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The King's Grave: The Search for Richard III
The first full-length book about the discover of Richard III's remains by the person who led the archaeology team and the historian whose book spurred her on
The mystery of who Richard III really was has fascinated historians, readers and audiences familiar with Shakespeare's dastardly portrait of a hunchback monster of royalty for centuries. Earlier this year, the remains of a man with a curving spine, who possible was killed in battle, were discovered underneath the paving of a parking lot in Leicester, England. Phillipa Langley, head of The Richard III Society, spurred on by the work of the historian Michael Jones, led the team of who uncovered the remains, certain that she had found the bones of the monarch. When DNA verification later confirmed that the skeleton was, indeed, that of King Richard III, the discovery ranks among the great stories of passionate intuition and perseverance against the odds.
The news of the discovery of Richard's remains has been widely reported by the British as well as worldwide and was front page news for both The New York Times and The Washington Post. Many believe that now, with King Richard III's skeleton in hand, historians will finally begin to understand what happened to him following the Battle of Bosworth Field (twenty miles or so from Leicester) and, ultimately, to know whether he was the hateful, unscrupulous monarch of Shakespeare's drama or a much more benevolent king interested in the common man.
Written in alternating chapters, with Richard's 15th century life told by historian Michael Jones (author of the critically acclaimed Bosworth - 1485) contrasting with the 21st century eyewitness account of the search and discovery of the body by Philippa Langley, The King's Grave will be both an extraordinary portrait of the last Plantagenet monarch and the inspiring story of the archaeological dig that finally brings the real King Richard III into the light of day.
The mystery of who Richard III really was has fascinated historians, readers and audiences familiar with Shakespeare's dastardly portrait of a hunchback monster of royalty for centuries. Earlier this year, the remains of a man with a curving spine, who possible was killed in battle, were discovered underneath the paving of a parking lot in Leicester, England. Phillipa Langley, head of The Richard III Society, spurred on by the work of the historian Michael Jones, led the team of who uncovered the remains, certain that she had found the bones of the monarch. When DNA verification later confirmed that the skeleton was, indeed, that of King Richard III, the discovery ranks among the great stories of passionate intuition and perseverance against the odds.
The news of the discovery of Richard's remains has been widely reported by the British as well as worldwide and was front page news for both The New York Times and The Washington Post. Many believe that now, with King Richard III's skeleton in hand, historians will finally begin to understand what happened to him following the Battle of Bosworth Field (twenty miles or so from Leicester) and, ultimately, to know whether he was the hateful, unscrupulous monarch of Shakespeare's drama or a much more benevolent king interested in the common man.
Written in alternating chapters, with Richard's 15th century life told by historian Michael Jones (author of the critically acclaimed Bosworth - 1485) contrasting with the 21st century eyewitness account of the search and discovery of the body by Philippa Langley, The King's Grave will be both an extraordinary portrait of the last Plantagenet monarch and the inspiring story of the archaeological dig that finally brings the real King Richard III into the light of day.
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2013
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2677 people want to read
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September 3, 2013
Disclaimer: Arc via Netgalley
As I was finishing this book, my friend asked me why anyone should care about a king who has been dead for hundreds of years. It’s a fair question. And there is no real easy answer. Why did Philippa Langley care so much that she pretty much pushed for the dig herself? I’m sure she could tell you, but at the same time, her answer most likely wouldn’t fully cover the question.
History is fascinating because the past is both knowable and unknowable. Certain things are given but other things are subjected to a degree of wonder, what if, and truth seeking. Richard III is one those. Perhaps if he wasn’t surrounded by a murder charge, we wouldn’t care as much. Who doesn’t like a good unsolvable mystery?
I should not that I am a quasi Richardian. I do not think he was a saint. I want to think that he didn’t kill his nephews, but I am not a die hard. I should also note that in addition to reading this book about the discovery of Richard III’s bones, I also watched the special about it. It’s been on in the US on the Smithsonian channel. This book gives alternates between chapters about the dig and about Richard III’s biography.
In many ways the television show does a disservice to Ms. Langley. In the television program, she comes across as overly emotional, too involved. In the book, where one discovers and sees how much time, money, and effort she has invested in the product, it is easier to understand why she gets emotional. In the television show, she comes across as the total outsider, someone with little scholarly knowledge, but passion. In the book, the passion is present, but Langley’s scholarly chops are out. Her writing style is knowledgeable and accessible. She admits that she doesn’t know the scientific side of the dig and even acknowledges that her feelings about where the body was come across as silly. In many ways, she is a far more human person in the writing of this book. Additionally, I have to give Ms. Langley a large amount of credit because of her acceptable or choice of a co-writer. Langley and Jones agree about many things in regards to Richard III, but there is one key area in which they vastly disagree. This area of contention, the fate of the Princes in the Tower, is dealt with rather well in the appendices to the book. Having two co-authors with such different views actually does the book a rather good service. One, it shows it is quite possible to disagree with someone and still respect them (Langley clearly respects Jones and vice versa) and two, makes the book into more than the Richard is the maligned saint (to be fair to Langley and Jones, neither one seems to subscribe that view).
The more I think about this book, the more I am willing to give it four stars. When the first rating level came into to my mind, I was thinking three stars. This was largely due to the fact that Jones points out that some contemporary writers of Richard III flatter him and only demonize him after Henry Tudor takes the throne. He suggests the change was to curry favor with Henry VII. My question is, then why isn’t the flattery of Richard III an attempt to curry favor with him? Usually this type of thing bugs me no end. When Jones first mentions the credulity issue, he doesn’t bring this point up, but he does later in the book. Late inclusion is not as good as right there, but at least the issue is raised. Additionally, the inclusion of the two opposing viewpoints gives this book a more unbiased slant then first glance suggests. It, therefore, will appeal to both sides of the Richard III as murderer debate.
I should note that the galley I read did not have pictures, but these seem to be included for the final product. What I really liked was the timelines at the beginning of the book, not only of Richard III in history but also of the church where he was buried and the dig itself. The inclusion of and a detailed timeline was a wonderful idea. The only thing I would add to this boo would be a listing of abbreviations with full names. Langley goes into some detail about her work to raise money for the dig. She doesn’t over do it and the section is interesting, but there are many abbreviations for groups and sometimes it was hard to keep straight (compounded by the fact it is harder to flip back reading a computerized galley).
Highly recommended. I will be buying a copy.
As I was finishing this book, my friend asked me why anyone should care about a king who has been dead for hundreds of years. It’s a fair question. And there is no real easy answer. Why did Philippa Langley care so much that she pretty much pushed for the dig herself? I’m sure she could tell you, but at the same time, her answer most likely wouldn’t fully cover the question.
History is fascinating because the past is both knowable and unknowable. Certain things are given but other things are subjected to a degree of wonder, what if, and truth seeking. Richard III is one those. Perhaps if he wasn’t surrounded by a murder charge, we wouldn’t care as much. Who doesn’t like a good unsolvable mystery?
I should not that I am a quasi Richardian. I do not think he was a saint. I want to think that he didn’t kill his nephews, but I am not a die hard. I should also note that in addition to reading this book about the discovery of Richard III’s bones, I also watched the special about it. It’s been on in the US on the Smithsonian channel. This book gives alternates between chapters about the dig and about Richard III’s biography.
In many ways the television show does a disservice to Ms. Langley. In the television program, she comes across as overly emotional, too involved. In the book, where one discovers and sees how much time, money, and effort she has invested in the product, it is easier to understand why she gets emotional. In the television show, she comes across as the total outsider, someone with little scholarly knowledge, but passion. In the book, the passion is present, but Langley’s scholarly chops are out. Her writing style is knowledgeable and accessible. She admits that she doesn’t know the scientific side of the dig and even acknowledges that her feelings about where the body was come across as silly. In many ways, she is a far more human person in the writing of this book. Additionally, I have to give Ms. Langley a large amount of credit because of her acceptable or choice of a co-writer. Langley and Jones agree about many things in regards to Richard III, but there is one key area in which they vastly disagree. This area of contention, the fate of the Princes in the Tower, is dealt with rather well in the appendices to the book. Having two co-authors with such different views actually does the book a rather good service. One, it shows it is quite possible to disagree with someone and still respect them (Langley clearly respects Jones and vice versa) and two, makes the book into more than the Richard is the maligned saint (to be fair to Langley and Jones, neither one seems to subscribe that view).
