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Richard Duke of York, Father of Kings: The Origins of Tudor England
Richard of York, Father of Kings explores the life and legacy of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, shedding new light on his role in the Wars of the Roses and the events surrounding the Battle of Wakefield. While Richard III often dominates historical discussions, his father’s impact has been comparatively overlooked.
The Battle of Wakefield in December 1460 marked a turning point in the Wars of the Roses. Richard of York’s death paved the way for his son Edward IV’s ascent to the throne and ultimately the Tudor dynasty through his grandchildren, Edward V and Elizabeth of York. Elizabeth’s marriage to Henry VII linked Richard of York’s legacy to the English monarchy. Historian Paul Dawson, however, presents a provocative reinterpretation of these events.
Utilizing previously unseen archival documents from institutions such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France and The National Archives at Kew, Paul Dawson uncovers fresh insights into the Battle of Wakefield. These sources reveal a complex web of alliances stretching across Europe, challenging traditional narratives and recontextualizing Richard’s role in the geopolitical struggles of the era.
This ground-breaking work provides a nuanced understanding of Richard of York’s influence on both English and European history, reshaping perceptions of this pivotal period in the late medieval world.
The Battle of Wakefield in December 1460 marked a turning point in the Wars of the Roses. Richard of York’s death paved the way for his son Edward IV’s ascent to the throne and ultimately the Tudor dynasty through his grandchildren, Edward V and Elizabeth of York. Elizabeth’s marriage to Henry VII linked Richard of York’s legacy to the English monarchy. Historian Paul Dawson, however, presents a provocative reinterpretation of these events.
Utilizing previously unseen archival documents from institutions such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France and The National Archives at Kew, Paul Dawson uncovers fresh insights into the Battle of Wakefield. These sources reveal a complex web of alliances stretching across Europe, challenging traditional narratives and recontextualizing Richard’s role in the geopolitical struggles of the era.
This ground-breaking work provides a nuanced understanding of Richard of York’s influence on both English and European history, reshaping perceptions of this pivotal period in the late medieval world.
376 pages, Hardcover
Published December 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 28, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
How can you possibly write a book on Richard III, Duke of York, and not mention the song 'The Grand Old Duke of York' is about him? I subtracted one star for this, but, seriously, I almost took of two points for it. That should have been a whole chapter. Not just a chapter; it should have been in the introduction to this historical figure to the present.
There is lots of great information here, and it is well researched. The book is very interesting. However, I just can't get past the song. Did the author not know? Did he think it was not worth including? Does the song offend him on such a deep level that he refused to include it. I just don't know.
How can you possibly write a book on Richard III, Duke of York, and not mention the song 'The Grand Old Duke of York' is about him? I subtracted one star for this, but, seriously, I almost took of two points for it. That should have been a whole chapter. Not just a chapter; it should have been in the introduction to this historical figure to the present.
There is lots of great information here, and it is well researched. The book is very interesting. However, I just can't get past the song. Did the author not know? Did he think it was not worth including? Does the song offend him on such a deep level that he refused to include it. I just don't know.
May 17, 2026
Did Not Finish at 10%
I truly wanted to like this book. I love learning about important figures in history who just don't get enough focus from published works for general audiences. I really struggled with this book. I must have started and stopped this book five times before I managed to get even a few chapters in, and I just had to give up.
My primary issues with this book are: the writing comes across as pretentious, the formatting is confusing, and this book is not actually a biography. Now I say all this knowing that I only got 10% of the way through, so if someone else reads this and tells me I'm wrong, I would love to hear that, as I think a well-researched book about Richard, Duke of York, is needed.
With regards to the writing. This book starts with the author stating that there are few works on Richard for a general audience, which is true. However, the author then goes on to beat a dead horse about how sources and interpretations of history are biased. Which, at a certain point, felt like the author was insulting not only his colleagues but me as the reader. Biases exist, and that is why you have to look at the sources of things, and then a historian provides an interpretation of the evidence. Now, it seems more than likely that the people who have focused on Richard before are biased toward Yorkist sources, as they are interested in the man who headed the Yorkist faction. That doesn't necessarily mean their interpretations are incorrect; they are simply missing half the picture.
