Book
The Barons’ Hostage
First published 1952
A young hostage is caught between royal authority and the baronial reform movement led by Simon de Montfort. Captivity, divided loyalties and military crisis make constitutional conflict immediate and personal.
Trease places the struggle over government, taxation and representation within the lives of those dependent on noble households. The story introduces the Second Barons’ War without assuming that either crown or aristocracy speaks automatically for ordinary people.
The Second Barons’ War grows from arguments over whether Henry III can govern through favourites and exceptional taxation without effective baronial restraint. Simon de Montfort’s reform movement claims constitutional principle but also depends on aristocratic military power. The hostage’s divided loyalties therefore personalise a conflict in which both crown and opposition demand obedience while claiming to defend the realm.
Historical Periods
Genres
Historical people
More from this period
5 more top-rated novels about Second Barons’ War
Ranked by rating and voting volume; books already shown on this page are omitted.
More by the author
Other books by Geoffrey Trease
Discover more
Authors similar to Geoffrey Trease
Recommended from shared genres and periods.
Gilbert Morris
104 books
Richard Woodman
37 books
David Field
46 books
Philippa Gregory
32 books
Ken Follett
16 books