Warwick, the Kingmaker

Oman, Charles, 1860-1946Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.1

Word count: 395K words
Chapters: 40

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Warwick, the Kingmaker by Charles OmanAuthor: Oman, Charles, 1860-1946,Language: English, Class: DA: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Great Britain, Ireland, Central Europe, Release Date: May 14, 2018

Editor's review

Charles Oman's Warwick, the Kingmaker is a biographical history for general readers, focusing on the political and military role of the fifteenth-century English nobleman Earl of Warwick in the Wars of the Roses. Oman excels at making complex historical threads clear; the book is less a work of dense scholarship than a triumph of narrative order and careful mapping of personal relationships, making it a suitable primer for understanding the Wars of the Roses and late medieval English politics. As you read, pay attention to how Warwick used marriage, alliances, and military force to influence the succession, and how the image of the "Kingmaker" is constructed in the narrative. The electronic edition makes it easy to look up names and events, and is suitable for history enthusiasts, students, and writers in need of background knowledge.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the Wars of the Roses and medieval English history
Students in need of a biographical-style introductory history
General readers who enjoy narratives of political intrigue and aristocratic networks
Writers seeking background material on English history

Not a good fit for

Specialist researchers expecting the latest academic debates and detailed source criticism
Complete beginners entirely unfamiliar with medieval English history
Readers who prefer novelistic dramatic conflict and fictionalized accounts

Reading tips

First clarify the basic relationships among Henry VI, Edward IV, and Warwick before entering the main text.
As you read, list key figures and marriage ties to help understand shifts in alliances.
After each chapter, review changes in Warwick's position and keep a timeline.
Read alongside a chronology of the Wars of the Roses to reduce confusion over names.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable as an introduction to the Wars of the Roses?

Yes, as an introduction through a biographical lens. Oman's narrative is clearly organized around Warwick's political and military activities and helps readers build a basic grasp of the key relationships. But it is not a general history, so it is advisable to consult a chronology or a general history of the Wars of the Roses as well, so as not to miss the broader background.

Which aspects of Warwick does the book focus on?

It focuses on Warwick's roles as a nobleman, organizer of political alliances, and holder of military power, and on how he influenced the succession and the course of politics. Readers can watch the interplay between marriage alliances, local power, and central royal authority to understand the historical basis of the "Kingmaker" image.

What is the author Oman's writing style like?

Oman was a British historical writer of the first half of the twentieth century, known for clear, well-organized narrative and writing for general readers rather than specialists alone. This book relies less on dense annotation and more on tracing personal relationships and the sequence of events, making it suitable for readers willing to follow a narrative thread through history.

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About the author

Oman, Charles, 1860-1946 Author

Charles Oman (1860-1946) was a British historian known for his work on military history. The library holds nine of his works, chiefly the first four volumes of his multi-volume A History of the Peninsular War, covering the years 1807 to 1811 and tracing campaigns, army organization and strategic decisions in chronological order. Other titles, such as The Art of War in the Middle Ages, A.D. 378-1515 and Wellington's Army, 1809-1814, concentrate on European military history, while Warwick, the Kingmaker and A History of England show his interest extending to political and general history. His writing is noted for solid use of sources and clear narrative, setting tactical detail within its political context. Public information on his life and on Chinese translations of his works is limited.