Wonderful summer reading for the history buff! Thomas Costain was one of the best writers of historical novels based on fact and research.

Thomas Bertram Costain (May 8, 1885 - October 8, 1965) was a Canadian journalist who became a best-selling author of historical novels at the age of 57. Originally published by Doubleday in 1959, The Magnificent Century covers Henry III’s long and turbulent reign, from 1216 to 1272. During his lifetime, Henry was frequently unpopular, unreliable and inconsistent. Yet his reign saw spectacular advancement in the arts, sciences and theology, as well as in government; a magnificent century indeed.

The entire series "A History of the Plantagenets" (also "The Pageant of England") includes THE CONQUERING FAMILY, THE MAGNIFICENT CENTURY, THE THREE EDWARDS and THE LAST PLANTAGENETS.