Listen free for 30 days
-
Matilda
- Empress, Queen, Warrior
- Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon
- Length: 12 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Politics & Activism
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £16.09
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
King of the North Wind
- The Life of Henry II in Five Acts
- By: Claudia Gold
- Narrated by: Jonathan Oliver
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Henry II had all the gifts of the gods. He was charismatic, clever, learned, empathetic, a brilliant tactician, with great physical strength and an astonishing self-belief. Henry was the creator of the Plantagenet dynasty of kings, who ruled through eight generations in command of vast lands in Britain and Europe. Virtually unbeaten in battle, and engaged in a ceaseless round of conquest and diplomacy, Henry forged an empire that matched Charlemagne's.
-
-
Fascinating
- By P. Gigli on 21-09-18
-
A Great and Terrible King
- Edward I and the Forging of Britain
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 18 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the first major biography for a generation of a truly formidable king. Edward I is familiar to millions as 'Longshanks', conqueror of Scotland and nemesis of Sir William Wallace ('Braveheart'). Edward was born to rule England, but believed that it was his right to rule all of Britain. His reign was one of the most dramatic of the entire Middle Ages, leading to war and conquest on an unprecedented scale and leaving a legacy of division that has lasted from his day to our own.
-
-
Colourful and informative
- By Jake on 22-03-22
-
The White Ship
- Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream
- By: Charles Spencer
- Narrated by: Richard Trinder
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By 1120, Henry was perhaps the most formidable ruler in Europe, with an enviable record on the battlefield, immense lands and wealth and unprecedented authority in his kingdoms. Everything he had worked so hard for was finally achieved, and he was ready to hand it on to his beloved son and heir, William Ætheling. Henry I and his retinue set out first. The White Ship - considered the fastest afloat - would follow, carrying the young prince. Spoilt and arrogant, William had plied his comrades and crew with drink from the minute he stepped aboard....
-
-
Awful narration
- By Amazon Customer on 30-03-21
-
The Fears of Henry IV
- The Life of England's Self-Made King
- By: Ian Mortimer
- Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart
- Length: 22 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
King Henry IV survived at least eight plots to dethrone or kill him in the first six years of his reign. However, he had not always been so unpopular. In his youth he had been a great chivalric champion and crusader. In 1399, at the age of 32, he was greeted as the saviour of the realm when he ousted from power the tyrannical King Richard II. But Henry had to contend with men who supported him only as long as they could control him; when they failed, they plotted to kill him. Adversaries also tried to take advantage of his questionable right to the crown.
-
-
I learned a lot about two Reigns
- By Kirstine on 27-03-19
-
The Perfect King
- The Life of Edward III
- By: Ian Mortimer
- Narrated by: Alex Wyndham
- Length: 19 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Edward’s life is one of the most extraordinary in all English history. He ordered his uncle to be beheaded, he usurped his father’s throne and he started a war which lasted for more than a hundred years. He took the crown when it was at its lowest point and raised it to new heights, presenting himself as a new King Arthur, victorious across Europe. He was the architect of many English icons - from parliamentary rule to the adoption of English as the official language and even the building of a great clock tower at Westminster.
-
-
Scholarly, interesting and engaging blography
- By Kirstine on 16-03-19
-
The Norman Conquest
- The Battle of Hastings and the Fall of Anglo-Saxon England
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An upstart French duke who sets out to conquer the most powerful and unified kingdom in Christendom. An invasion force on a scale not seen since the days of the Romans. One of the bloodiest and most decisive battles ever fought.
-
-
Great story, poor reading
- By Matthew on 21-11-14
-
King of the North Wind
- The Life of Henry II in Five Acts
- By: Claudia Gold
- Narrated by: Jonathan Oliver
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Henry II had all the gifts of the gods. He was charismatic, clever, learned, empathetic, a brilliant tactician, with great physical strength and an astonishing self-belief. Henry was the creator of the Plantagenet dynasty of kings, who ruled through eight generations in command of vast lands in Britain and Europe. Virtually unbeaten in battle, and engaged in a ceaseless round of conquest and diplomacy, Henry forged an empire that matched Charlemagne's.
-
-
Fascinating
- By P. Gigli on 21-09-18
-
A Great and Terrible King
- Edward I and the Forging of Britain
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 18 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the first major biography for a generation of a truly formidable king. Edward I is familiar to millions as 'Longshanks', conqueror of Scotland and nemesis of Sir William Wallace ('Braveheart'). Edward was born to rule England, but believed that it was his right to rule all of Britain. His reign was one of the most dramatic of the entire Middle Ages, leading to war and conquest on an unprecedented scale and leaving a legacy of division that has lasted from his day to our own.
