Helen Castor has yet again given us new perspectives on major historical moments. This book takes a detailed and almost psychological dive into the making of, the reigns of, and the deeds and missteps of the cousin kings Richard II and Henry IV. Well-researched, thorough, forensic, and yet the book reads like a novel in that you feel for these real human beings that lived so long ago that they feel unapproachable. Helen Castor’s mastery of the art of research and composition are second to none. Yet another fantastic offering from an OG of medieval history.

Bringing her expertise from her incredible book 'She-Wolves', Helen Castor crafts a brilliant interwoven biography of two larger than life characters.

requested and received an eARC of The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV by Helen Castor via NetGalley. I feel like I’ve been circling around these cousins for a while, having read The Fears of Henry IV a few months ago and a short biography of Richard II at some point late last year. I was drawn to this work not only because of the subject matter, but also because of the author. I really enjoyed her book She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth as well as her slim volume about Elizabeth I for the Penguin Monarchs series. Castor has a knack for narrative history, so I was intrigued to see what she would make of the young king and his usurping cousin.

The introduction to the text draws an image of parallel lives and the temperaments that led to the development of such different personalities, while reminding us of Shakespeare’s hand in shaping popular perception of the two monarchs. Castor also, without accusation or judgment, invites the reader to consider how the monarchal crisis of the Middle Ages might resonate with modern political crises (what happens when a ruler demands loyalty to himself as an individual, rather than duty to a established constitution, or when he seeks to create his own reality rather than acknowledge truths.) I love a strong introduction, and this one made me excited to read the content that followed.

Castor’s book is balanced and very informative. I always judge historical non-fiction by how accessible it is, because it is often easy to get lost in a sea of unfamiliar names and dates. This is definitely an area where the author succeeds. This book is brimming with details, each chapter taking a solid chunk of time to work through, but the information is presented in a clear and engaging manner that makes it easy to immerse yourself in the Middle Ages and the compelling cast of historical figures we meet along the way. The text succeeds at capturing two very distinct personalities in Richard II and Henry IV, explaining the circumstances necessitating Henry Bolingbroke's action, and the consequences of his claiming the throne. I greatly enjoyed reading this and I look forward to adding a physical copy of this book to my collection!