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History. Politics. Nonfiction. HTML: Is the Magna Carta better than the US Constitution? Was it a power grab by English noblemen, or is it a rights of man declaration penned by Robin Hood? The answers may surprise you as author and historian Irene Radford picks apart the clauses and explains them in context to the history surrounding this amazing document. Magna Carta, a true turning point in the history of democracy. This ebook is about 86 pages long..
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LibraryThing member psutto
Notes on the Magna Carta
Early reviewer description: Is the Magna Carta better than the US Constitution? Was it a power grab by English noblemen, or is it a rights of man declaration penned by Robin Hood? The answers may surprise you as author and historian Irene Radford picks apart the clauses and
Radford was writing a historical fiction novel on the lead up to the signing of the Magna Carta and therefore read it and created a series of blogs in which she went through the Magna Carta clause by clause and added a few of her own comments. This book is the collected blogs. On the plus side it does put the translated Magna Carta at your fingertips and Radford assumes you know nothing about the feudal society that created it so it’s a good introductory text. The bad points? Well it wasn’t initially written as a coherent document and this can come across and Radford’s chatty informal style can seem at odds with the content. Radford also seems to only direct her comments at an American audience, explaining things via modern America and perhaps is on a bit of a soapbox. A lot of the comments end with questions.
Some examples - her comment on Clause 2:
Who defines ancient custom A flat tax for the wealthy and a whatever-you-can-get-away-with tax on everyone else. Where have we seen this in modern times?
Or on Clause 6:
Have you heard of any recent attempts to control who we marry?
Overall – very quick read, good resource if you know nothing about 13C England and the Magna Carta but I was expecting more
Early reviewer description: Is the Magna Carta better than the US Constitution? Was it a power grab by English noblemen, or is it a rights of man declaration penned by Robin Hood? The answers may surprise you as author and historian Irene Radford picks apart the clauses and
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explains them in context to the history surrounding this amazing document. Magna Carta, a true turning point in the history of democracy.Radford was writing a historical fiction novel on the lead up to the signing of the Magna Carta and therefore read it and created a series of blogs in which she went through the Magna Carta clause by clause and added a few of her own comments. This book is the collected blogs. On the plus side it does put the translated Magna Carta at your fingertips and Radford assumes you know nothing about the feudal society that created it so it’s a good introductory text. The bad points? Well it wasn’t initially written as a coherent document and this can come across and Radford’s chatty informal style can seem at odds with the content. Radford also seems to only direct her comments at an American audience, explaining things via modern America and perhaps is on a bit of a soapbox. A lot of the comments end with questions.
Some examples - her comment on Clause 2:
Who defines ancient custom A flat tax for the wealthy and a whatever-you-can-get-away-with tax on everyone else. Where have we seen this in modern times?
Or on Clause 6:
Have you heard of any recent attempts to control who we marry?
Overall – very quick read, good resource if you know nothing about 13C England and the Magna Carta but I was expecting more
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LibraryThing member TessaSlingerland
Very, very interesting. I had of course heard about the Magna Carta. But never tried or even thought of reading it. But the author explains each clause and relates what is written in it to present day life and law (with quite a bit of humour and sarcasm).
LibraryThing member cplanten
I was initially almost offended by Radford's patronizing summaries of each entry of the Magna Carta. Not every historian is Simon Schama, I realize, and I was perhaps wrong to form an opinion early.
I wasn't keen on Radford's conversational and casual entries, yet I was happy to have been given an
Thanks to LibraryThing's Early Reviewer giveaways for the opportunity to check this out.
I wasn't keen on Radford's conversational and casual entries, yet I was happy to have been given an
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opportunity to read the actual document. This is a text that is ideal for the tablet, as my copy is now highlighted for review at a later date. Thanks to LibraryThing's Early Reviewer giveaways for the opportunity to check this out.
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LibraryThing member jdgarner68
I've always had a fascination for medieval Europe, especially England. Richard the Lionhearted and his deviant little brother John are two figures that loom larger than life in the histories. And by association, Robin Hood and the Magna Carta come in to play when I dream of this turbulent time.
Although I like to fancy that I am an amateur expert of 'auld' England, I have never read or examined the document (my mistake). The Magna Carta gives us a much better picture of the time than any Hollywood depiction. Phyllis Radford does an excellent job of guiding us through this immortal document that has had such an impact across the globe and throughout history. It is obvious that she has done her homework, and that she is a fellow enthusiast of the days of barons, knights, damsels, and that elusive fellow Robin Hood.
