- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: The History Press Ltd; Reprint edition (1 July 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0752452088
- ISBN-13: 978-0752452081
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.4 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
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- #2 in Books > History > Britain & Ireland > British Heads of State > Richard III
- #6 in Books > Biography > Historical > Britain > Norman to Medieval: 1001-1500
- #7 in Books > Biography > Historical > 1001-1500
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Product Description
Product Description
For centuries the vision of Richard III has been dominated by the fictional creations of Thomas More and Shakespeare. Voices have protested during the intervening years, some of them eminent and scholarly, urging a more reasoned view to replace the traditional black portrait. Annette Carson seeks to redress the balance by examining the events of his reign as they actually happened, based on reports in the original sources. Eschewing the overlay of assumptions so beloved by historians, she instead traces actions and activities of the principal characters, using facts and time-lines revealed in documentary evidence. Daring to investigate areas where historians fear to tread, this book raises some controversial questions. Was Edward IV assassinated? Did Queen Elizabeth Woodville engage in witchcraft? Why did Thomas More lay down his pen, leaving his dramatic attack on Richard unfinished?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
This isn't so much a biography of Richard III as it is an attempt to disprove or refute all of the various slanders and untruths that his reputation has accumulated over the centuries. Carson examines Richard's reign chronologically and, using the sources of the time, attempts to discover what actually happened. She has some interesting theories, such as the argument that perhaps Edward IV was poisoned or that the 'princes in the Tower' were not murdered, by Richard or anyone else, but escaped to Flanders; but at no point does she ever say 'this is fact', as so many historians do. This book isn't about rewriting history, merely pointing out that so much of what we think is history is actually supposition, assumption, guesswork and often pure fiction.
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Annette Carson's book on Richard III throws a bomb into the Tudor/Shakespearean image of this monarch, and delivers one of the clearest and best defences King Richard could have wished for.
Taking each of the so-called 'crimes' he has been accused of individually, she goes back to before the fog invented by the Tudors to justify their usurpation of a crown they had little claim to, and looks at contemporary accounts of events. She then adds something missing from books written about this period by nearly all other writers, common sense and humanity. Each event is looked at from all sides, pro Richard and anti viewpoints are weighed in the balance, and documents scrupulously investigated, studied, and their validity judged. Then the questions of 'Was this scenario possible?' and 'If not, why not?' are asked.
The result is a simply stunning piece of historical writing, that I cannot recommend highly enough. In this wonderful book Annette Carson shows that occasionally history written by the winners, in this case the Tudors, can be proved to be chiefly fiction.
Taking each of the so-called 'crimes' he has been accused of individually, she goes back to before the fog invented by the Tudors to justify their usurpation of a crown they had little claim to, and looks at contemporary accounts of events. She then adds something missing from books written about this period by nearly all other writers, common sense and humanity. Each event is looked at from all sides, pro Richard and anti viewpoints are weighed in the balance, and documents scrupulously investigated, studied, and their validity judged. Then the questions of 'Was this scenario possible?' and 'If not, why not?' are asked.
The result is a simply stunning piece of historical writing, that I cannot recommend highly enough. In this wonderful book Annette Carson shows that occasionally history written by the winners, in this case the Tudors, can be proved to be chiefly fiction.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Having read almost everything out there on Richard, by both sides, I found this one, bias aside, to be one of the best argued and best put together. It introduced new slants such as the possibility that Edward IV was poisoned and used its avaiable documentary material well. I have seen lesser historians on the ant-Ricardian side put together far less convincing and far more biased cases than this, and I felt her obsevations were generally justified or at worst viable positive interpretations not unsupported by the evidence. At no time did I feel she was going beyond where the evidence could viably take her, and as a Ricardian I was pleased to see the3 case, finally, put cogently and succinctly. It's a winer for any Riccardian, and any anti-Ricardian should at leats find food for thought in it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
When Shakespeare Got It Wrong
This is a really good read, but it might be a good idea to have a notepad a pencil handy. Ms Carson throws so many facts at you that it is impossible to remember half of them, yet... Read more
Published 1 month ago by rob law
The Maligned King
This book is an excellent read for someone that knows the period, a balanced view very informative the author leaves you to draw your own conclusion after reading. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mojo5
Richard III - The Maligned King
Fantastic history book. Clear, concise and giving a measured view of traditional history. Will delight Richardians everywhere and gives a balanced opinion backed up with resources... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. M. Cheatham
"'Now...' - and that's all I can remember"
Richard III - vicious scumbag of history. So says most of the stuff I had heard about the last pre-Tudor king, so it was refreshing to find something that took on a new angle. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. A. Weston
Great Richard III book
I am an avid Ricardian & enjoyed this immensely. Very interesting & enlightening; a definite must for any Ricardians or Yorkists; although, to be fair, it does show some of the... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Pirates Girl
One of the best Richard 3 books out there - seriously!
A brilliantly interesting book on a brilliant and much maligned man.
Fantastic read up and past his death at Bosworth.
Annette Carson has done an amazing job. Read more
Fantastic read up and past his death at Bosworth.
Annette Carson has done an amazing job. Read more
Published 18 months ago by D. Cook
A Balanced View
I have been fascinated by Richard III for more than 40 years, and avidly read everything about him I can find, whether favourable or unfavourable. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Tyr Anasazi
The Maligned King? The King Who Can Do No Wrong might have been a...
I have to agree with the previous reviewer's misgivings. This is a heavily biased and unconvincing account in favour of Richard III. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2009 by Rumbahbah
Disappointment
A huge disappointment, Annette Carson has done a great disservice to the Ricardian cause. Her lack of rigour and one-eyed interpretation of events has undermined the cause she... Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2009 by Mr. Alan G. Semmens
re-appraisal of England's last Plantagenet King
Long-overdue re-appraisal of England's last Plantagenet King, after many years of Tudor inspired lies, half-truths and propaganda. Well written and researched book.
Published on 8 Sep 2009 by Mr. Edward Sayers
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