Margaret Butler's The Lion of England is the first in The Lion Trilogy about Henry II and Thomas Becket. In the opening novel the friendship begins between Henry and the commoner archdeacon, Thomas, eventually making Thomas Becket Chancellor of England, but exacerbating jealousy among the knights and nobility. In the meantime, Henry begins an affair with a low-born Saxon woman, Hikenai, ( mother of Geoffrey, acknowledged illegitimate son by Henry, later made Archbishop of York). Realizing that Henry is incapable of fidelity, tensions build between Eleanor and Henry even as she bears him one child after another. And as his wealth and status increase due to the Kings favor, questions begin to arise within Thomas Becket, questions that test his loyalty to king and church.

Butler in her wide array of characters gives an authentic voice to the high and low, king and queen, baron and lady, and serf and prostitute, leaving a well-rounded portrait of 12th century England.

Other books in trilogy:
The Lion of Justice
The Lion of Christ (UK title: The Turbulent Priest) ( )