Book Description
"The reader is left with the haunting sensation that perhaps the good a man does can live after him--especially in the hands of a dedicated historian."
SAN DIEGO UNION
In this stirring historical novel, Sharon Kay Penman redeems Richard III from his villainous role in history as the hulking, evil hunchback. This dazzling recreation of his life is filled with the sights and sounds of battle, and the passions of the highborn. Most of all, it brings to life a gifted man whose greatest sin was that he held principles too firmly for the times in which he lived, and loved too deeply to survive love's loss.
Customer Reviews:
couldn't put it down.......2007-09-16
I'm not a fan of historical fiction. I picked this up cheap somewhere and it sat around for a year or two before I dove in. Hesitant to start, I couldn't put it down once I got going. It was one of those "you don't want it to end books".
I've read a fair amount about the Wars of Roses (time frame of this novel) and felt like I was getting a great story and a re-cap of good history to boot. I'm not an authority but the history seems fairly spot-on. The author has some notes regarding her few changes at the book's end.
One sided? Yes. She's a Richard fan, no doubt. I lean toward the Richard camp anyway. I don't agree 100% with a few things but that's ok. The story works and maybe she is right about all of it. You'll like the either way. On more than one occasion I found myself wanting to jump in the story and lend a hand (as if I was could!). It gets that exciting. The main characters are well developed and to be fair, you heart will go out the Lancastrian as well as the Yorkist.
If your interested in the Wars of the Roses, medieval history, or good old family warfare (this beats Godfather stuff any day), go for it.
Great Revisionist History.......2007-09-03
A thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening read. I love the way she makes the characters come alive. No cardboard cut outs here! By making over Richard, one gets a more balanced picture of what might have happened. The supporting cast--Buckingham, Hastings, Elizabeth, etc.--are well drawn, too, and the complexity of the period is brought out in an exciting way. Loved it!
Fabulous, thorough, historically accurate novel.......2007-06-26
Though a novel, THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR accurately reflects the times (approx. 1459-1485). The story is sympathetic toward Richard III, but it is less romanticized than some other fiction in this category.
If memory serves (I read the book awhile ago.), it treats the disappearance of the princes as a murder - one committed by the Duke of Buckingham without Richard's knowledge or consent. I think this scenario is unlikely, but the work is fiction, and no one knows what happened for certain.
While the novel centers around Richard, readers also will learn about Edward IV, who reigned during most of the time period covered by the book. You will also learn about the disputes between the Houses of York and Lancaster, as well as the role of the French, and to a lesser extent, the role of Burgundy during the Wars of the Roses.
Penman is an awesome storyteller - strong character development, credible blend of fact and fiction, engrossing writing style.
The best of Penman's fabulous historical fiction.......2007-05-17
I love all of Penman's historical fiction, and I think this is the best one. What more can I say...it's in a class all its own.
Excellent writer; Excellent story; not a single dull page.......2007-05-17
This was my first time to read Sharon Kay Penman. She's the best. The other reviews will tell you about the story. I'm just wanting to brag on the writer. This was her first novel which is set in 15th century England. Next she wrote a trilogy about 13th century England and Wales, Here Be Dragons, Falls the Shadow, and The Reckoning. They should be read in that order. I hope this review is helpful. I look forward to reading all of Sharon's books.
Book Description
Richard III is said to have murdered his nephews for their throne, but this second historical novel in the ROSE OF YORK series--winners of a remarkable ten awards--tells a different, well-documented, and dramatic story: A man of conscience, Richard is a reluctant king, forced into power and chosen by destiny to save a nation from bloody civil war.
Customer Reviews:
"No good ever came from visiting the past.".......2007-03-09
The second novel of Worth's Rose of York trilogy, Crown of Destiny covers a critical period of the life of Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Brother of Edward IV, Richard has remained in the background by choice as his brother sinks into increasing dissolution, the king's wife, Elizabeth Woodville, tainting the court with the venality of her actions on behalf of the Woodville family interests. To avoid the entrenched hostilities of Edward's realm, Richard removes his family to their estate at Middleham. It is there that Richard begins experimenting with a judicial system that treats all parties as equal before the law, laying the groundwork for a reign that will be defined by its reform of the judiciary and establishment of trial by jury before one's peers. Removed from the contentiousness of the court, Richard throws himself into his work with great enthusiasm, enjoying a peace he will not know again.
Edward argues violently with his brother, George, Duke of Clarence, thanks to the constant machinations of the queen, who never ceases to plot the downfall of her enemies. Although not of royal lineage, Bess harbors grand ambitions, not the least of which is to see her son succeed his father on the throne of England, the Dower Queen at his side. But first, George must be removed, both of Edward's brothers a threat. Richard stands by, helpless, the king deaf to his pleading, as George is accused of treason. Soon after George's death, the king falls ill and succumbs as well, even though he is in the prime of life. Even though Edward appointed Richard Lord Protector of the prince from his deathbed, the court teems with the schemes of those who would wrest the power from Richard. Assuming Edward's dying wishes will be honored, Richard accepts his task, but once more his naiveté blinds Richard to the intentions of those around him. Viewing the world in black and white, Richard is oblivious to the subtle nuances of human behavior, often escaping catastrophic results through the intervention of those around him who dare to speak the truth.
