“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 Fraser

In this engaging audiobook, New York Times bestselling author Dan Jones presents a lively, action-packed history of the Magna Carta, the revered founding document of Western liberty. Set against the backdrop of the turbulent year of 1215, this narration chronicles how King John, faced with rebellion and foreign crises, reluctantly agreed to seal a document that would change history. Originally a peace treaty created by discontented barons seeking relief from high taxes and arbitrary justice, the story tracks the Magna Carta’s inception, its brief effectiveness, and the subsequent conflict that followed.

As you listen, you will discover how the Magna Carta was reissued by King John’s successors, ultimately protecting the Church, banning unlawful imprisonment, and setting limits on royal power. It firmly established that taxation must be linked to representation, paving the way for Parliament. Furthermore, Dan Jones illustrates how American patriots in 1776 drew inspiration from this historic defiance in their quest for rights. This audiobook offers a captivating exploration of the Magna Carta and its enduring influence.