The World of Richard III

by Kristie Dean

Richard III remains one of the most controversial rulers in history. Whether he was guilty of murdering his nephews or not is a mystery that perhaps will never be solved. Even the location of the battlefield, where, on 22 August 1485, Richard was struck down, has been a matter of debate. This book leads you on a journey through the landscape of Richard's time. Following Richard's trail, we visit resplendent castles, towering cathedrals, manor homes, and chapels associated with Richard. The Middle Ages come alive again as you visit Tewkesbury Abbey, where Richard helped his brother secure his throne. Witness the stunning vista of Wensleydale as you visit Middleham Castle, Richard's adopted childhood home. Each location is brought to life through engaging narrative, and an extensive collection of photographs, floor plans, and images.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published February 19, 2015

Reviews

[Elena]

The aim of this book is to provide the reader with an inside into the places, castles, abbeys and churches which are somehow connected to Richard III. I found it an excellent idea and very useful to the reader. For every place the author provides a little text about the significance it had in Richard's life, its previous history, what is left of it in present times and also useful tips about how and when to visit it. My reasons for giving three stars are founded in the historical parts of the book, which are not really accurate nor well researched. The only two books the author cites in the text as sources (apart a brief mention of John Ashdown Hill, hastily discarded) are Amy Licence and Josephine Wilkinson, the first whose historical preparation or significance are close to 0 as far as I'm concerned, the latter who's not really an authority on the subject and who also makes enormous mistakes in her only biography of Richard III. Just to make a couple of examples we are told that Richard and Anne got a dispensation, but married before it arrived. I've never heard such nonsense, but comprehensive articles by respected scholars like Annette Carson and Marie Barnfield on the subject never cited something like this. Then we are told that Richard stayed at the Blue Boar Inn before the battle, because Amy Licence says so, and also brought his own bed. John Ashdown Hill, who found out that there's no proof the inn even existed before 1570, is dismissed (as I said above), because well it might have been anyway. Yet, a little later the author contradicts her favourite "source" Licence (who by the way heavily endorsed the book) by pointing out that "Richard's bed" is in reality from XVII century.
If you take this book merely as a guide to places that had a significance in the Wars of the Roses and for Richard III, it's useful and worth a read.

[Wendy Dunn]

Dean provides a fantastic book for writers interested in the period of Richard III. Her love for her subject shines bright on every page as she takes the reader on a journey that traces the footsteps of Richard III during his short, but very eventful life. Engagingly written and thoroughly researched, this book makes the reader visualise the important places that shaped Richard. It is a book that every student of Richard III will enjoy and provides a great reference book for writers unable to get to England. It also offers a wonderful resource for tourists interested in the life of Richard III.

[Gilda Felt]

A great book for the newly initiated into the Richard III persuasion. Probably every place that we know that Richard visited is covered. Some no longer stand, have been so reconstructed that anything Medieval has disappeared, or aren’t in England. Many, though, still stand, even if not as complete as they were in Richard’s time.

While placed chronologically, the locations are also grouped by area, making it easier to plan a visit. I’ve seen many of these places, but I still managed to pick up about a half dozen new places to add to my next visit’s itinerary.

[Ken Sampson]

[28 Aug 2017] A very enjoyable and easy read, well written and throughly researched. A walk through where Richard III was born and where he travelled and, of course, the scene of his death. Its written in a broad general way, so not for the serious reader wanting to know more about Richard's World, his motivation or in fact the social context in which he lived. If you take it for what it is - its a fun, interesting, enjoyable read. If you use it as a guide-book it would I think prove superficial. I personally would have liked a better, more comprehensive, family-tree. Various relatives were talked about, but relationships not explained. Also the chronology was, at times, confusing and seemed to 'jump-about' quite a bit. My other two issues were at times Kristen Dean got to emotional and fell into the romance of it all and the very occasional (understandable) Americanism. The inclusion of this place is closed for development until 2015 etc was unfortunate; as it immediately made the book out of date. I think a general - phone up or look at the internet to check before your visit would have been better.

However, on balance a good well crafted book, but a book that will tell you not very much about the world of Richard III.

[Helene Harrison]

Review - I really enjoyed this book as it connects the chronology of Richard III's life with the places that shaped said life. However, I do think that you need some background to Richard's life and the Wars of the Roses to understand some of the references. It might have been worth having a brief history at the beginning of the book to get people engaged or to refresh your memory. I think the visitor information is handy and the descriptions clearly tell you where things are on the sites.

General Subject/s? - History / Places / Travel / Wars of the Roses / Richard III

Recommend? – Yes

Rating - 17/20

[Siobhan Marie]

This book explores all the places that Richard Plantagenet (as the son of the Duke of York, brother to Edward IV, Duke of Gloucester and as King) visited throughout his life. It is split into different sections; his early life, The King's Brother, Edward's right hand man, Lord of the North, The King's Uncle, King of the Realm and Richard's final days.

It describes in detail all the places that Richard has visited throughout his life and the historical site is associated with Richard and his family. The author tries to imagine what Richard would have seen and felt in certain sites during particular moments of his life. The author also explains the history of the sites that Richard had visited, but also in detail, describes sites that are now ruins in a way that allows you to mentally picture how the landscape would have looked during Richard's time.

It is an interesting book and I would highly recommend it to anyone that is interested in history, particularly the Wars of the Roses and Richard III and his journey. The book is easy to follow and gives a brief history of all the towns and cities that were visited. It is a handy guide when making a list of places to visit, for a trip or to follow Richard's journey and walking in his footsteps.

[Lisa Morrow]

I thoroughly enjoyed this travelogue that Kristie Dean has penned. If you desire to visit England, make sure you take this book with you! I especially enjoyed the websites included in the book for many of the places visited. I hope someday that I'll be able to duplicate the travels that Ms. Dean has pursued, with my trustworthy guidebook in hand!