Magna Carta: The True Story Behind the Charter facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | David Starkey |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Subject | British politics, history |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton |
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Publication date
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January 1, 2015 |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 978-1473610057 |
| Preceded by | Introduction to Fatal Colours: Towton 1461 – England's Most Brutal Battle by George Goodwin (2011) |
Magna Carta: The True Story Behind the Charter is a book by the historian David Starkey. It was published in 2015. The book tells the story of the famous royal charter of rights known as Magna Carta. Starkey writes about how it started, its history, and why he thinks it is so important.
Contents
Why Was This Book Written?
In 2015, people celebrated the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. Many new books and events marked this special occasion. David Starkey also made a one-hour BBC documentary about Magna Carta. This book was published to go along with that TV show.
Magna Carta and the Rule of Law
In his book and documentary, Starkey talks about the "rule of law". This means that everyone, even leaders, must follow the laws. He believes that governments can sometimes become "arrogant" or "corrupt." He also thinks that citizens can sometimes be "disorderly."
Starkey argues that Magna Carta is very important for keeping peace. It helps to limit the power of both the government and the people. He says that this old document, written 800 years ago, helped create the way the UK's government works today.
The Story of Magna Carta
Starkey begins his book by explaining how Magna Carta came to be. He describes the arguments and fights that led to the creation of this important document. He suggests that the start of England's government system was more complicated than many people think.
However, Starkey also writes that Magna Carta shows how good the English were at finding peaceful solutions.
King John and the Barons
The book mainly focuses on the story behind the charter. It explains how powerful noblemen, called barons, forced King John to agree to the charter. The book also looks at the differences between the first Magna Carta from 1215 and a later version from November 1216. The 1216 version was made after King John had died.
Magna Carta Today
Starkey finishes his book by sharing his thoughts on Magna Carta's meaning for today's politics. He believes that the modern UK government seems to be breaking apart. He suggests that the main ideas of the charter could help. He even talks about needing a "new charter of liberties" or a leader like William Marshal. William Marshal was a key figure who helped make peace after King John's death.
