Stories of Medieval Gower Series

William de Breos rose to a position of great power and influence as a close confidant of King John, but when his wife revealed John's greatest secret John's revenge was brutal. William's sons and grandson turned to Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd to help them regain their lands. The fall of the de Breos family was the final spark that lit the fire of Magna Carta and led to the offer of the English crown to the prince of France. Amazon Reviews: 1. As a resident of the Gower Peninsula, I’ve really enjoyed Ann Marie Thomas’s colourful and insightful accounts of the area’s troubled history. The sequel (or prequel) to Ms Thomas’s previous book Alina: the White Lady of Oystermouth (Paperback) , ‘Broken Reed’ tells of Alina’s ancestor William de Breos and his turbulent friendship with King John (he of the Magna Carta). Ms Thomas’s conversational style and attention to detail make for an easy, interesting and informative read, while the extensive bibliography and endnotes provide ample resources for further exploration. 2. There are very few well written non-fiction Welsh historical books. This is one of them. If you want to know more about the Gower's history and why such a small peninsula has the ruins of so many Norman castles this is the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed a glimpse into the past of one of the most beautiful parts of Wales

Alina's husband John de Mowbray takes control of the Lordship of Gower in 1320, in an attempt to secure her inheritance. But her father had sold it to the king's favourite, and the king takes it back. The Marcher Barons side with de Mowbray and rebel against the king. But although it eventually leads to the king's downfall, Alina and John will pay a heavy price. Amazon Reviews: 1. Very nice illustrations, easy to read. This book is a delight for boys or girls interested in learning about some very interesting moments in history. It goes to show that sometimes true life and history is even more interesting than tales. 2. The story of Alina de Breos, a little-known but fascinating figure of Swansea history, whose family was instrumental in the downfall of Edward II and his favourite Hugh le Despenser in 1326. Residents and visitors to Swansea and the Gower Peninsula will enjoy this account, as will anyone who is interested in the intrigue and drama behind historical events.

Fascinating stories from medieval Gower: battles, brutality, adultery, daring escapes, fairies and an ogre! If you like scandal, intrigue and true stories from history, then you’ll love Ann Marie Thomas’ book. Buy Medieval Gower Stories and witness the crimes of mad King John, the atrocities of the Ogre of Abergavenny and search for the lost treasure of Edward II. By the author of Alina, The White Lady of Oystermouth and Broken Reed: The Lords of Gower and King John, both big hits with locals and tourists alike. Amazon Reviews: 1. The first local history book I ever read left me totally confused. It assumed its readers would already know all the people and places. Ann, doesn't do that. Her disarmingly straightforward style unpacks the complexities of all those unfamiliar medieval characters even though many have the same name generation after generation. A delightful book. 2. A nicely readable overview of the political history of The Gower and the surrounding areas of Wales in the period following the Norman Invasion of Britain. Some of the tales tempt much further investigation - this will be a good introduction to the subject for many readers. 3. As a complete novice to this subject I found this little book very easy to dip in and out of. Each story stands alone, the combination of fact with legend works well and it held my interest throughout. 4. Well researched interesting, informative book. It was written in simple easy language so would also be good for teens or perhaps older children if they were interested in history. I hadn't read any of the authors previous books but I am likely to now.

Did you know that King John didn't sign the Magna Carta? He sealed it. Did you know that the rebel barons offered the English throne to Prince Louis of France? If John hadn't died, the British Isles might be part of France today. Did you know that Magna Carta was only in force for a few weeks? So why is the Great Charter considered to be the dawn of democracy? Find out in The Magna Carta Story, the layman's guide. It contains all the intrigue, tantrums and civil war, what happened afterwards, and why it's so important. Amazon Reviews: 1. Really comprehensive - good balance of information between Magna Carta and King John's reign. I enjoyed reading this as the way in which it has been written ensured good pace and helped maintain my interest throughout. Having completed this book which has helped me gain a good understanding of the history of the Magna Carta I am now ready to move onto something a bit more dense. 2. This book covers a brief part of history but an important one and it would be easy to make hard work of telling it. In fact it's a relief to read a history book that is written in an easy to follow style. It is indeed a proper layman's guide with enough story to keep me reading without massive amounts of side-tracking incidental information that some books make you wade through. Very interesting and surprising opinions about John himself being bipolar.

In 1066 William of Normandy won the Battle of Hastings, but Wales wasn't conquered for over two hundred years. The Welsh princes were a thorn in the side of the English kings until Edward I, building castles and roads as he went, finally conquered Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last Prince of Wales. Told in a storytelling style with lots of illustrations, this is history you'll enjoy reading. This little book is a sample of Ann Marie's style and an introduction to her other history books.

It was a cold, crisp November morning on Gallows Hill above Swansea Castle. The two convicted men shivered in their thin shirts waiting for the hanging. But this was to be a hanging like no other before or since. One of the men wouldn't stay dead. Yet another story from medieval Gower, the fascinating series of factual history, told in a storytelling style. Endorsement "Welsh history is peppered with forgotten events. Swansea Miracle is a gem, a small slice of Swansea History brought beautifully to life and an audience again courtesy of the expert pen of Ann Marie Thomas." Catrin Collier, bestselling Historical Fiction Author