Alison Weir is the New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley, and several other historical biographies. She lives in Surrey with her husband and two children.
In this carefully researched and absorbing work of scholarship, Weir ( The Six Wives of Henry VIII ) investigates the events surrounding the disappearance in 1483 of England's 12-year-old King Edward V and his younger brother, Richard, Duke of York. Upon the death of their father, King Edward IV, in 1483, the brothers' uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was named Edward V's guardian. In a breathtaking chain of sinister events, Richard had Edward V and his brother confined to the Tower of London, declared his nephew's accession to the throne invalid and proclaimed himself king in June of 1483. Weir relies heavily on Sir Thomas More's History of King Richard III (written 1514-1518 and upon which William Shakespeare based his play) to conclude that Richard had his nephews murdered in the tower sometime after his coronation. Weir carefully considers alternative theories about the brothers' deaths, but argues convincingly that More had the best access to evidence and the least reason to lie. Photos not seen by PW. (Jan.)
Proponents of Richard III will not be pleased by this book. Weir ( The Six Wives of Henry VIII , LJ 2/15/92) explores documentary evidence and various theories about the fate of the famous princes (Edward V and his brother, ages 12 and 10) in the Tower of London. Relying on contemporary accounts, Weir assesses credibility and compares details. Her sound research and rational arguments make a convincing case for Richard's direct involvement in the murder of his two young nephews. While she admits that there is no convincing evidence that Richard was hunchbacked or more evil than his contemporaries, Weir does show that he was supremely unpopular, largely because of the murder of the children. This is an excellent and persuasive book, one that belongs in all collections covering the history of Great Britain.-- Katharine Galloway Garstka, Intergraph Corp., Huntsville, Ala.
"Weir's book is, no doubt, not the last on the subject, but it might be the best."--The Boston Globe
"[Alison] Weir takes us on this delicious mystery with a
fearsome vengeance. The result is a fascinating and completely
credible account."--Milwaukee Journal
"Did Richard III do in his nephews or didn't he? How much of the
evil-uncle legend was later Tudor propaganda and how much was true?
. . . This is exciting reading."--The Denver Post "Good
mysteries never die, they just improve with age. . . . Weir has
assembled an impressive case for the prosecution in The Princes in
the Tower."--Orlando Sentinel
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
