author

R. J. (Richard John) King

1818–1879

A Victorian antiquary with a traveler’s eye, he wrote lively guides that helped readers see England’s cathedrals, legends, and old landscapes with fresh attention. His work blends scholarship, local history, and a real pleasure in place.

1 Audiobook

The Three Choirs: A Handbook to the Cathedrals of Gloucester, Hereford, and Worcester A Complete Description of the Buildings, a History of Each Diocese and Biographical Notices of the Bishops

The Three Choirs: A Handbook to the Cathedrals of Gloucester, Hereford, and Worcester A Complete Description of the Buildings, a History of Each Diocese and Biographical Notices of the Bishops

by R. J. (Richard John) King

About the author

Richard John King was an English antiquarian and scholar of medieval poetry, born in Plymouth on January 18, 1818, and remembered especially for his handbook writing. He studied at Exeter College, Oxford, and built his reputation through books that combined history, architecture, folklore, and close observation.

He is best known for Handbook to the Cathedrals of England, a substantial series that guided readers through some of the country’s great church buildings in an informed but accessible way. He also worked on medieval and early ballad literature, showing a wider interest in England’s literary past as well as its historic places.

King’s writing has the appeal of both scholarship and travel literature: it is careful about detail, but also full of curiosity about the character of towns, churches, and landscapes. For listeners today, he offers a window into the Victorian love of history, architecture, and the stories attached to place.