Magna Bloody Carta

By Irene Radford

Is the Magna Carta better than the US Constitution? Was it a power grab by English noblemen, or is it a rights-of-man declaration penned by Robin Hood?  The answers may surprise you as author and historian Irene Radford picks apart the clauses and explains them in context to the history surrounding this amazing document. Magna Carta, a true turning point in the history of democracy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bookview Cafe
• Release date: Feb 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781611381979

Irene Radford

Irene Radford writing as C.F. Bentley has been writing stories ever since she figured out what a pencil was for. A member of an endangered species—a native Oregonian who lives in Oregon—she and her husband make their home in Welches, Oregon where deer, bears, coyotes, hawks, owls, and woodpeckers feed regularly on their back deck. A museum trained historian, Irene/C.F. has spent many hours prowling pioneer cemeteries deepening her connections to the past. Raised in a military family she grew up all over the US and learned early on that books are friends that don’t get left behind with a move. Her interests and reading range from ancient history, to spiritual meditations, to space stations, and a whole lot in between.

Book preview

Introduction:

I am a history geek. I freely admit it. Why else would I work so hard to major in history and walk out of a prestigious liberal arts college with a B.A? Collecting historical trivia is one of my vices. I even worked as assistant curator at a house museum in Oregon for four years. But I’m also a generalist. I know a little bit about a lot of things. All eras are fascinating, but there is something about medieval life that sucks me in and engages my imagination like no other.

So, when a copy of the Magna Carta—one of four originals extant—made a grand tour of the United States I made a point to visit it at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon.

As a member of the society I purchased advance tickets to a private viewing for members only the day before it opened to the public. I and a few thousand of my fellow enthusiasts stood in line for hours before the doors opened. I touched the ticket in my pocket like a magic talisman every ten minutes, making sure I hadn’t lost it (I’ve been known to do such things), or had my pocket picked by a desperate grad student.

Eventually a hush rippled through the crowd. The massive double doors opened. This was not a movie or sporting event where the crowd would anxiously surge forward to claim the best seats. These were respectful fans. We proceeded tentatively into the lobby of the new OHS building in downtown Portland. We were ushered, slowly, into orderly lines and allowed to enter the special exhibit hall one by one. More standing in line. Step by step we snaked toward our goal.

I noticed that the lights within the hall were dimmer, the moment I crossed the threshold. Small display cases lined the marked alleyway that had been set out in a maze. We saw garments and tools retrieved from archeological digs and carefully preserved. Grand but faded tapestries behind glass told stories of hunts and battles. Carefully edited texts told the story of the political and economic life in early 13th C. England. The events leading up to the signing of the Great Charter burst free of the shroud of distance and misconception.

With each turn through the maze the lights became dimmer, and our perceptions shrank to the level of a circle of candle light. Without the noise and bustle of modern life, I felt as if I had stepped back in time and I was watching history unfold.

A small sign explained that as we moved inward our eyes gradually adjusted to the lower light levels necessary to preserving the parchment and ink. A special case had been designed to seal the document in the perfect temperature and humidity to mitigate the effects of time.

And then I was there, standing in front of a slanted glass cover, my mouth gaped in awe at the thought of how close I stood to one of the most significant pieces of western European history, culture, and government. As US citizens we are direct inheritors of the innovative concepts laid out in those painfully constructed sentences of Latin.

I forgot to breathe.

Then security urged me to keep moving, give someone else a chance to bask in the wonder of history come to life. I know I wasn’t the only one who stood awestruck to gaze upon this simple document that changed so much during its own time and holds a lasting influence on modern government.

This was nearly thirty years ago, but the moment has stayed with me.

When the time came for me to write an historical fantasy about the events leading up to the signing of the Magna Carta I consulted my brother, Lt. Colonel (retired) James H. Radford, PhD., Professor of Political Science. His response? Read the bloody thing and form your own opinion. Yep, he’s a teacher.

As an amateur historian I had to add that the document should be read in the context of the era when it was written. I dragged out my neglected historian credentials and did just that.

