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The Magna Charta

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The Magna Charta

By: James Daugherty
Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard
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About this listen

 In the rich turbulence of English history, one day stands magnificently apart: June 15, 1215, the day of the signing of the Magna Charta. On this day, the first blow for English freedom was struck and forever affected the Western world.

Here is the story of three true men, Stephen Langton, Williams Marshall, and Hubert de Burgh, whose heroic deeds are set against those of the ever deceitful and crafty King John.

James Daugherty's narrative is divided into four parts, the first three describing the intriguing development of the Magna Charta itself. The fourth part is titled "Children of the Magna Charta" and subtitled "Milestones that have marked the long road from Magna Charta". In it he describes the rise of other movements that harkened back to the Magna Charta in their claims for freedom and self rule, including the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the covenant of the League of Nations, the Atlantic Charter, the Charter of the Organization of the American States, and the United Nations Charter.

Newbery Award-winning author James Daugherty gives us the dramatic and sweeping account of this pageantry of history through his inimitable style. This audio edition is sure to thrill and enlighten a new generation of readers.

©1956 James Daugherty (P)2002 Blackstone Audiobooks Childhood Education Education Europe Relationships Mediaeval Historic Fiction For Kids

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Must read for this day and age where freedoms are being taken away from under our noses in the form of safety. Also explains alot of how school and instutionalised education have worped history.

Must read

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Audible stuck this in the history section, but it is written by an author/illustrator of children's books. It is also very dated, decades old (1954).

Keeping that in mind: This is a feel good history book for English kids. If you want a nationalistic slant and a patriotic tale about how wonderful the country and its people were, listen. It is very simplistic and once you realize it is a children's book it makes much more sense.

It's not real history however. The facts could be easily gleaned from Wikipedia, the rest is a fictional novel. It is the author projecting and interpreting without any academic backup. I am not surprised some reviews just love that 'feel good gosh we were great' sentiment. For anyone else I recommend you read some books written by actual historians. Or authors that have at least researched some more.

A word of advice for the reviewer who thought this was a great novel that accurately portrays this time period and connected it to 'our freedoms are taken awayyyyy right now toooo!" and how 'history in school has been worped' (spelling his not mine): Next time just google the author before you commit to the book, and you will be able to discern between a children's author and someone who has actually studied the time period. As an extra hint: The 'Newebery award' that the author won is for children's literature.

As a children's book it is fine, I think. Just treat it as such.

Nationalistic fairytales by children's author

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Can't believe I didn't review it back then. Really good. I often think about it. Really want to listen to it again and have my kids listen to it. Well recommended.

21/02/2019 Listened to it again. Really good. Now to get the kids to listen to it.

Listened to this a few years ago.

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History, as it should be told! Engaging, interesting, educational!
This should be the way history is taught in schools. Worldwide.

Magnificent story, brilliantly told!

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Okay, at first... but then we have a rambling section on Robin Hood told as fact. Fantasy and facts are muddled, and all those real facts are the basics that can be found on Wikipedia with no attempt at analysis, interpretation or intellectual addition by the author. The author frequently strays into novella, describing, for example, how King John's eyes flashed green as he clasped his long fingers... these imaginative flights of fancy are utterly pointless, useless and weird. The best thing about this book is the clear narrator - pity he's reading such bad material.
Altogether, if it was an A-Level history essay, I'd give it a C.

uneasy mix of fact and fantasy

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