It has been 26 years since David Crouch brought out the first edition of his biography of the great William Marshal. I have that book, and the second edition too, published in 2002. Even before I took up writing my series of novels about the Marshals, David Crouch’s biography was essential reading for an author writing historical fiction set in the 12th century. When William Marshal became my contracted man of the moment, professor Crouch’s work formed a vital part of the fabric of the reference research required as the canvas on which to stitch the coloured threads of the imagination.
Research doesn’t stand still and over the years since the publication of the first edition, much new material has come to light and historical understanding has moved on. The ensuing editions reflect this change of position. What is included in the third edition that marks it out from the others and according to a preface page is:
“Expanded sections on the reality of medieval tournaments and warfare as it is described in the biography.
An in-depth study of Marshal’s family life and children based on the latest research, including material from the new edition of the Marshal family acts and letters.
More on Marshal’s royal patrons and contemporaries, in particular the relationship between Marshal and his nemesis King John.”
David Crouch’s biography of William Marshal has always been the book of choice for anyone who seriously wants to get to grips with the Marshal, his life and times, and this new edition establishes his position at the top of the ladder. There is still no other academic to touch him when it comes to the Marshal and his milieu. The new edition is highly readable and at the same time wonderfully detailed. The new information threads easily into the narrative of the previous edition with ease and the tone, although conversational, bears authority and knowledge that can only be gleaned by painstaking and in depth personal research. I especially enjoyed the colourful section on tourney life with its nocturnal nightclub atmosphere and marquee events. I was also very interested in the detailed examination of the Marshal’s hard-nosed practice of the arts of chivalry and courtliness, which are not at all as we think of them today, but were vehicles in his time for ambitious men to climb fortune’s ladder, survive and prosper. Such skills came naturally to the Marshal and during the course of his career and his rise from hostage child to household knight, to magnate and regent, he was to hone those abilities until he was a supreme master of the art.
I have been writing fiction about William Marshal in one form or another since 2004, so you could say that I have a lay woman’s good working knowledge, but there was so much in this 3rd edition that was new to me. If I could write a new edition of THE SCARLET LION for example, I would have to think about including William’s illegitimate son Gilbert and changing the birth order of some of the Marshal children, not to mention parts of his relationship with his Irish mother in law! You can see from the copious sticky notes with which I have marked the pages on my photo of the book at the end of this piece, how much new information and food for thought there is in this new edition.
There are occasions when my opinion parts company from Professor Crouch’s, but the base line historical detail remains sound. Our thoughts on the death of Arthur of Brittany differ for example. It’s my opinion that either King John or someone ordered by King John did the deed. Marc Morris’ in his biography of King John argues very convincingly that Arthur was murdered following consultation with certain advisers including William de Braose, source of the Margam annals. Professor Crouch thinks it more likely that Arthur drowned in a botched escape attempt and that suggestions of John doing the deed are generally dwelt upon in the interests of spicing up the narrative, which I don’t buy at all. But as Professor Crouch says: ‘We can’t really know.’ Which is always music to a novelist’s ears! My point is that sometimes even when the facts are there for all to see, it’s a matter of opinion and interpretation. But that’s what makes historical debate so fascinating.
This book is wonderful for its accessible scholarship and all the additional wisdom and detail it brings to the story of not only William Marshal but those around him – his wife, his family, the men of his affinity, and those too who sought but did not succeed in bringing him down. William Marshal in the 3rd edition is a masterly and scholarly piece of writing that also managed to be accessible to non experts. Highly recommended. I know it’s going to engender many discussions and debates on my William Marshal Facebook forum!
