{"title":"Books by Jonathan Sumption","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780571240128","title":"The Hundred Years War Vol 3","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDivided Houses\u003c\/b\u003e is a tale of contrasting fortunes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the last decade of his reign Edward III, a senile, pathetic symbol of England's past conquests, was condemned to see them overrun by the armies of his enemies. When he died, in 1377, he was succeeded by a vulnerable child, who was destined to grow into a neurotic and unstable adult presiding over a divided nation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile France entered upon one of the most glittering periods of her medieval history, years of power and ceremony, astonishing artistic creativity and famous warriors making their reputations as far afield as Naples, Hungary and North Africa. Contemporaries in both countries believed that they were living through memorable times: times of great wickedness and great achievement, of collective mediocrity but intense personal heroism, of extremes of wealth and poverty, fortune and failure. At a distance of six centuries, as Jonathan Sumption skilfully and meticulously shows, it is possible to agree with all of these judgments.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43201789558962,"sku":"9780571240128","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780571240128_29788b48-9d56-4ca0-877f-3fa2503e2923.jpg?v=1786013917"},{"product_id":"9780571200955","title":"The Hundred Years War Vol 1","description":"\u003cp\u003e'Compulsively readable' (\u003ci\u003eHistory\u003c\/i\u003e)\u003ci\u003e,\u003c\/i\u003e this is the first volume in a series that details the long and violent endeavour of the English to dismember Europe's strongest state, a succession of wars that is one of the seminal chapters in European history. Beginning with the funeral of Charles IV of France in 1328, it follows the Hundred Years War up to the surrender of Calais in 1347. It traces the early humiliations and triumphs of Edward III: the campaigns of Sluys, Crecy and Calais, which first made his name as a war leader and the reputation of his subjects as the most brutally effective warriors of their time.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eTrial by Battle\u003c\/i\u003e is an account of the events of a pivotal period in both French and British history, from Wolfson History Prize-winning author and historian Jonathan Sumption.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  'A new and immensely impressive history of the war.' \u003ci\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43201803616434,"sku":"9780571200955","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780571200955_2860a689-2961-4086-96ed-58d0b9a36157.jpg?v=1786013489"},{"product_id":"9781788163736","title":"Trials of the State","description":"A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERIn the past few decades, legislatures throughout the world have suffered from gridlock. In democracies, laws and policies are just as soon unpicked  as made. It seems that Congress and Parliaments cannot forge progress or consensus. Moreover, courts often overturn decisions made by elected representatives. In the absence of effective politicians, many turn to the courts to solve political and moral questions. Rulings from the Supreme Courts in the United States and United Kingdom, or the European court in Strasbourg may seem to end the debate but the division and debate does not subside. In fact, the absence of democratic accountability leads to radicalisation. Judicial overreach cannot make up for the shortcomings of politicians.  This is especially acute in the field of human rights. For instance, who should decide on abortion or prisoners' rights to vote, elected politicians or appointed judges?Expanding on arguments first laid out in the 2019 Reith Lectures, Jonathan Sumption argues that the time has come to return some problems to the politicians.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43205129797810,"sku":"9781788163736","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781788163736_48bbaa5d-7253-4a17-b8f4-7b810a25b717.jpg?v=1786027022"},{"product_id":"9780571274598","title":"The Hundred Years War Vol 5","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘Sumption is that rare and precious thing: a serious, decent, honest thinker . . . and one of our finest historians.’ Dan Jones, \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘Gripping and eminently readable  . . . a compelling justification for the enduring value of historical narrative.’ \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘Unsurpassed, and probably unsurpassable.’ \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this final volume of his epic history of the Hundred Years War, Jonathan Sumption tells the story of the collapse of the English dream of conquest, from the opening years of the reign of Henry VI until the loss of all of England’s continental dominions except Calais thirty years later. This sudden reversal of fortune was a seminal event in the history of the two principal nation-states of western Europe, ending four centuries of the English dynasty’s presence in France and separating two countries whose fortunes had once been closely intertwined, creating a new sense of national identity in both. The legacy of these events would influence their divergent fortunes for centuries to come.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Behind the clash of arms stood some of the most remarkable personalities of the age: the Duke of Bedford, the English Regent who ruled much of France; Charles VII of France, who patiently rebuilt his kingdom after the disasters of his early years; the captains populating the pages of Shakespeare – Fastolf, Montagu, Talbot, Dunois and, above all, the extraordinary figure of Joan of Arc who changed the course of the war in a few weeks at the age of seventeen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘The Hundred Years War ends in England's agonising defeat – but triumph for Jonathan Sumption . . . There is no doubting his achievement. It is, as everyone says, a “monumental” work.’ \u003ci\u003eSpectator\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54911795200373,"sku":"9780571274598","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780571274598_7d376fa6-3e56-41b3-9f69-040e9d137225.jpg?v=1786014144"},{"product_id":"9780141988672","title":"Edward III (Penguin Monarchs)","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe acclaimed Penguin Monarchs series: short, fresh, expert accounts of England's rulers - now in paperback\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEdward III ruled England for fifty years. He was a paragon of kingship in the eyes of his contemporaries, the perfect king in those of later generations. Venerated as the victor of Sluys and Crécy and the founder of the Order of the Garter, he was regarded with awe even by his enemies. But he lived too long, and was ultimately condemned to see thirty years of conquests reversed in less than five. In this gripping new account of Edward III's rise and fall, Jonathan Sumption introduces us to a fêted king who ended his life a heroic failure. