1215: The Year of Magna Carta

Already a bestseller in Britain, 1215 sweeps readers back eight centuries in an absorbing portrait of life at a time that saw the Crusades, Richard the Lionheart, and the legendary Robin Hood--as well as King John--all make their marks on history. At the center of this fascinating period is the document that has become the capstone of modern freedom: The Magna Carta. The events leading up to the famous signing of the document at Runnymede in June 1215 lay the foundation for this work that vividly describes everyday life from castle to countryside, from school to church, from hunting in the forest to trial by ordeal. Broad in scope and rich in detail, 1215 ingeniously illuminates what may have been the most important year in our lives.