The second volume in the definitive history of Henry III's rule, covering the revolutionary events between 1258 and the king's death in 1272
David Carpenter Books
David Carpenter is a leading British historian specializing in 13th-century England. His extensive work delves into the politics and society during the reigns of King John and Henry III, as well as the context, issuance, and reception of Magna Carta. Carpenter's scholarship, which involves tracing versions of Magna Carta and preparing a new book on the charter, offers profound insights into a pivotal era of medieval British history.
The Penguin History of Britain: The Struggle for Mastery
- 640 pages
- 23 hours of reading
The two-and-a-half centuries after 1066 were momentous ones in the history of Britain. In 1066, England was conquered. The Anglo-Saxon ruling class was destroyed and the English became a subject race, dominated by a Norman-French dynasty and aristocracy. This book shows how the English domination was by no means a foregone conclusion.
At 80, David Carpenter reflects on his lifelong fascination with wildlife in a collection of essays that intertwine personal anecdotes with philosophical musings. His experiences with various predators, from grizzlies to rattlesnakes, reveal a complex relationship filled with both fear and wonder. Through engaging stories, including a close encounter with grizzlies and a tug-of-war with a hidden creature while fishing, Carpenter explores the significance of nature in our lives and the importance of preserving wilderness. This memoir is a thoughtful examination of humanity's connection to the wild.
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
- 328 pages
- 12 hours of reading
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is the novel that established Mordecai Richler as one of the world’s best comic writers. Growing up in the heart of Montreal’s Jewish ghetto, Duddy Kravitz is obsessed with his grandfather’s saying, “A man without land is nothing.” In his relentless pursuit of property and his drive to become a somebody, he will wheel and deal, he will swindle and forge, he will even try making movies. And in spite of the setbacks he suffers, the sacrifices he must make along the way, Duddy never loses faith that his dream is worth the price he must pay. This blistering satire traces the eventful coming-of-age of a cynical dreamer. Amoral, inventive, ruthless, and scheming, Duddy Kravitz is one of the most magnetic anti-heroes in literature, a man who learns the hard way that dreams are never exactly what they seem, even when they do come true. From the Trade Paperback edition.
