The Greatest Knight

The Remarkable Life of William Marshal, the Power Behind Five English Thrones

By: Thomas Asbridge

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

In The Greatest Knight, renowned historian Thomas Asbridge draws upon the thirteenth-century biography and an array of other contemporary evidence to present a compelling account of William Marshal's life and times. Asbridge charts the unparalleled rise to prominence of a man bound to a code of honor yet driven by unquenchable ambition.

Marshal was the true Lancelot of his era - a peerless warrior and paragon of chivalry. As a five-year-old boy, William was sentenced to execution and led to the gallows, yet this landless younger son survived his brush with death and went on to train as a medieval knight. Against all odds Marshal rose through the ranks - serving at the right hand of five English monarchs - to become a celebrated tournament champion, a baron and politician, and, ultimately, regent of the realm.

This knight's tale lays bare the brutish realities of medieval warfare and the machinations of the royal court and draws us into the heart of a formative period of our history. It is the story of one remarkable man, the birth of the knightly class to which he belonged, and the forging of the English nation.

©2014 Thomas Asbridge (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Readers seeking a deeper understanding of early tournaments and the origins of chivalry will be pleased." (Library Journal)

"Derek Perkins skillfully narrates Asbridge's history of the exemplary twelfth-century knight William Marshall.... Perkins's voice has something of the medieval in it, and he easily fills the contours of a narrative that ranges from the manufacture of knight's armor to its bloody use on the field of battle. Here is Arthurian legend at its core - and one of the year's true sleepers." (AudioFile)

The Title Does Not Disappoint!

The title of this book begs the question of what exactly had Sir William Marshall done to become the greatest knight. His greatest quality was his unwavering loyalty as a retainer to both great kings and a tyrant alike and even when doing so went against his advantage, and he was also loyal to his wife to whom he gave 10 children at a time when infant mortality was high and male infidelity was conventional. Richard the Lionhearted granted generous offices/jobs to Marshall and others who had kept themselves faithful unto their king and Richard's enemy/father Henry II until his death. He granted an exception for his brother John the Tyrant, John the Softsword, and John the Cowardly Lion who quite literally "surrounded [his] name with a foul stench" because no other English kings during the last 800 years have adopted or relayed that name, so he was the first and the last John and a political whore. The baronial uprising had initially been a righteous cause that gave rise to the first draft of the Magna Carter, but it soon got out of hand and with help of the Capetian French, so William Marshall at 70 years old lead the outnumbered royalist forces to a great victory at Lincoln in defense of the boy-king Henry III, and then gave magnanimous terms of peace to the rebel barons and decreed that England should return to an updated version of the Magna Carter. This book gives us a detailed look at what happened on the home front in England and France during Richard's captivity and his last remaining years before his death in 1199. The main primary source of the author was an epic poem in Old French (no doubt), discovered in the 1800s, but he failed to back up some of his claims about war crimes that were committed by Marshall and the Lionhearted in the Occitan and Gascony. I do not know if the printed edition of this book cites any primary sources, but I'm willing to bet that at fewest one of Richard's chroniclers would have made a record of his every deed; whereas, most peasants in Medieval Europe were probably illiterate and thus could not leave a record of what Marshall had or had not done.

Great biography of a real knight in armor

This is an incredible story of a true knight in armor. William Marshall a documented knight, went from being the landless hostage of a Lord to serving five English kings before dying in his seventies. The story is based on a pan anglo French “history” commissioned by his eldest son, but corroborated in many instances by other official historical documents. The biography maybe a bit biased but it is nevertheless interesting and the narrator is British and gives a dispassionate reading of even the scary battle moments. I liked his narration. I loved the book. Even the story of how this biography came to light and was translated was interesting. I’ve never rated a book, much less written a review but this book was worth my time.

Fascinating Medieval Character

Working with what information exists today, this books tells a very engaging story of an important English knight from the 12th and 13th centuries. Alive during Henry II, battled with Richard the Lionheart, and championed the cause (unfortunately) of King John's son Henry III. The books stays true to the facts, so you have to read between the lines to appreciate the Court intrigue that had to be understood and negotiated during the reign of King John. I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great medieval story.

very few historical audiobooks are as gripping.

very few historical audiobooks are as gripping as this. Listened to the entire thing in 2 sittings. usually go to sleep listening to similar books but this one kept my attention thru the night. good thing it was a weekend and sleep wasnt a necessity those nights lol. His story is closely linked to Henry II, his son Henry and Richard I. truly an amazing life.

Great book

Honestly it really put me there. Absolutely loved the book and learned a ton about what it took in the Middle Ages to gain power, and the politics of the time

Wiliam Marshall is an AMAZING subject

Sadly, I cannot bear to listen to this narrator talk about him. Sometimes he sounds...overly reverential, I suppose, is the word I want...and sometimes this sounds like sarcasm. And Asbridge is nowhere close to either of those things, about literally the most impressive human being born in England between 1066 and 1776, that I've ever read about.

The mismatch to my ear is just too much.

Spellbinding

Anyone seeking to experience the soul and substance of medieval knighthood, and understand its enduring impact upon the development of western civilization, will be fascinated by Asbridge’s gripping tale of William Marshal’s life and times — so beautifully narrated here by Derek Perkins.

Wonderful!

Interesting and absorbing, definitely not a dull or dry history. Well written and well narrated, this book covers a view of late middle age history I'd never read or heard before after a lifetime of interest in Henry II and Elenor of Aquitane.

awesome history, knighthood

was traveling to London for vacation. wanted to immerse myself. I love learning about knights. checked all blocks plus amazing story

The greatest knight

Great History of a man,a time in our past and an idea we all think we know...