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A Royal History of England #2
The Wars of the Roses
From Henry IV, the first Lancastrian king, to Richard III, The Wars of the Roses follows the history of the kings of the houses of Lancaster and York who shaped this tumultuous period of English history. Anthony Cheetham provides insight into the politics, society, and economy of this time, and above all, he conveys the personal histories and characters of its rulers.
About the series A Royal History of England :
From the beginning of monarchical power in Norman times to the present queen, the British royal family has experienced many scandals, triumphs, and changes in public image, but few of their reigns can be described as uneventful. With contributions by specialist authors and contemporary illustrations of royal heraldry and coats of arms, Antonia Fraser has edited a definitive and entertaining history of one of the most powerful monarchies in the world.
About the series A Royal History of England :
From the beginning of monarchical power in Norman times to the present queen, the British royal family has experienced many scandals, triumphs, and changes in public image, but few of their reigns can be described as uneventful. With contributions by specialist authors and contemporary illustrations of royal heraldry and coats of arms, Antonia Fraser has edited a definitive and entertaining history of one of the most powerful monarchies in the world.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 31, 2009
A quick and dirty history of the English monarchs during the 15th century. Very interesting in terms of how everyone was related and a great quick reference for Henry V and his achievements in over an all too short 9 year span. Had he lived longer there would not likely have been a Tudor line.
August 14, 2025
The Life and Death of King Richard III by Anthony Cheetham was given to me by Head of Zeus, Apollo and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Having just read the Life of Eva Perón, also from NetGalley, this book is the night and day equivalent in terms of style, content and delivery. Cheetham wrote this book in 1972 and it would be pretty interesting to see the book as a first edition. The cover art is particularly wonderful and Cheetham's use of pictures throughout the book was inspired, breaking up quite detailed, academic text with some images to visually please the eye.
It's a three-star kind of book for me. On the one hand, I want very much to promote this book as it has limited reviews on Goodreads and I think is an important text, not least because Richard III was fascinating. However, the first two, possibly three chapters, I find almost unreadable. Take an author like Antonia Fraser. The way in which she imbues her characters with humanity, whereas Cheetham has a more starchy delivery, especially in the opening section, of people, events and timelines,
This was a *wild* time in history. In many ways a destructive Civil War that ruined Britain's position in France and almost derailed its Scotish ambitions. Once we get to around 1470 the book seems to pick up. Richard III is brought into the fold, Edward IV's love of vice and power comes to the fore and the then bit-player, Henry VII, is relegated to self-exile in France where those spider eyes of his plot a coup in the future.
Richard III's personality is analysed throughout, although in slightly glib detail. Richard III is serious, lacking the personality to befriend people, but is dedicated to his work and wants to make genuine change for his people. He is loved in the North and, although he has illegitimate children, is a dedicated Catholic who loves Mass.
Cheetham plays a little with the narrative in a tantalising way. He moves the mystery of the Princes in the Tower to a later section to tease readers. It works well. He acknowledges that all roads lead to Rome, i.e., it's likely that if Richard III had 'too little guile other than too much', then at the very least he was still a political animal.
As we gear up towards Bosworth, the news that his only legitimate child perishes is tragic and all too brief. The mere sentence as to the grief of the King and his Queen is pertinent. Supposedly, he poisons his wife (a shocking slur) in the following year and, on the day of the battle his looks are commented on - his drawn features were even more livid and ghastly than usual, comment the Croyland Chronicle.
His death is presented as a man facing death with dignity, followed by an ignoble, battered, nude body paraded in Leicester. It's undignified and is offset by a chapter in which Cheetham sums up the myths of the man. As history has revisited Richard III, Dan Snow gets an opportunity to give Richard III a little bit of dignity back: namely, his homecoming, complete with Catholic mass.
If only the first two chapters were rewritten in a clearer way, with some information excised – perhaps the genealogical connections and various battles, less can be more – and some expanded on – the world of the court, the mood of Britain – this would be a very strong book.
Still, I think it's been a pleasure (second half on) to read. I very much enjoy Richard III's place in history and welcome a slew of books, shows and stories about the man himself. Cheetham evidently does, too. Even 50 years later, you can feel the excitement he had putting pen to paper, myth to the light. His last paragraph is written ingeniously:
Dr. Thomas Langton, Bishop of St David's and later of Salisbury, recorded another verdict: 'He contends the people where he goes best that ever did prince; for many a poor man that hath suffered wrong many days have been relieved and helped by him... God hath sent him to us for the weal of us all.'
But he was writing about Richard.
If that's not the equivalent of a 'mic drop' in historical biography then it doesn't exist.
Having just read the Life of Eva Perón, also from NetGalley, this book is the night and day equivalent in terms of style, content and delivery. Cheetham wrote this book in 1972 and it would be pretty interesting to see the book as a first edition. The cover art is particularly wonderful and Cheetham's use of pictures throughout the book was inspired, breaking up quite detailed, academic text with some images to visually please the eye.
It's a three-star kind of book for me. On the one hand, I want very much to promote this book as it has limited reviews on Goodreads and I think is an important text, not least because Richard III was fascinating. However, the first two, possibly three chapters, I find almost unreadable. Take an author like Antonia Fraser. The way in which she imbues her characters with humanity, whereas Cheetham has a more starchy delivery, especially in the opening section, of people, events and timelines,
This was a *wild* time in history. In many ways a destructive Civil War that ruined Britain's position in France and almost derailed its Scotish ambitions. Once we get to around 1470 the book seems to pick up. Richard III is brought into the fold, Edward IV's love of vice and power comes to the fore and the then bit-player, Henry VII, is relegated to self-exile in France where those spider eyes of his plot a coup in the future.