The more I think about this book, the more I am willing to give it four stars. When the first rating level came into to my mind, I was thinking three stars. This was largely due to the fact that Jones points out that some contemporary writers of Richard III flatter him and only demonize him after Henry Tudor takes the throne. He suggests the change was to curry favor with Henry VII. My question is, then why isn’t the flattery of Richard III an attempt to curry favor with him? Usually this type of thing bugs me no end. When Jones first mentions the credulity issue, he doesn’t bring this point up, but he does later in the book. Late inclusion is not as good as right there, but at least the issue is raised. Additionally, the inclusion of the two opposing viewpoints gives this book a more unbiased slant then first glance suggests. It, therefore, will appeal to both sides of the Richard III as murderer debate.
I should note that the galley I read did not have pictures, but these seem to be included for the final product. What I really liked was the timelines at the beginning of the book, not only of Richard III in history but also of the church where he was buried and the dig itself. The inclusion of and a detailed timeline was a wonderful idea. The only thing I would add to this boo would be a listing of abbreviations with full names. Langley goes into some detail about her work to raise money for the dig. She doesn’t over do it and the section is interesting, but there are many abbreviations for groups and sometimes it was hard to keep straight (compounded by the fact it is harder to flip back reading a computerized galley).
Highly recommended. I will be buying a copy.
January 9, 2015
This is an example of how not to write a book - or to approach the subject of history, full stop.
I realize that without Philippa Langley's willingness to file paperwork and raise funds and seek out experts, the Greyfriars excavation that yielded the burial site and remains of Richard III never would have happened. For this, the world owes her thanks. That said, I wish I didn't know as much as I now do about Langley's motivations and approach. This reads like a paranormal bodice-ripper; Richard III, ready to be found, called out to her, and thanks to her flash of intuition as she walked past the site, she found and saved him. With her sensitivity. With her team.
Honestly, I learned far more of interest about this remarkable dig by listening to a less-than-hour-long podcast interview with Richard Buckley (from the University of Leicester, the lead archaeologist on the Greyfriars project) than I did from reading this entire book.
What's frustrating - indeed, unsettling and uncomfortable - is that Langley's self-stated goal of understanding Richard III and his times clearly wasn't what guided her actions. She showed no interest whatsoever in the materials the excavation unearthed from Richard's day, artifacts that add context to our understanding of the monarch and his era. For that matter, her bizarre obsession with the dignity afforded Richard's body did not extend to any of the other medieval human remains found at the site. (In fact, when one of the specialists - who had been trained in the ethics of conducting human exhumations - chided her for the over-the-top manner in which she was venerating Richard's bones, Langley understood this to mean that this was because Richard had not yet been positively identified by scientific means, not that all human remains deserve equal respect.)
Worst of all, Langley sought to limit access to and study of Richard's skeleton, even knowing that reinterment was already planned. Surely the highest sign of regard for the man and his legacy would be to learn the truth about him and let his remains tell their story to the world. But Langley fretted the experts at every turn, even arguing that no full-face, front-on image of the skull should be published, because such would be a sign of disrespect. This boggles the mind. The irony is that she wanted to block public access to images - but who is she, if not a member of the public? She's not a scholar, not a scientist, not a trained expert of any kind. Oh, right: she's the one who shares a psychic link with Richard III, the one whose intuition guided the path to his body. And rather than study and learn from him, she wanted to keep him for herself.
In short, I learned little about the important discoveries of the Greyfriars project, and the book left me feeling intellectually dirty, as if I needed the mental equivalent of a shower.
I realize that without Philippa Langley's willingness to file paperwork and raise funds and seek out experts, the Greyfriars excavation that yielded the burial site and remains of Richard III never would have happened. For this, the world owes her thanks. That said, I wish I didn't know as much as I now do about Langley's motivations and approach. This reads like a paranormal bodice-ripper; Richard III, ready to be found, called out to her, and thanks to her flash of intuition as she walked past the site, she found and saved him. With her sensitivity. With her team.
Honestly, I learned far more of interest about this remarkable dig by listening to a less-than-hour-long podcast interview with Richard Buckley (from the University of Leicester, the lead archaeologist on the Greyfriars project) than I did from reading this entire book.
What's frustrating - indeed, unsettling and uncomfortable - is that Langley's self-stated goal of understanding Richard III and his times clearly wasn't what guided her actions. She showed no interest whatsoever in the materials the excavation unearthed from Richard's day, artifacts that add context to our understanding of the monarch and his era. For that matter, her bizarre obsession with the dignity afforded Richard's body did not extend to any of the other medieval human remains found at the site. (In fact, when one of the specialists - who had been trained in the ethics of conducting human exhumations - chided her for the over-the-top manner in which she was venerating Richard's bones, Langley understood this to mean that this was because Richard had not yet been positively identified by scientific means, not that all human remains deserve equal respect.)
Worst of all, Langley sought to limit access to and study of Richard's skeleton, even knowing that reinterment was already planned. Surely the highest sign of regard for the man and his legacy would be to learn the truth about him and let his remains tell their story to the world. But Langley fretted the experts at every turn, even arguing that no full-face, front-on image of the skull should be published, because such would be a sign of disrespect. This boggles the mind. The irony is that she wanted to block public access to images - but who is she, if not a member of the public? She's not a scholar, not a scientist, not a trained expert of any kind. Oh, right: she's the one who shares a psychic link with Richard III, the one whose intuition guided the path to his body. And rather than study and learn from him, she wanted to keep him for herself.
In short, I learned little about the important discoveries of the Greyfriars project, and the book left me feeling intellectually dirty, as if I needed the mental equivalent of a shower.
January 12, 2014
This is an excellent read!
As an Anglophile, a wannabe archaeologist and history lover, this book showed promise from the start of pushing all the buttons for me and it really did deliver. Yes, I was aware of the outcome...but it didn't matter. Langley and Jones were able to build suspense anyway in the construction of the book by presenting what it took just to create the grounds for the dig as well as the dig itself.
And then the goes another step, one that helped this US citizen with an insufficient knowledge of British history understand Richard III and his time better. They present a history of the battle of Bosworth, interspersed with the story of the dig. And they present primary sources from Richard's day, not just the old tropes from Thomas More and Shakespeare which were influenced by the victor at Bosworth, Henry VII, working to legitimize his rule.
Excellent indeed, and highly recommended for those interested in learning a bit about the much maligned Richard, some 15th c. British history, and the mechanics of setting up an urban archaeological dig.
4.5*
An e-copy of this book was received from the publisher through NetGalley without promise of favorable review.
As an Anglophile, a wannabe archaeologist and history lover, this book showed promise from the start of pushing all the buttons for me and it really did deliver. Yes, I was aware of the outcome...but it didn't matter. Langley and Jones were able to build suspense anyway in the construction of the book by presenting what it took just to create the grounds for the dig as well as the dig itself.
And then the goes another step, one that helped this US citizen with an insufficient knowledge of British history understand Richard III and his time better. They present a history of the battle of Bosworth, interspersed with the story of the dig. And they present primary sources from Richard's day, not just the old tropes from Thomas More and Shakespeare which were influenced by the victor at Bosworth, Henry VII, working to legitimize his rule.
Excellent indeed, and highly recommended for those interested in learning a bit about the much maligned Richard, some 15th c. British history, and the mechanics of setting up an urban archaeological dig.
4.5*
An e-copy of this book was received from the publisher through NetGalley without promise of favorable review.
