Janet L. Nelson Book order (chronological)

" King and Emperor takes on the compelling suspense of good detective work as well as good history."— The Wall Street Journal Charles I, often known as Charlemagne, is one of the most extraordinary figures ever to rule an empire. Driven by unremitting physical energy and intellectual curiosity, he was a man of many parts, a warlord and conqueror, a judge who promised "for each their law and justice," a defender of the Latin Church, a man of flesh and blood. In the twelve centuries since his death, warfare, accident, vermin, and the elements have destroyed much of the writing on his rule, but a remarkable amount has survived. Janet Nelson's wonderful new book brings together everything we know about Charles I, sifting through the available evidence, literary and material, to paint a vivid portrait of the man and his motives. Building on Nelson’s own extraordinary knowledge, this biography is a sort of detective story, prying into and interpreting fascinating and often obdurate scraps of evidence, from prayer books to skeletons, gossip to artwork. Charles’s legacy lies in his deeds and their continuing resonance, as he shaped counties, countries, and continents; founded and rebuilt towns and monasteries; and consciously set himself up not just as King of the Franks, but as the head of the renewed Roman Empire. His successors—even to the present day—have struggled to interpret, misinterpret, copy, or subvert his legacy. Janet Nelson gets us as close as we can hope to come to the real figure of Charles the man as he was understood in his own time.

A DAILY TELEGRAPH AND BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019 'A remarkable book: the dramatic story of a truly extraordinary man ... brilliant' Helen Castor, author of She-Wolves This major biography explores the life of one of history's most extraordinary rulers, Charles, king of the Franks, known as 'Charlemagne' in France and 'Karl der Grosse' in Germany. His remarkable strength of character was evident throughout his long reign. Although warfare, accidents, and the passage of time have destroyed much evidence from the twelve centuries since his death, a significant amount remains. Janet L. Nelson's insightful work compiles and examines all known information about Charlemagne, delving into the evidence to better understand his motivations. With her extensive knowledge of historical sources, Nelson crafts a detective story, interpreting intriguing materials—from prayer books to skeletons and artwork. Charlemagne's legacy is profound, as he shaped duchies and counties, rebuilt towns and monasteries, and positioned himself as the new 'Emperor governing the Roman Empire.' His successors have grappled with his legacy, attempting to interpret or subvert it. Nelson brings us closer to understanding the real figure of Charlemagne as he was perceived in his own time.