The Life and Times of Richard III

For those who want a scholarly look at Richard III, there is still a clear first choice, even though it is now decades old: Charles Ross's book Richard III. Nothing written since is as thorough, and nothing written since breaks any new ground. But although Ross is a good writer, it is a hefty tome -- and he clearly considers Richard guilty of many of the accusations against him, although he does not consider him a dreadful king or man.

For those who wish a book with a lighter tone, and one that is kinder to Richard, this is a good candidate. Anthony Cheetham is a moderate "revisionist," meaning that he considers Richard more good than bad -- although he admits that Richard is likely responsible for his nephews' deaths. Throw in the show more illustrations and you have a good book to set at the other end of the bookshelf from Ross. There are books which are more pro-Richard than Cheetham's, and more anti-Richard's than Ross -- but I would bet, if we could somehow find the truth, that it would fall somewhere between Ross and Cheetham, not at one of the extreme. show less

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 show more 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. show less