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This work by Mrs. Radford is not a history of the thirteenth century, nor a analyzation of the realm of King John, but it is a brief overview and introduction to the Magna Carta. It makes it available to the layman.Although I like to fancy that I am an amateur expert of 'auld' England, I have never read or examined the document (my mistake). The Magna Carta gives us a much better picture of the time than any Hollywood depiction. Phyllis Radford does an excellent job of guiding us through this immortal document that has had such an impact across the globe and throughout history. It is obvious that she has done her homework, and that she is a fellow enthusiast of the days of barons, knights, damsels, and that elusive fellow Robin Hood.
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LibraryThing member ljldml
The Magna Carta has always fascinated me. I must admit, some of it left me stumped. Phyllis Radford does an amazing job of explaining the finer points of the famous document. She explains the entire document piece by piece. She puts the old English writing in modern language for all to understand.
Well done, Ms Radford!
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The reader can easily understand her writing and the points she makes comparing the past and the present. Well done, Ms Radford!
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LibraryThing member AlmaB
There's something very sexy about someone immersed in something they love and are passionate about. Ms. Radford is passionate about history and it's quite delightfully evident. I'm a complete amateur so I won't blow smoke and try to sound erudite about the subject matter. I am qualified to state,
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however, that I enjoyed reading her work. Show Less
LibraryThing member the.ken.petersen
It would be a poor tale, as a British citizen, if I did not have an idea as to what Magna Carta was about, but, I confess, that this provided me with the first opportunity to read same. Phyllis Radford adds some excellent commentary to help the general reader (ME!!) to understand the significance
As I have already stated, I am British and have yet to have the opportunity of even visiting the United States, so it would be foolish in the extreme for me to comment as to the efficacy or otherwise of Ms Radford's remarks: needless to say, they did not add to my enjoyment of the book . This is a small gripe about a very good book that is very worthy of a place upon the shelf of anyone who has an interest, not just in British politics, but in the birth of current democratic governmental systems. Those who feel that corruption is breaking in to modern politics, should read this book: it is apparent that the first attempt at democracy was shot through with attempts by the three parties involved (The King of England, the barons and the Catholic Church) to produce a fair system - but leaning in favour of their third of the contributors. Plus ca change.....
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and historical perspective of each clause and, were she to have left it there, I would have awarded the book five stars. It has lost half a star, in my opinion, because the author uses the document to make political points about current day America.As I have already stated, I am British and have yet to have the opportunity of even visiting the United States, so it would be foolish in the extreme for me to comment as to the efficacy or otherwise of Ms Radford's remarks: needless to say, they did not add to my enjoyment of the book . This is a small gripe about a very good book that is very worthy of a place upon the shelf of anyone who has an interest, not just in British politics, but in the birth of current democratic governmental systems. Those who feel that corruption is breaking in to modern politics, should read this book: it is apparent that the first attempt at democracy was shot through with attempts by the three parties involved (The King of England, the barons and the Catholic Church) to produce a fair system - but leaning in favour of their third of the contributors. Plus ca change.....
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LibraryThing member Phillip_D_Swart
In Magna Bloody Carta: A Turning Point in Democracy, Phyllis Radford provides a quick brush through one of history's most important documents. She brings a quick, annotated commentary on each aspect of the document.
I am a Constitutional Studies major at the University of Oklahoma, but I had never
I must agree with a previous reviewer that I expected more from the book. But while the length and depth of the content lacked, I believe the simplicity presented will aid any entry-level student or a simple amateur to find the golden nuggets hidden within the bloody Magna Carta.
I am a Constitutional Studies major at the University of Oklahoma, but I had never
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read the Magna Carta before. What a shame! While chalked full of legal and old wording, the author provides the reader a down-to-earth debriefing of what exactly is going on. In fact, she even shows how King John (John the Worst... the unfortunate evil King of Robin Hood fame) actually was not so bad after all: he insisted on storying his own legal rulings for future use, these a written code and the continuation of a grand English tradition of a living, breathing constitutional history. I must agree with a previous reviewer that I expected more from the book. But while the length and depth of the content lacked, I believe the simplicity presented will aid any entry-level student or a simple amateur to find the golden nuggets hidden within the bloody Magna Carta.
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LibraryThing member Elliot1822
The Magna Carta has always held me in wonder as to what this wonderful doocument in maankinds's history was all about. The author and historian Irene Radford first prints then explains in plain english the old style english clauses and then explains them in relation to the history surrounding this
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vitally important document. Magna Carta was for the Western civilized world of vital importance. Show Less
LibraryThing member JeffV
Invoking legislation from times long past seems to be a popular political ploy these days. Often, we hear from the ghosts of our founding fathers, usually twisted and skewed to meet the issue du jour. Some want to go even further back, all the way to the Magna Carta, the great charter forced upon
Over time, the document was heavily edited from the original form signed by King John. Part of this was the legal precedents that were set -- sometimes flying in the face of feudal tradition, other times, because it ticked off the pope. Radford sometimes humorously speculates on why such clauses were removed. Overall, she takes a dry document written in Latin and makes it accessible and enjoyable for anyone with a passing interest in Medieval history.