And I included a copy in the back of Guardian of the Trust, Merlin’s Descendants #2, now available at the Book View Café along with the other four books in the series: http://www.bookviewcafe.com/bookstore/book/guardian-of-the-trust/

Then several months ago, a rumor swept across the internet that some ultra-conservative politicians had shouted in public: The U.S. Constitution isn’t good enough. We need to go back to the Magna Carta. Our founding fathers were well aware of the Magna Carta and its significance. Many of the concepts of our U.S. Constitution derived from it. But is the Magna Carta better than the Constitution?

My first reaction was… um… Have you even read the Magna Carta? Not the version depicted in the movie rendition of Robin Hood portrayed by Russell Crowe. The real Magna Carta.

I have read it—in translation. My Latin is rudimentary at best.

So I embarked on a series of blogs in which I took the Magna Carta, clause by clause, and threw in a few of my own comments, but mostly made this amazing document fully accessible to readers in modern translation on a public forum. Now I have gathered those rambling blog posts into this book.

Hollywood and revisionist historians have turned the Magna Carta into a declaration of the rights of the common man.

It is in fact little more than an economic peace treaty between King John and his barons, with the Church making the third side of a triangle in the civil war. Please

Reviews for Magna Bloody Carta

[annesion · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So this book was not really what I was expecting. For some reason I thought it would be more of a lead up to what occurred to get the Magna Carta signed. This is definitely not your everyday history tome. The actual dissection of the document was superfluous to me and it being the basis for more modern documents was interesting yet not enough to warrant me ever reading another book on the subject. Would have love to have learned more about King John and the lead up to the signing of the Magna Carta, this may be because I am truly enamored with medieval England. Law discussions not so much.

[cdvicarage · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this an interesting book and an easy read for non-fiction. The individual clauses were well explained and set in context but the conversational tone, with many slangy phrases, tended to make the book seem less authoritative and sometimes rather patronising.

[amorerocks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting new take on King John, the Magna Carta and modern democracy.

[difreda · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well I never thought I'd enjoy reading a book about the Magna (Bloody) Carta. As a political novice, I've always enjoyed the stories but Radford also gave me what has been missing ... context.. A fine short read - that gives one an appreciation of why things were written - not just what. . Really enjoyed the book!

[jimnoir · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a review for Librarything Early Reviewers.I enjoyed Radford's easy to understand comments about the different articles of the Magna Carta. Instead of writing complex sociopolitical theories, she kept it simple and direct. I also appreciated her sense of humor when relating the issues of the time to similar circumstances in the contemporary world.If you want to get a feel for the importance of this document and its meaning, this is a good place to start.

[jsoos_7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.interesting little volume. Author provides a nice summary and introduction of the Magna Carta, and then proceeds to discuss each of the 50-some articles in the document. Very well organized, each article is put into its setting (12th and 13th century England), the actual article shown, and oftentimes some commentary. Although some of the commentary tends to be Narthwest pacific treehuggerish, on the whole, it is very engaging and worth a read. This has certainly increased my knowledge and understanding of this critical historical document.

[tessaslingerland · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very, very interesting. I had of course heard about the Magna Carta. But never tried or even thought of reading it. But the author explains each clause and relates what is written in it to present day life and law (with quite a bit of humour and sarcasm).

[jeffv_19 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Invoking legislation from times long past seems to be a popular political ploy these days. Often, we hear from the ghosts of our founding fathers, usually twisted and skewed to meet the issue du jour. Some want to go even further back, all the way to the Magna Carta, the great charter forced upon King John which limited the power of the monarch and codified feudal practices and law. Phyllis Radford takes us back to the original document and comments on each clause, sometimes in context of the era, other times, where appropriate, to modern times.Over time, the document was heavily edited from the original form signed by King John. Part of this was the legal precedents that were set -- sometimes flying in the face of feudal tradition, other times, because it ticked off the pope. Radford sometimes humorously speculates on why such clauses were removed. Overall, she takes a dry document written in Latin and makes it accessible and enjoyable for anyone with a passing interest in Medieval history. The only thing lacking was a wrap-up discussing a final conclusion as to how appropriate the document is in modern politics. We can certainly draw our own (I say, not very); but the book ended abruptly after the final clause.

