A very readable introduction to the period of the High Middle ages in England. A popular novelist, Costain's book reads well and invites further excursions into the period. This section of his larger group biographies of all the Plantagenet kings covers 1239 to 1377, when Edward III died. There are scenes of high drama including the coup that forced Edward II to abdicate in favour of Edward III. ( )

Actual Rating : 3.5/5 stars
Review : Fun fact: the copy I had (it belongs to my grandparents) actually has a cigarette ad in it. It is a little dated, given that it’s roughly 50 years old, give or take a few years. However, this was a fun read, and I really enjoyed how Costain presents these three kings. ( )

Read this as an adjunct to the Dragon Knight books. It is full of fascinating material. ( )

I really enjoyed this read. I've long been fascinated with the complex monarchical history of England, but have been intimidated by it as a reader. Costain's series was popular for a reason: they're accessible, readable, and interesting. I picked up The Three Edwards, the third in the series, because, strangely enough, the rest of Costain's Plantagenet series remains hard to find in the Hennepin County Library System. But I didn't feel lost. This book looks at Edward I, Edward II, and Edward III, with side trips to meet William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Phillip the Bad, and several knights whom, Costain theorizes, served as inspiration to Cervantes as he wrote Quixote. Because of its accessibility, the prose was engaging and the narrative mostly swift (though it slowed down dramatically at the end in the lengthy discussions of "non-Edward" topics, such as the initial stirrings of the Reformation, a couple of towering paladins, etc). The drama of the Scottish wars, of Isabella's machinations to get her feckless husband off the throne, of the Black Prince's heroics, were well-relayed.

I will say that the book lacks a certain rigor of scholarship. A popular history, of course, doesn't require the same depth and meticulous attention to sourcing that a more academic history requires. But Costain makes many assumptions, takes some literary liberties that, while entertaining, made me feel suspicious, and drew some conclusions that I didn't feel were well supported. I'm torn because, as a reader, some of these same sections were among my favorite to read. Anyway, I will be reading the rest of the Plantagenet series, and am grateful to have this easy way to enter into the intricate history of England's monarchy. ( )

I was surprised by how enjoyable and readable this book was. Within the first few pages Edward I gets stabbed with a poisoned dagger by a treacherous Muslim, and the history stays at that level of excitement throughout. Costain writes remarkably descriptive prose--he uses a whole lot of adjectives--but never delves into fiction. He doesn't put words or thoughts into the historical figures' heads, unlike all too many historians. I was pleased by Costain's breadth scholarship, as well. He spends literally chapters going over every detail of the Scottish wars for freedom, but doesn't leave out the contents of Princess Eleanor's trousseau (and why she would bring a bed of her own, or pounds of white sugar) or the effects of changing fashion. He includes several paragraphs on the invention of buttons!

And yet, despite all this detail, the book is never slowed down. I felt like I got a very comprehensive account of each Edward while also getting a good feel for the times they lived in. Impressive! ( )