September 10, 2016
I loved this book once I made an exception for Langley's mentality. However she was more restrained in this book than she was on TV - blergh! But you can't get away from the fact that this will probably be used down the ages as the definitive 'eureka' moment.
December 30, 2013
Richard lll, the War of the Roses, the mysterious disappearances of the two princes in the tower, have long fascinated many , myself included. I was very excited to hear that they had found his bones under a municipal parking lot and wondered how it had come to pass that this is where his bones had been buried. This book answers all these questions and more.
It also tells how Richard's story and life had come to portray him as a villain, of course that was helped along by Shakespeare, and that this may not have been his true character. Of course Tudor revisionist history also helped in this portrayal. So this tells the story of tracking down documents, getting permits, funding all the other fundamentals and details to get permission for this huge undertaking.
Along the way we learn about Richard, his life, his battle, favorite castles and learn from historical documents that he most likely was wrongly portrayed. While I found much of this interesting reading, the historical part definitely being my favorite there were a few things that kept me from rating this higher. I think the author would have been better served to have left out the tingly feelings she kept getting in the parking lot, supposedly at the exact spot they later found his bones. Also the vomiting on learning that the bones were of a man who had scoliosis which apparently was what Richard was thought to have suffered from. All this might be true, but it calls out the skeptic in me and makes me feel a little differently about what I am reading. Maybe that is not fair, but it is how I felt.
I am glad I read this book, loved the pictures that were included and admire the author's tenacity in pursuing this project.
It also tells how Richard's story and life had come to portray him as a villain, of course that was helped along by Shakespeare, and that this may not have been his true character. Of course Tudor revisionist history also helped in this portrayal. So this tells the story of tracking down documents, getting permits, funding all the other fundamentals and details to get permission for this huge undertaking.
Along the way we learn about Richard, his life, his battle, favorite castles and learn from historical documents that he most likely was wrongly portrayed. While I found much of this interesting reading, the historical part definitely being my favorite there were a few things that kept me from rating this higher. I think the author would have been better served to have left out the tingly feelings she kept getting in the parking lot, supposedly at the exact spot they later found his bones. Also the vomiting on learning that the bones were of a man who had scoliosis which apparently was what Richard was thought to have suffered from. All this might be true, but it calls out the skeptic in me and makes me feel a little differently about what I am reading. Maybe that is not fair, but it is how I felt.
I am glad I read this book, loved the pictures that were included and admire the author's tenacity in pursuing this project.
October 14, 2013
"Having trouble getting into this as it comes across as a self-serving piece of ego-stroking from the main author, Langley. The subject matter was of particular interest to me - but at this point my interest has waned considerably."
March 15, 2015
When I heard about this book, I was determined to read it. But before I delved into it, I watched the National Geographic special, and one of the talking heads, Philippa Langley, got on my nerves with her hovering and generally being an annoyance to everyone involved. But the name didn't really register until I sat down and started reading the book, and I figured out that the presenter and the author were one and same. Wherein lays the trouble with this book. Nearly three hundred pages of gushing fangirling from Langley that goes into all about raising money, getting permission to dig, and generally being a pest, while all the time swooning over poor Richard's bones. Then there's Michael Jones narrative, which thankfully, saves this rather forgettable history. Jones looks at the historical facts of Richard III and his family, Henry Tudor, and Shakespeare's version, among others. For those of you out there who like history, if you can overlook Langley's verbosity, it should work. However, despite the maps and colour photos, it's not enough to save this from an average, ordinary blah book dumbed down for the masses. Only somewhat recommended.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://personapaper.com/article/27014...
(And thanks to Karla for her oh-so-descriptive comments about Langley's behaviour!)
For the longer review, please go here:
http://personapaper.com/article/27014...
(And thanks to Karla for her oh-so-descriptive comments about Langley's behaviour!)
November 18, 2013
I enjoyed the history part of this book, and I thought the story of how they found Richard III was fascinating, but I just got so tired of Philippa Langley's unadulterated Richard III love. It was sort of nauseating to read about all of her intuition that she claims led her to Richard, and frankly, I don't know how much I buy into all of these Richard apologists. I don't think any leader that lived in the 15th century was that admirable of a person, but certainly one who was, more likely than not, responsible for the death of two young boys certainly isn't worthy of that much esteem. No, I don't think Shakespeare's portrayal was correct either, but this just goes too far the other way. In other words, I would have appreciated this book more without all of the editorializing.
June 10, 2022
Meh🤷🏾♀️
Philippa Langely is unbelievably obnoxious and I found her chapters annoying.
This was my 'richardian' biography on Richard III and I am deeply unimpressed.
I have never understood the reverence for this short reigned King who stole the throne from his own nephews before he killed 2 of them.
He'd already killed his step nephew there's no rational reason to doubt he killed his nephews.
Treating his excuse lies like facts are bizarre to me. He was clearly lying both about Edward not being the child of his father, which would've placed his own paternity in doubt. The chastity of the mother impacted the child in this way. So if Cecily was sleeping around before the birth of an heir it's doubtful any of the kids she had are the Duke's including Richard III.
I mean that's what happened in France with the Sisters in law of Isabella of France, Edward II's wife's and mother of Edward III.
Her brothers wives were supposedly cheating, convicted on very little circumstantial evidence which later impacts Joan II of Navarre from inheriting the throne of France as the Capetian line died out.
Since that lie apparently didn't serve Richard he then switched to another lie, that Edward IV had been married to Eleanor Butler. Which doesn't impact the legitimacy of Edward V as he was born AFTER the death of Eleanor by which time his parents marriage would've no longer been bigamist.
Plus the priest who had to unburden his conscious to Richard III with this story had been involved with the negotiations for Edward IV to marry Bona of Savoy. So he didn't seem to have qualms about bigamy then and he concerns later are thinly veiled lies.
Perhaps Elizabeth Woodville surrounded herself with her family after the death of Edward IV because they had proven considerably more loyal and steadfast than the York's. The Woodville's were loyal and apparently a close family, I'd call my loyal people before disloyal people as well.
This is just nonsense and serves no purpose.
Richard III isn't any worse or more morally bankrupt than Henry VIII, not that that's saying much but still. 🤷🏾♀️
Philippa Langely is unbelievably obnoxious and I found her chapters annoying.
This was my 'richardian' biography on Richard III and I am deeply unimpressed.
I have never understood the reverence for this short reigned King who stole the throne from his own nephews before he killed 2 of them.
He'd already killed his step nephew there's no rational reason to doubt he killed his nephews.
Treating his excuse lies like facts are bizarre to me. He was clearly lying both about Edward not being the child of his father, which would've placed his own paternity in doubt. The chastity of the mother impacted the child in this way. So if Cecily was sleeping around before the birth of an heir it's doubtful any of the kids she had are the Duke's including Richard III.
I mean that's what happened in France with the Sisters in law of Isabella of France, Edward II's wife's and mother of Edward III.
Her brothers wives were supposedly cheating, convicted on very little circumstantial evidence which later impacts Joan II of Navarre from inheriting the throne of France as the Capetian line died out.
Since that lie apparently didn't serve Richard he then switched to another lie, that Edward IV had been married to Eleanor Butler. Which doesn't impact the legitimacy of Edward V as he was born AFTER the death of Eleanor by which time his parents marriage would've no longer been bigamist.
Plus the priest who had to unburden his conscious to Richard III with this story had been involved with the negotiations for Edward IV to marry Bona of Savoy. So he didn't seem to have qualms about bigamy then and he concerns later are thinly veiled lies.
Perhaps Elizabeth Woodville surrounded herself with her family after the death of Edward IV because they had proven considerably more loyal and steadfast than the York's. The Woodville's were loyal and apparently a close family, I'd call my loyal people before disloyal people as well.
This is just nonsense and serves no purpose.
