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Matilda

Empress, Queen, Warrior

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Matilda

By: Catherine Hanley
Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon
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About this listen

A life of Matilda - empress, skilled military leader, and one of the greatest figures of the English Middle Ages.

Matilda was a daughter, wife, and mother. But she was also empress, heir to the English crown - the first woman ever to hold the position - and an able military general.

This new biography explores Matilda's achievements as military and political leader and sets her life and career in full context. Catherine Hanley provides fresh insight into Matilda's campaign to claim the title of queen, her approach to allied kingdoms and rival rulers, and her role in the succession crisis. Hanley highlights how Matilda fought for the throne and argues that although she never sat on it herself, her reward was to see her son become king. Extraordinarily, her line has continued through every single monarch of England or Britain from that time to the present day.

©2019 Catherine Hanley (P)2019 Tantor
Great Britain Medieval Politicians Royalty Women England King Tudor British Memoirs
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What listeners say about Matilda

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Great historical biography

Great historical biography, references sources regularly and refers to reliability of these. Clearly thoroughly researched and complied.

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2 people found this helpful

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Excellent story but had to speed narrator

Gives you an insight look at 12th century. the book did keep going forwards and backwards which took some paying attention to

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Interesting

2024 52 Book Challenge - 39) Non Fiction Recommended By A Friend

I really enjoyed this book. I've read a few books about Matilda now, and I find her such an interesting person in history. This book was one of the better ones at keeping the information both informative and engaging, and it was a pretty decent read.

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Fascinating but flawed

One of British history's lesser known, but vitally important figures, Empress Mathilda is often consigned to a secondary character in the Kinds and Queens of England. This book goes a long way to redressing that and puts her front and centre of England's history as the daughter of Henry 1st and mother of Henry 2nd. This book places Steven in context: King of England by chance, but with no lasting legacy, yet Mathilda was never Queen of England, her legacy comes down to us today. The narration is imperfect, the narrators voice is harsh and not pleasant which does detract a little from the overall book, but the story itself is compelling enough to get over that. This book is unashamedly a history of a woman, by a woman, putting her in the context of her time, a Queen in all but name in a totally patriarchal society. If you are a student of early medieval English history this is a book for you.

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Not to be side-lined as a woman

well researched, very interesting , reads a bit like a thriller. loved it. worth reading.

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informative

Detailed book about one of the pivotal figures of the Plantagenet dynasty of England. Narrator took some getting used to.

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Excellent Academic Quality Research

This is a very detailed and academic level of historical biography.

Very thorough and well presented analysis.

In an era dominated by patriarchy, male privilege and power it is remarkable just how strong and courageous these medieval Royal women were.

Although Queen Regnants were prevalent in the old Anglo Saxon Kingdoms, England had not had a Queen Regnant since its formation as one nation and despite Matilda's efforts, it wouldn't see one until Mary I, some 400 years later than the Anarchy.

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Thorough Biography Of Matilda

I was most interested in getting to learn about Matilda after reading a brief account about her in Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens book by David Mitchell.

She sounded so interesting. This book is a very detailed biography with as much information that can be possibly known about Matilda and her life.

It's quite a long book with many boring passages about the wars involving other characters which takes the reader away from Matilda quite a lot.

The book is written as a dramatic reconstruction which works brilliantly.

Highly recommended for those wanting to know as much about Matilda as you possibly can.

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Brilliant story.

Loved the story. Good level of detail. Such an inspirational woman. Sped up narration to 1.2 as a little slow.

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amazing story well told

really interesting story and a complex and interesting woman living through extremely challenging times. bring to life both the complexities of the story but also the issues and barriers and expectations relating to women in the 12th century. given the common view of the time was the only place a woman could rule was on the behalf of men applies to her and to some her antagonists and brings you light all the superb women who have been overlooked by history.

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5 people found this helpful