The stories of three famous kings under one cover. Each of them in his own way reached the edge... and some even crossed it. JOHN (1167-1216) nicknamed the Landless. He was a loser whom no one liked, especially after the reign of his noble brother Richard the Lionheart. He completely lost two big wars: with the French - he lost half of his possessions; with his own subjects - lost almost half of his royal power. The same king who signed the prototype of modern constitutions - the Magna Carta. EDWARD (1312-1377), hero and lucky man, nicknamed the Third. He started the Hundred Years' War with France, in several glorious battles he killed the flower of the French nobility, and his reign was called the “golden age” of English history. RICHARD (1367-1400) could probably have received the nickname Prince of Denmark if Hamlet had been written for two hundred years earlier. He lost his father early, at first he was dependent on his mother and old advisers, and then he relied on his friends and peers who betrayed him, overthrew him and killed him in prison. They say he was an impulsive and irritable handsome man, but not as neurasthenic as the brilliant playwright painted him. Following Shakespeare, Alexandra Marinina tried to understand the biographies and psychological portraits of these rulers. And with what words does she end her book? “Truly royal hypocrisy!” Why? You can learn about this from fascinating and witty historical essays.