-
-
Colourful and informative
- By Jake on 22-03-22
-
The White Ship
- Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream
- By: Charles Spencer
- Narrated by: Richard Trinder
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By 1120, Henry was perhaps the most formidable ruler in Europe, with an enviable record on the battlefield, immense lands and wealth and unprecedented authority in his kingdoms. Everything he had worked so hard for was finally achieved, and he was ready to hand it on to his beloved son and heir, William Ætheling. Henry I and his retinue set out first. The White Ship - considered the fastest afloat - would follow, carrying the young prince. Spoilt and arrogant, William had plied his comrades and crew with drink from the minute he stepped aboard....
-
-
Awful narration
- By Amazon Customer on 30-03-21
-
The Fears of Henry IV
- The Life of England's Self-Made King
- By: Ian Mortimer
- Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart
- Length: 22 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
King Henry IV survived at least eight plots to dethrone or kill him in the first six years of his reign. However, he had not always been so unpopular. In his youth he had been a great chivalric champion and crusader. In 1399, at the age of 32, he was greeted as the saviour of the realm when he ousted from power the tyrannical King Richard II. But Henry had to contend with men who supported him only as long as they could control him; when they failed, they plotted to kill him. Adversaries also tried to take advantage of his questionable right to the crown.
-
-
I learned a lot about two Reigns
- By Kirstine on 27-03-19
-
The Perfect King
- The Life of Edward III
- By: Ian Mortimer
- Narrated by: Alex Wyndham
- Length: 19 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Edward’s life is one of the most extraordinary in all English history. He ordered his uncle to be beheaded, he usurped his father’s throne and he started a war which lasted for more than a hundred years. He took the crown when it was at its lowest point and raised it to new heights, presenting himself as a new King Arthur, victorious across Europe. He was the architect of many English icons - from parliamentary rule to the adoption of English as the official language and even the building of a great clock tower at Westminster.
-
-
Scholarly, interesting and engaging blography
- By Kirstine on 16-03-19
-
The Norman Conquest
- The Battle of Hastings and the Fall of Anglo-Saxon England
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An upstart French duke who sets out to conquer the most powerful and unified kingdom in Christendom. An invasion force on a scale not seen since the days of the Romans. One of the bloodiest and most decisive battles ever fought.
-
-
Great story, poor reading
- By Matthew on 21-11-14
-
The Anglo-Saxons
- A History of the Beginnings of England
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixteen hundred years ago, Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Grand cities and luxurious villas were deserted and left to crumble, and civil society collapsed into chaos. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea and established themselves as its new masters. The Anglo-Saxons traces the turbulent history of these people across the next six centuries. It explains how their earliest rulers fought relentlessly against each other for glory and supremacy and then were almost destroyed by the onslaught of the Vikings.
-
-
Informative and entertaining
- By Ambrose Duffy on 28-05-21
-
The House of Dudley
- A New History of Tudor England
- By: Dr Joanne Paul
- Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
- Length: 17 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Each Tudor monarch made their name with a Dudley by their side - or by crushing one beneath their feet. The Dudleys thrived at the court of Henry VII but were sacrificed to the popularity of Henry VIII. Rising to prominence in the reign of Edward VI, the Dudleys lost it all by advancing Jane Grey to the throne over Mary I. Under Elizabeth I, the family were once again at the centre of power and would do anything to remain there. With three generations of felled favourites, what was it that caused this family to keep rising so high and falling so low?
-
-
Thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining book.
- By Amazon Customer on 24-04-22
-
In the Reign of King John
- A Year in the Life of Plantagenet England
- By: Dan Jones
- Narrated by: Dugald Bruce Lockhart
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Weakened by the loss of Normandy, King John faced insurrection by his disgruntled barons. With the assistance of the archbishop of Canterbury, they drew up a list of their demands. Dan Jones' vivid account of the vicissitudes of feudal power politics and the workings of 13th-century government is interwoven with an exploration of the lives of ordinary people: how and where they worked, what they wore, what they ate and what role the church played in their lives.
-
-
Half a book
- By Jim on 06-06-16
-
King John
- Treachery, Tyranny and the Road to Magna Carta
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Ric Jerrom
- Length: 14 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The brilliantly compelling new biography of the treacherous and tyrannical King John, published to coincide with the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. Authoritative and dramatic, Marc Morris' King John offers a compelling portrait of an extraordinary king whose reign marked a momentous turning point in the history of Britain and Europe. King John is buried in Worcester Cathedral.
