The Wars of the Roses

by Charles Derek Ross

An illustrated narrative of the events, and analysis of the personalities, involved in the dynastic struggle between the forces of Lancaster and those York for the English throne.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature, Medieval, Medieval History, European History, Military History

192 pages, Hardcover

First published June 21, 1976

About the author

Charles Derek Ross (1924 – 1986) was an English historian of the Late Middle Ages, specialising in the Wars of the Roses. He was Professor of Medieval History at the University of Bristol until his death in 1986, when he was killed by an intruder in his own home.

His best known works are his biographies of Edward IV and Richard III in the Yale English Monarchs series. These influential books were the first modern comprehensive studies of the Yorkist kings' politics, retinues and landownership.

Reviews

[Mike Luoma · Rating 3 out of 5]

On reading this survey - very short - history of the Wars of the Roses by Ross, I had a curious "aha!" moment, where I realized many of the more current books I've read on the subject were written in light of Ross' work. Some have supported his work, others have found fault and contradicted him - there are many shades and variations in the reactions to Ross' version, to be sure. I found the over-reliance on large, somewhat bland, illustrations and the slight text detracted from this overall presentation. It's a cursory survey whose conclusions have been somewhat outmoded by more contemporary archaeology and scholarship.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent analysis of the War of the Roses, covering royalty, nobles, minor and major, merchants, clergy, as well as all the “small folk” as G. R.R. Martin would say. Lovely illustrations and photos throughout of primary sources – stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, tomb effigies, etc. – and a thoughtful in depth look at the many layers of the bloody civil war.

[Tamsin Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview. I find Charles Ross a clear and entertaining writer. Unlike some historians and fiction authors, Ross gives Edward IV his due with respect to Edward's clash with his cousin and eventual nemesis the Earl of Warwick. Unfortunately, the jacket text doesn't reflect this. It mentions "the dashing Warwick the Kingmaker" and ignores Edward completely, even though it was Edward who, with brains, daring, and courage, won the Wars of the Roses by defeating all his enemies, including Warwick.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Snooze-fest. Took my time getting through it though, wanting it to get better. The last chapter on the consequences of the Wars of the Roses was the most interesting and engaging. Much of what comes before is dry and turns the events of the Wars into a "laundry list" of minor skirmishes and a who's-who of British nobility without much in it all to make me care.

[Éowyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad as a brief, overall history, but bogged down with traditionallist assumptions!

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent overview of a complicated historical period. The book benefited from the recent reading I've done on the topic, but even so, there should be more concise non-fiction, for those who want to educate themselves, but can't dedicate six months to reading an academic tome. I liked how this book briefly explained the people, events, and battles, but also provided historical analysis, explaining how historians previously viewed the period, and how they do now (note that this book was written in 1976, so things may have changed, but I think he was speaking to the correction that occurred in the academy as historians came to question the hold Tudor propaganda had on shaping views of the civil war.) I wish there were more books available in this series and by this author but I think they are too old to be widely accessible. The fact that my local library had an in-tact original copy of the hardback was a miracle, but I did find a used paperback copy online, which I ordered for $5.00.

[Vincent Solomeno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charles Derek Ross' "The War of the Roses" is an accessible, concise history of the series of civil wars that ravaged England during the fifteenth century. As someone whose knowledge of the time derives from Shakespeare (namely Richard III), I found this a useful guide as I attempted to separate fiction from fact and understand the events that occurred.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a nice, brief overview of the Wars of the Roses, although you need about twenty hands and some playing cards to keep track of everyone (Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Richard, Earl of Warwick, etc., etc...). I especially enjoyed the final chapter that discussed the impact that the Wars had on the entire country, given that there was fighting off and on from 1455-ish until 1485 when Henry VII came to power. It was interesting to learn that in the end, the impact on the every day lives of the people of England was not that great in the end, and that life pretty much went on as usual, and that was mostly because of the kind of warfare it was, as well as who the combatants were. I recommend if you're interested in this time period, but I would suggest keeping a fully fleshed out family tree at hand to help you keep track of everyone.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a short book, this took me ages to read. There was more military "stuff"explained than I was expecting. My intent was for this to help me better understand the history as I began to read The White Queen, but I finished the fiction book first and I think the story helped me understand the history explained in the non-fiction book. Overall, I liked the general overview it gave. The diagrams and photos were interesting and helpful.

[Brittany Petruzzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this one up when all the names in Richard III's biography started running together. I needed something to which I could attach them.

Ross writes a concise history of the Wars that moves at a fair clip: fast enough to keep the reader interested, but not too fast that one gets lost. Ultimately, this was a Chris Schlect recommendation. I'll be sure to read through the rest of his English history recommendations, as well.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good history of a very confusing era. If you're interested in English mid/late medieval history this is a good read. The chapters are about different aspects of the "war", which I learned was surprisingly short although it went on for about 30 years. As another reviewer said the last chapter was really interesting - "The Impact of Civil War on English Politics and Society." The book is well written and I found it very informative.

[Helene Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review - I thought that this book was much better than others I've read, just what it says on the cover - a concise history of the Wars of the Roses. It covers the period from Henry V to Henry VII, with particular emphasis on the reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV and Richard III. There is a major focus on the battles and political conflicts, less so on the figures involved themselves.

General Subject/s? - Wars of the Roses / History

Recommend? – Yes

Rating - 17/20

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breve storia che racconta in modo generale ma esauriente i punti salienti del conflitto. Non dice niente di nuovo per chi ha già letto un po' sull'argomento, ma è utile per ricontrollare certi punti in caso di bisogno.
Ross tra l'altro è l'unico autore di una biografia completa di Edward IV, che Odino l'abbia in gloria, ed è uno di cui ci si può fidare.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blessedly short book on a troubled time in English history. Not sure if I'm any the wiser as everybody seemed to be called either Henry, Edward or Richard!