Richard III isn't any worse or more morally bankrupt than Henry VIII, not that that's saying much but still. 🤷🏾♀️
April 27, 2014
Co-author Philippa Langley spearheaded the Looking for Richard project which led to the 2013 discovery of the remains of Richard III. She patched together the financing, recruited the experts, pulled the permits and the negotiated with those who park in the dig site. This book is that story, side by side with a new look at the story of Richard III.
Langley has a bond with Richard, so strong, that prior to the dig she was drawn to the very spot where his remains were found. A true Ricardian, Langley sees him as the epitome of chivalry and a defender of justice. Her goal was to give him a proper burial, honor him as the true King of England and provide an anti-dote to Shakespeare's Richard and what she calls Tudor propaganda. Her co-writer, Michael Jones, has a more measured view of Richard.
The writing is interesting and clear throughout which makes it good for the general reader. It is a page turner packed with content.
The first appendix includes the two authors' different views of the "Princes in the Tower", the most commonly cited example of Richard's villainy. Langley absolves him of guilt; Jones shows how dynastic murders were common features of the times. The second appendix provides excerpts from a psychological profile of Richard, which only whets the reader's appetite for its full text.
The photos are well selected. You see the setting of the dig, the remains (showing the curved spine and head wounds), the trenches and those who carefully dug them, pertinent sites and artifacts of medieval England, the battlefield and the findings and the re-construction of the face of Richard III.
Langley has a bond with Richard, so strong, that prior to the dig she was drawn to the very spot where his remains were found. A true Ricardian, Langley sees him as the epitome of chivalry and a defender of justice. Her goal was to give him a proper burial, honor him as the true King of England and provide an anti-dote to Shakespeare's Richard and what she calls Tudor propaganda. Her co-writer, Michael Jones, has a more measured view of Richard.
The writing is interesting and clear throughout which makes it good for the general reader. It is a page turner packed with content.
The first appendix includes the two authors' different views of the "Princes in the Tower", the most commonly cited example of Richard's villainy. Langley absolves him of guilt; Jones shows how dynastic murders were common features of the times. The second appendix provides excerpts from a psychological profile of Richard, which only whets the reader's appetite for its full text.
The photos are well selected. You see the setting of the dig, the remains (showing the curved spine and head wounds), the trenches and those who carefully dug them, pertinent sites and artifacts of medieval England, the battlefield and the findings and the re-construction of the face of Richard III.
November 9, 2013
"Long live the King! Long live King Richard!"
Richard the III did not live long. Nor was his reign long. The unfortunate king was killed in his attempt to stop Henry Tudor in his claim for the throne of England.
And yet Richard has lived eternally. William Shakespeare, in his play Richard III, has made Richard his best-known and most malignant villain.
Was Richard such a man? Does he deserve the reputation that has carried his name through 500 years?
Phillippa Langley, member of the Richard III Society (disclosure: I also belong to the Society whose purpose lies in overcoming the prejudices of the public against England's last Plantagenant king), didn't believe so and set out to find the remains of Richard, buried hastily by his successor who became Henry VII.
She knew he was buried in the Greyfriars Church in Leicester, England, but no one knew exactly where the church was. It had been torn down and the estate of a Victorian gentleman erected over part of it. That estate had been parceled out over the years and part of it had become a "car park" (parking lot to us uneducated people on the other side of the pond). Phillippa visited the car park and got an intense feeling that she was at the grave. She even found an R (actually for a Reserved parking space) on the place that gave her the chills.
She then started a four-year search for the grave. She raised money, got the backing of the city of Leicester and the University of Leicester, and others. The digging began and remains were found, just at the spot, with the R immediately nearby, where Phillippa had had her experience.
Everyone (except those that never read newspapers, watch TV, use the Internet or talk to other people) knows that indeed the remains were those of Richard III. England's last warrior king had been found.
This book not only follows the course of the investigation (written by Phillippa), but also gives us a well-rounded history of what we know of Richard's life (written by her co-author). It is not as painted by Shakespeare.
Henry VII, that little upstart Henry Tudor, had very little claim to the throne, legitimate or illegitimate. Due to sheer luck, his army managed to kill the legitimate king and place him on that throne. It was known to everyone, English and foreign, just how tenuous Henry's claim was. Therefore - propaganda time!!!!!! We only took over because Richard was such an evil king.......
This is a fascinating book whether you believe Richard was evil or not and even if you don't really know who he was. It is also nicely illustrated with pictures from the dig, the remains and a marvelous facial reconstruction which shows a very handsome young man (Richard was 32 when he died).
Richard the III did not live long. Nor was his reign long. The unfortunate king was killed in his attempt to stop Henry Tudor in his claim for the throne of England.
And yet Richard has lived eternally. William Shakespeare, in his play Richard III, has made Richard his best-known and most malignant villain.
Was Richard such a man? Does he deserve the reputation that has carried his name through 500 years?
Phillippa Langley, member of the Richard III Society (disclosure: I also belong to the Society whose purpose lies in overcoming the prejudices of the public against England's last Plantagenant king), didn't believe so and set out to find the remains of Richard, buried hastily by his successor who became Henry VII.
She knew he was buried in the Greyfriars Church in Leicester, England, but no one knew exactly where the church was. It had been torn down and the estate of a Victorian gentleman erected over part of it. That estate had been parceled out over the years and part of it had become a "car park" (parking lot to us uneducated people on the other side of the pond). Phillippa visited the car park and got an intense feeling that she was at the grave. She even found an R (actually for a Reserved parking space) on the place that gave her the chills.
She then started a four-year search for the grave. She raised money, got the backing of the city of Leicester and the University of Leicester, and others. The digging began and remains were found, just at the spot, with the R immediately nearby, where Phillippa had had her experience.
Everyone (except those that never read newspapers, watch TV, use the Internet or talk to other people) knows that indeed the remains were those of Richard III. England's last warrior king had been found.
This book not only follows the course of the investigation (written by Phillippa), but also gives us a well-rounded history of what we know of Richard's life (written by her co-author). It is not as painted by Shakespeare.
Henry VII, that little upstart Henry Tudor, had very little claim to the throne, legitimate or illegitimate. Due to sheer luck, his army managed to kill the legitimate king and place him on that throne. It was known to everyone, English and foreign, just how tenuous Henry's claim was. Therefore - propaganda time!!!!!! We only took over because Richard was such an evil king.......
This is a fascinating book whether you believe Richard was evil or not and even if you don't really know who he was. It is also nicely illustrated with pictures from the dig, the remains and a marvelous facial reconstruction which shows a very handsome young man (Richard was 32 when he died).
February 10, 2020
In August 2012, screenwriter Philippa Langley was present for a truly revolutionary discovery: in a Leicester car park, of all places, lay the earthly remains of King Richard III.
As founder of the Scottish branch of the Richard III Society, Langley had hoped to find the king’s grave and rehabilitate the poor reputation he has suffered since Tudor times. When she first visited the Leicester car park, she had a premonition she would find Richard there; she even considered a painted ‘R’, designating a reserved space, a sign. Indeed, when all permissions and funding were in place years later, it was directly below that ‘R’ that archaeologists found the S-shaped spine (implying severe scoliosis) and battered skull that DNA testing would prove belonged to Richard III.
Richard was king for just two years before he died, aged 32, at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Almost immediately, thanks to Tudor propaganda and Shakespearean hyperbole, he passed into legend as a ruthless hunchback. Yet Jones and Langley insist he was a good ruler, with deep concern for law and justice. However, suspicion remains that he had his nephews, the ‘Princes in the Tower’, murdered.
Langley’s pacey, present-tense journal entries alternate with historian Michael Jones’s rather dull contextualizing of Richard’s reign and legacy. Langley’s chapters are much more interesting; with her, readers anxiously await results of carbon-dating and DNA tests, and handwriting and psychological analysis. This is both an archaeological adventure story and a long-overdue reconsideration of Richard III’s place in history.
