What do you think?
Rate this book
Some Touch of Pity
Winner of the Yorkshire Post Best First Work Award.
In 1483, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, returns home a hero after a triumphant victory over the invading Scots. His adoring family awaits him, but their happiness will soon be shattered by the death of Richard’s brother, King Edward IV. With his young son as his only heir, Edward makes Richard Protector of England on his deathbed, entrusting him to guide and rule until the child king is old enough to take the throne.
This spellbinding novel depicts a Richard III far removed from the popular legend of a bloodthirsty tyrant. A man who makes a loyal friend, but a hard enemy. A thoughtful husband, whose devoted care for his young wife is one of the great love stories in history. And a man betrayed from the time of his brother's death until the bloody climax of his reign on Bosworth Field.
Praise for Some Touch of Pity:
‘The most moving novel about Richard that I have ever read’ - Rosemary Sutcliff
'An excellent book' - The Times
'The depth of the research and her love for her subject show through on every page... a compelling moving and sometimes haunting novel' - The Times Literary Supplement
In 1483, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, returns home a hero after a triumphant victory over the invading Scots. His adoring family awaits him, but their happiness will soon be shattered by the death of Richard’s brother, King Edward IV. With his young son as his only heir, Edward makes Richard Protector of England on his deathbed, entrusting him to guide and rule until the child king is old enough to take the throne.
This spellbinding novel depicts a Richard III far removed from the popular legend of a bloodthirsty tyrant. A man who makes a loyal friend, but a hard enemy. A thoughtful husband, whose devoted care for his young wife is one of the great love stories in history. And a man betrayed from the time of his brother's death until the bloody climax of his reign on Bosworth Field.
Praise for Some Touch of Pity:
‘The most moving novel about Richard that I have ever read’ - Rosemary Sutcliff
'An excellent book' - The Times
'The depth of the research and her love for her subject show through on every page... a compelling moving and sometimes haunting novel' - The Times Literary Supplement
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1976
268 people are currently reading
653 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 17, 2010
The Broken Sword by Rhoda Edwards
Published 1976 by Doubleday & Company, Garden City, New York
(UK title: Some Touch of Pity)
The Broken Sword: A Novel of the Reign of Richard III by Rhoda Edwards is among the best fictional accounts of the late maligned king that I have read. It covers the last two years of Richard’s life, from shortly before he discovered his brother, Edward IV, had died and named him protector of his son Edward V, to his tragic defeat two years later after having suffered the deaths of his only legitimate son and of his wife of twelve years. We get a real sense of his character and the difficulties he had to deal with during his rule.
Edwards shows us the king from the eyes of several people who were important to him in some way, from his own view point, and from Robert Bolman, the clerk Richard promoted based solely on merit—a truly unique act of those times. Even though this two year period was presented from multiple view points, Edwards gave each a unique voice.
I found the chapters told by Richard’s wife, Anne Neville, his close friend and ally, Francis Lovell, and his physician, Dr. William Hobbes especially poignant. In these chapters we see Richard at the height of his powers and personal happiness and at his most vulnerable and at the depths of his emotional agony.
One point that had puzzled me was why Richard rushed into that last fateful battle where he lost his life and subsequently, his reputation. Edwards shows us Richard was among other things, under fiscal pressure to not delay the battle. The treasury was still depleted and not unlike affairs today, he needed money to govern. Had he pushed the battle back to when he could have been assured of the necessary troops, he risked not having the capital to pay for them. One point Edwards developed that I particularly liked was how Richard had been aware of the Stanleys’ potential betrayal, but that he had approached their “fence sitting” pragmatically.
There were a few expository paragraphs, more so near the beginning of the book, interrupting the narrative flow that Edwards had otherwise so beautifully crafted. I would have preferred it if those parts had been handled through author’s notes at the end.
Ordinarily, I don’t recommend fiction as a reference for historical facts, since to get at what the author interprets as an emotional or larger truth, the writer might decide to “bend” a few facts. In this instance, I take exception. Not only did Edwards not take any license with the facts, but I feel she did find the larger truth. This book stands equally with the other oft touted Ricardian classics—Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey and Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman.
The Broken Sword is no longer in print. Used copies are available.
Published 1976 by Doubleday & Company, Garden City, New York
(UK title: Some Touch of Pity)
The Broken Sword: A Novel of the Reign of Richard III by Rhoda Edwards is among the best fictional accounts of the late maligned king that I have read. It covers the last two years of Richard’s life, from shortly before he discovered his brother, Edward IV, had died and named him protector of his son Edward V, to his tragic defeat two years later after having suffered the deaths of his only legitimate son and of his wife of twelve years. We get a real sense of his character and the difficulties he had to deal with during his rule.
Edwards shows us the king from the eyes of several people who were important to him in some way, from his own view point, and from Robert Bolman, the clerk Richard promoted based solely on merit—a truly unique act of those times. Even though this two year period was presented from multiple view points, Edwards gave each a unique voice.
I found the chapters told by Richard’s wife, Anne Neville, his close friend and ally, Francis Lovell, and his physician, Dr. William Hobbes especially poignant. In these chapters we see Richard at the height of his powers and personal happiness and at his most vulnerable and at the depths of his emotional agony.
One point that had puzzled me was why Richard rushed into that last fateful battle where he lost his life and subsequently, his reputation. Edwards shows us Richard was among other things, under fiscal pressure to not delay the battle. The treasury was still depleted and not unlike affairs today, he needed money to govern. Had he pushed the battle back to when he could have been assured of the necessary troops, he risked not having the capital to pay for them. One point Edwards developed that I particularly liked was how Richard had been aware of the Stanleys’ potential betrayal, but that he had approached their “fence sitting” pragmatically.
There were a few expository paragraphs, more so near the beginning of the book, interrupting the narrative flow that Edwards had otherwise so beautifully crafted. I would have preferred it if those parts had been handled through author’s notes at the end.
