PENGUIN Magna Carta

For a document of such importance, one remarkable fact about Magna Carta is how short it is. In this volume the Charter of 1215 occupies just 30 pages, half of which contain the clauses in Latin with the modern English translation on the facing pages.Professor Carpenter's exploration of the Charter uses it as the framework for a fascinating 400 page investigation of the English realm under King John, as revealed by the grievances addressed in Magna Carta and the individuals and groups who are named within its clauses, and also those who are barely mentioned in the Charter at all, such as women, or who the Charter ignored altogether, such as the unfree.As a non-specialist reader, I found this a very clear and easily followed study of thirteenth century society and politics, the Angevin kings, the document itself and its interpretation and later influence. The included glossary is very useful but unfamiliar concepts and words are made easily understood by the text and it will not be long before the reader will feel at home with amercements, frankpledge, wainage and the rest, and their vital importance to the people of England. Following the main text and glossary are extensive lists of sources, notes for each chapter and the index.Magna Carta is shown here as one attempt among many, before and after 1215, to extract meaningful and binding concessions from whoever was the current king and to reinforce concessions that had previously been granted, before being retracted or ignored. It becomes very obvious from this account how extremely mistrusted John was; clause after clause contains attempts to prevent the king from evading the intention of Magna Carta - to replace the arbitrary, even tyrannical rule of a king with (for the Charter's beneficiaries at least) the rule of law.John does not emerge as a king whose moral character needs much modern revision; `Bad King John' more than lives up to his popular name. He is shown to be a powerful and well-organized ruler, efficiently extracting money from his kingdom by the sale of justice, dispossessions, excessive fines and deliberate murder. Clauses in the Charter make it clear how his power and its misuse extended into Wales, Scotland and Ireland; Magna Carta is shown to be much more than an `English' charter even from its creation.The final chapter asks `Did Magna Carta Make a Difference?' This fascinating book clearly explains why the answer is `yes'; why some chapters (or clauses) of the Charter are still on the statute book today and why people around the world still refer to it after 800 years.

This year there has already been a plethora of books about Magna Carta. Two stand out, that by Lord Judge, the former Lord Chief Justice, and this. Not since Holt has such a fine and erudite tome been produced. Along with Holt's indispensable contribution this is likely to be the standard for years to come.

In the current torrent of writing and broadcasting about Magna Carta, this is the book to buy. Carpenter's commentary, which is the majority of the book, is well-researched and challenges many of the verities about Magna Carta. It's also a clearly written insight into political and social life in early 13th Century England.

Very good reading and understanding it better

Lots of information a really good book on the Magna Carta, including original and translated words of Magna Carta. Found this very useful and enlightening.