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJonathan Sumption\u003c\/b\u003e is a former history fellow of Magdalen College Oxford. He is the author of \u003ci\u003ePilgrimage\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Albigensian Crusade\u003c\/i\u003e, as well as the first four volumes in his celebrated history of the Hundred Years War, \u003ci\u003eTrial by Battle\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTrial by Fire\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDivided Houses\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eCursed Kings\u003c\/i\u003e. He was awarded the 2009 Wolfson History Prize for \u003ci\u003eDivided Houses.\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56225255784821,"sku":"9780141988672","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780141988672_417b3a1b-8618-45b9-91f1-fc23f5a1cb9b.jpg?v=1786011208"},{"product_id":"9780571200023","title":"The Albigensian Crusade","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn twelfth century Languedoc a subversive heresy of Eastern origin flourished to an extraordinary degree. The Albingenses believed that the world was created by an evil spirit, and that all worldly things - including the Church - were by nature sinful.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJonathan Sumption's acclaimed history examines the roots of the heresy, the uniquely rich culture of the region which nurtured it, and the crusade launched against it by the Church which resulted in one of the most savage of all medieval wars.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'[Sumption] never fails to keep his narrative lively with the particular and the pertinent. He is excellent on the tactics and spirit of medieval warfare.' Frederic Raphael, \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56292014260597,"sku":"9780571200023","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780571200023_7e0fb183-e0ef-4623-84cf-0845d6ff8d90.jpg?v=1786013482"},{"product_id":"9781788167123","title":"Law in a Time of Crisis","description":"'Thoughtful, stimulating and even entertaining ... Lord Sumption's opinion is always worth listening to, even - or especially - if one disagrees with it.' Daily Telegraph'Time spent on Law in a Time of Crisis is time spent in the company of a brilliant mind considering interesting things' The TimesBrexit, the independence referendum, the pandemic: the UK is a country in crisis. And, in crises, we turn to the law to set the boundaries of what the government can and should do. However, in a country with no written constitution, what sounds like a simple proposition is in fact anything but.Based on his 2019 Reith lectures, former Supreme Court Judge Jonathan Sumption asks: what are the limits of law in politics? Is not having a constitution a hindrance or help in times of crisis? From referenda to the rise of nationalisms, Law in a Time of Crisis exposes the uses and abuses of legal intervention in British crises - past, present, and potential.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305851367797,"sku":"9781788167123","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781788167123.jpg?v=1786027175"},{"product_id":"9780571207374","title":"The Hundred Years War Vol 2","description":"In the second volume of his celebrated history of the Hundred Years War, Jonathan Sumption examines the middle years of the fourteenth century and the succession of crises that threatened French affairs of state, including defeat at Poitiers and the capture of the king.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56311802528117,"sku":"9780571207374","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780571207374_ad638f99-3c95-4cec-955f-6ce5a57d68d4.jpg?v=1786013532"},{"product_id":"9780571274567","title":"The Hundred Years War Vol 4","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eCursed Kings\u003c\/i\u003e  tells the story of the destruction of France by the madness of its king  and the greed and violence of his family. In the early fifteenth  century, France had gone from being the strongest and most populous  nation state of medieval Europe to suffering a complete internal  collapse and a partial conquest by a foreign power. It had never  happened before in the country's history - and it would not happen again  until 1940.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInto the void left by this domestic catastrophe,  strode one of the most remarkable rulers of the age, Henry V of England,  the victor of Agincourt, who conquered much of northern France before  dying at the age of thirty-six, just two months before he would have  become King of France.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFollowing on from \u003ci\u003eDivided Houses (\u003c\/i\u003ewinner of the Wolfson History Prize and shortlisted for the Hessel-Tiltman), \u003ci\u003eCursed Kings\u003c\/i\u003e is the magisterial new chapter in 'one of the great historical works of our time' (Allan Massie).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56311806165365,"sku":"9780571274567","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780571274567_4fdfcb01-b571-4fe7-abad-3a2213f7a14c.jpg?v=1786014142"},{"product_id":"9781805222521","title":"The Challenges of Democracy","description":"'A timely red alert that democratic values cannot be taken for granted' The Times'Incisive and eloquent' The TelegraphNOW FEATURING A NEW ESSAY ON ISRAEL, GAZA AND INTERNATIONAL LAWAcross the globe, democracy is in crisis - in the UK alone, it has been rocked by Brexit, the pandemic and successive attempts by governments to bypass legal norms. But how did this happen, and where might we go from here? Jonathan Sumption cuts through the political noise with acute analysis of the state of democracy today - from the vulnerabilities of international law to the deepening suppression of democracy activism in Hong Kong, and from the complexities of human rights legislation to the defence of freedom of speech. Timely, incisive and wholly original, Challenges of Democracy applies the brilliance of 'the cleverest man in Britain' to the most urgent and far-reaching political issue of our day.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56369232249205,"sku":"9781805222521","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781805222521_29b4d538-7640-425d-ba0a-9b464e3e78e1.jpg?v=1786028083"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-jonathan-sumption.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}