Additionally, the author seems to contradict themselves in the writing by calling Henry VI a usurper and then saying that treason was committed against him. The interworkings of politics during this time are confusing for those not as familiar with the subject. But I found it odd that the author felt the need to discuss how bias works in history, but then didn't provide any clear context in court politics. There is no map at the beginning outlining the family tree of the players in this book, and we are just thrust into the period. There is also very little time spent on Richard's youth. We somehow go from his father being a traitor to Richard being an orphan, then a ward, and now he's heading campaigns in France. I was so confused, and further reading wasn't being entirely helpful. For some reason, there are subheadings of other important men during this time that come out of nowhere. By the time we got to the 10% mark, I was so confused about where we were in space and time because it felt like we were in France, then in England, then back in France, but a few sentences later in England.
Additionally, the vast majority of the books that I read focused on England's political machinations in France as Henry VI was attempting to maintain the holdings of his father. There was a military jargon that felt very 21st-century thrown in about the mustering of troops and the names of commanding officers. While I did expect that there would be some military and warfare terms and events discussed, as this is during the period of the Wars of the Roses, I did not pick up this book because I wanted a military history of the Wars of the Roses. I wanted a biography of Richard, Duke of York. I'm not sure if this gets more detailed as the book goes on, but the lack of information about the main subject made this book drag even more for me.
I did appreciate that the author was including the primary sources of Richard's letters right in the text. It's always great to see glimpses of the person in their own words.
Overall, this was not a book for me. I struggled with the writing and structure of the work, and quite frankly, I am not even sure that the author likes the subject of his work. Not to say you have to like the person that you are writing about, but there has to be something that drew you to this person to make you interested enough to write about them. I honestly could not tell you that this was the case here. It did feel that the author's goal was to provide a more balanced picture of Richard, which is an admirable goal, but if you want to provide an unbiased observation of a subject, I, as the reader, should not feel like you don't care for the subject. That's not very unbiased.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, War
Moderate: Murder
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I truly wanted to like this book. I love learning about important figures in history who just don't get enough focus from published works for general audiences. I really struggled with this book. I must have started and stopped this book five times before I managed to get even a few chapters in, and I just had to give up.
My primary issues with this book are: the writing comes across as pretentious, the formatting is confusing, and this book is not actually a biography. Now I say all this knowing that I only got 10% of the way through, so if someone else reads this and tells me I'm wrong, I would love to hear that, as I think a well-researched book about Richard, Duke of York, is needed.
With regards to the writing. This book starts with the author stating that there are few works on Richard for a general audience, which is true. However, the author then goes on to beat a dead horse about how sources and interpretations of history are biased. Which, at a certain point, felt like the author was insulting not only his colleagues but me as the reader. Biases exist, and that is why you have to look at the sources of things, and then a historian provides an interpretation of the evidence. Now, it seems more than likely that the people who have focused on Richard before are biased toward Yorkist sources, as they are interested in the man who headed the Yorkist faction. That doesn't necessarily mean their interpretations are incorrect; they are simply missing half the picture.
Additionally, the author seems to contradict themselves in the writing by calling Henry VI a usurper and then saying that treason was committed against him. The interworkings of politics during this time are confusing for those not as familiar with the subject. But I found it odd that the author felt the need to discuss how bias works in history, but then didn't provide any clear context in court politics. There is no map at the beginning outlining the family tree of the players in this book, and we are just thrust into the period. There is also very little time spent on Richard's youth. We somehow go from his father being a traitor to Richard being an orphan, then a ward, and now he's heading campaigns in France. I was so confused, and further reading wasn't being entirely helpful. For some reason, there are subheadings of other important men during this time that come out of nowhere. By the time we got to the 10% mark, I was so confused about where we were in space and time because it felt like we were in France, then in England, then back in France, but a few sentences later in England.
