In her book 1217, author Catherine Hanley relates the events surrounding a little-discussed but historically-pivotal conflict in medieval England: the First Barons’ War. This concise but detailed work effortlessly collates contemporary accounts of the different stages of the war into a comprehensive and engrossing work. Those interested in early medieval politics or warfare should find plenty to enjoy in this book.

Hanley identifies three specific events that heavily influenced the war’s outcome: the Siege of Dover, the Battle of Lincoln, and the Battle of Sandwich. These pivotal events, elucidated upon in chronological order, frame the rest of the book and were “distinctive in their introduction of new military technology and the use of innovative tactics that would greatly influence future engagements, both in England and beyond."

1217 grants readers a concise but comprehensive look into a war about which not many people know. And yet, the First Barons’ War could have easily changed the course of English history as assuredly the Battle of Hastings did. Hanley has added a worthy entry into the medieval warfare niche.

Hanley pulls from a myriad of contemporary and almost-contemporary chroniclers in describing the historical context, battles, and important protagonists. She also addresses limitations and biases, presenting a balanced, if not entirely objective, interpretation of events. Like many authors, Hanley occasionally adds in a touch of dramatic flair as she recounts events, but I rarely found it to be distracting.

Primary sources form the cornerstone of any historical work, and Hanley handles these interpretations quite well. However, she rarely addresses the historiography of the subject, except for a couple of footnote mentions. 1217 could have benefited from a more thorough discussion of the secondary source material.

Additionally, and perhaps this is more of a nuanced critique, Hanley fails to name the conflict as the First Barons' War. I'd imagine it could be due to the varying historical names of military conflicts across countries. And, to be fair, I read and reviewed a pre-published copy, not the final product.

On the whole, I found 1217 a fascinating read. Hanley’s masterwork, resonating with military drama and intrigue, royal feuds, political seesawing, and engrossing historical characters, is a true tour de force. Perfect for a medieval history or military history buff!

Thank you to the author and publisher for a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley!

In 1216 the nobility of England was frustrated with their King. John was vicious, a womaniser and a mean ruler and the barons had had enough of the hard fought Magna Carta being ignored. They asked the French Dauphin, Louis, to come to England and take over. Louis landed with a small force and was acknowledged by some parts of the country. The. John died and suddenly his heir was a nine-year old boy, Henry III. Over the next year England was at war and over the course of three major events the future was determined.
Hanley is a great writer about the High Middle Ages and this book manages to be both scholarly and eminently readable. This is a period of history that I was aware of but had read little about and so it was a joy to discover the danger that the country was in as it teetered on the precipice of becoming part of France. As Hanley points out, the sense of England as an independent territory began here as there was a shift from the rule of the 'Normans', when John lost control of Normandy then England was irretrievably separated. There are some wonderful characters introduced eg, Nichola de la Haye, and revisited - I galloped through, enjoying every page.

Like most people I knew next to nothing about the French invasion of 1216-7, where a French Prince declared himself King of England. So I was interested in this book, which details this unknown, but very interesting historical event.

The book has two strengths, firstly, it is written in a very clear style which makes it very readable. I breezed through the book and it never got bogged down in unnecessary details. The second strength is that it didn't just recount the events of 1217, but also explained the context of feudalism, fighting techniques of the time etc in a clear and understandable manner.

The only thing holding it from being 5 stars was that it was a little short, but otherwise it is an informative and enjoyable read.

If you think you are having a bad year, take a look at what the English were dealing with in 1217. Catherine Hanley tells the story of how this fateful year became so pivotal in the future of England. While not everyone will know what is happening in England that year, most people will recognize the man at the center of it. One of the worst kings in English history, King John.

Now, "worst" can be very relative and there are many arguments that John wasn't as bad as history paints him because of Robin Hood. Although, it is funny that the best a historian can probably say about him is that he wasn't, "that bad." This book will certainly not improve your view of him. This narrative focuses specifically on King John trying to undo the work of the Magna Carta and then fight off a claimant to his throne.