Ordinarily, I don’t recommend fiction as a reference for historical facts, since to get at what the author interprets as an emotional or larger truth, the writer might decide to “bend” a few facts. In this instance, I take exception. Not only did Edwards not take any license with the facts, but I feel she did find the larger truth. This book stands equally with the other oft touted Ricardian classics—Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey and Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman.
The Broken Sword is no longer in print. Used copies are available.
August 9, 2016
Another excellent novel set during the Wars of the Roses that has Richard III as protagonist, but that barely resorts to his standpoint to narrate the plot, preferring to tell his story and/or show his acts both as Duke and as King through the eyes of people who know or are close to him in the format of entries into a diary.
I liked this unique multiple POV structure well enough, and found some were really a clever choice of narrator on the part of the author, like his physician for example. Richard of Gloucester gets to tell his side in only 2 of the 13 chapters, which helps contain the pitfalls of first-person POV (that many readers, including myself, don't like much), and whilst I would've loved that the personal POVs were told in third person limited instead, I can readily see how much better it works for this case given the impression of there being a bunch of loose yet interwoven diary entries/reports about a specific event. There's no gushing lifelong crony, no infatuated girl, no crafty courtier, etc., as single main narrator. There's a bit of all of them, though Edwards makes sure all remain fairly sympathetic to the king, and the pace flows beautifully, because the chapters aren't long and she doesn't make her narrators indulge in long soliloquies or a bunch of tell-all musings overmuch.
For all that, good writing and good history in general, I'm ranking Rhoda Edwards' novels amongst the best House of York and Wars of the Roses historical fiction out there.
I liked this unique multiple POV structure well enough, and found some were really a clever choice of narrator on the part of the author, like his physician for example. Richard of Gloucester gets to tell his side in only 2 of the 13 chapters, which helps contain the pitfalls of first-person POV (that many readers, including myself, don't like much), and whilst I would've loved that the personal POVs were told in third person limited instead, I can readily see how much better it works for this case given the impression of there being a bunch of loose yet interwoven diary entries/reports about a specific event. There's no gushing lifelong crony, no infatuated girl, no crafty courtier, etc., as single main narrator. There's a bit of all of them, though Edwards makes sure all remain fairly sympathetic to the king, and the pace flows beautifully, because the chapters aren't long and she doesn't make her narrators indulge in long soliloquies or a bunch of tell-all musings overmuch.
For all that, good writing and good history in general, I'm ranking Rhoda Edwards' novels amongst the best House of York and Wars of the Roses historical fiction out there.
September 15, 2013
Make no mistake; this is the greatest book written - so far - on Richard III. Forget the hype of relatively recent, over-rated books on Richard, which have done his story no favours, unless having his story reduced to a soap opera is okay. I read this book once. Why? Because it had me like a quivering, emotional wreck, not something a book does easily to me. I adore this book. The heartbreaking rendering of Richard's story is so painfully beautiful that every word, every cleverly nuanced scene, every three dimensional character, brings to the fore the tragedy of what took place between 1483 - 1485; the fallout of swift moving events and circumstances encompassing not just Richard and his immediate family. If you have a passion for this historical period, and a yearning to read writing of the highest, non sentimental quality on Richard III, then read this book. In the UK it is known as Some Touch of Pity, the title taken from a section of a Shakespearean quote. Prepare yourself, however, for your heart to break, to be carried on a tide of non-manipulative emotion, through a chain of sorrow that allows us to bear witness to the unravelling of this king of care.
September 4, 2022
"Some Touch of Pity" is a surprisingly touching, sympathetic re-telling of the tale of the Duke of Gloucester becoming King Richard III. Each chapter is narrated by a different person, from Richard himself; several friends; a couple from his wife; and his niece, the disinherited Princess Elizabeth of York.
Most of us have our views of King Richard formed by the historians of the Tudor era, most importantly Holinshed, whom Shakespeare used as the foundation for his historical plays set during the upheavals of the Cousins' War (aka the War of the Roses). These historians painted the Tudors as all-conquering saviors of England -- as opposed to the barely-royal Welsh upstarts that they honestly were, and French royalty at that -- (and yes, Queen Elizabeth I is my favorite historical figure, but I can still say this about the Tudor family).
In this novel, I honestly see Richard in a totally new light. The chapters told by his wife, Queen Anne Neville, and the final chapter detailing Richard's grisly death as told by his friend Francis Lovell, were particularly touching. I actually cried in two of them! This novel does not paint Richard as a bad man; for example, he moved his nephews from the Tower to some spot in the north of England (where loyalty to Richard was quite high) and then honestly did not know what happened to them, if anything, by the time of his death. Obviously, this runs counter to the Tudor propaganda.
If you love the later Plantagenet tales as much as I do, I recommend this novel for a new look at Richard III.
Most of us have our views of King Richard formed by the historians of the Tudor era, most importantly Holinshed, whom Shakespeare used as the foundation for his historical plays set during the upheavals of the Cousins' War (aka the War of the Roses). These historians painted the Tudors as all-conquering saviors of England -- as opposed to the barely-royal Welsh upstarts that they honestly were, and French royalty at that -- (and yes, Queen Elizabeth I is my favorite historical figure, but I can still say this about the Tudor family).
In this novel, I honestly see Richard in a totally new light. The chapters told by his wife, Queen Anne Neville, and the final chapter detailing Richard's grisly death as told by his friend Francis Lovell, were particularly touching. I actually cried in two of them! This novel does not paint Richard as a bad man; for example, he moved his nephews from the Tower to some spot in the north of England (where loyalty to Richard was quite high) and then honestly did not know what happened to them, if anything, by the time of his death. Obviously, this runs counter to the Tudor propaganda.
