{"product_id":"writing-history-for-the-king-charity-l-urbanski-9780801451317","title":"Writing History for the King","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWriting History for the King\u003c\/i\u003e is at once a reassessment of the reign of Henry II of England (1133-1189) and an original contribution to our understanding of the rise of vernacular historiography in the high Middle Ages. Charity Urbanski focuses on two dynastic histories commissioned by Henry: Wace's \u003ci\u003eRoman de Rou\u003c\/i\u003e (c. 1160-1174) and Beno? de Sainte-Maure's \u003ci\u003eChronique des ducs de Normandie\u003c\/i\u003e (c. 1174-1189). In both cases, Henry adopted the new genre of vernacular historical writing in Old French verse in an effort to disseminate a royalist version of the past that would help secure a grip on power for himself and his children. Wace was the first to be commissioned, but in 1174 the king abruptly fired him, turning the task over to Beno? de Sainte-Maure.Urbanski examines these histories as part of a single enterprise intended to cement the king's authority by enhancing the prestige of Henry II's dynasty. In a close reading of Wace's \u003ci\u003eRou\u003c\/i\u003e, she shows that it presented a less than flattering picture of Henry's predecessors, in effect challenging his policies and casting a shadow over the legitimacy of his rule. Beno? de Sainte-Maure's \u003ci\u003eChronique\u003c\/i\u003e, in contrast, mounted a staunchly royalist defense of Anglo-Norman kingship. Urbanski reads both works in the context of Henry's reign, arguing that as part of his drive to curb baronial power he sought a history that would memorialize his dynasty and solidify its claim to England and Normandy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Charity L. Urbanski\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0801451310\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780801451317\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Cornell University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/15\/2013\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.15lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.30h x 6.10w x 1.00d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/01\/2014","brand":"Charity L. Urbanski","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44059730804991,"sku":"9780801451317","price":80.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_e929baa7-ec4c-4e62-a75f-d4b70e29a5e7.jpg?v=1685059991","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/writing-history-for-the-king-charity-l-urbanski-9780801451317","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}