Richard III's personality is analysed throughout, although in slightly glib detail. Richard III is serious, lacking the personality to befriend people, but is dedicated to his work and wants to make genuine change for his people. He is loved in the North and, although he has illegitimate children, is a dedicated Catholic who loves Mass.
Cheetham plays a little with the narrative in a tantalising way. He moves the mystery of the Princes in the Tower to a later section to tease readers. It works well. He acknowledges that all roads lead to Rome, i.e., it's likely that if Richard III had 'too little guile other than too much', then at the very least he was still a political animal.
As we gear up towards Bosworth, the news that his only legitimate child perishes is tragic and all too brief. The mere sentence as to the grief of the King and his Queen is pertinent. Supposedly, he poisons his wife (a shocking slur) in the following year and, on the day of the battle his looks are commented on - his drawn features were even more livid and ghastly than usual, comment the Croyland Chronicle.
His death is presented as a man facing death with dignity, followed by an ignoble, battered, nude body paraded in Leicester. It's undignified and is offset by a chapter in which Cheetham sums up the myths of the man. As history has revisited Richard III, Dan Snow gets an opportunity to give Richard III a little bit of dignity back: namely, his homecoming, complete with Catholic mass.
If only the first two chapters were rewritten in a clearer way, with some information excised – perhaps the genealogical connections and various battles, less can be more – and some expanded on – the world of the court, the mood of Britain – this would be a very strong book.
Still, I think it's been a pleasure (second half on) to read. I very much enjoy Richard III's place in history and welcome a slew of books, shows and stories about the man himself. Cheetham evidently does, too. Even 50 years later, you can feel the excitement he had putting pen to paper, myth to the light. His last paragraph is written ingeniously:
Dr. Thomas Langton, Bishop of St David's and later of Salisbury, recorded another verdict: 'He contends the people where he goes best that ever did prince; for many a poor man that hath suffered wrong many days have been relieved and helped by him... God hath sent him to us for the weal of us all.'
But he was writing about Richard.
If that's not the equivalent of a 'mic drop' in historical biography then it doesn't exist.
October 21, 2025
I was expecting rough and quick brushstrokes on the main events and personas of the wars of the roses, meanwhile this book is insightful and analytical.
Looking at each kingship, the circumstances of its beginnings and developments, adorned with personal traits, the period comes vividly to life.
Political tendencies, alliances made and broken, periods of stability and wars, gain and loss of territories, 86 years fit in 100 pages…
The book is beautifully made, on glossy white paper and contains multiple medieval artwork illustrations.
Though would be good to have titles for the illustrations, since they are often a part of an architecture or fragment of a painting.
Looking at each kingship, the circumstances of its beginnings and developments, adorned with personal traits, the period comes vividly to life.
Political tendencies, alliances made and broken, periods of stability and wars, gain and loss of territories, 86 years fit in 100 pages…
The book is beautifully made, on glossy white paper and contains multiple medieval artwork illustrations.
Though would be good to have titles for the illustrations, since they are often a part of an architecture or fragment of a painting.
April 10, 2014
This slim book is simply stuffed to the brim with primary source illustrations – Bibles, illuminated manuscripts, colorful margins, letters and funerary statues all brought to bright, bright life, 100% or more, showing a window into a past that helps to clarify who’s who in this most convoluted of civil wars.
The text matches the luminosity of the illustrations, detailing the lives of everyone involved without becoming overwhelming.
The book starts with the birth of Henry Bolingbroke, who started the dynastic challenge, and ends with Richard III dead on the battlefield, an ending to the War of the Roses only due to the fact his death meant there were simply no more (adults) left to oppose Henry Tudor’s claim.
It’s a straight forward chronological depiction of events, which I loved as a good, solid basic introduction to the time period and the major players. This was definitely not the place to get too far out into the weeds.
February 7, 2008
An excellent resource for the chaos surrounding Lancaster vs. York. Each ruler is profiled in turn, with beautiful contemporary color illustrations, maps and illuminations. This book will either impell you to read more histories of the period, or will (as it did for me) help organize what you already know. I've read numerous accounts and biographies from this time period, and this was a good book to marshal it all into one coherent timeline.
October 1, 2007
Yes, I read royal histories for fun. I can't help it - it's an addiction. This series is pretty much amazing. Half of the book is gorgeous pictures, the other half lovely armchair history. Nothing too tricky or dense, just a nice broad overview that makes you want to re-read Richard III and get in on all the fun again. As I said, it's a weakness.
August 19, 2010
A very interesting part of the UK history. Made very important to me as I live in Newark in the UK. East Stoke a small hamlet to the south of Newark was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses where 5000 men died in combat.
November 2, 2010
An excellent history of the English Kings of the House of Lancaster (Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI) and of the House of York (Edward IV and Richard III) from 1399 to 1485.
January 7, 2012
Great table book-but be sure and read it!
January 10, 2014
Good basic overview.
June 1, 2015
Nice overview, clearly written, color illustrations.
April 27, 2017
This was not a bad read, good information on the War of the Roses, most specifically the main actions of the 5 Kings who were involved throughout.
I would love to have read about the War of the Roses in a more event/time-line based structure, which is not how this book was structured, and the fact the chapters were each of the Kings made it a slightly difficult read for me, but I was glad I read it.
I would love to have read about the War of the Roses in a more event/time-line based structure, which is not how this book was structured, and the fact the chapters were each of the Kings made it a slightly difficult read for me, but I was glad I read it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews