House of Lilies: The Dynasty That Made Medieval France

Four stars for the following reasons:

* easy to read
* informative though not dull or dry
* covers the Capetian Dynasty well, including the women
* well researched
* additional notes, maps, family trees

Covering nearly over three centuries of French history and international politicking, Firnhaber-Baker does a remarkable job at presenting one of the pivotal dynasties in French history - the Capetians. This work has all the elements: religious fervor and upheaval, crusades,scandal, warfare, adultery, ambition, family drama, politicking - and on a magnificent grandiose scale.

Each monarch has their own dedicated chapter which covers off the pivotal moments of their reign, including each monarch's relationships with France's closest neighbours - show more England, Normandy, Flanders, Blois, Anjou, Valois - as France as we know it today, was still very much in its infancy and only really beginning to coalesce.

Recommended reading for those with an interest in French history and royal dynasties. show less

A history of the Capetians from Hugh through to Charles IV (before it passed to the Valois) focussing on each of the kings. I was familiar with some of them before (like Philip Augustus and Philip IV (the fair) but this helped to put them in sequence in a very readable way.