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England's Empty Throne: Usurpation and the Language of Legitimation, 1399-1422 by Paul Strohm
lisa_setepenre's review
5.0
Paul Strohm combines literary and historical analysis to explore the ways in which language, symbolism and story-telling was used by the usurping Lancastrian kings to legitimise their rule after the deposition of Richard II.
England’s Empty Throne can be a dense read, but is no less fascinating. Strohm is not interested in whether the texts he analyses are truthful or not, but rather what they say about the people who they were composed for, and how they were used to elude and evade the issue of Richard II’s deposition and murder and the (il)legitimacy of Henry IV and Henry V’s reigns. Strohm covers a wide range of topics, such as the use of prophecy and plots, the presentation of Lollards as both villain and fool, the burial and reburial of Richard II, the role of Henry IV’s queen, Joanne of Navarre, and advice given to the king and future king.
This is not a book for those wanting a straight-forward examination. Strohm seldom comes to definitive conclusions about the events that happened, but through his analysis we may gain greater insight into the personalities, motivations and undercurrent ideas in early Lancastrian England.
England’s Empty Throne can be a dense read, but is no less fascinating. Strohm is not interested in whether the texts he analyses are truthful or not, but rather what they say about the people who they were composed for, and how they were used to elude and evade the issue of Richard II’s deposition and murder and the (il)legitimacy of Henry IV and Henry V’s reigns. Strohm covers a wide range of topics, such as the use of prophecy and plots, the presentation of Lollards as both villain and fool, the burial and reburial of Richard II, the role of Henry IV’s queen, Joanne of Navarre, and advice given to the king and future king.
This is not a book for those wanting a straight-forward examination. Strohm seldom comes to definitive conclusions about the events that happened, but through his analysis we may gain greater insight into the personalities, motivations and undercurrent ideas in early Lancastrian England.
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