If you love the later Plantagenet tales as much as I do, I recommend this novel for a new look at Richard III.
October 4, 2021
This fictionalised account of the short reign of Richard III is meticulously researched and intriguingly delivered: each of the long chapters is narrated by a different character close to the King, and thus the story advances chronologically to its inevitable conclusion at the Battle of Bosworth. Rhona Edwards was a highly gifted writer whose prose engages the heart while cementing a treasury of historical information in the mind. The book is outstanding from start to finish, but the penultimate chapter, which so movingly captures the stress and pathos of Richard's final hours, is spellbinding, and the last chapter, which describes the aftermath of his death, is utterly heart-rending. Rhona died in 2018; had she still been alive when I read her book I would have written to thank her for it.
October 21, 2021
Just when I thought I knew Richard III pretty well, along comes this book...
Well, it's a few decades old now but I only just read it - a novel which really turns the accepted vision of a late-Medieval monster on its head. Very clever storytelling from a range of 1st person perspectives which paints a very different picture of Richard who, instead of being the scheming machiavellian, hunch-backed murderer we're used to, is an unwilling king who loved his brother (Edward IV), adored his wife, and tried to protect his brother's children (rather than have them murdered in the Tower).
We all know that history is written by the victors so maybe the Tudor propagandists have a bit to answer for?
There were a handful of anachronistic clangers (reference to pineapples in 1483???) but this was an outstanding piece of work that will inspire me to hunt out anything else she wrote.
Well, it's a few decades old now but I only just read it - a novel which really turns the accepted vision of a late-Medieval monster on its head. Very clever storytelling from a range of 1st person perspectives which paints a very different picture of Richard who, instead of being the scheming machiavellian, hunch-backed murderer we're used to, is an unwilling king who loved his brother (Edward IV), adored his wife, and tried to protect his brother's children (rather than have them murdered in the Tower).
We all know that history is written by the victors so maybe the Tudor propagandists have a bit to answer for?
There were a handful of anachronistic clangers (reference to pineapples in 1483???) but this was an outstanding piece of work that will inspire me to hunt out anything else she wrote.
November 19, 2025
Some of this novel is a bit too expository, but the final chapters are emotive and very well done. The author did an exemplary job of exploring every angle of Richard’s situation as he approached his final hours. His spiritual, emotional, and physical turmoil are poured out into the page.
August 23, 2012
“No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity. But I know none, and therefore am no beast.” (William Shakespeare, Richard III)
Another well written historical fiction novel about Richard III. Although this book is out of print I managed to get a used copy through Amazon.com and at a very special price. It is not my first Richard III novel since I started my quest for the real King Richard III, joining the many loyal Ricardians who want to remove the awful reputation the Tudors created after his defeat and which Shakespeare transformed into a myth.
In 1976 Rhoda Edwards won the Yorkshire Post’s Best First Work Award for this novel, Some Touch of Pity (The Broken Sword in the US edition) which was her first work of historical fiction about King Richard III.
The peculiarity of Some Touch of Pity is that it is presented as a series of first person narrations of the key events in the last two years in the life of Richard III (March 1483 – August 1485) We follow the compelling accounts of Lady Anne before and after becoming the Queen of England; Dr William Hobbes, the King’s physician; Francis Lovell, Richard’s best friend; King Richard himself; Robert Bolman a clerk in the Privy Seal Office; Lady Elizabeth, daughter of King Edward IV (King Richard’s niece and future wife to Henry Tudor); George Stanley, Lord Strange; and finally a Squire of Sir William Stanley.
The story opens with Richard, duke of Gloucester, who returns home a hero, victorious over the invading Scots. An adoring family awaits him, but their happiness is shattered by the death of the king, Richard’s brother, Edward IV. With only a child as heir to the throne, Richard becomes Protector of England.
His spellbinding, haunting story never stops moving me: Richard III, far from being the blood-thirsty tyrant of the Shakesperian legend, is a man who can be a very loyal friend and a devoted husband as well as a hard enemy. What hurts more is the fact that he is life was signed by sorrow, he was greatly hated and often betrayed in life. He went through great losses and hard fights and he survived, always facing hardships bravely and with dignity. However, when he found himself alone in the final battle against Henry Tudor at Bosworth, he was so wretched and worn that he just desired to die. A sad tragic hero whose destiny was marked by the inevitable decision of accepting the crown of England.
As for the mystery of the young princes in the Tower, in Rhoda Edwards ‘s version there is no clear accusation nor a strenuous defence.
Reading Some Touch of Pity, the reader has a privileged perspective on facts and feelings and the different accounts sound like real memoirs: they convey thoughts and feelings of the protagonists with sensitivity and intimacy.
The succession of quick reports is touching, compelling and, though nothing really surprises the readers who know the well-known series of tragic events, they can’t avoid grieving for the unfortunate destiny of such an extraordinary man and king.
Another well written historical fiction novel about Richard III. Although this book is out of print I managed to get a used copy through Amazon.com and at a very special price. It is not my first Richard III novel since I started my quest for the real King Richard III, joining the many loyal Ricardians who want to remove the awful reputation the Tudors created after his defeat and which Shakespeare transformed into a myth.
In 1976 Rhoda Edwards won the Yorkshire Post’s Best First Work Award for this novel, Some Touch of Pity (The Broken Sword in the US edition) which was her first work of historical fiction about King Richard III.
The peculiarity of Some Touch of Pity is that it is presented as a series of first person narrations of the key events in the last two years in the life of Richard III (March 1483 – August 1485) We follow the compelling accounts of Lady Anne before and after becoming the Queen of England; Dr William Hobbes, the King’s physician; Francis Lovell, Richard’s best friend; King Richard himself; Robert Bolman a clerk in the Privy Seal Office; Lady Elizabeth, daughter of King Edward IV (King Richard’s niece and future wife to Henry Tudor); George Stanley, Lord Strange; and finally a Squire of Sir William Stanley.
