past. She left much out, there is little detail, but the events are there, the people are there, the motives and opportunities are there, and the listener is transported to the time and place.

Very Enjoyable

A great overview of the periods covered. It is just an overview of a large period of time so a lot is left out. But it doesn't feel that way when you listen. The Professor has a nice conversational style but is clearly very knowledgeable. I appreciate the occasional pauses to discuss culture or living conditions of the country. But the real story is the kings and sometimes their queens. I would say the lectures get stronger about the time of the Norman Conquest (which is pretty early in). More interesting but also the Professor seems on slightly more solid ground.

I really recommend it.

Fascinating content, engaging instructor

Fascinating content from an engaging instructor. This course runs like a novel with chapters rather than a series of half hour lectures. Hats off to Jennifer Paxton for organizing and conveying the material in such an entertaining format!

Far better histories of the British out there

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

She is possibly the most annoying person to listen to. Her constant mispronunciation (berg for borough got particularly annoying at one point) and her penchant for talking to you like you were 14 years old with learning problems definitely starts to grate after a while. I don't know whether she was asked to do this for an American audience, but she also loves going off on one in relation to what is best described as legends. King Arthur is not a historical figure, at best there is evidence of warlords in a period when there were probably a lot of warlords (what else was there to do in post roman times), yet he apparently warrants a lecture. She also gives a string of anecdotes, normally along the lines of 'so and so was said to have killed a dragon and then saw the virgin Mary', to which she will confidently proclaim that while that probably didn't happen (its important to say this) it tells us a lot about the personality of the person in question. Her treating of UK history is also fairly superficial nothing you wont have herd in the past if you have any interest in this area. Please don't waste your time with this, while Sharma may be a little bit up himself, his history of the same period was significantly better in a 'popular history' type format, same goes for Starkey. I would seriously avoid this rambling rubbish. To summarise I don't think this was for me.

Would you be willing to try another book from The Great Courses? Why or why not?

This is the third of these courses I have listened to in a row, and I have loved the other two (one on language by and one on ancient civilisations). I guess they cant all be great.

Would you be willing to try another one of Professor Jennifer Paxton’s performances?

Only under pain of death

If this book were a film would you go see it?

not really relevant, but if it had Samuel Jackson playing Alfred the Great I would consider it

A whistle stop tour through the annals of history

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

Oh this has been most illuminating. History post Roman withdrawal and Pre-Saxon conquest is always left a little murky and this has been explained so wonderfully here. Also highlighted is the Disunited Kingdoms of England

What did you like best about this story?

The separate kingdoms of England uniting to defeat the Danes, then the journey from The succession from House of Wessex> Norman Dynasty> Angevins> Plantagenets

Have you listened to any of Professor Jennifer Paxton’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to this speaker before

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It wasn't emotional at all but that's probably for the best.

Absorbing and entertaining

What did you like best about this story?

It was compelling listening, not a wasted word in all the lectures. Unbelievable value.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The black death is presented in all its horror. For most of this series the lecturer does not dwell on the human cost of battles, but here the awfulness breaks through. I realise how massively lucky I am to live in the 21st century in England.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Mayhem, murder and monarchs.

Great Insight from a Great Teacher

Professor Paxton leads us through Medaieval England showing both the major political events and insights into daily life for the various strands of British life and culture.
This means that we not only hear the entertaining events of royal life, but also the way in which this land of opportunity, which has always welcomed the 'huddled masses' from more oppressive nations, allowed people to rise through the ranks and take their place in shaping our society.
We see how Britain was formed and the way in which events from this period influenced the whole world in the years to come.
An excellent investment of time and for a monthly subscription of £7.99 terrific value for money.

Mainline Events

If you could sum up The Story of Medieval England: From King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest in three words, what would they be?

Good if you don't already know much of the main events in the timeline for this period. Otherwise no details really that added to the main events. Still worth a listen and the Professor is good at delivery and clear with events.

Not as good as I thought it would be....

Things I disliked were the fact that it tried to pass itself off as a lecturer giving a talk to a group of people,complete with clapping at the end of each " lecture"..however these claps were all identical so betrayed the fact it was just a woman recording into a microphone on her own,which kind of spoilt the ambience.Also the fact that the clapping used was identical for each chapter really did become annoying as once noticed it was impossible to to not notice.
I would also say that the speaker had somewhat of a whiney American accent ,not to say that in short doses it would have not been a problem but when sometimes listening for 2 hours it became a chore.

I love this professor. Amazing. compulsive

Loved it. Couldn't stop listening. Brilliant lecturer. A great listen highly recommended. More of her please.

Good introductory course, needs updating

A good introduction to medieval English history. Some slight inaccuracies due to the material not making use of the most up to date research. Still a solid beginners course.

Great listen

I thoroughly enjoyed this, I only wish there was more on the interactions between England and Scotland.

Best one yet

I've notched up a load of these lectures and this is the best one so far, beautifully told, relatable and clear to understand. The time flew by.