House of Lilies, Justine FirnhaberBaker
House of Lilies, Justine FirnhaberBaker
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House of Lilies
The Dynasty That Made Medieval France

Author: Justine Firnhaber-Baker

Narrator: Justine Firnhaber-Baker

Unabridged: 13 hr 3 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 03/11/2025

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

In House of Lilies, historian Justine Firnhaber-Baker tells the epic story of the Capetian dynasty of medieval France, showing how their ideas about power, religion, and identity continue to shape European society and politics today.

Reigning from 987 to 1328, the Capetians became the most powerful monarchy of the Middle Ages. Consolidating a fragmented realm that eventually stretched from the Rhône to the Pyrenees, they were the first royal house to adopt the fleur-de-lys, displaying this lily emblem to signify their divine favor and legitimate their rule. The Capetians were at the center of some of the most dramatic and far-reaching episodes in European history, including the Crusades, bloody waves of religious persecution, and a series of wars with England. The Capetian age saw the emergence of Gothic architecture, the romantic ideals of chivalry and courtly love, and the Church's role at the center of daily life.

Evocatively interweaving these pivotal developments with the human stories of the men and women who drove them, House of Lilies is the definitive history of the dynasty that forged France—and Europe—as we know it.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Adam on June 07, 2024

This was great. Hugh Capet through to Maurice Druon's Accursed Kings is a bit of a blank spot for me, and this filled all that in nicely. Firnhaber-Baker keeps the narrative clean and flowing, and while you always want a little more detail in these sort of things, she's really got as much as she can......more

Goodreads review by Melisende on March 03, 2024

Four stars for the following reasons: * easy to read * informative though not dull or dry * covers the Capetian Dynasty well, including the women * well researched * additional notes, maps, family trees Covering nearly over three centuries of French history and international politicking, Firnhaber-Baker d......more

Goodreads review by Anthony on March 05, 2025

Succession. One of the things I really appreciate is non-English speaking history becomes accessible. Case in point here, where author Justine Firnhaber-Baker has written a wonderful book on the Capetian dynasty which ruled France from 987-1328. We have so much access to the history of the Normans an......more

Goodreads review by Jacob on May 06, 2024

Having been lucky enough to take an in-depth class on the Capetians with Justine - who knows her subject material inside out - over the last year, this review is probably a bit biased! That being said, this book brings to life the family story of the Capetians with all of their dramatic flaws and goi......more

Goodreads review by Matthew on January 08, 2024

House of Lilies is a delight in every way. Firnhaber-Baker demonstrates her complete mastery of this topic, while also telling a story that pulls you along from beginning to end. The book manages to convey how history ebbs, flows, and thunders, but even more importantly allows the reader to not only......more