As founder of the Scottish branch of the Richard III Society, Langley had hoped to find the king’s grave and rehabilitate the poor reputation he has suffered since Tudor times. When she first visited the Leicester car park, she had a premonition she would find Richard there; she even considered a painted ‘R’, designating a reserved space, a sign. Indeed, when all permissions and funding were in place years later, it was directly below that ‘R’ that archaeologists found the S-shaped spine (implying severe scoliosis) and battered skull that DNA testing would prove belonged to Richard III.
Richard was king for just two years before he died, aged 32, at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Almost immediately, thanks to Tudor propaganda and Shakespearean hyperbole, he passed into legend as a ruthless hunchback. Yet Jones and Langley insist he was a good ruler, with deep concern for law and justice. However, suspicion remains that he had his nephews, the ‘Princes in the Tower’, murdered.
Langley’s pacey, present-tense journal entries alternate with historian Michael Jones’s rather dull contextualizing of Richard’s reign and legacy. Langley’s chapters are much more interesting; with her, readers anxiously await results of carbon-dating and DNA tests, and handwriting and psychological analysis. This is both an archaeological adventure story and a long-overdue reconsideration of Richard III’s place in history.
March 31, 2018
Langley begun a project to search for the grave of Richard III after a feeling he was buried in the car park of the Social Services department of Leicester County Council. This is the story of that search interspersed with a biography of the life and times of Richard III. This was fascinating and I loved reading about the archaeological dig. The biographical chapters were well-written and informative and provided the right balance to the chapters about the search.
July 7, 2025
Wow, Henry the VII does not come off looking good in this book. A fascinating read both for those who’ve always been a little annoyed by the one dimensional villain portrayal of England’s last warrior king ; and those who just love history in all its forms. Not possibly for Tudor lovers.
December 11, 2016
A very interesting book that mixes a biography of Richard III with a personal account of Philippa Langley, who proceeded to raise money for, and organise the excavation of the remains of Richard III.
Philippa Langley, member of the Richard Society, is standing on a car park in Leicester. She has a weird feeling - somewhere below here she suspects that Richard III has been buried. Philippa decides to go on a quest - a quest to search for Richard III and have him reburied with honours.
This book combines the personal search from Philippa with a (short) biography of Richard III. For me, as a non Brit, it was interesting to read how Richard III was mispresented by his successor, Henry Tudor. It seems that the Tudors have used the three 'M's' of the Ricardian realm to present us with a villain so alienated from the world around him that he will be cursed by his own mother: misshapen, Machiavellian and murderous.
But was the actual Richard III so terrifying, or was his character progressively blackened by the Tudor dynasty that supplanted him? By searching for the king's lost grave, and the remains that lie within it, finally gives us the chance to connect with the reality behind the Tudor myth.
The book doesn't paint Richard III as a villain. He was a man, who played the hand he was dealt loyally and, as far as he could within the limitations of his time, humanely.
Philippa Langley, member of the Richard Society, is standing on a car park in Leicester. She has a weird feeling - somewhere below here she suspects that Richard III has been buried. Philippa decides to go on a quest - a quest to search for Richard III and have him reburied with honours.
This book combines the personal search from Philippa with a (short) biography of Richard III. For me, as a non Brit, it was interesting to read how Richard III was mispresented by his successor, Henry Tudor. It seems that the Tudors have used the three 'M's' of the Ricardian realm to present us with a villain so alienated from the world around him that he will be cursed by his own mother: misshapen, Machiavellian and murderous.
But was the actual Richard III so terrifying, or was his character progressively blackened by the Tudor dynasty that supplanted him? By searching for the king's lost grave, and the remains that lie within it, finally gives us the chance to connect with the reality behind the Tudor myth.
The book doesn't paint Richard III as a villain. He was a man, who played the hand he was dealt loyally and, as far as he could within the limitations of his time, humanely.
January 30, 2014
This is definitely not a dry history book, and for those who know next to nothing about Richard III they will receive an almost personal history lesson about this Monarch as they progress through the book. This is an extraordinarily user friendly book.
The chapters in the book alternate between the story of searching for, and eventually finding the grave of Richard III and his factual history, and the one everyone is familiar with that was painted by Shakespeare and the victor of Bosworth Field. However, in reading this book it soon becomes apparent that this is more than a simple recounting of an archaeological dig; it is very personal to the Author and that comes through in their writing. The book is loaded with an impressive amount of information, both about the search itself and, as I’ve already noted, the history of this King, but it s the delivery of this information that really impressed me. There is not a point in this book where the delivery becomes stale and dusty, the Authors managed to make every part of it enjoyable to the reader.
The sections of the book that cover the identification of the remains, and the scientific techniques used are equally as interesting as the descriptive scenes of the battle that took the Kings life. They covered disputes and grievances between the House of York and the House of Tudor with great tact and never once came out in favour of one House or the other. This book will also serve to dispel some of the images people have that Richard III was just an all-round evil man; it informs the reader of all the good he did for the country and shows him in the context of the world he lived in. Through the Authors writing skills the reader is introduced to a man of deep convictions and courage whilst at the same time showing he was definitely not a saint.
The great strength of this book is that it captivates like a well-written historical novel while at the same time informing and educating the reader. This strength kept me up late into the night to finish this book and once again stoke the flames of my love of history. Richard III, the last King of England to come from the House of York and the last Plantagenet King found his champions in these hard working people, and will finally have the burial a Monarch deserves, particularly one of such fame.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of all forms of history, plus those who want to learn a little more about this period of time in England.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/01/28...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
The chapters in the book alternate between the story of searching for, and eventually finding the grave of Richard III and his factual history, and the one everyone is familiar with that was painted by Shakespeare and the victor of Bosworth Field. However, in reading this book it soon becomes apparent that this is more than a simple recounting of an archaeological dig; it is very personal to the Author and that comes through in their writing. The book is loaded with an impressive amount of information, both about the search itself and, as I’ve already noted, the history of this King, but it s the delivery of this information that really impressed me. There is not a point in this book where the delivery becomes stale and dusty, the Authors managed to make every part of it enjoyable to the reader.
The sections of the book that cover the identification of the remains, and the scientific techniques used are equally as interesting as the descriptive scenes of the battle that took the Kings life. They covered disputes and grievances between the House of York and the House of Tudor with great tact and never once came out in favour of one House or the other. This book will also serve to dispel some of the images people have that Richard III was just an all-round evil man; it informs the reader of all the good he did for the country and shows him in the context of the world he lived in. Through the Authors writing skills the reader is introduced to a man of deep convictions and courage whilst at the same time showing he was definitely not a saint.
The great strength of this book is that it captivates like a well-written historical novel while at the same time informing and educating the reader. This strength kept me up late into the night to finish this book and once again stoke the flames of my love of history. Richard III, the last King of England to come from the House of York and the last Plantagenet King found his champions in these hard working people, and will finally have the burial a Monarch deserves, particularly one of such fame.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of all forms of history, plus those who want to learn a little more about this period of time in England.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/01/28...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
April 11, 2014
I was really excited to read this book as I thought the archeological one-in-a-million find was fascinating. Sadly, it's written by the one non-historian AND non-scientist on the project. Langley is a screenwriter (as she constantly tells us) and her love for creating melodrama is rampant.
The book moves back an forth between the archeological dig and a blindingly pro-Richardian history of the life of Richard III. She peppers her firsthand account of the dig with her intuitions and a rather creepy obsession with protecting the "dignity" of a king who has been dead for 500+ years and whose dirty bones are unlikely to excite a perverse or prurient interest in anyone (except maybe the author herself). You get the impression she'd rather take the bones home, dress them up, and have tea with them. The historical portions of the book are cringeworthy to a lover of truly objective history. She strives to make the data fit her beloved Richard, while suggesting that the whole world loved Richard until Henry VII managed to turn all popular sentiment and historical record against him. She's incapable of acknowledging that he usurped his nephew's throne and was in turn defeated in combat by another usurper.