The only thing lacking was a wrap-up discussing a final conclusion as to how appropriate the document is in modern politics. We can certainly draw our own (I say, not very); but the book ended abruptly after the final clause.
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King John which limited the power of the monarch and codified feudal practices and law. Phyllis Radford takes us back to the original document and comments on each clause, sometimes in context of the era, other times, where appropriate, to modern times.Over time, the document was heavily edited from the original form signed by King John. Part of this was the legal precedents that were set -- sometimes flying in the face of feudal tradition, other times, because it ticked off the pope. Radford sometimes humorously speculates on why such clauses were removed. Overall, she takes a dry document written in Latin and makes it accessible and enjoyable for anyone with a passing interest in Medieval history.
The only thing lacking was a wrap-up discussing a final conclusion as to how appropriate the document is in modern politics. We can certainly draw our own (I say, not very); but the book ended abruptly after the final clause.
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LibraryThing member rrhys
Don’t bother; this amateurish piece of work should not substitute to satisfy anyone’s interest in the history of the Magna Carta. Example of the lack of serious work: “big honking piece of wood.” On the other hand, this informal, clause-by-clause commentary can be fun to browse through for
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10 minutes or so. Ms. Radford’s reflections on the document’s implications for the contemporary world are particularly irksome and ill-informed. Don’t spend a penny. Show Less
LibraryThing member difreda
Well I never thought I'd enjoy reading a book about the Magna (Bloody) Carta. As a political novice, I've always enjoyed the stories but Radford also gave me what has been missing ... context.. A fine short read - that gives one an appreciation of why things were written - not just what. . Really
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enjoyed the book! Show Less
LibraryThing member amorerocks
Interesting new take on King John, the Magna Carta and modern democracy.
LibraryThing member CDVicarage
I found this an interesting book and an easy read for non-fiction. The individual clauses were well explained and set in context but the conversational tone, with many slangy phrases, tended to make the book seem less authoritative and sometimes rather patronising.
LibraryThing member Foretopman
I'm glad to have a modern translation of Magna Carta with some basic explanatory notes, but this in not in any way to be confused with an in-depth, scholarly analysis. Then again, the title, with its infixed 'bloody' should be a dead give-away that this is not intended as a serious academic effort.
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Even at that I found it to be a little bit light weight, but it's better than nothing. Show Less
LibraryThing member annesion
So this book was not really what I was expecting. For some reason I thought it would be more of a lead up to what occurred to get the Magna Carta signed. This is definitely not your everyday history tome. The actual dissection of the document was superfluous to me and it being the basis for more
Would have love to have learned more about King John and the lead up to the signing of the Magna Carta, this may be because I am truly enamored with medieval England. Law discussions not so much.
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modern documents was interesting yet not enough to warrant me ever reading another book on the subject. Would have love to have learned more about King John and the lead up to the signing of the Magna Carta, this may be because I am truly enamored with medieval England. Law discussions not so much.
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LibraryThing member AuntieCatherine
I wasn't sure how to take this book. There is very little historical background, very little attempt to give an account of its historical significance. What you have here is basically a modern language translation of the terms of the Charter with some added notes. I'm pretty sure I would never have
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read the Charter without this book - I'm not sure I'm much the wiser for having done so. Show Less
LibraryThing member jsoos
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
interesting little volume. Author provides a nice summary and introduction of the Magna Carta, and then proceeds to discuss each of the 50-some articles in the document. Very well organized, each article is put into its setting (12th and 13th
interesting little volume. Author provides a nice summary and introduction of the Magna Carta, and then proceeds to discuss each of the 50-some articles in the document. Very well organized, each article is put into its setting (12th and 13th
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century England), the actual article shown, and oftentimes some commentary. Although some of the commentary tends to be Narthwest pacific treehuggerish, on the whole, it is very engaging and worth a read. This has certainly increased my knowledge and understanding of this critical historical document. Show Less
LibraryThing member GirlFromIpanema
Observing the developments towards Brexit in the UK, I came across this short book about the Magna Carta on my shelf (yeah, I know, a LTER book...) . It is not a major issue in German history class but of course we were taught the basics, as it has relevance for the development of all modern
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democracies. I doubt I would ever have tried to read the original text (ESL here), So as a complete novice to the matter, I enjoyed the modern-day language and the explanations given with every Article of the charter. As the author is from the USA, her modern point of reference is of course the US. I doubt I will find a German book that explains the relevance in layman terms, so this was useful for me to understand how a 800 year old charter would have relevance to modern law and statehood. Definitely not an in depth treatise, but a good primer on the subject. Show Less
ISBN
9781611381979
DDC/MDS
| 942.033 |