Nearly outwitted by the crafty Bess, Richard takes charge of Edward's young son, planning the boy's coronation. Then another shock: a document exists that may thrust Richard on the throne, saving England from more years of civil war. Caught in a moral conundrum not of his own making, Richard makes the most difficult decision of his life, showing a marked maturity and sense of history when dealing with the treasonous offenses plotted against him. He acts decisively, but once more Richard's natural inclination for fairness interferes with his judgment in dealing with traitors. Believing kindness will be repaid by loyalty, Richard pardons all but one of the offenders, assuming the best from those who are his sworn enemies. The die is cast and the reluctant king assumes the mantle, his brothers silent in their graves, as well as many of the loyal Neville's. Much maligned by the Tudor version of history, Worth's Richard III has not the coldhearted duplicity required to perform the heinous acts of which he has been accused over the years, an uncommonly just man who only wants peace and prosperity for his country. Richard will be tested during his reign, betrayed by the ambitions of those who call themselves friends. Luan Gaines/2007.
Great Entertainment and Great History.......2006-12-15
The many mysteries of the reign of King Richard III of England have occupied both popular fiction and academic writing for many years. Worth's fluid style makes the Rose of York series a pleasure to read, and those with a special interest in the period will especially appreciate her deft handling of the historical sources, to which she is absolutely faithful. It is especially gratifying to find that for once Richard's wife, Anne Neville, is not portrayed as a weak and ineffectual semi-invalid, but is instead shown holding court and dispensing patronage in her husband's absence in the grand tradition of the medieval noblewoman.
Worth skillfully develops secondary characters like John Neville, George of Clarence, Anthony Woodville and Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. For example, Buckingham appears for the first time in Crown of Destiny at the wedding of the Edward IV's son Richard to Anne de Mowbray, one of the few times that the historical sources record that Richard and Buckingham met before Richard became Lord Protector upon his brother's death. Buckingham gained enormous influence with Richard in a very short time, a peculiar circumstance which Worth attributes to Richard's loneliness after the death of his beloved brother. One suspects that this influence will be a factor in the author's solution to the central mystery of Richard's reign, the question of whether he murdered his nephews in order to usurp the throne. But for that, readers will have to wait for the third book in the series, Fall From Grace. I, for one, am looking forward to it enormously!
Justice is All That is Left!.......2006-12-03
In discussing Sir Thomas Malory's account of King Arthur's knights, Richard of Gloucester says to Anthony Woodville that his favorite part is when Arthur slays Mordred. While this initial comment might lead a reader to think that Richard is again displaying his brutal character, as he is depicted in history, it would be wise to hear his amplification of that comment, "Justice is done." Woodville responds, "But justice comes at high cost. To get at Mordred, the King must sacrifice himself." Richard replies, "You miss the point. The cost of treachery is what's high. Justice is all that's left."
This lengthy interchange is worthy of significant notice as it parallels the main characteristic of Richard III as portrayed by Sandra Worth in this second novel of The Rose of York series about the King so often maligned in the accepted historical record. Yes, Sandra Worth and other Ricardian scholars and writers have come to a different conclusion - King Richard III always acted from a just and thoughtful analysis of the political facts and opinions available at the time in question.
For it is the audacious and despicable behavior of the Woodvilles against King Edward IV, Richard of Gloucester's brother, and the rest of the Plantaganet clan that almost undoes England's respectable relationships with Europe and almost destroys England itself with civil and political war. Richard watches his brother evolve from an idealistic, strong ruler to a deluded, drunk, blind, and irresponsible weakling totally unaware that his few murderous acts were leading to a disastrous end. As could be expected under such conditions, former loyal advisors and servants become as decadent as their leader because of their own lust for ambition and power. What an education for a future king - and how brilliantly this author portrays the individual as well as the political climate under which this all occurs.
So it is no small wonder that Richard becomes a man totally focused on justice - after watching his brothers and so many more murdered for base and mistaken reasons. His faithful and perceptive wife, Anne, can only comfort him so much but does help him preserve his sanity in the midst of even more horrific events. Indeed, he eventually even learns that his own family harbors momentous secrets that will affect the future of England and which he will not learn about until a most critical moment after his brother, Edward's, death - one for which his brother George was condemned to death by Edward.
Sandra Worth knows how to write superb historical fiction! The reader comes to appreciate the depth of Richard's character in taut suspense through the spare yet plot-driven tale quickly emerging under Worth's deft, depictive skills. With meticulous research, this author proceeds to engage the reader in truly understanding where the term "blind justice" originated and what it truly means in the life of a respectable and memorable political leader of amazing stature!
Congratulations, Sandra Worth! You have done it again with realistic and creative skill - and so much more! I can't wait to read the final novel in this noteworthy series, The Rose of York:Fall From Grace.
Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on September 4, 2006
Richard the Good!.......2006-11-05
I very much enjoyed this book, as I did the Crown of Destiny. Sandra Worth knows her stuff. Richard 111 is shown as a sympathetic character very much devoted to his older brother. In his time he was well loved, especially in the North of England. His nastiness was created by the Tudors and there is no contemporary docuentation regarding a withered arm or a hunchback. He was quite a warrior and it would have been impossible for him to wield the weapons of the time if he was physically challenged.
However, no one is perfect and it does appear that Richard had a slight case of paranoia. This may have gotten worse as he became older, thus he probably "lost it" once in a while - strawberries anyone?
I still prefer Sharon Penman's portrayal .of Richard, hence only 4 points
THE ROSE OF YORK: CROWN OF DESTINY Is A Worthy Read!.......2006-10-13
Pardon the pun, author's last name and well, you get it. This is the second in a trilogy by Sandra Worth detailing the life of Richard III. I found it to be much better reading than the first! The pace was much faster and I found myself with a REAL page turner in my hands!
