Thomas of London before his Consecration

What it is

This is a historical dissertation written by Lewis Bostock Radford, published in 1894 as part of a university prize series. It studies Thomas Becket's life and career before his consecration as Archbishop of Canterbury, focusing on his earlier years, including his service as Royal Chancellor. The scanned book is available through the Internet Archive.

Why it matters

Written over seven centuries after Becket's death, this book represents how later historians tried to understand Becket's rise from royal servant to archbishop and eventual martyr. It reflects the ongoing fascination with Becket's transformation and the conflict between his loyalty to the king and his loyalty to the Church.

Look closer

• Why might a historian in 1894 be interested in Becket's career before he became famous?
• What kinds of sources might Radford have used to write about events from the 1100s?
• How might a book written in the Victorian era view Becket differently than a medieval chronicler would?