[phillip_d_swart · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In Magna Bloody Carta: A Turning Point in Democracy, Phyllis Radford provides a quick brush through one of history's most important documents. She brings a quick, annotated commentary on each aspect of the document.I am a Constitutional Studies major at the University of Oklahoma, but I had never read the Magna Carta before. What a shame! While chalked full of legal and old wording, the author provides the reader a down-to-earth debriefing of what exactly is going on. In fact, she even shows how King John (John the Worst... the unfortunate evil King of Robin Hood fame) actually was not so bad after all: he insisted on storying his own legal rulings for future use, these a written code and the continuation of a grand English tradition of a living, breathing constitutional history. I must agree with a previous reviewer that I expected more from the book. But while the length and depth of the content lacked, I believe the simplicity presented will aid any entry-level student or a simple amateur to find the golden nuggets hidden within the bloody Magna Carta.

[ljldml · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Magna Carta has always fascinated me. I must admit, some of it left me stumped. Phyllis Radford does an amazing job of explaining the finer points of the famous document. She explains the entire document piece by piece. She puts the old English writing in modern language for all to understand. The reader can easily understand her writing and the points she makes comparing the past and the present. Well done, Ms Radford!

[the7ken7petersen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It would be a poor tale, as a British citizen, if I did not have an idea as to what Magna Carta was about, but, I confess, that this provided me with the first opportunity to read same. Phyllis Radford adds some excellent commentary to help the general reader (ME!!) to understand the significance and historical perspective of each clause and, were she to have left it there, I would have awarded the book five stars. It has lost half a star, in my opinion, because the author uses the document to make political points about current day America.As I have already stated, I am British and have yet to have the opportunity of even visiting the United States, so it would be foolish in the extreme for me to comment as to the efficacy or otherwise of Ms Radford's remarks: needless to say, they did not add to my enjoyment of the book . This is a small gripe about a very good book that is very worthy of a place upon the shelf of anyone who has an interest, not just in British politics, but in the birth of current democratic governmental systems. Those who feel that corruption is breaking in to modern politics, should read this book: it is apparent that the first attempt at democracy was shot through with attempts by the three parties involved (The King of England, the barons and the Catholic Church) to produce a fair system - but leaning in favour of their third of the contributors. Plus ca change.....

[almab_48 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There's something very sexy about someone immersed in something they love and are passionate about. Ms. Radford is passionate about history and it's quite delightfully evident. I'm a complete amateur so I won't blow smoke and try to sound erudite about the subject matter. I am qualified to state, however, that I enjoyed reading her work.

[elliot1822 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Magna Carta has always held me in wonder as to what this wonderful doocument in maankinds's history was all about. The author and historian Irene Radford first prints then explains in plain english the old style english clauses and then explains them in relation to the history surrounding this vitally important document. Magna Carta was for the Western civilized world of vital importance.

[empty1mirror1mag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm an avid reader of books about American (and sometimes 20th century European) history. However, I confess that the last time I gave any real thought to the Magna Carta was back in high school history class. With this book, I was glad to expand my knowledge of this groundbreaking document.Historian and novelist Phyllis Irene Radford, inspired by some radical politicians' rejection of the U.S. Constitution in favor of the "better" Magna Carta, set out to study the document in depth, find its significance and separate its truth from popular perception.Clause by clause, she explores the meaning of this historic document, delving into its historical context, its influence on political thought - including that of the U.S.' founding fathers.Radford shows how the Magna Carta set precedent by giving the ultimate power to the people, rather than the monarchy. This was a radical idea in medieval times, and the foundation for the independence and government of, the United States, over 500 years later, and relates the ideas to modern politics in the USA. The author's writing style is easy to understand, but quite casual in tone - much more so than in most history books. It reminded me of an informal school lecture. When you know that this work collects previously-published blog pieces into one work, the casual tone makes more sense. Radford's writing brings clarity to what is potentially a difficult subject. At 88 pages, it is a concise study of the Magna Carta and what it still means, nearly 800 years later for modern society. This book added to my understanding of both American and European history. If the subject is new to you, you may enjoy this book, serious history buffs may want to look for a more in-depth work.

