A life of England’s most famous martyr, rooted in the currents of twelfth-century Europe. This book explores the turbulent life and violent death of Thomas Becket, one of the most controversial figures in the Middle Ages: a London merchant’s son turned royal chancellor, an archbishop of Canterbury turned martyred saint. Michael Staunton looks at Becket’s complex and contested legacy, drawing from the bishop’s writings as well as those of his contemporaries.
Based on extensive research, this account offers a fresh perspective on Thomas Becket’s life and places him within the broader landscape of twelfth-century England and Europe—a time of rapid change and conflict. The book is perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about a pivotal figure in medieval history.
Michael Stauntonis professor of medieval history at University College Dublin. His books include
The Historians of Angevin England.
Introduction
1 Thomas of London
2 Royal Chancellor
3 Conversion and Conflict
4 Trial and Exile
5 Thomas Alone
6 Martyrdom
References
Select Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
“Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, murdered in his cathedral in 1170 after seven years of bitter quarrel with his old friend Henry II, is one of the most well-known and well-documented figure in English history. . . . The story has been told for generations; Michael Staunton does it well here, paying due attention to the hagiographical bias of most of the evidence.”
"Well illustrated and fluently written for a general audience . . . a sound and accessible account of an individual whose motives remain unknowable even as they continue to fascinate."
"In this beautifully fluent new biography, Michael Staunton brings out the challenges and contradictions running tlÓ,
![Thomas Becket and His World [Hardcover]](/itemImage/2/0/6/3/2_7089664.jpg "Thomas Becket and His World [Hardcover]")