Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Food For Thought!
Review: As an early modern historian, well, a student of history, I have to give this book only 3 stars. But as a reader, I give it five stars. My first year of university was dominated by studies of The Wars of the Roses and Richard III - in English and History. A friend gave me a copy of Ms. Tey's book and it got me thinking about the bad rap Richard III has got. I have since delved deeper into the mystery, at least as far as the resources of the University of Western Australia's library will allow, (and this is a lot as it has a fantastic collection of History resources), and have decided that Richard III wasn't AS bad as he is made out to be. The Daughter of Time is an entertaining and thought provoking fiction. I reccommend it for all amatuer historians out there. It opens your eyes to the bias of history.
Rating: 
Summary: A little novel that packs a big punch
Review: Well, Richard III can certainly be considered as an unique British monarch: five-hundred years after his early demise (he was 32 when he was killed) he sparks so much controversy you could fill the whole Encyclopaedia Brittanica with it. I must admit that yes, I *do* belong to a branch of the Richard III Society, but I became supportive of him through research that sprung from my own curitosity. But onwards with the review.To start with, this novel has everything I demand from a good mystery novel: good characterisation, a faultless story-line, brilliant dialogue. It is not a book, however, for those who prefer their mysteries with lots of car chases, steamy blondes whenever (un)necessary, gun-toting bad guys, etc. Rather it is a literate mystery, acessible but packing more history and historical analysis in its little-over-one-hundred pages than you can shake a stick at. As such, I would recommend it only for those who like their books with brains. What is more, it is one of those rare books that does a serious contribution to History: you really get to understand how myths are made and how every ruler who usurps his/her position (in this case, Henry VII) does his/her best to totally blacken his/her predecessor's name (in this case, Richard III). Want confirmations, both in History and in literature? Try the Trotsky/Stalin case, or George Orwell's "1984", and let's have you muttering "Tonypandy". And as for the historical content, it is top-notch, despite the fact that Tey ignores one of the most probable murder suspect (Buckingham) and the fact that the Princes may not have been murdered at all. Despite the fact that Thomas More was a saint, that does not mean that everything he wrote was inspired by God (what he wrote about Richard was probably inspired by Morton). Whether his work was a satyr of history or whether he intended it as a serious work, the point is that it is riddled with innacuracies, misconceptions and palpable absurdities. Also, he had been 8 when Richard was killed in Bosworth Field. I admire Thomas More and this is not an aspersion on him, but the fact is that his book about Richard cannot be taken seriously. Many other palpable hits are scored, and I must tell to some readers whose comments I read that they are missing the whole point. For starters, not only this book is superior to many "histories" due to its critical treatment of sources, it also succeds in proving that Richard is one of the most unlikely murder suspects simply because a secret murder would obviously defeat its own end. Why would a man renowned by his capacities as a strategist suddenly commit an idiotic murder in the most idiotic manner possible? If it was imperative that the Princes should die, it was also imperative that everybody knew they were dead. What he couldn't possibly afford was a mystery - only an idiot would commit such a crime, and Richard never showed any signs of idiocy. And, as for the comment of the English lady from New York, despite the obvious fact that the fifteenth century was an age of violence and rulers did their best to eliminate all rivals (as a matter of fact, they still do), the point is that Richard died *precisely* because of his lack of ruthlessness - he showed great (and misplaced) leniency towards traitors like Morton and Stanley. If he had really been so ruthless as the Tudor myth paints him, he would have managed to keep his crown. In fact, the Tudor myth has been so successful that although everybody knows the story of the Princes in the Tower, very few people remember the fact that Henry Tudor beheaded 24-year-old Warwick, John of Gloucester (Richard's 17-year-old illigitimate son) and many other members of the House of York. Now *that's* what I call being ruthless! Personally, I think that Richard showed signs of being one of the most enlightened and most humane British monarchs. But whether you agree or otherwise, do read this book for two reasons: the fact that will teach you not to swallow something just because it comes from some "authority"; and the tight dialogue between Grant and Carradine is the best interplay I've ever seen since Bogart and Bacall...
Rating: 
Summary: Really boring...
Review: I agree that if you're a British history major you'll really enjoy this book, but if you're not I wouldn't suggest even trying it. I read this book last year, when I was in seventh grade, and it took me months to read despite the fact that it's only a little over 100 pages long! I mean, the entire thing takes place in a hospital bed! If you're interested in learning about British history, or if you have insomnia and need something soporific, dig in.