The story opens with Richard, duke of Gloucester, who returns home a hero, victorious over the invading Scots. An adoring family awaits him, but their happiness is shattered by the death of the king, Richard’s brother, Edward IV. With only a child as heir to the throne, Richard becomes Protector of England.
His spellbinding, haunting story never stops moving me: Richard III, far from being the blood-thirsty tyrant of the Shakesperian legend, is a man who can be a very loyal friend and a devoted husband as well as a hard enemy. What hurts more is the fact that he is life was signed by sorrow, he was greatly hated and often betrayed in life. He went through great losses and hard fights and he survived, always facing hardships bravely and with dignity. However, when he found himself alone in the final battle against Henry Tudor at Bosworth, he was so wretched and worn that he just desired to die. A sad tragic hero whose destiny was marked by the inevitable decision of accepting the crown of England.
As for the mystery of the young princes in the Tower, in Rhoda Edwards ‘s version there is no clear accusation nor a strenuous defence.
Reading Some Touch of Pity, the reader has a privileged perspective on facts and feelings and the different accounts sound like real memoirs: they convey thoughts and feelings of the protagonists with sensitivity and intimacy.
The succession of quick reports is touching, compelling and, though nothing really surprises the readers who know the well-known series of tragic events, they can’t avoid grieving for the unfortunate destiny of such an extraordinary man and king.
March 15, 2015
The book follows the life of Richard III from 1483, just before his older brother died, to the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
Considering how short a time span it is, the book shows just how much was packed into that short amount of time. Richard goes from about as blessedly happy as one can be to utter misery with everything and everyone he loves stripped away from him.
Put in those terms, it’s amazing how little fiction is in the story – the spectacular change in fortunes really did happen to the real Richard III, and the theories presented here on what MIGHT have happened are startlingly plausible – more plausible, in fact, then some of the theories presented in factual books about the reign of Richard III.
Here the princes in the tower
It’s as good as any other theory, I think, and both surprises while feeling loaded down with common sense.
Edwards has a theme throughout the book of showing the clear link between the legend and rumors about Richard III – and a plausible real life situation that might have been the actual truth. Richard is being subjugated to a very cruel game of Telephone that starts with his wife wasting away from tuberculosis and ends with him shoving poison down her throat.
Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character to give a fully rounded view of the time and place. My favorites where Anne Neville’s chapters, while Richard’s were just heart breaking.
November 29, 2020
This is one of the finest fictional accounts of Richard III. It covers the last two years of his life, beginning when the news of his brother King Edward’ IV’s death changed the blissful course of Richard’s life. It is told from the points of view of various people, ranging from Richard himself, Anne his wife, his physician, and ending with a squire recruited by Sir William Stanley to escort his body after the Battle of Bosworth. The account of Robert Bolman, an under clerk in the office of the privy seal who was promoted by Richard on the basis of merit, is no less important than those of Anne or Francis Lovell in painting a portrait of basically good and thoughtful man and king, but one who was tortured at the end by the belief that God had turned against him for the choices he had made. Heart wrenching .
July 17, 2014
This is my favorite of the "classic" Richard III novels. The story is told from the point of view of various players in the story, including Richard himself. It's a sympathetic portrait that nevertheless portrays Richard as a real person. I especially like the fact that his wife, Anne, is a strong, intersting character and not the simpering, sickly second choice who so often appears in other versions. The chapters "The Reiver" (Anne recounting a wintery homecoming at Middleham), "Tenebrae" (Richard musing on his life in the spring of 1485) and "To Make an End" (Lovell's story of Bosworth and the night before) are simply unforgettable.
Note: This book was also published under the title "Some Touch of Pity".
Note: This book was also published under the title "Some Touch of Pity".
August 4, 2017
Some Touch of Pity (US title is The Broken Sword) covers a relatively short period of history, beginning in 1483 just before the death of King Edward IV and ending with Richard III’s defeat by Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. In between, all the major events of Richard III’s ill-fated reign are covered – if you know the period you won’t need a summary from me and if you don’t then I won’t spoil the story for you other than to say that it was a time marked by rebellion, betrayal, rumour and several tragic deaths.
The book is divided into several sections, each one written from the perspective of a different narrator and offering different insights into Richard as a man or as a king. There are even one or chapters narrated by Richard himself – interestingly, of all the novels I’ve read about Richard III, this is the first one that allows us to hear his story, even a small part of it, from his own point of view. Other narrators include Richard’s close friend Francis Lovell, his niece Elizabeth of York and court physician William Hobbes, but my favourite is Anne Neville, Richard’s beloved wife and queen. I found Anne’s sections of the book particularly moving and poignant, painting an intimate picture of Richard as a husband and father, whereas some of the others are more concerned with how he deals with the political and military challenges he faces as king.
The novel is perfectly paced, spending just the right amount of time with each narrator before moving on to the next. As it heads towards its inevitable conclusion there’s a sense of dread, but even knowing what’s ultimately going to happen, it’s difficult not to find yourself hoping that this time there will be a different outcome. The section describing the Battle of Bosworth is powerfully written, brilliantly showing Richard’s state of mind before and during the battle as well as the crucial role of Lord Stanley and his brother in deciding the result. However, I wished the book had ended here as the final chapter, giving an account of the aftermath of the battle and the abuse inflicted on Richard’s body was so harrowing and graphic I could hardly bear to read it!
The only thing left to mention is the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. Rhoda Edwards gives a plausible explanation for their disappearance (although it’s not one I’ve ever found very convincing), but as we don’t actually see the princes after they enter the Tower, we have to rely on the word of several of the other characters – and who knows whether they’re telling the truth. It’s all quite ambiguous! A great novel and one of the best I've read on Richard III.