-
-
Tips for Listening/Reading
- By Sparding on 02-04-20
-
The Red Prince
- The Life of John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster
- By: Helen Carr
- Narrated by: Helen Carr
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
John Gaunt was the son of Edward III, brother to the Black Prince, father to Henry IV, and the sire of all those Tudors. He has had pretty bad press: supposed usurper of Richard II’s crown and the focus of hatred in the Peasants’ Revolt, as they torched his home, the Savoy Palace. Helen Carr paints a complex portrait of a man who held the levers of power on the English and European stage, passionately upheld chivalric values, pressed for the Bible to be translated into English, and patronized the arts.
-
-
The sniffing narrator
- By Shades of Blue Q on 30-05-21
-
Isabella
- The She-Wolf of France
- By: Alison Weir
- Narrated by: Lisette Lecat
- Length: 21 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Here is the first full-length biography of a much maligned but astonishingly colourful Queen of England. In Newgate Street, in the city of London, stand the meagre ruins of Christ Church. On the same site once stood a royal mausoleum set to rival Westminster Abbey in the 14th century. Among the many crowned heads buried there was Isabella of France, Edward II's queen - one of the most notorious femme fatales in history. But how did she acquire her evil reputation? And is it justified?
-
-
Excellent Historical Work
- By Gregory on 18-02-11
-
The Hollow Crown
- The Wars of the Roses and the Rise of the Tudors
- By: Dan Jones
- Narrated by: Dan Jones
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Some of the greatest heroes and villains in British history were thrown together in these turbulent times: Henry V, whose victory at Agincourt and prudent rule at home marked the high point of the medieval monarchy; Edward IV, who was handed his crown by the scheming soldier Warwick the Kingmaker, before their alliance collapsed into a fight to the death; and the last Plantagenet, Richard III, who stole the throne and murdered his own nephews, the Princes in the Tower.
-
-
More unbelievable then Game of Thrones!!
- By Foxhole on 28-01-19
-
River Kings
- A New History of Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Roads
- By: Cat Jarman
- Narrated by: Cat Jarman
- Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dr Cat Jarman is a bioarchaeologist, specialising in forensic techniques to research the paths of Vikings who came to rest in British soil. By examining teeth that are now more than 1,000 years old, she can determine childhood diet and thereby where a person was likely born. With radiocarbon dating, she can ascertain a death date down to the range of a few years. And her research offers new visions of the likely roles of women and children in Viking culture.
-
-
Well researched book written in an engaging style
- By Karen on 20-08-21
-
Powers and Thrones
- A New History of the Middle Ages
- By: Dan Jones
- Narrated by: Dan Jones
- Length: 24 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the best-selling author of The Templars, Dan Jones' epic new history tells nothing less than the story of how the world we know today came to be built. Across 16 chapters, blending Dan Jones' trademark gripping narrative style with authoritative analysis, Powers and Thrones shows how, at each stage in this story, successive Western powers thrived by attracting - or stealing - the most valuable resources, ideas and people from the rest of the world.
-
-
A stunning recounting of the past (and probable lesson for the future)
- By Myh on 10-10-21
-
The Brothers York
- An English Tragedy
- By: Thomas Penn
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 23 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In early 1461, a teenage boy won a battle on a freezing morning in the Welsh marches and claimed the crown of England. He was Edward IV, first king of the usurping house of York. The country, crippled by economic crisis, insurgency, and a corrupt and bankrupt government, was in need of a new hero. Charismatic, able and ruthlessly ambitious, Edward and his two younger brothers, George, Duke of Clarence, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, became the figureheads of a spectacular ruling dynasty which laid the foundations for a renewal of English royal power.
-
-
Tudor propaganda again
- By Kniphofia on 25-12-19
-
Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose
- Tudor Rose, Book 1
- By: Alison Weir
- Narrated by: Nicky Diss
- Length: 20 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Eldest daughter of the royal House of York, Elizabeth dreams of a crown to call her own. But when her beloved father, King Edward, dies suddenly, her destiny is rewritten. Her family's enemies close in. Two young princes are murdered in the Tower. Then her uncle seizes power—and vows to make Elizabeth his queen. But another claimant seeks the throne, the upstart son of the rival royal House of Lancaster. Marriage to this Henry Tudor would unite the white rose of York and the red of Lancaster—and change everything.
