Richard III: Life & Times (Life & Times Series)

Rating:
Summary: My kingdom for a fair read of a reviled regent.
Review: This is an eminently readable text. The author is a good story teller. He effectively uses a narrative style that brings these historical characters to life. He begins by setting Richard in his historical context. Briefly reviewing the events from the minority of Richard II, which set in motion the events leading to the Wars of the Roses he weaves the tapestry that becomes Richard III.

Cheetham (the author) goes to great pains to show the complexity of Richard's personality contrasted with the power-driven tyrant of Shakespeare's work. Additionally, he helps the reader by continually reminding us of the role of the supporting characters in this unfolding drama.

Finally, the author painstakingly looks at alternative theories surrounding the deaths of young King Edward V and Prince Richard. He does not mention the unlikely theory that they were spirited away for safekeeping. Rather, he explores the possibilities that others besides Richard III had motive and opportunity to murder the youths. This is not mere alibi for Richard, since he demonstrates the holes in each theory.

In the end this book gives even treatment of Richard and his accomplishments and his misdeeds. It is a fair review of a monarch that has suffered from more bad press than he deserves.