Additionally, the vast majority of the books that I read focused on England's political machinations in France as Henry VI was attempting to maintain the holdings of his father. There was a military jargon that felt very 21st-century thrown in about the mustering of troops and the names of commanding officers. While I did expect that there would be some military and warfare terms and events discussed, as this is during the period of the Wars of the Roses, I did not pick up this book because I wanted a military history of the Wars of the Roses. I wanted a biography of Richard, Duke of York. I'm not sure if this gets more detailed as the book goes on, but the lack of information about the main subject made this book drag even more for me.
I did appreciate that the author was including the primary sources of Richard's letters right in the text. It's always great to see glimpses of the person in their own words.
Overall, this was not a book for me. I struggled with the writing and structure of the work, and quite frankly, I am not even sure that the author likes the subject of his work. Not to say you have to like the person that you are writing about, but there has to be something that drew you to this person to make you interested enough to write about them. I honestly could not tell you that this was the case here. It did feel that the author's goal was to provide a more balanced picture of Richard, which is an admirable goal, but if you want to provide an unbiased observation of a subject, I, as the reader, should not feel like you don't care for the subject. That's not very unbiased.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, War
Moderate: Murder
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 30, 2025
Early Life
Born in 1411 to Richard, Earl of Cambridge and Anne Mortimer, Richard held a claim to the throne superior to the ruling Lancastrians. Orphaned at after his father’s execution, he was raised as a royal ward by Ralph Neville. Richard was characterized by impeccable service, pride, and a serious, perhaps rigid, moral code. Unlike the weak Henry VI, Richard was a capable administrator and a "man of action." His enemies called him ambitious and bellicose.
Family
Richard married Cecily Neville, known as "The Rose of Raby." Historical records suggest they shared a happy and deeply trusting marriage. Unlike many nobles of the time, there is no evidence Richard had any illegitimate children, suggesting he was faithful to Cecily. He trusted her with high-level business and politics, spending vast sums on her jewels and clothes to reflect their royal status. Together, they had 12 children, including future kings Edward IV and Richard III.
Cecily was far more than a consort; she was the backbone of the Yorkist cause.
Political Diplomat: She negotiated on Richard's behalf with Margaret of Anjou.
The Figurehead: After Richard’s death, she turned her home, Baynard’s Castle, into the Yorkist headquarters in London.
Oratory Power: When Margaret of Anjou’s army threatened London, Cecily used her "cool-headed political lobbying" and persuasive oratory to keep the city gates closed against the Lancastrians.
The Queen’s Enmity
Margaret of Anjou hated Richard because his competence highlighted her husband Henry VI’s failures. She feared Richard would disinherit her son.Margaret viewed his role as Lord Protector not as a service, but as a slow-motion coup.This personal feud turned political disagreements into a bloodbath, leading to the Battle of Wakefield (1460), where Richard was lured into a trap and killed along with his son Edmund, and his severed head was spiked and mockingly crowned with a paper crown in York.
Son’s Revenge
Richard’s son, Edward IV, avenged him at the Battle of Towton (1461), by annihilating the Lancastrian army in a blinding snowstorm, securing the throne his father had died for.
Born in 1411 to Richard, Earl of Cambridge and Anne Mortimer, Richard held a claim to the throne superior to the ruling Lancastrians. Orphaned at after his father’s execution, he was raised as a royal ward by Ralph Neville. Richard was characterized by impeccable service, pride, and a serious, perhaps rigid, moral code. Unlike the weak Henry VI, Richard was a capable administrator and a "man of action." His enemies called him ambitious and bellicose.
Family
Richard married Cecily Neville, known as "The Rose of Raby." Historical records suggest they shared a happy and deeply trusting marriage. Unlike many nobles of the time, there is no evidence Richard had any illegitimate children, suggesting he was faithful to Cecily. He trusted her with high-level business and politics, spending vast sums on her jewels and clothes to reflect their royal status. Together, they had 12 children, including future kings Edward IV and Richard III.
Cecily was far more than a consort; she was the backbone of the Yorkist cause.
