Richard Barber

  • 20

    Catalog books

  • 7

    Works

  • 1981 to 2014

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Richard Barber writes on medieval England and Arthurian legend with clear scholarship and narrative drive. His books range from focused biographies—the Black Prince and Edward III—to broader cultural studies, balancing archival detail with readable storytelling to illuminate politics, chivalry, and royal life in the later Middle Ages.

Barber’s work also explores more local and personal subjects, from a study of Earl Spencer to a compact history of Tresco. His Arthurian volumes gather critical and textual material, reflecting a long-standing engagement with medieval romance and the traditions that shaped England’s historical imagination.

Best Place To Start

Tresco Times

Halsgrove • 2002 • quick commitment

It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Medieval English history • Biographies of Plantagenet figures • Arthurian literature scholarship

Genres and themes: Military and political history • Biography • Medieval literature and legend

Who this author is best for: Good for readers who want detailed, source-aware studies of 14th-century England and careful treatments of Arthurian topics.

Start with his biography of the Black Prince for narrative history, or the Edward III volume for a more expansive, documentary-rich view.

Top Books To Start With

  1. Tresco Times

    Halsgrove • 2002 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2002 • 160 pages.

  2. Earl Spencer

    Isis Large Print Books • 2000 • standard commitment

    It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

  3. Edward, Prince of Wales and Aquitaine: A Biography of the Black Prince

    Boydell Pr • 1996 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1996 • 316 pages.

  4. Arthurian Literature I - X and XI (index)

    D.S.Brewer • 1992 • commitment varies by edition

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1992.

  5. Edward III and the Triumph of England

    Penguin Books, Limited • 2014 • oversized commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2014 • 672 pages.

  6. Arthurian Literature I (Arthurian Literature)

    D.S.Brewer • 1999 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 184 pages.

  7. Arthurian Literature II (Arthurian Literature)

    D.S.Brewer • 1999 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 176 pages.

  8. Arthurian Literature IV (Arthurian Literature)

    D.S.Brewer • 1999 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1999 • 181 pages.

  9. Arthurian Literature XI (Arthurian Literature)

    D.S.Brewer • 1992 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1992 • 165 pages.

  10. Arthurian Literature VII (Arthurian Literature)

    D.S.Brewer • 1987 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1987 • 168 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • Tresco Times is the easier short commitment, while Earl Spencer asks for more reading time up front.
  • Earl Spencer gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while Tresco Times leans later in the catalog.
  • Edward, Prince of Wales and Aquitaine: A Biography of the Black Prince is also useful if you want a different publishing lane from Tresco Times.

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