The book is divided into several sections, each one written from the perspective of a different narrator and offering different insights into Richard as a man or as a king. There are even one or chapters narrated by Richard himself – interestingly, of all the novels I’ve read about Richard III, this is the first one that allows us to hear his story, even a small part of it, from his own point of view. Other narrators include Richard’s close friend Francis Lovell, his niece Elizabeth of York and court physician William Hobbes, but my favourite is Anne Neville, Richard’s beloved wife and queen. I found Anne’s sections of the book particularly moving and poignant, painting an intimate picture of Richard as a husband and father, whereas some of the others are more concerned with how he deals with the political and military challenges he faces as king.
The novel is perfectly paced, spending just the right amount of time with each narrator before moving on to the next. As it heads towards its inevitable conclusion there’s a sense of dread, but even knowing what’s ultimately going to happen, it’s difficult not to find yourself hoping that this time there will be a different outcome. The section describing the Battle of Bosworth is powerfully written, brilliantly showing Richard’s state of mind before and during the battle as well as the crucial role of Lord Stanley and his brother in deciding the result. However, I wished the book had ended here as the final chapter, giving an account of the aftermath of the battle and the abuse inflicted on Richard’s body was so harrowing and graphic I could hardly bear to read it!
The only thing left to mention is the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. Rhoda Edwards gives a plausible explanation for their disappearance (although it’s not one I’ve ever found very convincing), but as we don’t actually see the princes after they enter the Tower, we have to rely on the word of several of the other characters – and who knows whether they’re telling the truth. It’s all quite ambiguous! A great novel and one of the best I've read on Richard III.
February 14, 2020
Beautiful book. Highly recommend for fans of Richard III, definitely one of the best tellings of his story.
It was Penman's Sunne in Splendour that brought me to love the story -- the mystery -- of Richard III, just before his bones were discovered in Leicester. I keep reading & keep being fascinated.
I drew my reading of Some Touch of Pity (UK edition that I was lucky to find) out for more than a year, on purpose. I wanted to stay in the story. I adore this story & Edwards tells it cleanly, compassionately, gorgeously. After finishing the book last night (the only time I read two chapters in a row because I could not stop), I feel the satisfaction & the loss.
Each chapter (thirteen) begins with a signature, usually of the person from whose perspective the chapter is written, & a piece of writing from the time. There are five of Richard's signatures, though only two chapters are told in Richard's voice, & a lovely translation of a prayer in his Book of Hours. There are many familiar scenes & pieces of conversations of descriptions that I know come from actual records. Her research is deftly made into a story that lives. I almost wish she had written the book after his bones had been found!
It was Penman's Sunne in Splendour that brought me to love the story -- the mystery -- of Richard III, just before his bones were discovered in Leicester. I keep reading & keep being fascinated.
I drew my reading of Some Touch of Pity (UK edition that I was lucky to find) out for more than a year, on purpose. I wanted to stay in the story. I adore this story & Edwards tells it cleanly, compassionately, gorgeously. After finishing the book last night (the only time I read two chapters in a row because I could not stop), I feel the satisfaction & the loss.
Each chapter (thirteen) begins with a signature, usually of the person from whose perspective the chapter is written, & a piece of writing from the time. There are five of Richard's signatures, though only two chapters are told in Richard's voice, & a lovely translation of a prayer in his Book of Hours. There are many familiar scenes & pieces of conversations of descriptions that I know come from actual records. Her research is deftly made into a story that lives. I almost wish she had written the book after his bones had been found!
November 10, 2021
Amazing book
Such a well written story, I was hooked from the start. Bringing the historical characters to life as the author has is a rare talent indeed. Five stars without the shadow of a doubt.
Such a well written story, I was hooked from the start. Bringing the historical characters to life as the author has is a rare talent indeed. Five stars without the shadow of a doubt.
February 26, 2014
This is an excellent book covering the period of Richards reign and portrays him as a real person and clearly shows the difficulties he faced. The book is very well written from several points of view and there are some emotionally charged sections which really make you feel for all the characters involved. A relatively short book - but would recommend it to all those interested in Richards story.
January 13, 2022
Just 3 stars, this one missed my mark for more. There was too much focus on Richard 3's Queen, Anne Neville. She was portrayed as a pathetically timid person, not given to great beauty, grace, or merit.
There were portions I just wanted to page through to get to the details of Richard's governance, his court, his martial skills, but the plodding on and on about Anne's hair, clothes, ceremonies she was forced to endure was mindless reading at best.
I'd been hoping for more intrigue about the claim of Henry 7 to the throne of England. The claim was not explored other than to hint that his mother, Margaret Beaufort (herself in the line of royal blood) had her baby when just 14; that much is a fairly undisputed fact of history. That she then married the faithless Lord Stafford is the pivotal point of her life. No further children were ever conceived of that early marriage, and she did not have any other children from subsequent marriages.
This book did not bear much witness to the inner workings of that marriage but didn't flesh out the details of Henry's upbringing, mostly away from his mother and under the tutelage of his uncle, Jasper Tudor.
So after the death of Edward 4, Richard Duke of Gloucester is made the protectorate of the two small sons left by Edward's early death. His queen Elizabeth Gray, is loathed by many. It appears parliament feared that Elizabeth would try to ascend the throne and rule as regent until her sons reach their maturity. However, Richard steps in as declared valid by his brother's will; and Elizabeth goes into sanctuary.
There is also the mystery of the two young boys, who are mysteriously spirited away from Richard's direct contact. Their fate has never been truly known, even in documented historical reviews.
What I was hoping for the book to bring forward was more the claim of Henry 7, his political leanings, his control over so many citizens that taking the crown became his obsession. But that didn't happen in-depth, only mentioned as a sidenote on occasion.
I think the book finally came alive for me just prior to the Battle of Bosworth Field. But even then, there is a huge amount of fluff rather than substance, and some of the glossing over just made me glad to have reached the end.
