…the Road to Magna Carta

King John is often portrayed as the villain in the tales of Robin Hood—greedy, cowardly, and cruel. But who was the real man behind the legend? In this captivating audiobook, bestselling historian Marc Morris draws on contemporary chronicles and personal letters of the king to reveal a figure that was dynamic, inventive, and relentless, yet flawed. Listen as Morris narrates the story of John’s rise from a youngest son with limited prospects to the ruler of a vast dominion stretching from the Scottish border to the Pyrenees, marked by treachery, rebellion, and murder.

During John’s reign, oppression reached unprecedented levels, with former allies exiled, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland invaded, and financial exploitation soaring since the Norman Conquest. As his tyrannical rule led to conspiracy and revolt, he was ultimately forced to issue the Magna Carta, a pivotal document holding him and his successors accountable for their actions. This audiobook offers a nuanced exploration of a monarch often seen as a monster, shedding light on the complexities of his character and reign.