In this novel Richard III is a conscientious, principled man and the author's story really brings this across. How difficult it must have been to become something you never wanted, King of England. Anne Neville, wife to Richard is also a courageous, strong willed person whose health was anything but. She also never desired to be a monarch, Queen, no less of England. Hers and Richard's lives were destined to be anything but what they truly desired. Their cherished but short lived privacy was shattered, especially when Richard accepted the crown. Their son's health was also a source of great joy but greater sorrow.
I vastly enjoyed this second novel in the trilogy and am very much looking forward to the third!
Book Description
Set in Malory's England during the Wars of the Roses when the passions of a few determined the fate of a nation, this acclaimed winner of a remarkable eight awards tells the true story of two star-crossed lovers -- Richard of Gloucester and Lady Anne Neville -- before they become King and Queen. A stirring tale of romance and intrigue.
Customer Reviews:
novel.......2007-09-09
ordered for my daughter,(19), she loved it. shipping was very quick, book was in very good condition, just as discribed.
All Fiction, No History.......2007-07-04
I have read hundreds of historical novels, including many about Richard III, and I have to say this was the worst--I couldn't even finish it. Within the basic outline of the story as we know it, the author creates a series of improbable characters and scenes (the Earl of Warwick sailing his own ship????). Don't bother--read instead some of the really good historical fiction about Richard (Rosemary Hawley Jarman, Sharon Kay Penman, etc.).
The voice of dissent .......2007-06-05
I was supposed to love this book. Everyone told me I would love this book. I wanted to love this book, I tried to love this book and though everyone will hate me for posting this review I'm afraid I have to be the voice of dissent on this book. I did not love it. I did not like it. I know that most of the reviews for it have been stunning, and I just don't understand why. To me the writing seems overly simplistic, even childish, and I just could not get interested in the story. Everybody had such a clear role in it, the hero, the hero's mentor, the heroin, the cruel older brother....
I just don't see what people liked about this. I didn't find it romantic or exciting, in fact, I couldn't even finish it.
Two stars.
Great introduction to the Ricardian viewpoint.......2007-06-04
This book introduced me to the controversy surrounding Richard III. Was he a villian or a fair-minded leader? Did he kill (or sanction the killing of) his nephews - the would-be Edward V and his brother, Richard - or was he framed after his death by those who supported Henry Tudor?
For this introduction, I'm grateful. Otherwise Shakespeare's Richard III was my only point of reference.
However, Worth is no Sharon Kay Penman. After reading the 1st volume in the Worth series, I picked up THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR. It's a far superior book. While it too paints Richard III in a favorable light, it remains true to history - at least as we know and understand it today.
THE ROSE OF YORK reads like a historical romance. At the time, knowing nothing about the subject except for the Shakespeare play and this book, I kept wondering if the truth about Richard lie somewhere in between the villian and the saint.
My recommendation is, if you favor romance over history, read THE ROSE OF YORK. But if you prefer historical fiction, read THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR. While biased (as any interpretation of history is) in favor of Richard, it relates much about the times and events that is accurate.
Richard III: History made fun..........2007-05-23
Upon reading other comments about this book, I seem to be looking at it from a different perspective. Most of what I've read in the genre of European historical fiction was such drudgery--stuffed with page after page of verbose, lifeless details that I was tempted to skip over. I am not normally a fan of this genre.
I met the author, Sandra Worth, at one of her book signings. She has a passion for this subject that is contagious. I took THE ROSE OF YORK: LOVE & WAR, the first of this series, home with me and have read it twice.
Worth does a great job of juggling a dizzying number of characters and events, some of whom have similar names. A couple of times I was confused, but there is a convenient family tree in the front. The incredible contrasts--evil and compassion, beauty and ugliness, chivalry and incivility--lend this story a texture that spans from one extreme to the other. I found these ironic contrasts most fascinating. Worth describes the darker parts of young Richard's life in words that paint disgusting pictures yet somehow are not vulgar; the uplifting parts follow a path of beautiful prose that is akin to poetry. That I, not being in any way a fan of romance, can appreciate this is remarkable!
This is one of the most carefully edited books I've seen in the last few years, with a conservative layout and just enough British flavour to make it feel authentic.
I understand why the serious historian--the fellow with a PhD in History--might find this book lacking. But if one reads for entertainment and enrichment, they won't be disappointed here. I'm looking forward to reading the other two in the series!
Byron C. Justice, Author of "Violent Night" and "Haunted Camps."
Average customer rating:
- Shakespeare's Classic Villain
- This happens to be my favourite historical play.
- A real bad guy
- Devilishly Delightful
- Good, but not his best.
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The Tragedy of King Richard III (Oxford World's Classics)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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ASIN: 0192839934 |
Book Description
Richard III is one of Shakespeare's most popular plays on the stage and has been adapted successfully for film. This new and innovative edition recognizes the play's pre-eminence as a performance work: a perspective that informs every aspect of the editing. Challenging traditional practice, the text is based on the 1597 Quarto which, it is argued, brings us closest to the play as it would have been staged in Shakespeare's theatre. The introduction, which is illustrated, explores the long performance history from Shakespeare's time to the present. Its critical engagement with the play responds to recent historicist and gender-based approaches. The commentary gives detailed explication of matters of language, staging, text, and historical and cultural contexts, providing coverage that is both carefully balanced and alert to nuance of meaning. Documentation of the extensive textual variants is organized for maximum clarity: the readings of the Folio and the Quarto are presented in separate banks, and more specialist information is given at the back of the book. Appendices also include selected passages from the main source and a special index of actors and other theatrical personnel.
