Richard III has divided opinion for over five hundred years.
Traditionally, he has been perceived as a villain, a bloody tyrant and the monstrous murderer of his innocent nephews.
Yet to others he was and remains a wronged victim who did his best for kingdom and family, a noble prince and enlightened statesman tragically slain.
This stimulating book explores the story of Richard III and the tales that have been woven around the historic events of the period.
It discusses his life and reign and the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower; and assesses the original sources upon which much of the ‘history’ is based.
While telling the story as he sees it, Professor Pollard also suggests that ‘the truth’ may never be known: the controversial nature of the events at the time is partly to blame; but at least as important are the paucity of the surviving evidence and the fact that the received stories are now so deeply ingrained.
‘Deserves special and lasting attention.’ – Medieval World
‘An excellent review...adds a new dimension. It’s a gripping read.’ – Laura Blanchard, Ricardian Register
‘An excellent addition to the many written recently on fifteenth-century’ – P W Hammond, The Ricardian
Anthony James Pollard is a British medieval historian, specialising in North-Eastern England during the Wars of the Roses. He is considered a leading authority on the field. A fellow of the University of Teesside, he is part of the research staff of the "Centre for Regional and Local Historical Research". In addition to works on the Wars of the Roses, he has also written books on Robin Hood and Warwick the Kingmaker.
Traditionally, he has been perceived as a villain, a bloody tyrant and the monstrous murderer of his innocent nephews.
Yet to others he was and remains a wronged victim who did his best for kingdom and family, a noble prince and enlightened statesman tragically slain.
This stimulating book explores the story of Richard III and the tales that have been woven around the historic events of the period.
It discusses his life and reign and the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower; and assesses the original sources upon which much of the ‘history’ is based.
While telling the story as he sees it, Professor Pollard also suggests that ‘the truth’ may never be known: the controversial nature of the events at the time is partly to blame; but at least as important are the paucity of the surviving evidence and the fact that the received stories are now so deeply ingrained.
Praise for A.J. Pollard
‘Deserves special and lasting attention.’ – Medieval World
‘An excellent review...adds a new dimension. It’s a gripping read.’ – Laura Blanchard, Ricardian Register
‘An excellent addition to the many written recently on fifteenth-century’ – P W Hammond, The Ricardian
Anthony James Pollard is a British medieval historian, specialising in North-Eastern England during the Wars of the Roses. He is considered a leading authority on the field. A fellow of the University of Teesside, he is part of the research staff of the "Centre for Regional and Local Historical Research". In addition to works on the Wars of the Roses, he has also written books on Robin Hood and Warwick the Kingmaker.