I do recall a few years ago reading an article that made news at the time, that the body of Richard 3 had been discovered during excavation of a parking lot in Leicester, England. That little fact is finally able to set the record straight that although he did have a somewhat altered skeletal frame, he was not as has always been asserted, born with a "hunchbacked body". I admit knowing that he was finally given what would have been and should have been a decent funeral and entombment befitting his status. Richard 3 finally is given his due.
So a decent administrator, a king for less than 5 years, and a Duke in and of his own right is finally seen in the light of modern science.
I was hoping for a clearer look at Richard 3's life and kingship, but that wasn't what I found. While the book was mildly interesting, it wasn't satisfying to me.
3 stars because I couldn't write it. But I can't rate it with more, since there was too much-known material just omitted or reduced in importance.
There were portions I just wanted to page through to get to the details of Richard's governance, his court, his martial skills, but the plodding on and on about Anne's hair, clothes, ceremonies she was forced to endure was mindless reading at best.
I'd been hoping for more intrigue about the claim of Henry 7 to the throne of England. The claim was not explored other than to hint that his mother, Margaret Beaufort (herself in the line of royal blood) had her baby when just 14; that much is a fairly undisputed fact of history. That she then married the faithless Lord Stafford is the pivotal point of her life. No further children were ever conceived of that early marriage, and she did not have any other children from subsequent marriages.
This book did not bear much witness to the inner workings of that marriage but didn't flesh out the details of Henry's upbringing, mostly away from his mother and under the tutelage of his uncle, Jasper Tudor.
So after the death of Edward 4, Richard Duke of Gloucester is made the protectorate of the two small sons left by Edward's early death. His queen Elizabeth Gray, is loathed by many. It appears parliament feared that Elizabeth would try to ascend the throne and rule as regent until her sons reach their maturity. However, Richard steps in as declared valid by his brother's will; and Elizabeth goes into sanctuary.
There is also the mystery of the two young boys, who are mysteriously spirited away from Richard's direct contact. Their fate has never been truly known, even in documented historical reviews.
What I was hoping for the book to bring forward was more the claim of Henry 7, his political leanings, his control over so many citizens that taking the crown became his obsession. But that didn't happen in-depth, only mentioned as a sidenote on occasion.
I think the book finally came alive for me just prior to the Battle of Bosworth Field. But even then, there is a huge amount of fluff rather than substance, and some of the glossing over just made me glad to have reached the end.
I do recall a few years ago reading an article that made news at the time, that the body of Richard 3 had been discovered during excavation of a parking lot in Leicester, England. That little fact is finally able to set the record straight that although he did have a somewhat altered skeletal frame, he was not as has always been asserted, born with a "hunchbacked body". I admit knowing that he was finally given what would have been and should have been a decent funeral and entombment befitting his status. Richard 3 finally is given his due.
So a decent administrator, a king for less than 5 years, and a Duke in and of his own right is finally seen in the light of modern science.
I was hoping for a clearer look at Richard 3's life and kingship, but that wasn't what I found. While the book was mildly interesting, it wasn't satisfying to me.
3 stars because I couldn't write it. But I can't rate it with more, since there was too much-known material just omitted or reduced in importance.
March 18, 2022
Some Touch of Pity by Rhoda Edwards
King Richard III reigned England from June 26, 1483, until his death at the Battle of Bosworth Field on August 22, 1485. He's the source of many legends, including a Shakespearan play by that name.
On March 1483, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, returns home a hero after a triumphant victory over the invading Scots. His adoring family awaits him, but their happiness will soon be shattered by the death of Richard’s brother, King Edward IV. With his young son as his only heir, Edward makes Richard Protector of England on his deathbed, entrusting him to guide and rule until the child king, Edward V, is old enough to take the throne. Soon trouble ensues as Edward IV's marriage to Queen Elizabeth is ruled null, because according to Bishop Robert Stillington, Edward was married to Lady Eleanor Butler at the time of his nuptials to Elizabeth. Thus the Council and the Church declare Edward's son illegitimate. Multiple rebellions ensue.
The book is narrated from the first-person point of view of 13 contemporary figures including Richard III, and his wife Anne Neville. It starts on March 1483 and it ends on August 24, 1485. It presents a very boring, dry, slow read of intricate details of Richard's life. A thoughtful husband, whose devoted care for his young wife is one of the great love stories in history. And a man betrayed from the time of his brother's death until the bloody climax of his reign on Bosworth Field.
Because most people were named Richard, Edward, Elizabeth - and because it's narrated from the first-person point of view, you get lost in the plot. I did not enjoy it and had trouble finishing it. Not recommended!
King Richard III reigned England from June 26, 1483, until his death at the Battle of Bosworth Field on August 22, 1485. He's the source of many legends, including a Shakespearan play by that name.
On March 1483, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, returns home a hero after a triumphant victory over the invading Scots. His adoring family awaits him, but their happiness will soon be shattered by the death of Richard’s brother, King Edward IV. With his young son as his only heir, Edward makes Richard Protector of England on his deathbed, entrusting him to guide and rule until the child king, Edward V, is old enough to take the throne. Soon trouble ensues as Edward IV's marriage to Queen Elizabeth is ruled null, because according to Bishop Robert Stillington, Edward was married to Lady Eleanor Butler at the time of his nuptials to Elizabeth. Thus the Council and the Church declare Edward's son illegitimate. Multiple rebellions ensue.
The book is narrated from the first-person point of view of 13 contemporary figures including Richard III, and his wife Anne Neville. It starts on March 1483 and it ends on August 24, 1485. It presents a very boring, dry, slow read of intricate details of Richard's life. A thoughtful husband, whose devoted care for his young wife is one of the great love stories in history. And a man betrayed from the time of his brother's death until the bloody climax of his reign on Bosworth Field.