Customer Reviews:
Shakespeare's Classic Villain.......2007-03-19
For better or worse, Richard III's enduring image of the cunning, hunchbacked usurper, more monster than man, is immortalized in Will's tragic history of his bloody rise and fall. This version contains good notes, a superb intro, and even illustrations to liven the text!
This happens to be my favourite historical play........2005-01-22
King Richard III is my favourite historical play, but it ranks up there with my all-time favourites of Shakespeare. I read this play for the first time quite a while after I had read some of his better-known comedies and tragedies, but I absolutely love it. I have seen it performed outside under the stars and the theatre was an outdoor park filled with ruins. The play was held in different places throughout the park. It was absolutely breathtaking and something that I will never forget. Richard III is one of the most fascinating villains of history and in literature. Shakespeare's genius portrays Richard III in a way that shows the playgoers his physical deformity, but we also see that he possesses great charm and wit. He is the ultimate manipulator and is totally ruthless in the pursuit of his goals. Shakespeare's has written this play through the mind and actions of his hero, Richard III, so the audience is aware at all times what he is doing and trying to achieve. We see all his deviousness and manipulation. A truly wonderful play about a very memorable man.
A real bad guy.......2004-03-02
This historical drama, not exactly accurate for all I know (but who cares, it's Billy) depicts one of the best bad guys in all literature, to the point of caricature (and this rhymes!). Richard III is the impersonation of ugliness and pure evil: he is a man both morally and physically malformed, who gives everything for the sake of a vain and insignificant moment of power. He is pure rancour enveloped in hypocrisy and treason. He kills his relatives, including his two child nephews, then he marries his rival's widow, and finally he gets what he deserves screaming: "A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"
"Richard III" is a wonderful satire; as always with WS, the dialogues are perfect and the action supreme. It is not intended to be real history, but a satire of ambition run amok, of the lonely obsession for power and of the depths of evil which humans can reach. It has humorous moments and it was, in its times, good politics, since Richard belonged to the predecessors in power of Queen Elizabeth's family . Another masterpiece by the Bard.
Devilishly Delightful.......2004-02-10
Having never read Richard III, I knew that I would be in for a treat, but nothing quite THIS good. Originally labeled as The Tragedy of Richard III by Shakespeare, one can see, upon reading this enthralling play, why this history/tragedy firmly entrenched itself as one of The Bard's most prolifically performed plays with almost unrivaled longevity due to its immense popularity among the genteel and yeomen alike.
Although the much-maligned humpback King Richard was by no means a saint by any stretch, he was not, however, as wretchedly insidious as Shakespeare might have us believe. In an effort to pander to Queen Elizabeth, Shakespeare cast perhaps an overly morose shadow over the House of York. The play itself, interestingly enough, focuses not so much on the bloody ending of The War of Roses and the ascension to the throne of Henry VII(the grandfather of Elizabeth) as it does on the uncannily cunning connivances of Richard III. Richard's dastardly deeds, the sordid means to his end of usurping the crown, know no limits as he murders any and all who dare get in his way - and even those that don't(I suppose they're guilty by association).
Inextricably, although I by no means empathize with him even remotely, Richard somehow, despite his inordinately decadent reprobate ploys, coupled with his twisted soliloquies pleading to the audience his hopeless case, make him one entirely enigmatic, yet entirely captivating, antagonist that makes this play enticingly enjoyable -- in a most devilish kind of way.
"O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!"
Good, but not his best........2003-03-22
Let's get one thing clear from the start: when I rate Shakespeare, I rate it against other Shakespeare; otherwise, the consistently high ratings would not be very informative. If I was rating this against the general run of literature available, it would unquestionably rate 5 stars.
So what brings it down to 4, as compared to other Shakespeare? Primarily a few places where it demands a bit too much suspension of disbelief; the language is some of Shakespeare's best, and is comparatively easy for a modern reader (I found most of the footnotes to be sufficiently unnecessary to be actually more distraction than help). But for one thing, if Richard is withered, hunchbacked, and deformed, how is it that he has been able to kill so many of his victims in battle? For another thing, is it REALLY plausible that Princess Anne would be persuaded as she was by someone with nothing more going for him than Richard? To paraphrase the scene,
Anne: You killed my husband and his father! I hate you I hate you I hate you!
Richard: But I only did it 'cause I'm hot for you, babe! Wanna marry me?
Anne: Welll...maybe. Let me think about it.
(And, in fact, she marries him. Just like that.)
Also, there are virtually NO characters in this play that are sympathetic, save perhaps for the two murdered children and Richmond, and we really don't see enough of them to feel much connection; it dilutes the effectiveness of the portrayal of Richard's evil when almost all of the other characters are, if not just as bad, certainly bad enough.
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The Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe: Volume III: Edward II (Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe)
Christopher Marlowe
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0198122780 |
Book Description
Marlowe's highly controversial Edward II concerns the conflicting claims of love and politics, the urgency of homoerotic desire, and the cruelty with which unscrupulous authority can exert control. The boldness with which the work confronts these issues makes it unique in the period, yet this is the first critical edition of the play with full scholarly apparatus for twenty-five years. Richard Rowland's edition presents an old-spelling text which adheres more closely to the first quarto of 1594 than any edition hitherto. The present volume is the third in the Oxford English Texts Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe. A full commentary and introduction contextualize the play and give an entirely original account of the relationship betweeen the play, Marlowe's own age, and events which immediately followed it. By re-examining textual cruces, new interpretative possibilities are opened up, and the play is related to the language and ideas of Marlowe's contemporaries. A generous selection from Holinshed, Marlowe's principal source, is also included. As critics and historians continue to debate attitudes to love, sexuality, and politics during the English Renaissance, this edition of Edward II extends that debate, offering a new understanding of the eroticism and violence of the play.
