- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
This is a major new biography of England's most irreligious king, famously killed accidentally whilst hunting in the new forest. The future William II was born in the late 1050s the third son of William the Conqueror. The younger William—nicknamed Rufus because of his ruddy cheeks—at first had no great expectations of succeeding to the throne. The situation changed when Robert, the Conqueror's eldest son, repeatedly rebelled against his father, and Richard, the king's second son, was killed in a hunting accident in the New Forest. When the Conqueror was dying in 1087, he designated William as heir to the English throne. Emma Mason's biography tells the story of William Rufus, King of England from 1087-1100, and reveals for the first time the truth behind his death, in the thirteenth year of his troubled reign, settling one of medieval England's most enduring mysteries.
K8_not_kate
Posted May 15, 2010
I feel like I should have liked this book more than I did: Emma Mason's treatment of King William II (aka, William Rufus) was well researched, clearly written, and provided about as much information as I thought I wanted about this king. However, I found myself struggling to finish it. I think part of the reason is due to the fact that, at least in comparison to his father William the Conqueror, his life was far less interesting and his reign much shorter. Additionally, the title of the book implies that Mason would spend lots of time on Rufus' mysterious death while hunting in the New Forest in 1100, but only the last dozen pages or so are devoted to it. I would only recommend this book if you have a special interest in Rufus or want to read biographies on all the Norman kings. If you only have a more general interest in the time period, find a more general book on the Norman monarchs to get a summary of Rufus' reign (suggestion: The Struggle for Mastery: The Penguin History of Britain, 1066-1284, by Carpenter).
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
This is a major new biography of England's most irreligious king, famously killed accidentally whilst hunting in the new forest. The future William II was born in the late 1050s the third son of William the Conqueror. The younger William—nicknamed Rufus because of his ruddy cheeks—at first had no great expectations of succeeding to the throne. The situation changed when Robert, the Conqueror's eldest son, repeatedly rebelled against his father, and Richard, the king's second son, was killed in a hunting accident in the New Forest. When the Conqueror was dying in 1087, he designated William as heir to the English throne. Emma Mason's biography tells the story of William Rufus, King of ...