Because most people were named Richard, Edward, Elizabeth - and because it's narrated from the first-person point of view, you get lost in the plot. I did not enjoy it and had trouble finishing it. Not recommended!
November 25, 2021
What I love about historical fiction is that it brings people, places and events to life. It becomes part of a shared experience, rather than dry memorized facts. What I don’t like is knowing that the author invents the narrative to bring that story to life. Even trusting the author to have conducted careful research, we are never sure what parts of the story may be trusted as fact and what is imaginative interpretation of events and realities based around some elements of research.
This author excels at bringing Richard III and his time period alive. All the senses are mentally stimulated to pull the reader into another world. Whatever understanding I once had of Richard is forever changed by the humanizing of what had been simply an historical figure.
There were moments of puzzlement. Each chapter begins with a letter. The first “letters” are written in Old English. Some readers may not like working their way through the variation of spellings, but it lends a degree of authenticity. I was surprised when the “letters” suddenly switched to modern English. The characters supposedly writing this historical account were contemporaries.
There was a moment where I stopped because all characters, though they had their own story to share, spoke with the same voice. The men described the same minute details of clothing, wild flowers, etc. that the women described.
I finally gave in and let the author use a consistent voice for everyone. What each chapter did was allow a different viewpoint of Richard as he struggled through political and emotional conflicts.
By the ending chapters, I found myself totally vested in Richard, worried for his safety and inner turmoil,broken-hearted by his final moments.
This author excels at bringing Richard III and his time period alive. All the senses are mentally stimulated to pull the reader into another world. Whatever understanding I once had of Richard is forever changed by the humanizing of what had been simply an historical figure.
There were moments of puzzlement. Each chapter begins with a letter. The first “letters” are written in Old English. Some readers may not like working their way through the variation of spellings, but it lends a degree of authenticity. I was surprised when the “letters” suddenly switched to modern English. The characters supposedly writing this historical account were contemporaries.
There was a moment where I stopped because all characters, though they had their own story to share, spoke with the same voice. The men described the same minute details of clothing, wild flowers, etc. that the women described.
I finally gave in and let the author use a consistent voice for everyone. What each chapter did was allow a different viewpoint of Richard as he struggled through political and emotional conflicts.
By the ending chapters, I found myself totally vested in Richard, worried for his safety and inner turmoil,broken-hearted by his final moments.
October 28, 2020
A very interesting view of Richard III.
When I started reading this I was wondering why did it started so late in Richard's life but then I understood the concept and I could also know that there is a prequel for this book .
Anyway is not needed to read the prequel I did it but this book is so well done that you can understand the past without even read explicitly about it, this book presents a positive portrait of a Man who sees himself in the middle of a chaotic succession and how he has to react to all the problems and to the hard time .
Something that I love and makes this book unique is how you are able to see Richard from different points of view, his wife, his physician, his friend ,his niece, it is awesome how every episode of the 2 years that he was King is presented from people that was actually there .
Richard here is presented in a very positive way but since he is no who is telling his own story I didn't found it exaggerated or fake.
What I love the most is to read about him as husband and how everyone is confused about his relationship with Anne since according to this book she was not a pretty girl, people can see that he love her and she love him but they can't understand well why or how this works, when you read from Anne's perspective you can understand them and their love, Richard can be hard as a King and sometimes difficult but as a husband he is so lovely without being a fool and is just because he is with the right girl .
In general a very good book is a pity it is so short.
When I started reading this I was wondering why did it started so late in Richard's life but then I understood the concept and I could also know that there is a prequel for this book .
Anyway is not needed to read the prequel I did it but this book is so well done that you can understand the past without even read explicitly about it, this book presents a positive portrait of a Man who sees himself in the middle of a chaotic succession and how he has to react to all the problems and to the hard time .
Something that I love and makes this book unique is how you are able to see Richard from different points of view, his wife, his physician, his friend ,his niece, it is awesome how every episode of the 2 years that he was King is presented from people that was actually there .
Richard here is presented in a very positive way but since he is no who is telling his own story I didn't found it exaggerated or fake.
What I love the most is to read about him as husband and how everyone is confused about his relationship with Anne since according to this book she was not a pretty girl, people can see that he love her and she love him but they can't understand well why or how this works, when you read from Anne's perspective you can understand them and their love, Richard can be hard as a King and sometimes difficult but as a husband he is so lovely without being a fool and is just because he is with the right girl .
In general a very good book is a pity it is so short.
June 1, 2018
I think it's pretty sad that in every historical novel about his life, Richard always dies in the end. Oh, spoiler. ;) Can't he live just ONCE?! (Kate Atkinson, please write that book.)
Seriously, this is one of the better historical novels about the life and reign of Richard III. It's well written, reasonably historically accurate for a novel, has great 15th century period details, and I liked the use of multiple narrators. It shows Richard as a complex and believable character who tried to be a good king. The central mystery (those rascally missing princes) doesn't take over the book & its resolution makes sense. The description of the battle at the end is particularly detailed and probably true to life when the character narrating that chapter describes the intense physical discomfort of wearing armor in hot weather, his fear, sense of detachment from reality, and the gruesome, bloody injuries and death he witnessed. Oh, also, horse death. You've been warned.
Seriously, this is one of the better historical novels about the life and reign of Richard III. It's well written, reasonably historically accurate for a novel, has great 15th century period details, and I liked the use of multiple narrators. It shows Richard as a complex and believable character who tried to be a good king. The central mystery (those rascally missing princes) doesn't take over the book & its resolution makes sense. The description of the battle at the end is particularly detailed and probably true to life when the character narrating that chapter describes the intense physical discomfort of wearing armor in hot weather, his fear, sense of detachment from reality, and the gruesome, bloody injuries and death he witnessed. Oh, also, horse death. You've been warned.
