EDWARD III

First edition, first printing. Original black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, in dustwrapper. A very near fine copy, the binding square and firm. There is a previous owner's name and a date written in ink to the upper left corner of the front free endpaper, the same owners initials to the centre of the rear pastedown, a number of tiny ink ticks beside some entries in the bibliography, and one neat correction to the index. The contents are otherwise clean throughout. There are a couple of small scratches (c. 1 cm) to the spine panel. In the unclipped dustwrapper, showing a little rubbing to corners, a couple of scratches to the spine panel, and a few light surface marks.

"Ormrod has mastered the complex interplay of circumstance, motive, and personality to provide an original and important account not only of a King but of a nation at a critical stage of its history. Edward III is a remarkable achievement and deserves a wide readership, both among professional historians and the general public." (Scott L. Waugh, in the TLS). "Part of the problem is that Edward III's respect for the conventional images of kingship has obscured his personality, making him seem like a cardboard cut out. Perhaps the greatest merit of Mark Ormrod's magnificent new biography, is that it penetrates behind this image [...] Ormrod is at his best in describing the personality of the King, and his impact on English political society." (Jonathan Sumpton, in the 'Literary Review')