Bask - Shop now
$9.99 with 44 percent savings
Digital List Price: $17.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Audiobook Price: $18.05

Save: $10.56 (59%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Ian Mortimer
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Henry IV: The Righteous King Kindle Edition

by Ian Mortimer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 167 ratings
The real life story of the Plantagenet ruler, by “the most remarkable medieval historian of our time” (The Times, London).
 
The talented, confident, and intelligent son of John of Gaunt, Henry IV started his reign as a popular and charismatic king after he dethroned the tyrannical and wildly unpopular Richard II. But six years into his reign, Henry had survived eight assassination and overthrow attempts.
 
Having broken God’s law of primogeniture by overthrowing the man many people saw as the chosen king, Henry IV left himself vulnerable to challenges from powerful enemies about the validity of his reign. Even so, Henry managed to establish the new Lancastrian dynasty and a new rule of law—in highly turbulent times.
 
In this book, noted historian Ian Mortimer, bestselling author of The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England and The Time Traveler’s Guide to Elizabethan England, goes beyond the legend portrayed in Shakespeare’s history play, and explores the political and social forces that transformed Henry IV from his nation’s savior to its scourge.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    639 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    RosettaBooks
  4. Publication date
    February 22, 2014
  5. File size
    7.3 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

Review

[Mortimer] has an instinctive sympathy for the men about whom he writes, a real understanding of the mentalities of late medieval England, and a vivid historical imagination which lends colour and excitement to his pages-- "Literary Review"

About the Author

Ian Mortimer, PhD, is the author of The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 1998 and was awarded the Alexander Prize (2004) by the Royal Historical Society. He lives with his wife and three children on the edge of Dartmoor, in the southwest of England.



James Cameron Stewart is a veteran actor whose performances include roles in theater, film, and television. He was trained at Hull University and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His credits include Outlander, Jericho, Flying Blind, Golden Years, Emmerdale, London's Burning, Eastenders, Coronation Street, and Holby City.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07H14G27C
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ RosettaBooks (February 22, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 22, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 7.3 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 639 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 167 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Ian Mortimer

Ian Mortimer

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Dr Ian Mortimer has been described by The Times newspaper as 'the most remarkable medieval historian of our time'. He is best known as the author of The Time Traveller's Guides: to Medieval England (2008); to Elizabethan England (2012); to Restoration Britain (2017); and to Regency Britain (2020). He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and has published research in academic journals touching on every century from the twelfth to the twentieth.

He also writes in other genres. His latest novel, 'The Outcasts of Time', which takes place across the years 1348-1942, won the 2019 Winston Graham Prize for historical fiction. His first three novels, the Clarenceux Trilogy, set in the 1560s, appeared under his middle names, 'James Forrester'. In the year he turned fifty he wrote a memoir about the meaning of running, Why Running Matters (published in 2019).

He lives on the northeast of Dartmoor, in the southwest of England. For more information, see www.ianmortimer.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
167 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find this historical book thoroughly researched, with one review highlighting its detailed narrative of the era. The writing receives positive feedback for its thoughtful approach, and customers describe it as an enjoyable read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

9 customers mention "Depth of history"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of history in the book, noting it is thoroughly researched and well-written, with one customer describing it as an eminently readable history.

"...You will learn a ton about Henry 4th this was a highly detailed book and for medieval history lovers, I'd say highly recommend!!!!..." Read more

"A well researched and presented biography of an oft neglected King. Detailed and informative...." Read more

"...Gives great insight to the founder of the House of Lancaster." Read more

"...and uses his own unique style of historical investigation to show us a new side of the man who, through tenacity,..." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, describing it as thoughtful and well-crafted, with one customer noting the excellent narration.

"...The author included his sources, as well. Great job, very well written." Read more

"...Well written, as always with Ian Mortimer. I highly recommend it!" Read more

"Well written and well sourced, this is a thorough narrative of the era. It was an enjoyable read." Read more

"...His writing is thoughtful and he clearly considers events from multiple sources." Read more

5 customers mention "Enjoyment"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read.

"...Nevertheless thoroughly enjoyable. Why oh why don't they produce more of these biographies?..." Read more

"...It was an enjoyable read." Read more

"Well researched and remarkably thoughtful. Carefully written and a pleasure to read (Audible narration is also excellent)...." Read more

"Enjoyable..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Mark
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super thoroughly researched book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Major thumbs up. You will learn a ton about Henry 4th this was a highly detailed book and for medieval history lovers, I'd say highly recommend!!!! I learned much more than I thought possible. The author included his sources, as well. Great job, very well written.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Miss K.
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great biography
    Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A well researched and presented biography of an oft neglected King. Detailed and informative. The acid test is that it made me want to read more about the various people involved (eg Richard ll, John of Gaunt, the future Henry V etc). Overall well worth the money. My only quibble concerned the narrator who occasionally sounded flat and monotone. Goodness knows the subject matter is colourful enough, and the voice should reflect it. Nevertheless thoroughly enjoyable. Why oh why don't they produce more of these biographies? The material is out there - many excellent biographies of European monarchs and influential people in book form but not in cd form. What a shame!
    6 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • aaron
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent biography for Henry The fourth
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent biography of an often overlooked and slandered English king. Gives great insight to the founder of the House of Lancaster.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • No Witty Name
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Righteous King
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This covers a lot of ground in the life of a generally overlooked king. Looked upon by history as a usurper and little more, Mortimer brings his sharp eye to the background of a man, perhaps the exactly right man, thrust into the moment. Mortimer proves more considerate of Henry IV (even though helped push Mortimer's relatives out of the line of royal inheritance), and uses his own unique style of historical investigation to show us a new side of the man who, through tenacity, loyalty, and pragmatism, would win the throne and steer a perilous course between civil war, invasion, and assassination. Well written, as always with Ian Mortimer. I highly recommend it!
    7 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • asak
    4.0 out of 5 stars Glad I read this book.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Well written and well sourced, this is a thorough narrative of the era. It was an enjoyable read.
    Helpful
     Report
  • megan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent royal biography
    Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Ian Mortimer knocks another out of the park with his biography of Henry IV. His writing is thoughtful and he clearly considers events from multiple sources.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Eric
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Thoughtful and well researched.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Well researched and remarkably thoughtful. Carefully written and a pleasure to read (Audible narration is also excellent). It may be unfair to say that I felt that some interesting points were passed over, on which would have liked to have had the benefit of the author's research and views.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Diane W
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Great for anyone interested in English history, as I am.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Jeldmer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great way to learn history.
    Reviewed in Australia on November 23, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Great look at the history of this king and the things that were happening during his life.
    Report
  • BillBC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply researched and beautifully written
    Reviewed in Canada on February 1, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is a period of history I knew little about, but the author brings it to life vividly. One of the best history books I've read in quite a while. Highly recommended.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report