Customer Reviews:
As good as it could get.......2000-01-08
well i thought that the book was good, and even though it was introduced to me in high school, i think that maybe it is for the more mature crowd. if you can get passed the text then you will really enjoy the book. it is best to read the book along with its footnotes. not only is it a little easier on the reader, but it is also more enjoyable when you can actually understand what it is you are reading. but over all the book was excellent. i think of it as one of marlowe's greatest works.
Book Description
AN UNFORGETTABLE HEROINE,
A KING MISUNDERSTOOD BY HISTORY,
A LOVE STORY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD
In A Rose for the Crown, we meet one of history's alleged villains through the eyes of a captivating new heroine -- the woman who was the mother of his illegitimate children, a woman who loved him for who he really was, no matter what the cost to herself.
As Kate Haute moves from her peasant roots to the luxurious palaces of England, her path is inextricably intertwined with that of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III. Although they could never marry, their young passion grows into a love that sustains them through war, personal tragedy, and the dangerous heights of political triumph.
Anne Easter Smith's impeccable research provides the backbone of an engrossing and vibrant debut from a major new historical novelist.
Customer Reviews:
More sappy romance than historical fiction.......2007-07-15
I read a lot of historical fiction centered on the Tudor and post-Tudor periods. I enjoyed learning something about the War of the Roses and the period leading up to Tudor times. I agree with another reviewer who stated that she wished the fiction had been more historical. Yes, the background is historically accurate, but the romance (as Ms. Smith admits) is mostly invented. I would have enjoyed the story so much more if it hadn't so frequently read like a sappy romance novel. And, for some reason, I often found myself confused by all of the similar names and titles of the characters (but that may just be a fault of my own). In general, I thought it was a pleasant, interesting and fast read; worth a try.
An evocative read.......2007-07-02
I read this book while flying home from the Historical Novel Society conference and was immediately transported to 15th century England. Anne Easter Smith evokes not only the time and place but also all the sensory perceptions of what it must have been like to live at this time. The plot hummed along seamlessly allowing me to relive Richard III's story as well as that of an ordinary woman living in extraordinary times. I was so totaly immersed in this terrific book that I quite forgot all the discomforts of flying in our so called modern age! An evocative read such as this should not be missed.
The journey begins...........2007-06-13
My name is Lynn and I'm a Richard III addict.
And it's all the fault of this book and Anne Easter Smith. I purchased this book because, although I love reading about the Middle Ages and the English monarchy, I realized how little I knew about Richard III -- and thought the book, while fiction, might enlighten me a bit.
Well, it did. And also lightened my pocketbook because it started me on a journey down a road where I have purchased numerous books about Richard III (fiction and non-fiction) and even joined the Richard III society.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who's interested in that time period. It's well-written but not ponderous -- a good read -- and, along with SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR (Sharon Kaye Penman) a good place to start on a Ricardian journey!
Loyaultie me lie!!
Riveting and Wonderful.......2007-04-10
Bringing this history forward, Anne Easter Smith tells this complicated story with such ease! She reveals Richard's history through delicately landscaped historical facts from another time, another world. This book, written by researched and beautifully managed language, brings a new way of seeing the era and the Richard I did not know.. And from the viewpoint of a woman is to know his heart rather than the history that has kept his heart hidden. It is tender and terrifying. There is a world revealed here, a world that many have not heard, seen or known, until now.
Get Real.......2007-03-19
I really wanted to give this story at least a four, but I just couldn't. It does have many excellent points. As an avid reader and medieval history fan I was delighted to find a novel so thick. I think it took me like a week to read it, and for that I'm grateful as I go through most books in a day or two. And the story itself is very involving on every level EXCEPT when the authoress is dealing with the subject of Richard III and that's where I take major issue.
The way Richard III is depicted in this novel is shameless revisionist writing, and that's fine. Everyone has their opinion and the authoress is entitled to allow her novel to reflect her own. She says Richard III was maligned by contemporaries who influenced the modern view of him and this holds water if one is going by the work of historians alone, but I don't. In this book Richard III is portrayed as being some kind of angelic being who does no wrong. Any and every crime he may have been associated with he's depicted as having been framed. He's a saint. He has clean hands. It makes him the most boring character in the whole novel. And it doesn't jibe with historical fact.
Look past the personal biases and consider the family and times Richard III came from. His entire family, and the entire medieval warrior aristocracy was known for being cold and ruthless. I have never heard this disputed. And yet in this book Richard is the anomaly. He is nothing like his brother's who used any means at their disposal to acquire power. I am not saying Richard is guilty of killing his nephews in the Tower. I am saying the sainted hero of this novel has no relation to what the man was proably like in real life.
The whole irony is had the authoress portrayed Richard with a harder edge, or with a more complex character - a good side and a bad side - it would have made for an even more compelling story than the whitewash results we see here. As it is the "main" love story in the novel reads like a common fairytale romance that fans of this novel seem to lap up. And she should have skipped the graphic love scenes between Richard and the heroine just like I had too. The mental image of Richard III making it with anyone just doesn't do it for me.
