The Perfect King by Ian Mortimer

I have read many books about King Edward III, his life, campaigns, policies and organization of troops etc but much to my chagrin, never had I come across a book about the man who was Edward III or anything close to it. The Perfect King is a book that I have wished for since my first knowledge of Edward III and it is quite simply, the best book you'll find about Edward III to date. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is informative, entertaining, dramatic, action packed and makes the reader feel apart of what is happening. You feel the frustration of a turbulent youth, manipulated and puppeted, you feel the freedom of him finally becoing a king who stands on his own, you feel the triumph of his victories as though you have been with him and then you feel the sorrow of his decline in health, loss of his friends and family as they die around him while he lives on into old age and finally the lonliness of his death and his last words; "Jesu, pity me."

This book is the book on Edward III, King of England and is a must read.

It is also a wealth of great information, all documented and listed with original sources. These include, clothing, fabric -types, coulours and cost, tournament wardrobes, evidence of hot running water and brass/bronze taps, nobles wearing brown garments, armour, personalities and of course the highly contreversial account of Edward II having not died in Berkley but having his death faked by his captors and living well into the late 1330's and an accounting of Edward III being a common ancestor of 75-90% of the current native population of England or of those with English heritage.

The Perfect King - The Life of Edward III Father of the English Nation
Iam Mortimer
ISBN 978-0-099-52709-1
536 pages with 16 b&w plates of effigies and art and 4 pages of maps, 8 appendices, full biography and notaions.
Expect to pay around $25 AUD for a papeback copy (retail 8.99 GBP)