Iron, Fire and Ice: The Real History that Inspired Game of Thrones

Written by Ed West

Narrated by Rory Barnett

Have you read everything George R.R. Martin has every written? Do you know what in Game of Thrones is based in real history?

A young pretender raises an army to take the throne. Learning of his father’s death, the adolescent, dashing and charismatic and descended from the old kings of the North, vows to avenge him. He is supported in this war by his mother, who has spirited away her two younger sons to safety. Against them is the queen, passionate, proud, and strong-willed and with more of the masculine virtues of the time than most men. She too is battling for the inheritance of her young son, not yet fully grown but already a sadist who takes delight in watching executions.

Sound familiar? It may read like the plot of Game of Thrones. Yet that was also the story of the bloodiest battle in British history, fought at the culmination of the War of the Roses. George RR Martin’s bestselling novels are rife with allusions, inspirations, and flat-out copies of real-life people, events, and places of medieval and Tudor England and Europe. The Red Wedding? Based on actual events in Scottish history. The poisoning of Joffrey Baratheon? Eerily similar to the death of William the Conqueror’s grandson. The Dothraki? Also known as Huns, Magyars, Turks, and Mongols.

Join Ed West, as he explores all of Martin’s influences, from religion to war to powerful women. Discover the real history behind the phenomenon and see for yourself that truth is stranger than fiction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Apr 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781543680508

Ed West

Ed West is a full-time author. He blogs for the Spectator and has written for the Daily Telegraph, Times, Evening Standard, Daily Express, and Guardian. Ed is a former deputy editor of the Catholic Herald and a popular Twitter personality.

Reviews for Iron, Fire and Ice

[Diana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Provided you have at least watched Game of Thrones, and House of the Dragon, it makes sense of a lot of English history. If you haven't, or if it's been a while since you've seen/read it, it will be confusing, as it's order is grouped by plot points in the series, making the real time line out of order.
It excells in getting through parts of history that can be quite confusing, thanks to repetitive names, while still diving into each story told enough that you get a sense of personality and story are for each real person represented.
Filled with plenty of historical fun facts, it only makes the world that George R. R. Martin wrote that much more rich.
If you loved Fire and Blood, this will be a very good book for you.

[Robert Ross · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A good fun way into the lynranthine history of the cousins wars. What a bloody, unpleasant time to live. Recommended.

[John A Ryan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very interesting listen. Digs deep into the background of British Isle history very complete and informative. Have done a lot of reading about the period and this seems as complete a record as I have ever listened to.
References to GOT are brief which is fine with me.
I enjoyed the history and very much enjoyed the narration.

[Byron Bray · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a fascinating and historically accurate history of the “War of the Roses“, including much fascinating back history and told an interesting and compelling narrative.

I would recommend it to any person interested in this period of history or, of course, in Game of Thrones which draws heavily on this period and its events.

I was fascinated, as well, at the number of events and personages, included in this history, whose names or acts have become traditions in our culture and yet whose origins are not remembered in our folklore or popular culture.

All in all, a fascinating and compelling look at one of the most interesting and violent periods in British history.

[HAROLD KAYE · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

How do I download tp a laptop ? I have no ipad iphone or smartphone.

[waldhaus1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read game of thrones as an audiobook several years ago. Pace and character development made it easier to follow than Iron Fire and Ice. It is a strong reminder of the brutality people are capable of.
There are many historical vignettes: crusades, the fall of Constantinople, the mini ice age. I did find I had trouble following the narrative about the Yorks, Lancasters and their family and followers.
It does become clear the many ways game of thrones followed European history at the end of the middle ages.