Political Diplomat: She negotiated on Richard's behalf with Margaret of Anjou.
The Figurehead: After Richard’s death, she turned her home, Baynard’s Castle, into the Yorkist headquarters in London.
Oratory Power: When Margaret of Anjou’s army threatened London, Cecily used her "cool-headed political lobbying" and persuasive oratory to keep the city gates closed against the Lancastrians.
The Queen’s Enmity
Margaret of Anjou hated Richard because his competence highlighted her husband Henry VI’s failures. She feared Richard would disinherit her son.Margaret viewed his role as Lord Protector not as a service, but as a slow-motion coup.This personal feud turned political disagreements into a bloodbath, leading to the Battle of Wakefield (1460), where Richard was lured into a trap and killed along with his son Edmund, and his severed head was spiked and mockingly crowned with a paper crown in York.
Son’s Revenge
Richard’s son, Edward IV, avenged him at the Battle of Towton (1461), by annihilating the Lancastrian army in a blinding snowstorm, securing the throne his father had died for.
October 23, 2025
This is a deeply researched study into the life of Richard, 3rd Duke of York and specifically his involvement as a principal in the Wars of the Roses. The background context to the conflict is clearly explained and the author leads us through the twists of history up to and even beyond the death of York himself. I did feel that the title of the book does not fully reflect its scope as the latter half focuses on the Earl of Warwick (the Kingmaker) with York very much on the periphery. The author has a very dismissive tone when it comes to his (brief) considerations of historians and sources that offer conclusions that differ to his own. But these alternatives are identified so the interested reader can follow up on them and come to their own conclusions. I did find the author’s writing style at times slightly peculiar. (I should note that I was reading a review copy, thanks to NetGalley and Frontline Books, but as the following are stylistic choices rather than errors I’m assuming that they will remain in the published version.) So, whenever he uses a metaphor such as “trump card” or a cliché like “feather his own nest” he puts them in inverted commas. I can only imagine his intention is to try and suggest that such hackneyed phrasing is nothing to do with him. He also has a series of stylistic tics: “to use the vulgate” and “inter alia” turn up frequently. The latter usually employed incorrectly. And a number of events are summarized as being akin to a real life “game of thrones”. I know that the Game of Thrones is popular but I’ve never read or seen it so the comparison rather passes me by. But even if I had seen it I don’t know how such a comparison helps illuminate understanding. My suspicion is that the author actually wants to highlight that even an academic steeped in the medieval can still have his finger on the current zeitgeist. All that said, I can’t say that these idiosyncrasies spoiled the book. I just found them odd. Overall I would recommend this book.
February 24, 2026
This is a unique book to read and worth your time if you are an inspiring historian. Dawson really goes against the grain of conventional wisdom. He makes dig deeper at sources and how we interpret and apply. I think this puts a human aspect that is needed as we learn and teach history. I think it gives creative dimensions as well. In terms of the book. There is a lot of abstract deliverance here. It can be a bit bogging getting through. I would only suggest this book if you already have at least a base knowledge of Richard York. If you have no idea who a lot of the players in the War of the Roses are, you will be left to figure out who is who on your own. I clearly could see there was human bias in all of this. He didn't hesitate to imply York himself being prompting or blamed. Dawson has a definite leaning to Edmond Beaufort, that's ok, he was important and interesting too. I think Dawson let his personal self out a bit too much here. It is not a problem for me personally, I don't know if it is good for newer students and enthusiasts for their incial exposure. I am more in line with his findings on the Wakefield incident, not really a battle. I am looking forward to this in times to come. Dawson has more coming out about Edward IV and Warwick the Kingmaker. These are two favorites of mine. I know things are going to get shaken. I am looking to see Dawson be interesting and grow on this book. Minor flaws, this is an important book.
May 19, 2026
**Actual rating 4.75**
A lot of the modern historical biographies I've read lately seem to be more hagiographies - a praising retelling of the subject's life, with very little source material referenced and an imagining of what the historical figure may have felt as events unfolded around them; so reading this book on Richard, Duke of York was a breath of fresh air.