November 30, 2021
SOME TOUCH OF PITY by Rhoda Edwards -- Richard III (1452-85), the subject of Shakespeare's play, ruled England and Ireland 1482 until his death in battle in 1485. He succeeded his brother, Edward IV, as king in 1482. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty, also the last king of England to die in battle. The author portrays Richard as a strong king, defending against the Scots in the north. He loved and cared for his wife, Anne, as she did him. He is plagued by plots, rumors, and enemies. The book is filled with details -- persons, places, conflicts, betrayals -- often so many as to be difficult to follow. The final chapter of the book depicts in all its gory detail the final battle and Richard's death.
June 20, 2017
Lyrical tale, written beautifully
No matter your personal views of King Richard III, this book will stir you to admiration by its use of language alone. Written in a steady, measured way it tells the history of Richards rule from the viewpoint of several characters, both well-known and lesser known. Building to a crescendo that ends shortly after Bosworth, my understanding and even sympathy for Richard and his intimates grew as I read far into the night.
Here was a man in an impossible situation, treason, betrayal and agony of spirit all played a part in the end.
Do yourself a favor and read this moving and skillfully written book.
No matter your personal views of King Richard III, this book will stir you to admiration by its use of language alone. Written in a steady, measured way it tells the history of Richards rule from the viewpoint of several characters, both well-known and lesser known. Building to a crescendo that ends shortly after Bosworth, my understanding and even sympathy for Richard and his intimates grew as I read far into the night.
Here was a man in an impossible situation, treason, betrayal and agony of spirit all played a part in the end.
Do yourself a favor and read this moving and skillfully written book.
April 30, 2022
A good historical fiction novel about the rise and fall of Richard III. Modern scholarship has generally portrayed Richard in a fairly unfavorable light as a treacherous villain, but Some Touch of Pity shows the English king in a more relatable manner. It portrays him as a devoted husband, a doting father, and a leader struggling to make good decisions for the greater good of the kingdom. Told from points of view of individuals in his inner cuddle and the king himself, Some Touch of Pity is a riveting read. There is even speculation as to the fates of the princes in the tower, but you'll have to read the book to find out more.
October 21, 2018
I liked it but didn't love it. I had to analyze whether I am just getting saturated with reading about Richard III or did I truly not care for the writing style of the author. I came to the conclusion that I just didn't care for the author's writing style. I love the idea of breaking it into chapters written by those in Richard's life but it just seemed like one story teller after another - drawn out - without a lot of dialogue and I am one of those readers who prefers dialogue. It does, however, have a uniqueness about it with the clever use of historical prose, letters, etc.
December 8, 2021
Greed and corruption
Men who would be king find that there are turncoats around them. Even one rightly anointed much deal with having to constantly look over his shoulder. Such is the case in this work set in the 15th century. Each chapter tells of a series of events from the viewpoint of a different character. It could have been choppy but came out flowing smoothly. In the first half or so, the author was comma happy. I don’t know if editing was better in the rest of the book, but the misplaced commas were much reduced.
Men who would be king find that there are turncoats around them. Even one rightly anointed much deal with having to constantly look over his shoulder. Such is the case in this work set in the 15th century. Each chapter tells of a series of events from the viewpoint of a different character. It could have been choppy but came out flowing smoothly. In the first half or so, the author was comma happy. I don’t know if editing was better in the rest of the book, but the misplaced commas were much reduced.
December 13, 2021
The King………….and the man.
This was the book that changed my view of King Richard III. Until reading this, I had been ‘educated’ with Shakespeare’s vilification. This book showed me Richard not just as a King, but as a man. I was completely absorbed, compelled to read even though I knew the outcome, and cried at the injustice and treason. This is a fantastic book, one that I return to again and again, and breaks my heart every time.
This was the book that changed my view of King Richard III. Until reading this, I had been ‘educated’ with Shakespeare’s vilification. This book showed me Richard not just as a King, but as a man. I was completely absorbed, compelled to read even though I knew the outcome, and cried at the injustice and treason. This is a fantastic book, one that I return to again and again, and breaks my heart every time.
June 30, 2022
Beautiful, heartrending, lyrical writing.
Have read much of this story again and again y other historians and authors. Read the second book, this one, first. Wish I had read the 1st one but ah, well...cannot wait to read the other books by this author to further expand my knowledge of the lives of the Good and the Tudors. This us a book worth the effort..so beautifully and heart wrenchingly told. The characters feel real. A 'you are there' feling. I loved it.
Have read much of this story again and again y other historians and authors. Read the second book, this one, first. Wish I had read the 1st one but ah, well...cannot wait to read the other books by this author to further expand my knowledge of the lives of the Good and the Tudors. This us a book worth the effort..so beautifully and heart wrenchingly told. The characters feel real. A 'you are there' feling. I loved it.
March 20, 2018
Breathtakingly Realistic.
If you believe Richard III has been maliciously maligned over the centuries, you won't be disappointed. Through descriptive narration the reader sees the man and feels his torment.
If you believe Richard III has been maliciously maligned over the centuries, you won't be disappointed. Through descriptive narration the reader sees the man and feels his torment.
November 23, 2021
Challenge to the orthodox view
Ms Edward's presents an alternative view of King Richard III that serves as counterpoint to the excesses of Tudor propaganda exemplified by Shakespeare's play about these same events.
Ms Edward's presents an alternative view of King Richard III that serves as counterpoint to the excesses of Tudor propaganda exemplified by Shakespeare's play about these same events.
December 13, 2021
Not my cup of tea
I’m usually super into historical fiction, but somehow I just could not get into this one. Maybe it was the chapters being narrated by different characters which is an interesting choice, but did not work for me as a reader.
I’m usually super into historical fiction, but somehow I just could not get into this one. Maybe it was the chapters being narrated by different characters which is an interesting choice, but did not work for me as a reader.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews