The Black Prince

England's Greatest Medieval Warrior

By: Michael Jones

Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart

The remarkable and inspiring story of one of the greatest warrior-princes of the Middle Ages - and an unforgettably vivid portrait of warfare and chivalry in the 14th century.

As a child, he was given his own suit of armor; at the age of 16, he helped defeat the French at Crecy. At Poitiers, in 1356, his victory over King John II of France forced the French into a humiliating surrender that marked the zenith of England's dominance in the Hundred Years War. As lord of Aquitaine, he ruled a vast swathe of territory across the west and southwest of France, holding a magnificent court at Bordeaux that mesmerized the brave but unruly Gascon nobility and drew them like moths to the flame of his cause.

He was Edward of Woodstock, eldest son of Edward III, and better known to posterity as "the Black Prince". His military achievements captured the imagination of Europe: Heralds and chroniclers called him "the flower of all chivalry" and "the embodiment of all valor". But what was the true nature of the man behind the chivalric myth, and of the violent but pious world in which he lived?

This exemplary new history uses contemporary chronicles plus a wide range of documentary material - including the Prince's own letters and those of his closest followers - to tell the tale of an authentic English hero and to paint a memorable portrait of society in the tumultuous 14th century.

©2018 Michael Jones (P)2018 Tantor

Critic reviews

"In his fine biography, Michael Jones resurrects the recumbent warrior, giving a vivid but scholarly portrait.... Informed and insightful." (The Wall Street Journal)

Great pick!

A wonderful read with a thorough story alongside well done research and commentary. Really enjoyed this one!

Well read though drifts

The is compelling though middling in parts when it becomes to academic. But the book is intended to be thorough so it is well worth reading.

Great at parsing out rumors vs likely reality

This book does a great job outlining the Prince's life and achievements, and also and also occasional failures and those poor decisions of Edward III. An excellent primer for the study of king Richard and take over by Henry Bollingbrook thereafter.

Great History

Enjoyed this book… I’m a fan of historical books, if you are, then this book is for you.

A concise yet detailed history of the Black Prince

This book provides a concise yet detailed history of the Black Prince. The narrator does a very good job of bringing the book to life. A must have for fans of medieval history.