The Eagle and the Hart
The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV
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The Eagle and the Hart
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Narrated by:
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Helen Castor
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By:
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Helen Castor
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
The author of She-Wolves chronicles the lives and reigns of Richard II and Henry IV, two cousins whose rivalry brought their nation to the brink of disintegration - and back again
Richard of Bordeaux and Henry Bolingbroke were first cousins, born just three months apart. Their two lives were from the beginning entwined. When they were still children, Richard was crowned King Richard II with Henry at his side, carrying the sword of state: a ten-year-old lord in the service of his ten-year-old king.
Yet, as the animals on their heraldic badges showed, they grew up to be opposites: Richard was the white hart, a thin-skinned narcissist, and Henry the eagle, a chivalric hero, a leader who inspired loyalty where Richard inspired only fear. Henry had all the qualities Richard lacked, all the qualities a sovereign needed, bar one: birth right. Increasingly threatened by his charismatic cousin, Richard became consumed by the need for total power, in a time of constant conspiracies, rebellions and reprisals. When he banished Henry into exile, the stage was set for a final confrontation, as the hart became the tyrant and the eagle his usurper.
Helen Castor tells this story of one of the strangest and most fateful relationships in English history. It is a story about power, and masculinity in crisis, and a nation brought to the brink of catastrophe and disintegration – and then brought back. At its heart, it is the story of two men whose lives were played out in extraordinary parallel, to devastating effect.
'A dazzling tour de force of epic royal history: a compulsive, unputdownable real-life thriller, a gripping portrait of ruthless power politics, and a study of British tyranny ... written with the delicacy and elegance of one of Britain’s most brilliant historians at the top of her game' Simon Sebag-Montefiore
Phenomenal historian Helen Castor's masterful plume plunges us into the depths of machination and the abyss of tragedy. This is a masterpiece that leaves the reader both satiated and breathless - Olivette Otele, author of African Europeans
If ever a book of history was blessed with contemporary relevance, this one is. The dumbfounding, delusional, narcissistic King Richard; the white-knuckle ride of Henry IV, dogged all the way by notions of illegitimacy. I feel these men could have been ripped from today’s headlines. The book’s great achievement is in the storytelling — the unfolding drama, the secrets of power and ambition so beautifully controlled in the telling. The Eagle and the Hart will be a non-fiction book of the year and will deserve the ovations it is certain to receive. When history is this gripping there’s nothing like it - Andrew O'Hagan
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2024 Helen Castor (P)2024 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about The Eagle and the Hart
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Suziemo
- 15-11-24
utterly stunning
This is a remarkable piece of magic. Men and women long dead are brought back to life by Helen Castor's twin talents, historian and writer. it's as dynamic and propulsive as a novel. Brilliant achievement! Thank you!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Rita
- 23-10-24
Well drawn personalities and a compelling story
One if the best history audiobooks I’ve read this year, and a very good narrator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 15-11-24
Very interesting
Best period of British history; big characters and big themes. You've got Parliament v Monarchy, feudalism vs the first stirrings of popular sovereignty, the Church being challenged by lollardy (which is really a proto reformation), the Celtic fringes of the UK challenging the English, the 100 years war, crusades, chivalry, hypocrisy and nobility.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jeremy Bristow
- 17-11-24
A fascinating time in English History, very well told.
Thank you to Helen Castor for writing this book. The joy of reading comes from her original treatment the intertwining stories of two Kings, Richard 11 and Henry IV. It really gave me new insights into this very significant time in English History that has been so coloured by Shakespeare’s plays. She narrates it very well.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Cheshire Cat
- 14-11-24
A great story, expertly told
Really engaging book, well written, great level of detail without distracting from the story. Highly recommended
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Archie
- 23-10-24
Brilliant history lesson!
Entertaining, absorbing and truly fascinating story, very well written and read by the author. Highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 15-10-24
Excellent - an engaging story very well told
Helen Castor is an excellent story teller making this thorough and scholarly analysis of the two lives into an engaging read. Highly recommended
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- Stanley's Table
- 22-10-24
Brilliant storytelling...
I listened to this over three days, it was that good - the pacing, Ms Castor's narration, the history, all these combined to make a moving and very interesting story. Highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 22-11-24
Compelling book about two lesser known kings
This is a wonderful book about two very different personalities who wore the crown of England. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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- Bonnie
- 10-11-24
Biased, apparently telepathic, brings no new perspective, but is beautiful written
As Richard II and Henry IV are fascinations of mine and Caster is one of my favourite historians, I waited with great anticipation for the release on what I thought would be a new perspective on the rivelling cousins. And I was underwhelmed.
Caster will keep her audience hooked as she tells the reader of the cousin rivalry that brought on nearly 100 years of throne wars and paranoia.
It's a shame that she brings nothing new to Richard II and Henry IV themselves. Yet again, Richard II is portrayed as a bitter, juvenile villain that could have been conjured up by Disney, and Henry is the silver spangle adorned chivalric hero.
Every event is studied, every known step accounted for, but the historical figures are dissolved to no more than stereotypes rather than complicated human beings. No new interpretation of their actions and choices, no new considerations. Strange as Caster appears telepathic ('so-so thought this' - how do you know? Do you mean you just assume?).
I would still recommend this read as the events are exhaustively covered in an intellectually accessable and entertaining form. But for the depths of the men themselves, Id recommend Ian Mortimer's The Fears of Henry IV, Kathryn Warner's Richard II: A True King's Fall, and Nigel Saul.
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