The book is worth reading for the accounts of the search and archeology, at least until another member of the team - either true scientist or true historian - writes a less self-involved and more scholarly account.
The book moves back an forth between the archeological dig and a blindingly pro-Richardian history of the life of Richard III. She peppers her firsthand account of the dig with her intuitions and a rather creepy obsession with protecting the "dignity" of a king who has been dead for 500+ years and whose dirty bones are unlikely to excite a perverse or prurient interest in anyone (except maybe the author herself). You get the impression she'd rather take the bones home, dress them up, and have tea with them. The historical portions of the book are cringeworthy to a lover of truly objective history. She strives to make the data fit her beloved Richard, while suggesting that the whole world loved Richard until Henry VII managed to turn all popular sentiment and historical record against him. She's incapable of acknowledging that he usurped his nephew's throne and was in turn defeated in combat by another usurper.
The book is worth reading for the accounts of the search and archeology, at least until another member of the team - either true scientist or true historian - writes a less self-involved and more scholarly account.
October 3, 2013
History Unfolds in the Pages! Amazing!
After watching the story unfold in the press during 2012/13 it is absolutely amazing to be reading the “behind the scenes story” in this book. The chapters alternate between telling the factual history of Richard III and the story of searching for Richard III’s grave. This isn’t a dry history book that merely recites the historical events of the time, rather it is a sit down next to me and let’s talk about the history as if it were happening just yesterday. The rich cultural times are brought to life. And the chapters talking about the many years project of funding the actual dig are so interesting and at times you wonder why Philippa Langley didn’t simply give up. The details of the dig are so riveting that you find yourself getting nervous wondering – well are these indeed King Richard III’s bones – and then you shake your head and think – I’ve heard the results in the news! Written absolutely perfect – this is a page turner that will keep you up late into the night! I hope there is a sequel telling us about the court proceedings and the final decision of where King Richard III will finally rest in peace. NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After watching the story unfold in the press during 2012/13 it is absolutely amazing to be reading the “behind the scenes story” in this book. The chapters alternate between telling the factual history of Richard III and the story of searching for Richard III’s grave. This isn’t a dry history book that merely recites the historical events of the time, rather it is a sit down next to me and let’s talk about the history as if it were happening just yesterday. The rich cultural times are brought to life. And the chapters talking about the many years project of funding the actual dig are so interesting and at times you wonder why Philippa Langley didn’t simply give up. The details of the dig are so riveting that you find yourself getting nervous wondering – well are these indeed King Richard III’s bones – and then you shake your head and think – I’ve heard the results in the news! Written absolutely perfect – this is a page turner that will keep you up late into the night! I hope there is a sequel telling us about the court proceedings and the final decision of where King Richard III will finally rest in peace. NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2014
I've heard of purple prose, but this author writes in a manner I can only describe as breathy, overly emotional hysteria. I'm sure any passage that came across as scholarly and erudite was written by co-author Michael Jones. What could have been an interesting book makes you cringe at what this woman must have put the archeologists and scientists working on this project. You can't photograph the King's bones! It would be...rude! Demanding shades be lowered on a hovering property, arguing with the forsenic scientist out there in the muck and heat, fully suited up, while she sits on an upended pail. By the time I put the book down, I wondered what the "real" story behind this dig was in terms of endurance by working with such an impediment in their path. Langley also reads way, way too much into the unknown in terms of Richard III's life and character. She has no solid proof on any of it, anymore than his naysayers did. Who thought this book would be a bodice ripper?
January 21, 2024
As a long time fan of all things about the British royal family, I recall being amazed back in 2012 when I heard that the body of the much maligned King Richard III had been found in a Leicestershire car park, more than 500 years after his death. This is the story of that archeological dig and how it came about, as told by two of the people involved. Richard III has not been treated well in history. He has long been portrayed as a deformed and murderous tyrant, mostly because much of what has been written about him came from the Tudors, the royal line responsible for his death. In more recent years, historians have begun to take a more balanced view of him, based on primary sources written during his lifetime. Philippa Langley, one of the co-authors, became fascinated with his story, and spearheaded, organized and obtained funding for an archeological dig to find his remains. This book is the story of that search, with alternating chapters telling the story of Richard III's life and death. I found it fascinating. The process by which he was found and identified involved some very interesting science, and a lot of luck. My one complaint about this book is that Philippa Langley is a screenwriter, not a scientist, and she tends to let her emotions get in the way of science, but I realize that without her this project never would have taken place.
December 21, 2022
Why, oh why did I buy this book?
Of course, it was on special offer and I paid about a pound for it, but this time I was also influenced by Steve Coogan’s interest, in that he’s made a film out of it. I almost never say this but the film is probably better.
I just hated the narrator’s perspective so much. Fair play to her for finding the grave, but her tone was utterly humourless throughout, and she acted like a Richard III fan girl.
She definitely buys into the idea that monarchs are inherently more important than we mere mortals, as if it was such a tragedy for Richard to have been buried in such a way, and then displayed and studied in such a way, not because he was a person but because he was a King. But he was the usurper of a usurper, so as Kings go his claim was particularly tenuous. The author also had a pretty relaxed attitude to the fact that he possibly had his two little nephews murdered. She basically said “different times, wha?”
The subject in itself is interesting, but I’ve read Sharon Penman’s vivid and compelling fictionalised account of his life, and I doubt I would have found the sections on Richard’s life and kingship as bearable if I hadn’t had Sharon’s story filling in the blanks. The Sunne in Splendour is an excellent book, incidentally.
Parts of the description of the dig read like mere lists of the people involved. “Jack was there, and Anne, and Lucy, and even James. No doubt this was necessary for the sake of posterity, but it doesn’t make for riveting reading.
The historiography of Richard III was interesting, in considering how he was transformed from being just one in a long line of monarchs to Shakespeare’s hunchbacked monster, but that IS interesting in itself rather than by virtue of this particular book.
So I’d give the book a miss and wait for the film.
Of course, it was on special offer and I paid about a pound for it, but this time I was also influenced by Steve Coogan’s interest, in that he’s made a film out of it. I almost never say this but the film is probably better.
I just hated the narrator’s perspective so much. Fair play to her for finding the grave, but her tone was utterly humourless throughout, and she acted like a Richard III fan girl.
She definitely buys into the idea that monarchs are inherently more important than we mere mortals, as if it was such a tragedy for Richard to have been buried in such a way, and then displayed and studied in such a way, not because he was a person but because he was a King. But he was the usurper of a usurper, so as Kings go his claim was particularly tenuous. The author also had a pretty relaxed attitude to the fact that he possibly had his two little nephews murdered. She basically said “different times, wha?”
The subject in itself is interesting, but I’ve read Sharon Penman’s vivid and compelling fictionalised account of his life, and I doubt I would have found the sections on Richard’s life and kingship as bearable if I hadn’t had Sharon’s story filling in the blanks. The Sunne in Splendour is an excellent book, incidentally.
Parts of the description of the dig read like mere lists of the people involved. “Jack was there, and Anne, and Lucy, and even James. No doubt this was necessary for the sake of posterity, but it doesn’t make for riveting reading.
The historiography of Richard III was interesting, in considering how he was transformed from being just one in a long line of monarchs to Shakespeare’s hunchbacked monster, but that IS interesting in itself rather than by virtue of this particular book.
So I’d give the book a miss and wait for the film.
July 3, 2023
Royal reads project
October 31, 2013
(A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley)
The King's Grave by Philippa Gregory and Michael Jones is a fascinating study of one of the most controversial people in history, the English king Richard III.
Was he an evil murderer, as portrayed by Shakespeare? Or was he just misunderstood? How can we know about someone who has been dead for over 500 years?
Did Richard III kill his two nephews? I have been intrigued by the mystery of the disappearance of the two little princes ever since I read Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. Tey's novel tells of a detective who sets out to solve the mystery while he is bedridden. He concludes that the king, Richard III, didn't murder the princes.
