Explore the political and moral significance of the famous and more obscure incidents in the lives of Britain's monarchs. The authoritative and accessible history of the kings and queens of England from the warrior kings of the Dark Ages to Queen Elizabeth II The lives of the kings and queens of England include some of the most dramatic episodes in the history of Great Britain. Whether it's William the Conqueror's slaying of Harold Godwinson, Henry VIII's readiness to behead his unfortunate wives, Elizabeth I's chastity or the glamour of the young Elizabeth II, these monarchs hold both legendary and symbolic positions in the public imagination. AUTHOR: W. M. Ormrod was Professor of Medieval History at the University of York. He wrote extensively on medieval Britain; his other books include Edward III ('Instantly accessible' The Observer), along with Political Life in Medieval England, 1300-1450 (with Anthony Musson), The Evolution of English Justice: Law, Politics and Society in the Fourteenth Century and The Black Death in England (with Phillip Lindley). 32 colour, 32 b/w illustrations