Customer Reviews:
Princes and towers.......2005-06-09
The Reluctant Queen is my intro to Jean Plaidy, whom I've been meaning to check out for a long time. Though a bit overlong, this novel is unique to my experience in presenting the life of Richard III in positive light, for a change. His story is told in the first person by the character of his wife, Anne Neville, who is a victim of the plots and machinations of Warwick The Kingmaker, her father, and then of various other nefarious relatives, male and female. This is a colorful story, well told, and a fun, painless way to learn something more about those complicated Wars of the Roses. Recommended for lovers of English history and semi-fictionalized adventure. I'll certainly be trying out more of Plaidy's epics.
FROM LADY TO QUEEN..........2002-10-05
This eighth book in the "Queens of England" series by the author, a master storyteller also known to her legion of fans as Victoria Holt, focuses on the life of Lady Anne of York, daughter of the Earl of Warwick, who went on to become Queen of England as the wife of King Richard III. Her story, told in a first person narrative, is an absorbing work of historical fiction.
The War of Roses has ended and the great Earl of Warwick, the richest and most powerful lord in England, is known as the kingmaker for having ensured that the former Duke of York be crowned King Edward IV, after having deposed mad King Henry VI of the house of Lancaster. The Earl of Warwick's family, the Nevilles, are in positions of power. Then, the King marries Elizabeth Woodville, and it is the Woodvilles that are on the ascent and the Nevilles in decline. The Earl of Warwick, who had thought himself to be the power behind the throne, suddenly finds that he has supported a King who has every intention of being his own man. This is a notion that is anathema to Warwick, and he uses his two daughters, Isabel and Anne, as pawns in a dangerous game of political intrigue.
After her father's death in battle during a political falling out with King Edward IV, Anne goes on to marry the love of her life, the King's younger brother, Richard. Through her eyes the reader sees all the political intrigues of the day and the rise and fall of various personages, as the political winds shift. Despite all of the turbulence around her, Anne and Richard live many happy years in Northern England, far from the Court of King Edward IV.
When the King dies, her world radically changes. Richard, who was chosen to be Lord Protector of the Realm by his brother, chooses, instead, to declare his nephew, Edward V, illegitimate, and himself the King. What happens to his nephew, Edward V, as well as Edward's younger brother, remains a mystery to this day. Through Anne's eyes, we see her view her changing world with dismay and trepidation, as her husband changes into someone she barely recognizes, and she is thrust into a role for which she had no desire, that of Queen of England.
This is a wonderfully told work of historical fiction by a superlative storyteller. The reader need not have read the prior volumes in the series before reading this one. Each book in the series stands on its own. The entire series, however, is a must read for all those who enjoy well written, historical fiction.
Customer Reviews:
More fiction than history.......2007-01-31
What a waste of my time and money! This is the authosr's second book that I read, and I beleive the last. If you like historical fiction this is not for you. I don't think the characters are well developed, she had a wonderful piece of history to work on and did not do it justice. As someone wrote here before maybe the author was influenced by Hollywood because the explosions and the involvement of women of the time ( especially a princess ) on the "action packed" part is somewhat unbelievable. Sometimes the book made me feel it was written for teens.
Good twist to the old Tower Tale.......2006-09-08
3.5 stars
Ms. Maxwell's take on what happened to the two sons of Edward IV who disappeared from the Tower of London shortly after Richard III "usurped" the crown from the eldest of them adds a clever layer to the two most commonly told versions of this story (that Richard III had them murdered, or that he was innocent & uninvolved and the Duke of Buckingham did it in attempt to gain the crown for himself).
I absolutely love the possibility of Margaret Beaufort's involvement which Maxwell has added in this story. Her ambitiousness, political machniations and involvement in intrigue have been well documented. It's entirely plausable to see her as the pupeteer behind Buckingham... however, other aspects of Maxwell's take on how she and Buckingham may have been involved are completely far-fetched. This story provides a "happy ending" to a tale that simply could not have ended so. In writing it as thus, Maxwell pushes the reader beyond the bounds of believability and left this particular one feeling quite disappointed after reading 7/8 of the story only to find a Hollywood ending complete with explosions.
Maxwell relies on an overly used formula to set the stage for the story. The main character, Nell Caxton, is uncommonly educated for a woman of her time, has maintained a childhood friendship with Princess Elizabeth and thus has access to Royal circles, and yet is so likeable and street smart that she is also friends with every street-dwelling pauper and prostitute in the vacinity of Westminster. Nell's cleverness also opens doors to romance with a man of the court, a position as tutor to the young king-to-be, and an appointment as scribe to Margaret Beaufort. Nell has a surprising amount of unchaperoned time, much of which she manages to spend with her also-strangely-unchaperoned princess friend. As one would expect, the girls even get to sneak around undetected disguised as young men.
Despite the kitsch formula and over-the-top ending, the book is entertaining. The story of Richard of York / Richard III and his ascention to the throne and coinciding disappearance of the Princes in the Tower has intrigued the public for 500+ years. Maxwell has contributed a smart, mostly plausable and formerly unexplored possible answer to the mystery.
Entertaining but flawed.......2006-08-13
This is the first book by this author that I've read. I only chose it because it has to do with Richard III and the Princes in the Tower, a mystery that has always fascinated me.
I'm not going through the storyline here, as numerous reviewers before me have already done so. The main question is, who was responsible for the disappearance of the Princes?