-
-
Enjoyable informative listen
- By Erika on 23-05-22
-
The Song of Simon de Montfort
- By: Sophie Thérèse Ambler
- Narrated by: Bruno Roubicek
- Length: 15 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Song of Simon de Montfort is the story of this extraordinary man: heir to a great warrior, devoted husband and father, fearless crusader knight and charismatic leader. It is the story of a man whose passion for good governance was so fierce that, in 1258, frustrated by the king’s refusal to take the advice of his nobles and the increasing injustice meted out to his subjects, he marched on Henry III’s hall at Westminster and seized the reins of power.
-
-
Listen at speed 1.2x
- By Christine on 11-03-22
Summary
A life of Matilda - empress, skilled military leader, and one of the greatest figures of the English Middle Ages.
Matilda was a daughter, wife, and mother. But she was also empress, heir to the English crown - the first woman ever to hold the position - and an able military general.
This new biography explores Matilda's achievements as military and political leader and sets her life and career in full context. Catherine Hanley provides fresh insight into Matilda's campaign to claim the title of queen, her approach to allied kingdoms and rival rulers, and her role in the succession crisis. Hanley highlights how Matilda fought for the throne and argues that although she never sat on it herself, her reward was to see her son become king. Extraordinarily, her line has continued through every single monarch of England or Britain from that time to the present day.
More from the same
Author
Narrator
What listeners say about Matilda
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- daisyrock
- 24-09-19
Wonderful biography of an overlooked queen
I loved this biography of Matilda. What a woman! So ahead of her time, she had no chance of success, but nonetheless became a foundation stone of the British monarchy. Poor Stephen comes across well too. The book was slightly marred by a narration that wasn't my cup of tea. Jennifer Dixon has a lovely voice, but one is always aware that she is reading - the best narrators have a flow to their delivery where it is easy to forget that they have a script in front of them.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- john
- 04-01-20
Hysterical introduction!
Sorry, this is not history, but rather agenda driven feminist propaganda bringing a twenty first century anachronistic mindset to a medieval historical biography. When you listen to the words “because she was a woman” twice within the first five minutes, as if that somehow is the final word on her character, then you are literally shutting down any real debate as to the nature of her personality. Matilda was simply a strong minded, privileged, ruthless individual, who was no better or worse than her male peers and was a product of her times.
She should be judged by her deeds rather then her gender, anything else is bad history.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- mr p garrett
- 26-09-19
amazing story well told
really interesting story and a complex and interesting woman living through extremely challenging times. bring to life both the complexities of the story but also the issues and barriers and expectations relating to women in the 12th century. given the common view of the time was the only place a woman could rule was on the behalf of men applies to her and to some her antagonists and brings you light all the superb women who have been overlooked by history.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- GB
- 02-03-21
Not to be side-lined as a woman
well researched, very interesting , reads a bit like a thriller. loved it. worth reading.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 10-09-19
Both entertaining and scholarly
Hanley spins a colorful and entertaining narrative on a skeleton of historic facts, bringing to life this 12th century queen whom history has long ignored. It was the audio equivalent of a page turner. The narration was also very good.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Laura
- 16-08-19
a wonderful way to learn about a great woman
Matilda wasn't mentioned in high school history class. I'm interested in the history of Great Britain. This is my first biography normally one to lesson to novels. I learned a lot about a great woman who I now feel more women and girls of today should know about. this book has now made want to find more biographies on female Noble women of that time. I highly recommend this book.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Christopher Zachary
- 14-06-21
essential study for English royal succession
I am an amateur historian if not more a fan of history. I am also a huge fan of this work.
the author does an excellent job of filling the reader in on what is going on else where and providing context. of special interest the author invests their time in cutting through the bias laid on the topic by the many intervening years to provide as honest and accurate an image of the subject as this reader believes possible.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 04-04-21
Wonderful Book
Matilda’s story is fascinating and is told very well in this book. Jennifer Dixon also does an outstanding narration. Would highly recommend to to anyone interested in a thorough recount of Matilda’s life.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 07-02-22
Excellent history of one of the most pivotal women
Excellent history of one of the most pivotal women in history. While I think the book extremely well researched and carries its argument well, it obviously fills any and all holes and cracks in its narrative with assumptive statements of only the best of the titular figure and only the worse of all male contemporaries.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Swilson
- 13-12-21
Confusing Matilda
The book was very informative and well written. The narrator was great. I found it tough at times to keep track of which Matilda was doing what during the battle.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- DaNick
- 19-06-22
Yawning thanks to the narrator...
The story in general is very interesting, but the narrator is soooo boring! I had to speed up the narration a bit otherwise it was impossible not falling asleep!