It is extremely well researched and, instead of looking at the events solely from a national point of view, the author has also used source material from local and international archives and tried to explain while the sources tradtionally used by historians may not be 100% accurate in telling the exact truth. (Remember, history is almost usually recorded by the victors)
And the fresh perspective and the arguments Dawson puts forward regarding how York actually met his end are certainly compelling and persuasive.
While I appreciate how the author has approached his subject matter and tries to remain unbias through, you do get the impression he is not the Duke's biggest fan (and this is confirmed in his conclusion); but again, it makes a nice change from reading biographies that are written from authors who are fans of their subjects and only seek to praise and highlight their virtues.
The only reason I'm not giving this a full five stars is because the copy I received had a few errors / repeating paragraphs that could have be picked up by an editor and the fact the book starts to feel a little rushed at the end, and the focus shifting more to Warwick and what he was doing while York remained in Ireland (although it does help the reader understand the political landscape and how vital Warwick was at drumming up support abroad)
Thank you to Netgalley and Pen & Sword or providing me with an advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
A lot of the modern historical biographies I've read lately seem to be more hagiographies - a praising retelling of the subject's life, with very little source material referenced and an imagining of what the historical figure may have felt as events unfolded around them; so reading this book on Richard, Duke of York was a breath of fresh air.
It is extremely well researched and, instead of looking at the events solely from a national point of view, the author has also used source material from local and international archives and tried to explain while the sources tradtionally used by historians may not be 100% accurate in telling the exact truth. (Remember, history is almost usually recorded by the victors)
And the fresh perspective and the arguments Dawson puts forward regarding how York actually met his end are certainly compelling and persuasive.
While I appreciate how the author has approached his subject matter and tries to remain unbias through, you do get the impression he is not the Duke's biggest fan (and this is confirmed in his conclusion); but again, it makes a nice change from reading biographies that are written from authors who are fans of their subjects and only seek to praise and highlight their virtues.
The only reason I'm not giving this a full five stars is because the copy I received had a few errors / repeating paragraphs that could have be picked up by an editor and the fact the book starts to feel a little rushed at the end, and the focus shifting more to Warwick and what he was doing while York remained in Ireland (although it does help the reader understand the political landscape and how vital Warwick was at drumming up support abroad)
Thank you to Netgalley and Pen & Sword or providing me with an advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
April 1, 2026
This was a very detailed look at the life and history of Richard Duke of York the father of Edward IV and Richard III the man involved at the very start of the War of the Roses.
The author has researched very hard into records not normally looked at a d implies that most of the chronical that are normally quote are propaganda written both by the Victor's and the Tudors inflator years.
I found it very interesting but at times a bit dull
To read this you need to be prepared to have an understanding of the period already it's not a general overview but if you are interested in the period it is a must read
Thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword publishing for my arc
The author has researched very hard into records not normally looked at a d implies that most of the chronical that are normally quote are propaganda written both by the Victor's and the Tudors inflator years.
I found it very interesting but at times a bit dull
To read this you need to be prepared to have an understanding of the period already it's not a general overview but if you are interested in the period it is a must read
Thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword publishing for my arc
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!
Dawson wants to get to the "real" story Richard, Duke of York, by looking underneath the layers of propaganda piled on top of his biography over the years. The result is a lot of boring committee meetings, budget reports, and dry diplomacy as we see the less sexy and less bloody parts of the War of the Roses. Its a great attempt to move away from sensationalism, but it gets so deep into the weeds of bureaucracy that one's eyes kinda glaze over with boredom.
December 31, 2025
Dawson’s Richard Duke of York, Father of Kings is a source-forward biography that treats York as a serious political actor rather than a footnote to his sons. It’s at its strongest when it interrogates evidence and propaganda—especially around Wakefield—backed by substantial notes, appendices, and a solid visual section. The trade-off is pace: readers wanting a fast, narrative sweep may find the documentary density heavy in places, but anyone who enjoys argued history with clear sourcing will get real value here.
Final score: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Final score: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
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