[cplanten_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was initially almost offended by Radford's patronizing summaries of each entry of the Magna Carta. Not every historian is Simon Schama, I realize, and I was perhaps wrong to form an opinion early.I wasn't keen on Radford's conversational and casual entries, yet I was happy to have been given an opportunity to read the actual document. This is a text that is ideal for the tablet, as my copy is now highlighted for review at a later date. Thanks to LibraryThing's Early Reviewer giveaways for the opportunity to check this out.

[jdgarner68 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've always had a fascination for medieval Europe, especially England. Richard the Lionhearted and his deviant little brother John are two figures that loom larger than life in the histories. And by association, Robin Hood and the Magna Carta come in to play when I dream of this turbulent time. This work by Mrs. Radford is not a history of the thirteenth century, nor a analyzation of the realm of King John, but it is a brief overview and introduction to the Magna Carta. It makes it available to the layman.Although I like to fancy that I am an amateur expert of 'auld' England, I have never read or examined the document (my mistake). The Magna Carta gives us a much better picture of the time than any Hollywood depiction. Phyllis Radford does an excellent job of guiding us through this immortal document that has had such an impact across the globe and throughout history. It is obvious that she has done her homework, and that she is a fellow enthusiast of the days of barons, knights, damsels, and that elusive fellow Robin Hood.

[girlfromipanema_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Observing the developments towards Brexit in the UK, I came across this short book about the Magna Carta on my shelf (yeah, I know, a LTER book...) . It is not a major issue in German history class but of course we were taught the basics, as it has relevance for the development of all modern democracies. I doubt I would ever have tried to read the original text (ESL here), So as a complete novice to the matter, I enjoyed the modern-day language and the explanations given with every Article of the charter. As the author is from the USA, her modern point of reference is of course the US. I doubt I will find a German book that explains the relevance in layman terms, so this was useful for me to understand how a 800 year old charter would have relevance to modern law and statehood. Definitely not an in depth treatise, but a good primer on the subject.

[onbrien_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly enough, I enjoyed reading the Magna Carta. While I didn't necessarily enjoy reading ABOUT the Magna Carta, the dialogue was entertaining enough. The author did a great job explaining what some of the language meant, however, the opinions she placed upon the text were ill explained. She brought up "current" issues without being too specific, so a young adult like myself was lost at some of the examples of events that happened before I was reading newspapers.If the author had either taken their view points and expanded them or removed them completely, I would give this at least another star. With a title like the "Magna Bloody Carta," I would have thought there would be more historical explanations as to why it was so bloody, and would be more than the Magna Carta, translated with a short explanation for each passage.For the author being history obsessed, there is a lacking of actual history in this book and an excess of sarcasm to the ways the sections apply to modern society.

[psutto_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Notes on the Magna CartaEarly reviewer description: Is the Magna Carta better than the US Constitution? Was it a power grab by English noblemen, or is it a rights of man declaration penned by Robin Hood? The answers may surprise you as author and historian Irene Radford picks apart the clauses and explains them in context to the history surrounding this amazing document. Magna Carta, a true turning point in the history of democracy.Radford was writing a historical fiction novel on the lead up to the signing of the Magna Carta and therefore read it and created a series of blogs in which she went through the Magna Carta clause by clause and added a few of her own comments. This book is the collected blogs. On the plus side it does put the translated Magna Carta at your fingertips and Radford assumes you know nothing about the feudal society that created it so it’s a good introductory text. The bad points? Well it wasn’t initially written as a coherent document and this can come across and Radford’s chatty informal style can seem at odds with the content. Radford also seems to only direct her comments at an American audience, explaining things via modern America and perhaps is on a bit of a soapbox. A lot of the comments end with questions.Some examples - her comment on Clause 2:Who defines ancient custom A flat tax for the wealthy and a whatever-you-can-get-away-with tax on everyone else. Where have we seen this in modern times?Or on Clause 6:Have you heard of any recent attempts to control who we marry? Overall – very quick read, good resource if you know nothing about 13C England and the Magna Carta but I was expecting more