Anthony Cheetum theorizes on the questions the amateur Richard enthusiast wants answered:

Did he murder his nephews in a power play for the throne?
What impact did his reign have on the History of England?
Was he really a hunchback?

This biography is organized chronologically beginning with the birth of Richard and ending with his death. The book focuses mainly on the courtly intrigue and military battles of the War of The Roses and Richard’s ascension. We are also treated to many illustrations enlivening the key players and time period. The writing is academic and at times dry. It assumes readers only possess basic knowledge of the monarch, and so we are given a thorough account of his life. While Cheetem doesn’t offer any definitive answers, he does dissect the reigning theories with historical context, political analysis and first person narratives. And Cheetem to his credit strives to give a very balanced account of Richard, not painting him as villain or hero, but he lets the reader draw their own conclusions based on the evidence provided.

The life and times of Richard III is a very worthwhile read for anyone with interest. ( )

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