Magna Carta Audiobook By Dan Jones cover art

Magna Carta

The Birth of Liberty

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Magna Carta

By: Dan Jones
Narrated by: Dan Jones
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About this listen

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Plantagenets, a lively, action-packed history of how the Magna Carta came to be - by the author of Powers and Thrones.

The Magna Carta is revered around the world as the founding document of Western liberty. Its principles - even its language - can be found in our Bill of Rights and in the Constitution. But what was this strange document and how did it gain such legendary status?

Dan Jones takes us back to the turbulent year of 1215, when, beset by foreign crises and cornered by a growing domestic rebellion, King John reluctantly agreed to fix his seal to a document that would change the course of history. At the time of its creation the Magna Carta was just a peace treaty drafted by a group of rebel barons who were tired of the king's high taxes, arbitrary justice, and endless foreign wars. The fragile peace it established would last only two months, but its principles have reverberated over the centuries.

Jones's riveting narrative follows the story of the Magna Carta's creation, its failure, and the war that subsequently engulfed England, and charts the high points in its unexpected afterlife. Reissued by King John's successors it protected the Church, banned unlawful imprisonment, and set limits to the exercise of royal power. It established the principle that taxation must be tied to representation and paved the way for the creation of Parliament.

In 1776 American patriots, inspired by that long-ago defiance, dared to pick up arms against another English king and to demand even more far-reaching rights. We think of the Declaration of Independence as our founding document but those who drafted it had their eye on the Magna Carta.

©2015 Dan Jones (P)2015 Penguin Audio
Constitutions Europe Great Britain History & Theory Medieval Military Political Science Politics & Government Royalty Wars & Conflicts England Middle ages War Freedom Taxation
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Critic reviews

"Lively and excellent." (The New York Times)

"By putting the Magna Carta in its proper historical context, the brilliant young historian Dan Jones triumphantly answers the questions he poses in his Introduction, about how it came to be granted, what it meant at the time, and what it should mean to us today." (Andrew Roberts, New York Times best-selling author of Napoleon)

"Dan Jones has an enviable gift for telling a dramatic story while at the same time inviting us to consider serious topics like liberty and the seeds of representative government." (Antonia Frasier)

Engaging Historical Narrative • Accessible Complex History • Compelling Political Intrigue • Comprehensive Historical Context
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Never thought I’d read a book about a document like the Magna Carta ever, let alone enjoy it so thoroughly!

Another Dan Jones hit!

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The author presents a fascinating history of the events that precipitated and followed the formation of the Magna Carta. The seemingly inconsequential agreement that survived only for a few weeks gave rise to the modern democratic movement.

An Intriguing History

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I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I came into this book with almost no understanding of the history of Europe or the history of the Magna Carta beyond its influence on American political documents and thinking. I chose this book to learn some of the most enduring ideas in this enduring work and I was not disappointed. I found the amazing machinations of history and the real world demands of people that brought together the forces that created the Magna Carta compelling as well. Suffice it to say, I did not have any difficulty in drawing comparisons of the challenges presented by King John to our modern political context and that made me somewhat hopeful The audio book was strengthened by the author being the reader.

Insightful Telling of History

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I think this book may be written with people who have subject matter knowledge in mind. Still, it is highly accessible.

Clear account of Magna Carta's history

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I really like dan jones. I first discovered him by the series secrets of great British castles and when I saw he wrote and narrated this one I immediately had to get it. I definitely wasn’t disappointed!

Great listen and narration

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Dan Jones has an excellent grasp of history in a modern context. Enjoyed it immensely.

Looking back, to look forward

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There was more to the story than I thought. This book really covers the ins and outs of the political intrigue that surrounded the creation of the Magna Carta. I recommend it.

Great History Lesson

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this chronological explanation kept me on the edge of my seat. I was surprised I even liked it as I thought it would be a text book.

best book I have read in years. informational yet

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I knew nothing of the Plantagenet kings or of the most diabolical of them all, King John, prior to hearing this audio book. Neither did I know what prompted the barons of his time to write the Magna Carta, a document that is referred to with reverence today. This history is fascinating as are the links the author draws between the Magna Carta and legal documents outlining human rights that have been subsequently put in place in countries around the world. The author is the narrator. He has a wonderful speaking voice, is enthusiastic about his subject, and reads at a fine pace for the listener to take in the story.

Informative and Fascinating Account

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Interesting information and good storytelling. It’s helpful to have a better understanding for the historical context of the Magna Carta.

Interesting Book

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