Hanley needs to cover a lot (emphasis on LOT) of ground to make the politics of the period make sense. A warning to the reader, if you have never read anything about this period then it may be a bit too much all at once. Hanley does great work distilling everything down, but I did wonder if I would have been overwhelmed had I not been at least somewhat knowledgeable about the fall of King John beforehand. It's just something to keep in mind, but the book is a good read.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Osprey Publishing.)

1217 looks at a little known part of English history - when the English barons, fed up with King John, invited a French Prince to take the throne, and the subsequent war.

The book focuses on about 18 months of history, a very tight period of time for a book on medieval Europe. It is a short, succinct overview of the conflict that offers a look into this lesser known conflict - and why we should care about it. The narrative focuses on three main areas of conflict - the siege of Dover, the battle of Lincoln (the second one, as there had been one ~70 years earlier), and the naval battle of Sandwich. (It feels like it should be noted that, for all the title being 1217, half of the book happens in 1216, as this is when Louis comes to England and the siege of Dover begins.)

Catherine Hanley has a clear, direct way of explaining events, weaving in extracts from chronicles. I also appreciated the fact that there was a discussion of the sources used for each battle.

I suspect the final copy will come with maps and possibly pictures/illustrations. There was a list at the front and blank spots where images of some sort was to come later. I luckily know Lincoln and Dover castles relatively well, so could place the different parts of the battle, so I would hope there were maps for people without that knowledge.

For anyone who thinks England hasn't been invaded since 1066! Really impressive book, well structured, well written and impressive how Hanley manages to get around the subject so extensively.

An excellent book for anyone interested in the Middle Ages in England, and particularly issues conquering the monarchy. I've read book a bit about Magna Carta, but seeing this period immediately after its signing - how John and the Pope reacted, the split between royalist and rebel nobles - and the depth Hanley goes in to was fantastic. I had no idea (or had forgotten, having not studied it in detail) that Louis, heir to the French throne, actually landed in England and was acclaimed king of England! A period that should certainly be as well remembered as any other in terms of the development of an 'English' national identity.

Very accessible and easy to read; hadn't made the connection with the author's name, but of course Hanley also wrote a wonderful biography of the Empress Matilda. Would definitely read anything else she wrote.

And now I can bang on about why English monarchical reigns are dated from accession, not coronation, which looks like it might become a useful factoid again pretty soon.

In 1215, King John’s betrayal of Magna Carta hurled England into civil war, with rebellious barons inviting French prince Louis to seize the throne. As Louis’s forces arrived, proclaiming him king, the realm teetered on the precipice of foreign conquest. But John’s death and the coronation of his young son Henry transformed the conflict—pitting an innocent child against Louis’s invading forces in a battle for the kingdom’s soul.

This is a fascinating bit of history during a time when England’s national identity was being forged. The book is entertaining and informative.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

An intriguing look into the wars in Britain in 1217 that shaped the future of the country. The story is well-told and contains good firsthand accounts of the saga. The book was a fast read and held my attention. Overall, a great historical read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Catherine Hanley hits the mark again. 1217 takes place during what is Englands worse king, King John from the children’s story Robin Hood. The book is full of great information that was well researched. It’s also a fast read. I finished it in just a couple of hours. I really enjoyed this and will most likely purchase it when it comes out

What a wonderful, expansive and detailed account of a more lesser known period of British history. Catherine Hanley distilled down what was a tumultuous year of war and power shifts into an easily digestible narrative. The use of primary sources was essential to understanding how King John, the invasion of Louis of France, and the battles impacted those who lived through the period.
I especially enjoyed the descriptions of warfare and methods used during the time period and how they differ from the popular depiction in media and fictionalized accounts.
There is a lot to digest in this short book, especially when other authors would probably have added 100's of pages that don't really add to the story being told. Hanley kept a great flow in both the actions and motivations that allows the reader to come away with a significant understanding of the pivotal year of 1217.
This preview was possible due to Netgalley and the publisher, Osprey, providing me an early copy.

An excellently researched history of a year most probably not well known to most people.
King John and the Magna Carta we've heard of but William Marshall? Prince Louis of France? (proclaimed King of England by many but never crowned); 9 year old Henry III? The Battle of Sandwich? A thoroughly interesting read and my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.