Conflict between England and France was a fact of life for centuries, but few realize that its origins date from the time of the Vikings, when a Norse chieftain named Rollo established himself and his progeny in Normandy. In this compelling and entertaining history, Mary McAuliffe takes the reader back to those dark and turbulent times when Rollo's descendants, the dukes of Normandy, asserted their dominance over the weak French monarchy—a dominance that became especially threatening after Duke William conquered England in 1066, giving him a royal crown.

“We’re familiar with the names— William the Conqueror, Richard Lionheart, Eleanor of Aquitaine—but probably less so with the gripping stories of their never-ending confrontations with rivals at home and enemies abroad. It’s this tangled history that McAuliffe’s aptly titled Clash of Crowns sets out to unravel. That she succeeds, splendidly, has to do with her uncanny ability to embed the myriad names and dates in a clearly developed narrative that features characters as fully fleshed out as those in any play. . . . McAuliffe’s prose is a wonderful instrument, her tone of voice down-to-earth and commonsensical, all in all, a pleasure to read.”

— Providence Sunday Journal\

"Fans of medieval European History will delight in McAuliffe's rich tale."

 - Publishers Weekly

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