Let's set the stage. The year is 1154, and England is exhausted. A long civil war, known as 'The Anarchy,' has just ended. Into this battered kingdom steps Henry II, the first of the Angevin kings. He's young, brilliant, and inherits a mess. But Henry isn't just King of England; through inheritance and his marriage to the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine, he rules over more of France than the French king does. The first part of Norgate's book shows Henry as a whirlwind of reform, restoring order and creating a new system of royal justice that would shape England for centuries.

The Story

This isn't just a political history, though. The real engine of the story is Henry's family. Norgate guides us through how Henry's grand plan—to divide his vast lands among his sons—completely backfired. His wife and his sons, including the future Richard the Lionheart and the treacherous John, turned against him. The book builds toward a heartbreaking conclusion: a king at the height of his power, betrayed by his own children, dying a broken man while his empire fractures. It's a classic tragedy, played out on a royal scale.

Why You Should Read It

Norgate writes with a clarity that cuts through the complexity. She makes you feel the weight of Henry's decisions and the sting of his personal losses. You get a real sense of these people as characters: Henry with his terrifying temper and administrative genius, Eleanor's shrewd political mind, and the restless ambition of the 'Devil's Brood,' as Henry's sons were called. She connects their family squabbles directly to the fate of nations, showing how personal jealousy could spark rebellions that shook half of Europe.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves a great historical narrative with unforgettable characters. If you enjoyed Sharon Kay Penman's novels about this period, this is the serious, deeply researched history that inspired them. It's for the reader who wants to understand the human drama behind the big events. While it's a scholarly work, Norgate's passion for the subject makes it accessible. You'll come away not just knowing about Henry II, but feeling like you've witnessed the spectacular rise and painful fall of a man who tried to build a dynasty, only to see it consumed from within.