More recently I read Royal Blood, Richard III and the Mystery of the Princes, by Bertram Field. A lawyer, Field offers a lawyer's review of documents and proposes a revisionist history of Richards as a victim of slander. I also know that Alison Weir, author of another book about Richard III believes him guilty as charged.
Now we have The King's Grave. Phillipa Gregory begins the book with her search for the grave of Richard III. Gregory is the secretary of the Scottish branch of the Richard III Society, a group that is focused on redeeming his name (they call themselves Ricardians.) Jones is a historian with a specialty on Richard III and his time.
Gregory's account of the process of discovering Richard III's grave is fascinating. She begins with a "feeling" when walking through a car park in Leister, England, and she explains in great detail how she got scientists and local politicians to search for the grave. That she succeeded in getting Richard III disinterred doesn't diminish the excitement of the story.
Gregory says her aim was to "delve behind the caricature Shakespeare has given us and gain psychological insights into the main and his reality." She even consulted a graphologist (handwriting analyst) to find more insights into his character.
A historical account of Richard III's life by Jones was interwoven with Gregory's story. Instead of starting at the beginning of Richard's life, Jones begins with the battle of Bosworth Field, where Richard was killed and Henry Tudor (Henry VII) was successful. Jones goes back and forth in the history and he discusses Shakespeare's portrayals of Richard. I found Jones's part just as interesting as Gregory's sections, although I would have preferred a chronological account.
The book contains several appendices. In the first, Jones discusses the controversy around the fate of the princes in the tower. He concludes with the belief that Richard did kill them but Gregory disagrees. Both arguments are set out in this section, which I found very interesting.
The second appendix was a psychological study of Richard III, which was part of an article by two psychologists.
Finally, at the end were extensive notes on sources for each chapter and a comprehensive bibliography.
I was impressed with Gregory's persistence and strong belief system and with Jones' scholarship. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the difficulties of knowing about a historical subject.
The King's Grave by Philippa Gregory and Michael Jones is a fascinating study of one of the most controversial people in history, the English king Richard III.
Was he an evil murderer, as portrayed by Shakespeare? Or was he just misunderstood? How can we know about someone who has been dead for over 500 years?
Did Richard III kill his two nephews? I have been intrigued by the mystery of the disappearance of the two little princes ever since I read Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. Tey's novel tells of a detective who sets out to solve the mystery while he is bedridden. He concludes that the king, Richard III, didn't murder the princes.
More recently I read Royal Blood, Richard III and the Mystery of the Princes, by Bertram Field. A lawyer, Field offers a lawyer's review of documents and proposes a revisionist history of Richards as a victim of slander. I also know that Alison Weir, author of another book about Richard III believes him guilty as charged.
Now we have The King's Grave. Phillipa Gregory begins the book with her search for the grave of Richard III. Gregory is the secretary of the Scottish branch of the Richard III Society, a group that is focused on redeeming his name (they call themselves Ricardians.) Jones is a historian with a specialty on Richard III and his time.
Gregory's account of the process of discovering Richard III's grave is fascinating. She begins with a "feeling" when walking through a car park in Leister, England, and she explains in great detail how she got scientists and local politicians to search for the grave. That she succeeded in getting Richard III disinterred doesn't diminish the excitement of the story.
Gregory says her aim was to "delve behind the caricature Shakespeare has given us and gain psychological insights into the main and his reality." She even consulted a graphologist (handwriting analyst) to find more insights into his character.
A historical account of Richard III's life by Jones was interwoven with Gregory's story. Instead of starting at the beginning of Richard's life, Jones begins with the battle of Bosworth Field, where Richard was killed and Henry Tudor (Henry VII) was successful. Jones goes back and forth in the history and he discusses Shakespeare's portrayals of Richard. I found Jones's part just as interesting as Gregory's sections, although I would have preferred a chronological account.
The book contains several appendices. In the first, Jones discusses the controversy around the fate of the princes in the tower. He concludes with the belief that Richard did kill them but Gregory disagrees. Both arguments are set out in this section, which I found very interesting.
The second appendix was a psychological study of Richard III, which was part of an article by two psychologists.
Finally, at the end were extensive notes on sources for each chapter and a comprehensive bibliography.
I was impressed with Gregory's persistence and strong belief system and with Jones' scholarship. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the difficulties of knowing about a historical subject.
October 6, 2013
I, like millions of others, watched the telly special about Richard III and the discovery and subsequent actions taken with his remains with rapt attention. I was very excited when I saw this book.
After reading this, the excitement has not diminished. Philippa Langley and her co-author do an excellent job of painting a different portrait of Richard than the skulking, hunched, maniacal figure that Shakespeare and Tudor history have made popular in the eyes of the general public.
Before I get into the finer points of this book, may I take a moment to congratulate the author on her determination to do the impossible. Through sensitive situations and hurdle after hurdle she persevered, bringing history to life in this century in a very real, very physical way. Incredible.
Now on to the book. The King's Grave is more than just a simple story about an archeological dig or a great figure in history. This book is very personal to the author and that much is clear through her writing. The book alternates between retelling the story of Richard's fight against the House of Tudor and the more current efforts to restore his body to a rightful place of honour.
I was impressed by the amount of information in this book and by the way the authors delivered it. I was never bored or threatening to skim through chapters as is often the case with historical books of any length. I particularly enjoyed the sections of the book that focused on identification of the remains and the scientific techniques used to do so.
Personally, I like the idea that Richard III may have been the chivalrous and noble warrior that we want to think of when we picture a former king of England. He was, after all, the final king to stand before the world representing the House of York, so no matter what, I think he deserved a proper burial and recognition as such.
The way the authors represented the civil disputes and eventual war between Richard and the Tudors was better than I would have expected. I thought there would be a considerable amount of prejudice in the retelling, as the author was very close to the situation of Richard's identification. Instead, it was a rather impartial and a pretty complete recounting of the long ago events.
I honestly think this book made history more exciting. I would certainly recommend this to anyone interested in the life of this former king, or history in general. You do not have to be an expert on the subject to enjoy it.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and provided by Netgalley.
After reading this, the excitement has not diminished. Philippa Langley and her co-author do an excellent job of painting a different portrait of Richard than the skulking, hunched, maniacal figure that Shakespeare and Tudor history have made popular in the eyes of the general public.
Before I get into the finer points of this book, may I take a moment to congratulate the author on her determination to do the impossible. Through sensitive situations and hurdle after hurdle she persevered, bringing history to life in this century in a very real, very physical way. Incredible.
Now on to the book. The King's Grave is more than just a simple story about an archeological dig or a great figure in history. This book is very personal to the author and that much is clear through her writing. The book alternates between retelling the story of Richard's fight against the House of Tudor and the more current efforts to restore his body to a rightful place of honour.
I was impressed by the amount of information in this book and by the way the authors delivered it. I was never bored or threatening to skim through chapters as is often the case with historical books of any length. I particularly enjoyed the sections of the book that focused on identification of the remains and the scientific techniques used to do so.
Personally, I like the idea that Richard III may have been the chivalrous and noble warrior that we want to think of when we picture a former king of England. He was, after all, the final king to stand before the world representing the House of York, so no matter what, I think he deserved a proper burial and recognition as such.
The way the authors represented the civil disputes and eventual war between Richard and the Tudors was better than I would have expected. I thought there would be a considerable amount of prejudice in the retelling, as the author was very close to the situation of Richard's identification. Instead, it was a rather impartial and a pretty complete recounting of the long ago events.
I honestly think this book made history more exciting. I would certainly recommend this to anyone interested in the life of this former king, or history in general. You do not have to be an expert on the subject to enjoy it.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and provided by Netgalley.
October 21, 2013
I got a copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley, for review
It is said that history is written by the victors. The character assassination of Richard III after his death at Bosworth by the Tudor family offers a clear case of history being changed by the victors. The Tudor family, starting with Henry VII, made Richard into a villain who took the throne from his own nephew, murdering anyone who stood in his way to the throne.
