The Life and Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket

What it is

This is a book written by John Morris, a Jesuit priest, published in 1885 as a second and enlarged edition. It gives a detailed account of the life and martyrdom of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, based on medieval chronicle sources, including a plan of Canterbury Cathedral showing the route of his final walk.

Why it matters

Written over seven centuries after Becket's death, this book shows how later historians and religious writers continued to study and interpret his life using medieval records. It reflects 19th-century Catholic interest in Becket as a martyr and offers students a full narrative account built from older chronicle sources.

Look closer

• Why might a 19th-century priest have chosen to write a detailed biography of a 12th-century archbishop?
• What sources does the author rely on, and how might that shape the story he tells?
• How might this account differ from one written by a non-religious historian?