- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (4 Dec 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140266348
- ISBN-13: 978-0140266344
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 13 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
240,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18 in Books > History > Britain & Ireland > British Heads of State > Richard III
- #29 in Books > Biography > Historical > Britain > Norman to Medieval: 1001-1500
- #33 in Books > Biography > Historical > 1001-1500
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Product Description
This text argues that the traditional view of Richard III is very near the truth - Shakespeare's Richard is closer to reality than the image of a betrayed hero favoured by his modern defenders. The author believes the king to have been "the most terrifying man ever to occupy the English throne, not excepting his great nephew Henry VIII. His short life was filled with intrigue and slaughter, and he was the only king of England - other than Harold - to be defeated and killed in battle". In the author's opinion, Richard undoubtedly murdered his nephews, almost certainly his cousin Henry VI and, just possibly, Henry's son as well.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I did enjoyed this book, Desmond Seward has a very easy writing style and it was very refreshing to read a book on Richard III that wasn't either gushing or endlessly defending him on every point to justify this historically "maligned" figure.
However I do have one or two issues which irritated me a little. Obviously the author is writing from a negative perspective, but as a result he sometimes comes across as patronising about Richard, northers and even short people, which although not a major issue annoyed me.
Secondly, using Sir (Saint) Thomas Moore as his primary source, the author constantly quoted him then suddenly became somewhat cautious of him entirely. This sometimes confused me.
Ironically, after reading this book I felt a little bit sorry for Richard, something I didn't expect (I personally believe he was responsible for the murder of his nephews and was generally a bit of a black sheep) I would recommend this book, but only as part of wider research.
However I do have one or two issues which irritated me a little. Obviously the author is writing from a negative perspective, but as a result he sometimes comes across as patronising about Richard, northers and even short people, which although not a major issue annoyed me.
Secondly, using Sir (Saint) Thomas Moore as his primary source, the author constantly quoted him then suddenly became somewhat cautious of him entirely. This sometimes confused me.
Ironically, after reading this book I felt a little bit sorry for Richard, something I didn't expect (I personally believe he was responsible for the murder of his nephews and was generally a bit of a black sheep) I would recommend this book, but only as part of wider research.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Richard III, having been vilified for so long, probably did need to be rescued from his defenders when Desmond Seward wrote this book. Seward most certainly tries to do so, and in many respects he carries conviction - particularly since, as he points out, the relatively contemporary sources such as Dominic Mancini and the Croyland Chronicle are hostile as well as the Tudor tradition.
Occasionally, however, you do get the feeling that Seward is trying to validate the Tudor tradition more than trying to get to the truth of the matter. For instance, when talking about the death of Prince Edward of Lancaster, he tells us (in arguing for a serious suspicion that Richard was involved in helping to murder him, rather than having him dead in battle) that "it would be unwise to dismiss the great Victorian's [J.A. Gairdner's] intuition too easily"! He's also, to my mind, often much too inclined to rely on Thomas More's testimony. However, his portrait of Richard - as a ruthless man in a company of ruthless men - is a credible one. It should be remembered that the portrait of him as one of the most maligned English kings would make him one of the most exceptionally virtuous noblemen of the day! Well worth a read.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Desmond Seward argues there are three theories of Richard III - the 'white legend', the 'grey legend' and the 'black legend' of Shakespeare. Richard's life and reign are so open to interpretation it is almost impossible to find a totally neutral account of his life. Mr Seward acknowledges this. His solution was to read the original sources. His account,is by his own admission personal, but in my opinion credible. Unlike the historians who promote the white legend, some of the more unpleasant incidents of Richard's reign and the way he rose to power are not glossed over, but examined in context.
However, Mr Seward however appears to make definite statements about Richard's chararacter to argue his case, when surely his character is a matter of interpretation. I could not agree with all of his conclusions, although they are well argued and valid. On the whole the biography is well written and researched. It is a highly enjoyable read. It is one of the best books I have read on the subject
Although it failed to convince me of the black legend, but I found it more persuasive than the white legend accounts. It has inspired to me to read the original sources.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
This is a truly dreadful book!
This book is described as a 'definitive picture of both the man and his age' when all it is is an apology for the discredited testimony of Thomas More. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2002 by zim.smith@tesco.net
brilliant
not really a review just to comment that as a 15thC historian this is prehaps the best referance book i have ever found!! Read more
Published on 9 July 2001
Accurate account of Richard's life by a life-long student
This book is valuable from the angle that the Author has experienced the story from both sides of the arguement, as a one-time believer in the "White Legend", the... Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2000
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