- Hardcover: 350 pages
- Publisher: Headline Book Publishing; First Edition edition (4 Oct 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747270422
- ISBN-13: 978-0747270423
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,339,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Sunday Express
A thumping good novel with the added benefit of being a well-researched book...this is a must
Daily Mirror
You will enjoy every page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There are two entrenched views of Richard III, one as the bloody tyrant as portrayed by Shakespeare, and one as the deliberate antithesis as depicted by Josephine Tey. Both of these are basically unbelievable, so it is refreshing to encounter Ms Tannahill's very real flesh and blood rendering of this mysterious King. She brings to Richard's story a keen eye for detail and a rich appreciation of the Machiavellian English Court in which he lived. This helps to give substance and reality to his enigmatic reign. There is also a convincing arc to the characterisation that explains how Richard could turn from a dedicated brother and unambitious Lord to an intransigent King. It also describes convincingly his relationships to Anne, his wife and his vain elder brother the Duke of Clarence, fleshing out these otherwise poorly known historical characters.
This book is also a must-read for anyone who has ever pondered the fate of the Princes in the Tower. Tannahill's reconstruction is unique and convincing. A page-turner that is also a rich and satisfying dip into the late-medieval world, I can thoroughly recommend this book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This a brilliant book. Not only does it stick closely to the little that is known about Richard III but it also makes you feel sympathy for the characters. The Historical endnote is very useful too.
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Tastes differ and anyone who loves a nice wallow in traditionally lush romance isn't going to go for Reay Tannahill, who is modern and grown-up aand really knows her history, though she doesn't force it down the reader's throat. I found Tannahill's characters both real and touching, her writing smooth and elegant, even humorous (why is it so rare for historical novelists to have a sense of humour?), and the book as a whole more illuminating than anything else I have ever read about Richard. Tannahill doesn't use fake period dialogue. thank goodness, and tho' she doesn't think Richard was a villain, she doesn't try and make a romantic hero out of him either. I found this a very intelligent and enjoyable book, anything but dull, and would recomend it to anyone who prefers historical reality to romantic fantasy. The 'historical end notes' are almost as rewarding as the novel itself. I am now going straight off to read her Mary Queen of Scots book!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Strange style of writing - but i liked it after i got into it.
This book is a little bit odd I felt in the style of the writing - having said that after I got used to it did really enjoy it. Read more
Published 9 months ago by F. L. Desborough
Disappointed
As a fan of serious historical novels, I really wanted to read something on Richard III. Unfortunately this book proved to be the wrong one for me, and I gave up before I got half... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Amaret
Hmmmm
Well, i am half way through this book and i am still completely uninvolved in the plot, not that there is a plot as such. Read more
Published on 22 April 2010 by BermondseyStu
A different, albeit refreshing look at Richard III
How nice to have a novel with a realistic, well rounded Richard instead of the pure and saintly one we're always finding in the latest and *cough* greatest historical novels. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2009 by Misfit
Fresh and unsentimental, with a sense of humour and a spunky Anne!
I was a bit reluctant to read this book; I'd quite lazily grown fond of the saintly Richard who stars in so many books about this period and didn't particularly want my illusions... Read more
Published on 26 April 2008 by Morena
in too much of a hurry
The way this book comes across is a though the author was in a great hurry just to get the book finished. The characters are two dimensional, with little depth. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2008 by S. HADAVI
I can't believe I finished this terrible book
As I once wrote something like a quarter of one, I feel able to make some comments on what it's like to write a novel about Richard III. Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2007 by S. Bailey
A waste of time and money
I don't usually read historical fiction: I read this book because I like to read anything about Richard III - one of England's most contraversial and enigmatic kings. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2006 by Rivercassini
Historical fiction at its best
I keep thinking I must give up reading historical fiction as I so often find it frustrating and inaccurate - but Reay Tannerhill must be an exception. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2004 by Mrs. D. J. Smith
An easily readable and open-minded approach to Richard III
I must confess that my knowledge of the Middle Ages is very limited. It is one of those periods in history where a few bells ring but not loud enough for me to be in a position to... Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2004 by Juan
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