This book is everything I'd hoped for. It's a real account of his life from beginning to end. It also includes the going on's in that period of time. Not only with him growing up. But give's you a feeling of being back there in that time period. Knowing the people and what they went through. The power struggles not only for the poor but the rich and the Kings and Queens of the time. But, also the politics of it all and the actual lifestyle they all lived. Excellent book and so happy I got it in my collection now. :)