Written with powerful and romantic prose, James Daugherty invites us into the exciting drama of the Magna Charta. He opens with a prologue titled “The Magic Island” that reads like the introduction to epic poetry and then gives us a most handy family tree to help us follow along through the twists and turns of wars, power struggles, and political intrigue. Then, he breaks the story into four parts: “The Twelfth Century,” “The Angevins,” “King John,” and “The Magna Charta.” Then a most fascinating final forty pages titled “The Children of the Magna Charta.” This last section is not only deeply interesting but it is also essential to understanding the Magna Charta itself and the ramifications of that revolutionary act.

This most fascinating story leaps off the page like an exciting novel. John Gunther’s writing is refined and like that of a master storyteller. He tells us just enough of Alexander’s life to make us impressed and curious. And, he tells it in such a way that we are eager to know more.

Starting in Chapter 12, we get powerful accounts of men who were bound and determined to do the right thing, no matter how terrifying, or useless. These men were the best of us. I thank them for their courage under fire. I want their stories to live in the minds and hearts of my children.

Did you know that we have a page dedicated to all things Landmark Books? Take a look here. Our dear friend, Sherry Early of Meriadoc Homeschool Library, has been faithfully reading and reviewing her way through the Landmark books. We know that so many of our readers are curious about the Landmark books and we…