Richard I


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(3.8 stars; 91 reviews)

Richard I by Jacob Abbott offers a concise yet insightful exploration of one of history's most renowned figures. Known as Richard the Lionheart, this king of England is celebrated for his military prowess and leadership during the Crusades. Abbott's biography aims to illuminate the key events and defining characteristics that contributed to Richard's lasting legacy.

Set against the backdrop of the late 12th century, the narrative delves into Richard's life, from his ascension to the throne to his adventures in battle. Abbott employs clear and accessible language, making this historical account suitable for readers of all ages, including younger audiences seeking to understand the complexities of medieval history.

Through a blend of engaging storytelling and factual recounting, Abbott presents Richard I not just as a monarch, but as a man shaped by the tumultuous events of his time. This biography serves as both an educational resource and a captivating introduction to a pivotal figure in history.

Chapters

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King Richard's Mother 27:23 Read by Andrew Wilson
Richard's Early Life 21:36 Read by Andrew Wilson
Fair Rosamond 15:35 Read by Andrew Wilson
Accession of Richard to the Throne 17:32 Read by Andrew Wilson
The Coronation 12:31 Read by Andrew Wilson
Preparations for the Crusade 14:37 Read by Andrew Wilson
The Embarkation 20:14 Read by Ernst Pattynama
King Richard at Messina 30:33 Read by Laura Caldwell
Berengaria 20:37 Read by Alana Jordan
The Campaign in Cyprus 28:59 Read by Alana Jordan
Voyage to Acre 10:29 Read by Federica
The Arrival at Acre 10:15 Read by Alana Jordan
Difficulties 6:07 Read by Glenn Simonsen
The Fall of Acre 25:07 Read by Andrew Wilson
Progress of the Crusade 23:56 Read by Andrew Wilson
Reverses 24:40 Read by Andrew Wilson
The Old Man of the Mountain 21:52 Read by Andrew Wilson
The Battle of Jaffa 13:53 Read by Sibella Denton
The Truce 8:32 Read by Sibella Denton
The Departure from Palestine 7:17 Read by Sibella Denton
Richard Made Captive 10:32 Read by Sibella Denton
The Return to England 14:19 Read by Sibella Denton

Reviews

Enjoyable and well read


(4 stars)

The book is enjoyable to listen to an certainly paints a good picture of Richard and his adventurous and colorful character. For a biography the book is often quite hostile to it's subject though particularly when it comes to the crusades. it always amazes when people uncritically condemn the crusades as predatory while completely ignoring the contemporary Muslim aggression such as piracy and slave raids (not to mention the previous centuries of all out war) There are also a few anachronisms which are to be expected in a book as old as this. Such as the fact that armor is portrayed as Incredibly impractical and heavy listening to this you also get the impression that Richard and his knights were walking around in full plate armor when of course chainmail was the order of the day. The main reader is excellent and there are only one or two chapters read by others which are a bit more difficult to listen to but overall very enjoyable.


(1 star)

I couldn't even finish the first chapter. The accent of the reader is giving me headaches. English is only my second language therefore I'm not used to such accents. The book is interesting but it has to be read by someone with a more universally comprehensible English accent

Awful reading in places


(4 stars)

Good book, apart from the lack of dates?!? Not a great reading, but it is listenable. My understanding is that the readers are volunteers and the books are free to listen to, so I can not complain. Would recommend.


(3 stars)

First few chapters were difficult to listen to because of the lip smacking. Not the best of this series but still worth a listen.


(5 stars)

Enjoyed listening to this book. Full of interesting facts about the times and also the crusades. Thsnk you, readers.

voyage to acre was terrible


(2 stars)

i dont want to be mean, but that chapter was practically unlistenable

That narrator!


(3 stars)

Most of this book is narrated by a guy that needs to swallow his spittle. Badly. Sounds like a cow chewing his cud. Just gross.


(2 stars)

I’ve liked abbots other books, but this one not so much. I liked the readers.