english_lady03's review

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4.0

Rosanne Lortz' first book is in danger of bolstering my admiration of Becket. I got interested as I have John Guy's new Biography, and managed to get it as a loan.
Well worth the read as an introduction to Becket's life and career, and for a slightly different view of the enigmatic Archbishop removed from entirely secularized or politicised appraisals.


The use of Medieval typology was clever and well done for the most part- even if the chronicler deliberately sought to portray Thomas in a certain way, it can help the reader appreciate the motives of the fun-loving Chancellor who became a pious prelate, and defied a King to defend the independence of the church from state interference.
It is a legacy that still resonates today, when governments may seek to force the church to implement controversial legislation to perform actions contrary to canon law and biblical teachings.
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