How does one quantify something like “best king?” Those who were successfully able to navigate the expectations of their subjects and their role as monarchs. Bradford explains that this involves being an overtly Christian rule who defends the rights of the Church, maintaining law and order and the defense of the realm, and understanding the wisdom in seeking counsel and obtaining popular consent. Using these metrics, Bradford convincingly makes the case for each monarch featured in the book with the information highlighted. The author then guides us through how views of the kings shifted with time and context, making this a terrific resource.

Bradford knows how to share history! This book was quite easy to sink into, informative but also entertaining. The discussion of Henry II and Thomas Becket was excellent and helpful in understanding the cultural machine that has shaped our thinking about one of the most notorious incidents of the twelfth century. I also loved the section about Richard I whose life offers a fascinating study of contradictions and whose reputation I’ve never quite been able to understand. Bradford handles discussion of his sexuality and legacy in a balanced and sensitive manner that I really appreciated. Edward III’s chapter helped me to make sense of what at times feels like an uneven legacy, and the
chapters on Edward I and Henry V were equally enthralling.

In the author's own words, "This is not an academic tome" but what it is is a fairly light-hearted look at five kings and full of facts making it a very interesting and entertaining read.
It starts with Henry II, a 'man of many parts' who reigned for 35 years before moving on to Richard I who reputation was probably based on his valour but was he a king in name only? He was a man of contradictions and generated centuries of 'a legend' with names such as Ivanhoe and Robin Hood. He should not be judged by today's standards and may be considered as a failed crusader who left no legacy.
Edward I left an undeniable impact mainly perhaps for expelling Jews from the country in 1290 which lasted centuries until 1656. After his death he received mixed reviews especially from his dealings with Scotland.
Edward III had 35 years of a decent reign before fading into 15 years of a sad and decaying end and we finish with perhaps the most famous,
Henry V who died at the early age of 35, a pioneer and a 'propaganda genius'.
At the end of each monarch the author gives very interesting information on how theses kings were considered through the centuries after their deaths followed by a critique of 20C and 21C books/plays and films that may have been written about them.
All in all an excellent read and much recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for this arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5 stars)

Phil Bradford delivers a sharp, well-researched, and highly engaging look at five of England’s most celebrated monarchs — but what makes The Best Kings of the Middle Ages stand out is how it interrogates those reputations without losing sight of the complexity and humanity behind the crowns.

This book does what the best historical nonfiction should: it invites readers to think critically. Yes, Henry II, Richard I, Edward I, Edward III, and Henry V were formidable rulers — legal reformers, warriors, and empire-builders. But Bradford refuses to romanticize. He addresses the violence, intolerance, and ruthlessness that often accompanied their accomplishments. The treatment of minorities, the use of brutal tactics in war, and personal power struggles are all laid bare, giving readers a more honest — and ultimately more interesting — portrait of kingship.

The writing strikes a perfect balance between scholarly and accessible. Whether you’re a casual reader of medieval history or a devoted enthusiast, this book has plenty to offer. The inclusion of how modern perceptions of these kings have evolved over time — in both serious historical texts and pop culture — adds another layer that I really appreciated.

Massive thanks to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for the ARC. I’m always excited to read their titles, and this one was no exception — compelling, thought-provoking, and beautifully put together.

I like how the author covers events from a different perspective and with different interpretations from others I’ve read. After going through the life events of each king, the author then covers each king’s legacy through the centuries, starting with shortly after their deaths, through the Reformation and Victorian Era, up until recent times in books and films. It’s fascinating to see how the kings’ reputations and legacies have changed as the times have changed.

The only negative is that the paragraphs are too long. That makes it sound like I’m whining about having to read a long paragraph but let me explain. A new paragraph indicates a change in the main idea, a new action taken by a character, or maybe a shift in the narrative's focus, all of which help the reader understand the progression of events and ideas. In this book, the topic sentence is not necessarily what the entire paragraph will be about. Instead, the author will cover several events in one paragraph, so the paragraph is unnecessarily long. This may not be the author’s fault as the editor should have seen the abrupt changes in topics. Breaking up long blocks of text into smaller, more manageable paragraphs would have made the writing easier to read and digest, especially for complex or lengthy passages. That’s my only negative for the book.