Synopses & Reviews
The first major biography of Edward the Confessor for almost 40 years, written by a critically acclaimed historian, presents a very different interpretation of Edward's personalitynot the holy simpleton, rather a wily and devious king of England. Born when England was besieged by blood thirsty Vikings, the future King of England was forced into exile in Normandy to escape the Danish invasion. Often portrayed as holy simpleton, Edward was in fact a wily and devious King. To most Kings a childless marriage would have been an Achilles heel to their reign, but Edward turned this to his advantage. He cunningly played off his potential rivals and successors to his advantage using the prize of the throne as leverage. Edward's posthumous reputation grew as stories were spread by the monks of his magnificent foundation, Westminster Abbey. The childless King was transformed through the monks' vision into a chaste, pious, and holy man. Miracles were attributed to him and he was credited with the King's Touchthe ability to cure illnesses by touch alone. In 1161 he was canonized as Saint Edward the Confessor and is the patron saint of the Royal Family.
Synopsis
So long overshadowed by the historic events that followed his death, this is the story of England's penultimate Anglo-Saxon king; his warlike youth, his unlikely succession and his struggle to curb the ambitions of the power-hungry earls of Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria. Edward the Confessor, his family and the rich personalities of their reign are brought vividly to life by critically acclaimed historian Peter Rex.Often depicted by posthumous accounts as a virginal, pious simpleton, Edward was in fact a devious, wily king who struggled to control his violent temper. As a young man in 1016 he fought against the Danish king Canute's invasion of England; as an ageing, childless monarch he cunningly played off his potential rivals and successors to his advantage using the prize of his throne as leverage.Despite his reign of peace and prosperity and the transfer of power to the eminently capable Harold, the death of Edward in January 1066 preceded by mere months the end of the Anglo-Saxon Era. Often blamed for the crisis that prompted the invasions of 1066, Edward's alleged nomination of William 'the Conqueror' can finally be exposed as Norman propaganda, and the patron saint from the English Royal Family's reputation as a warrior, statesman and diplomat adequately restored.
About the Author
Peter Rex is the author of Edgar: King of the English 959-75, The English Resistance: The Underground War Against the Normans, Hereward: The Last Englishman, and The Last King of England: The Life of Harold II.