Rating:
Summary: I've been giving this book away for well over 30 years!
Review: I discovered this book as a history major in college sometime in the late 50s. I've just ordered it in library binding so I'll always have a copy (I don't lend hardbacks!) and also in paperback so I'll have a copy to lend/give. The book should be required reading for every high school student or at least for every college history major. A great lesson in the uses and misuses of historical fact by historians and their employers. And this from one of those historians! All should know as well that this book resulted in the establishment of an international society (fan club?) for researchers/defenders of Richard III.
Rating: 
Summary: Wish I knew more about British history
Review: I think readers who are more knowledgeable in British history will have even more fun reading this book. Although I am confuse by all the Richards, Edwards and Elizabeths and the lords and the ladies, I still think this is a wonderful story. The case is convincingly presented. I even had a vivid dream in which I was arguing for Richard III's innoncence!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! A great look at the reign of Richard III.
Review: "The Daughter of Time" is an excellent look into the reign of Richard III and the controversy surrounding the Princes in the Tower. Ms. Tey presents her analytical analysis under the guise of a modern detective story, but in truth this book is an historical analysis of Richard III, his life and his actions. Ms. Tey's presentation makes this work especially accessible to those who are normally turned off to history. When I read "The Daughter of Time" I was struck by her great charecterisations, and the conversations between Grant and Carradine are excellent. For all of you who are only familiar with Shakespeare's rather diabolical Richard III, this is the book that will cause you to re-assess your opinion of Richard III.
Rating:
Summary: Historically inacurate and boring to boot.
Review: I found this book to be one of the most historically inacurate books on the Wars of the Roses ever written. Tey uses the shield of "historical fiction" and writes as a dabbler in the history of the period; without a serious consideration of the key players. She maligns the good reputation of Sir Thomas More, and makes ridiculous assumptions about his motives that do not stand up to close academic scrutiny. In addition she bases her detectives entire investigation on a portrait that is totally unauthenticated. I found her dismissal of Historians offensive and her overall lack of scholarship depressing. Read this book if you must, but then go out and get Alison Weir's "The Princes in the Tower" for a more accurate view of the period.
Rating:
Summary: an excellent blast of the past
Review: a different approach to what might have happend in the castle when richard III ruled england.you will become your own detective and come to your own conclusions. I looked for more books on richard III ever since josephine tey introduced me to him. Thank you J.T....
Rating:
Summary: "Truth is the daughter of time" -- glad to see her back!
Review: I'm happy to see this book printed once again, and happier still to see so many comments posted on it. My own pleasure in the book was that like only a handful of others -- including In the Beginning by Chaim Potok & Contact by Carl Sagan -- this book manages to dramatize the love of truth and the thrill of the quest for knowledge. It doesn't work for everyone. Some people need more physical chase scenes. But Tey imparts the thrill of the chase to historical research, and has succeeded in getting a number of readers interested in exloring more. That's an accomplishment. If you do want to find out more about the subject, the Richard III Society (mentioned in the book) has a website, including an extensive online library. One thing I keep hoping for in books like this is that they will teach readers about evaluating information and filtering propaganda from fact. Whatever you decide about the guilt or innocence of Richard III, examining what happened to history in the hands of More and Shakespeare and all who read them uncritically points out that now and always -- don't just question authority, question *everything*. Francis Bacon said "Truth is the daughter of time -- not of authority." (The source of the title.) But time itself doesn't uncover the truth -- human minds do. The Daughter of Time is a "research procedural", demonstrating the methods of checking source documents and evaluating written records much like a police procedural demonstrates search patterns and physical evidence collection. The detective novel has always had a core theme of celebrating human reason and advocating that "the truth will set you free." I hope the high popularity of the detective novel these days means that theme is catching on.
Rating:
Summary: I was riveted by this book
Review: I just recently discovered Tey (thanks to some Amazon reviews of highly literate female writers who write highly literate heros/heroines), and the Daughter of Time is the first one I read (I've since read 4 more, waiting for delivery on 2 more). I found it exquisite, not only well written but fascinating, particularly in the way Tey documented the solution. Logical, rational, well-written with well-developed characters (including Richard III) - what more could one ask. As to one reviewer's question about the title, I think it's from a Francis Bacon quote, something along the lines of "truth is the daughter of time."
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