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A Great and Terrible King

Edward I and the Forging of Britain
Jan 09, 2016rpavlacic rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Centuries before Machiavelli, there was Edward I. Using cunning and a zero sum game approach to his rule, he not only consolidated his power, he also managed to conquer Wales, subdue Ireland, expand Gascony in southwestern France, and came within a hair of taking over Scotland - once through an arranged marriage that was not meant to be, and a second time when the country ripped itself apart and Edward misread who was in charge. Perhaps overly detailed, but puts in layperson's terms the story of one of the most complex rulers in history.