This book offers a very different view of Richard, showing him in the context of the world he lived in and showing him to be a man of deep convictions and courage. Neither author has tried to make him an innocent saint; however, he made mistakes, but he's also not the villain that the Tudor family claimed him to be and that is shown in William Shakespeare's Richard III.
The King's Grave really tells two very different stories: the history of Richard III and the search for his grave, which was started by Philippa Langley. The chapters go back and forth between the present and the past. It was a little confusing at first, but it make perfect sense after I started getting into the book. Both parts are well written, but I liked the modern parts better, moreso because I've read several history books from that deal with this timeframe and most of the information wasn't new to me (although the lens it was viewed through was, since the other books are more Tudor focused)
One of the things that Richard has been painted a villain for is the mysterious disappearance of his nephews from the tower. The authors of this book don't deny that Richard most likely had something to do with their disappearance. There is no way to know what really happened to the Princes in the Tower, but they were likely dead before the end of Richard's reign.
The other thing that Richard did that is often seen in a bad light was taking the throne of England when his nephew was next in line to be king. The official story was that Edward IV had been contracted to another woman at the time of his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, making their children bastards. The unofficial story is that Edward himself was a bastard child and not the son of Richard, Duke of York at all. Richard was made aware of this but choose to use Edward's contract with another woman as the reason he became King instead of Prince Edward. He could have released both pieces of information, but that would have hurt his own mother as well.
It is said that history is written by the victors. The character assassination of Richard III after his death at Bosworth by the Tudor family offers a clear case of history being changed by the victors. The Tudor family, starting with Henry VII, made Richard into a villain who took the throne from his own nephew, murdering anyone who stood in his way to the throne.
This book offers a very different view of Richard, showing him in the context of the world he lived in and showing him to be a man of deep convictions and courage. Neither author has tried to make him an innocent saint; however, he made mistakes, but he's also not the villain that the Tudor family claimed him to be and that is shown in William Shakespeare's Richard III.
The King's Grave really tells two very different stories: the history of Richard III and the search for his grave, which was started by Philippa Langley. The chapters go back and forth between the present and the past. It was a little confusing at first, but it make perfect sense after I started getting into the book. Both parts are well written, but I liked the modern parts better, moreso because I've read several history books from that deal with this timeframe and most of the information wasn't new to me (although the lens it was viewed through was, since the other books are more Tudor focused)
One of the things that Richard has been painted a villain for is the mysterious disappearance of his nephews from the tower. The authors of this book don't deny that Richard most likely had something to do with their disappearance. There is no way to know what really happened to the Princes in the Tower, but they were likely dead before the end of Richard's reign.
The other thing that Richard did that is often seen in a bad light was taking the throne of England when his nephew was next in line to be king. The official story was that Edward IV had been contracted to another woman at the time of his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, making their children bastards. The unofficial story is that Edward himself was a bastard child and not the son of Richard, Duke of York at all. Richard was made aware of this but choose to use Edward's contract with another woman as the reason he became King instead of Prince Edward. He could have released both pieces of information, but that would have hurt his own mother as well.
April 22, 2015
This is the third book I've read about the discovery of Richard III's remains in a Leicester car park and it is the most personal of the three. It was Philippa Langley who originally put forward the idea of an archaeological dig in that particular spot. She was the person who had an intuition when standing where Richard's bones were later discovered that the letter R on the tarmac was exactly where his grave lay. The letter R in this case actually denoted that the car park space was reserved but coincidentally that was where the bones were discovered.
The chapters detailing the discovery and how the author felt about it are interspersed with chapters of historical information about Richard's short reign and the events which led up to the Battle of Bosworth. There are plenty of notes on the text and two appendices - one is a psychological analysis of Richard and the other is a brief summary of the arguments about the fate of the Princes in the Tower.
I found this an interesting book and it made me feel quite emotional reading it. I could understand where the author was coming from when she was disappointed and upset that at first the skeleton appeared to have a hunchback though this was later discovered to be scoliosis - curvature of the spine - something which is rather different. She really wanted all the Tudor propaganda to be incorrect. Of course, as with most propaganda some of it did contain a grain of truth even if that truth has been distorted.
I found it interesting to read this book shortly after reading Mike Pitts' account of the same events. Two books with a completely different 'flavour'. Both are very much worth reading if you are interested in an archaeological discovery which has helped to provide more detail for a period which is sometimes short of verifiable historical facts.
The chapters detailing the discovery and how the author felt about it are interspersed with chapters of historical information about Richard's short reign and the events which led up to the Battle of Bosworth. There are plenty of notes on the text and two appendices - one is a psychological analysis of Richard and the other is a brief summary of the arguments about the fate of the Princes in the Tower.
I found this an interesting book and it made me feel quite emotional reading it. I could understand where the author was coming from when she was disappointed and upset that at first the skeleton appeared to have a hunchback though this was later discovered to be scoliosis - curvature of the spine - something which is rather different. She really wanted all the Tudor propaganda to be incorrect. Of course, as with most propaganda some of it did contain a grain of truth even if that truth has been distorted.
I found it interesting to read this book shortly after reading Mike Pitts' account of the same events. Two books with a completely different 'flavour'. Both are very much worth reading if you are interested in an archaeological discovery which has helped to provide more detail for a period which is sometimes short of verifiable historical facts.
July 2, 2015
Without a shadow of doubt this is the fantastic story of the most important archaeological find in England since the Sutton Hoo ship burial. 'The King's Grave:The Search for Richard III' by Philippa Langley and Michael Jones (2013). Langley's psychic, Ricardian, 'feeling' for Richard's last resting place under a Leicester city centre car park, under a reserved parking bay marked by the letter 'R', first began back in 2004. All this intuitive twilight zone is documented in chronological instalments. Yet, without which, Richard Plantagenet would still be a Leicester City Council, Social Services 'reserved' parking bay. Her story of this search for Richard III is herein supported by the historical knowledge of Michael Jones. I have previously read his 'Bosworth 1485-Psychology of a Battle' and I think his contributions to this book are why I give it four stars.
I would love to know just some of the conversations that must have taken place behind closed doors, in the offices of Leicester City Council, their Archaeological Services Department and Leicester University, when first confronted by Philippa Langley's 'Looking for Richard' project.
I would also like to read accounts from the many incredible experts who took part on the U.L.A.S. team etc., not just their investigations on the royal remains, but also the entire Greyfriars location.
I would love to know just some of the conversations that must have taken place behind closed doors, in the offices of Leicester City Council, their Archaeological Services Department and Leicester University, when first confronted by Philippa Langley's 'Looking for Richard' project.
I would also like to read accounts from the many incredible experts who took part on the U.L.A.S. team etc., not just their investigations on the royal remains, but also the entire Greyfriars location.
July 12, 2015
This book covers the search for Richard III's grave and his bones. Told in two voices,one of which is Michael K Jones, an historian and also by Philippa Langley who spearheaded the quest to search for the king's remains. Michael Jones give a concise history of Richard's life giving a different point of view of the much maligned king and helps to debunk the misconceptions that were taken for truths. Ms. Langley tells of her efforts to get this feat accomplished. I found it interesting and am glad that England's last warrior king was restored to the people of England.
February 25, 2024
Having only the Shakespeare version of King Richard III and news reporting on the discovery of his remains, I had only an inkling of this remarkable accounting of the entire enormous undertaking involved. It’s an incredibly exciting documentation! I’m one who loves loves research and find it difficult to quit once I’ve hit the first few markers, so I’m in awe of Philippa Langley and her team, as well as overjoyed by the miraculous discovery and analysis.
February 21, 2020
Excellent! As a long time supporter of Richard III, I am abashed at how much time passed before I read this book.
What I found most interesting were the details of raising the funds to do the dig. This sort of behind the scenes detail is often glossed over.
What I found most interesting were the details of raising the funds to do the dig. This sort of behind the scenes detail is often glossed over.
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