Ms. Maxwell's answer as to the identity of the culprit is clever and credible (psychologically and historically speaking), but the whole rescue-of-the-princes scene is such a stretch it's not believable for one second.
Also, though Ms. Maxwell did read some previous books of the subject, she didn't assimilate them very well and makes several historical mistakes, like the people in the crowd circa 1500 referring to Richard III as a hunchback. If they lived at the time, they should have known he was no such thing, that's only Shakespeare's take on it. Besides, by general accounts, Richard III was loved in his time. He was a good king for the little time he had ruling England.
She also absolves Henry VII from the crime on the grounds that he wasn't in England at the time. She obviously didn't read, or conveniently forgot, Josephine Tey's and others' theories that the Princes were alive and well when Henry Tudor took over the Tower (which was not a prison at the time, but a royal residence) and that he (supposedly) only did away with them after he took the throne. Another theory of course is that they were never murdered at all.
Being a stickler for at least some historical accuracy even in a work of historical fiction, that irked me and detracted from my enjoyment of an otherwise entertaining book. I liked Nell Caxton's romance with Lord Rivers, and the fact (which might be true) that Elizabeth of York was in love with Richard III.
The ending left one hanging, because the two friends, Nell and Bessie, tell the whole "true" story to the future Henry VIII. What good did it do? We all know he didn't lift a single finger to rehabilitate his great-uncle's memory. Actually he finished what his father had started, killing off what was left of the heirs of York. And what became of the Princes after they were rescued is also left to the reader's imagination. It would have been nice if she had hinted at the "pretender and impostor" Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be the younger of the two princes during a rebellion under Henry VII.
All in all, I did enjoy the story but purely as a work of suspense/mystery fiction. As historical fiction, it was sadly disappointing.
A compelling look into an ages-old mystery.......2006-06-06
(This review was first published in The Historical Novels Review, Issue 34, November 2005 - ISSN 1471-7492)
The disappearance and alleged murder of Edward IV's young sons in the Tower has fueled centuries of speculation, both in fiction and nonfiction. Shakespeare was one of the first dramatists to peg the crime on Richard III, in part because the playwright lived under Elizabeth I, a Tudor. The Tudors were invested in having history record Richard III as the perpetrator, seeing as Henry VII had killed Richard in battle, founding the Tudor line. Nevertheless, a staunch cadre of Richard III defenders believes he was not to blame. The princes themselves were never seen again, and on this intriguing, if oft-explored, mystery does Robin Maxwell build her fourth novel, as told through Nell Caxton, daughter of an innovative English printer, and Princess Elizabeth (Bessie) of York, the doomed princes' sister. Maxwell has shown her skill in previous historicals, most notably her masterful The Wild Irish; here, she moves back in time to the tumultuous final days of Edward IV's reign and Richard III's usurpation of his nephew's throne. The history itself offers a compelling story line, with the added dimension of the entrepreneurial Caxton family, and we are quickly swept into the chaotic events leading to the princes' disappearance. Maxwell conjures an intelligent, credible alternative to the Richard III theory, with Nell unraveling the mystery. Nell is an engaging lead, a commoner whose educational skills and familial connections allow her to penetrate the royal circle. The tale is accessible even to English history novices, and Maxwell's scheming Buckingham, icy Elizabeth Woodville, and implacable Margaret Beaufort offer a complex glimpse into the often-lethal struggle for power at court.
To The Tower Born.......2006-03-17
This subject has always attracted controversy as to what really happened to the two princes. It is however expressed in a way which leaves the door still slightly ajar for the readers own assumption. I liked this book very much I liked the authors style of writing and the wonderful way it has been told through the eyes of two very different ladies one a royel born the other a commoner with a lasting bond of firm frienship which endures through many trials and tribulations. A great read and I highly recommend it.
Average customer rating:
- Brain-teaser, brilliant, historical mystery
- Five Century Old Murders Solved
- This highly surprising telling....
- Richard the hero
- Shear delight
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The Daughter of Time (The Best Mysteries of All Time)
Josephine Tey
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Amazon.com
Josephine Tey is often referred to as the mystery writer for people who don't like mysteries. Her skills at character development and mood setting, and her tendency to focus on themes not usually touched upon by mystery writers, have earned her a vast and appreciative audience. In Daughter of Time, Tey focuses on the legend of Richard III, the evil hunchback of British history accused of murdering his young nephews. While at a London hospital recuperating from a fall, Inspector Alan Grant becomes fascinated by a portrait of King Richard. A student of human faces, Grant cannot believe that the man in the picture would kill his own nephews. With an American researcher's help, Grant delves into his country's history to discover just what kind of man Richard Plantagenet was and who really killed the little princes.
Book Description
While in hospital, Inspector Grant’s professional curiosity is soon aroused. In a portrait of Richard III, the hunchbacked monster of nursery stories and history books, he finds a face that refuses to fit its reputation. But how, after four hundred years, can a bedridden policeman uncover the truth about the murder of the Princes in the Tower?
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Brain-teaser, brilliant, historical mystery.......2007-06-04
Some say this book is responsible for the renewed interest in Richard III. Whether true or not, it certainly peaked my curiosity.
It's chock full of history. But I have one word of caution: If you know nothing about the Wars of the Roses, the reign of Edward IV or Richard III, I recommend you first read Sharon Kay Penman's THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR. Without a good foundation in the history of the times, you'll miss much of the subtle references.
