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Magna Carta

The Making and Legacy of the Great Charter

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Magna Carta

By: Dan Jones
Narrated by: Dan Jones
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Bloomsbury present Magna Carta: The Making and Legacy of the Great Charter, written and read by Dan Jones.

A beautifully produced account of the signing, impact and legacy of Magna Carta, a document that became one of the most influential statements in the history of democracy, as part of the stunning landmark library series.
On a summer's day in 1215 a beleaguered English monarch met a group of disgruntled barons in a meadow by the river Thames named Runnymede. Beset by foreign crisis and domestic rebellion, King John was fast running out of options. On 15 June he reluctantly agreed to fix his regal seal to a document that would change the world.

A milestone in the development of constitutional politics and the rule of law, the 'Great Charter' established an Englishman's right to Habeas Corpus and set limits to the exercise of royal power. For the first time a group of subjects had forced an English king to agree to a document that limited his powers by law and protected their rights.

Dan Jones's elegant and authoritative narrative of the making and legacy of Magna Carta is amplified by profiles of the barons who secured it and a full text of the charter in both Latin and English.©2024 Ken Bruen (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Europe Great Britain Political Science Politics & Government Royalty
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Critic reviews

Dan Jones addresses what the Magna Carta meant at the time and what it should mean to us
Jones deftly condenses a wealth of historical detail into the story of how it became hallowed as a founding document of the western traditions of liberty, democracy and rule of law
All stars
Most relevant
I love listening to history and Dan Jones always explains perfectly allowing the audience to get a greater understanding of the subject matter

Absolutely brilliant

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An excellent summary of the events running up to Magna Carta, its creation & legacy. I’ve read this in tandem with Dan’s book “The Plantagenets”, which is also excellent, just for a deeper dive on Magna Carta itself, which I’ve found useful

Love Dan’s work

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I just love Dan Jones' books! He makes even the most complex historical research accessible and fascinating. All his books are interesting and incredibly informative but it's his easy narrative style and witty asides that make his work so compulsive...especially when he is the narrator.

Really interesting!

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Dan Jones performs well again for another one of his excellent pieces. A great use of context, which goes into special depth as opposed to some of his other entertaining pieces covering the entire Plantagnet Dynasty. The focus, detail and narrative is accessible, informative and entertaining. For any listener, especially English listeners, this AudioBook is a great purchase, one I highly recommend.

Excellent small piece on a fascinating subject.

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