On the other hand, the unveiling of Richard III (biased in favor of the man) appears secondary to the point of the book. Rather, I think Tey meant to call historians to task. If history were written after proper (or legal) interpretation of the evidence at hand, she seems to contend, it might prove a whole lot more accurate.
Five Century Old Murders Solved.......2007-02-15
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Alan Grant is in the hospital with a broken leg and concussed spine; he fell through a trap door when chasing a crook. Bored, he asked for some books and prints. One of those prints has the portrait of Richard III. one of the greatest villains in English history according to the legends. Are histories written by the winners to justify their actions? Grant develops an interest in English history in general and the time of Richard III. His Parliament was the most liberal and progressive on record; why was he such a villain? In Chapter 3 it says that Tyrrell was hanged for smothering the Two Princes after being found guilty and confessing. That should pretty much solve the crime.
Thomas More's "History of Richard III" was based on hearsay (Chapter 7). More got his story from John Morton, a bitter enemy of Richard III. Richard III's contemporaries did not mention the murder of the Two Princes, not did Henry VII in his Bill of Attainder after Richard III's death. The conclusion must be that the Two Princes were still alive! In Chapter 8 Elizabeth Mackintosh misrepresents the Boston Massacre, so I question her story about Tonypandy. [The Boston Massacre was real. The troops who shot into an unarmed crowd were tried for murder, and acquitted.] The conversations between Grant and Carradine are used to explain late 15th century history. The Bishop of Bath told of an early marriage of Edward IV that would disinherit Edward's children, the Two Princes and their sister Elizabeth (future wife of Henry VII). Richard III's mistake was to pardon Lord Stanley and Bishop Morton (Chapter 10). Perhaps Richard III was too easy-going with his enemies?
Chapter 11 tells about two Scottish women martyrs in a legend that has never been verified. Why did Henry VII order the destruction of Titulus Regius without it being read by Parliament? Why did nobody speak then about the death of the Two Princes, if it did happen then? The fact that the murder of the Two Princes was never mentioned while Richard III was alive must mean they were still alive. Grant explained who benefitted from their death (Chapter 13). Sir James Tyrrell was well-rewarded by Henry VII until a falling-out in 1502 (Chapter 14). Then he was captured and beheaded without a trial! The story of a confession came later. Those who had prospered under Richard III died when Henry VII took power. [The story about Richard III's "warm heartedness" reminds me of Machiavelli's advice that it is better to be feared than loved.]
Henry VII was the first English king to have a bodyguard (Chapter 15). They tell of the events of 1486, when Sir James Tyrrell received a general pardon in June, then a second in July. Henry VII invented the Star Chamber, the classic example of tyranny. Chapter 16 summarizes the known facts. Grant finds Richard III innocent of murdering the Two Princes (who were obstacles to Henry Tudor). There is a surprise in Chapter 17. Ever since the Stuarts they knew that Richard III was innocent! Horace Walpole wrote about this in the eighteenth century. So why has the vicious legend kept going? Blame William Shakespeare and his play. Just as Hollywood created a "Wild West" of Cowboys and Indians to hide and obscure the real history of the late 19th century America. Grant explains why the mystery about the deaths suggests Henry VII's guilt.
I wonder why there was no print of Henry VII here? Richard III has "quite a nice face, isn't it?" Can you judge a person by their looks? It was the policy of Henry VII to eliminate all rivals to the throne, such as the heirs of York, but few details are given here.
This highly surprising telling...........2007-02-10
...of one of the oldest mysteries in England was thoroughly enjoyable. The story is told in an intelligent manner and seems to logically solve the mystery. Until I read another theory on these two little princes I find more believable I'll stick with this one!
Richard the hero.......2007-01-10
Josephine Tey wrote this in the 1950s, an examination of the place of Shakespeare's arch-villain King Richard III in history, as a detective story of a kind. The attitudes it reveals are dated, and the environment in which the book is set (a hospital) quaint social history. But the story she explores is exciting, challenging and will change your mind about the history you learned at school and never questioned afterwards. My only quibble is that the most famous picture of Richard III, in which he is shown putting on or taking off a ring and in which it can clearly be seen that he has one shoulder higher than the other, which is much referred to in the book, is not the one used on the cover. Read this book, it will change your mind.
Shear delight.......2007-01-04
One of those rare novels that is both entertaining and informative,like the Da Vinci Code. A novel that can be read over and over again. The CD version read by Derick Jacobi hightens the authors brilliance and the readers genius. Highly recommended. You will never tire of listening to them.
Product Description
Richard III: villain or hero? He was only on the throne for just over two years, yet Richard is probably the most controversial monarch in British history: to some a hunchbacked schemer, usurper and murderer of the 'princes in the Tower', to others a very capable and much maligned ruler. Now you can judge for yourself. Surviving documents from his reign, including letters in Richard's own hand and extracts from official papers, are reproduced here from the 500-year-old originals. Each key document is beautifully reproduced in a double-page spread which also includes an extended contextualising caption and a modern transcription where necessary. The original sources are woven together by a brief narrative history of the reign, fully illustrated in colour with portraits, photographs and other material from the archives. Featured documents include: * Letter from Richard to his mother, 1484 * Richard's official justification for taking the throne, 1484 proclamation against Henry Tudor, 1485 * Richard's letter to the Lord Chancellor requesting the Great Seal 1483 Contents: ·Preface ·Richard and the Wars of the Roses ·The Prince in the North ·Prince, Protector and King ·Reign and Rebellion ·Bosworth and RichardÂ’s Legacy under Henry VII ·The Real Richard III: Man or Myth?
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