Title: Royal blood : Richard III and the mystery of the princes /
Authors: Fields, Bertram.
Publisher: HarperCollins,
Year: 1998
Subjects: Richard; Edward Death and burial.; Richard, Death and burial.; Richard, Death and burial.; Princes Great Britain Biography; Murder England History; Political prisoners Great Britain Biography; Great Britain History; Great Britain History; Great Britain Kings and rulers Biography.
Abstract: "In this new book, renowned litigator Bertram Fields goes back more than 500 years to offer a compelling look at the case of Richard III. Applying the same modern techniques he successfully uses in the courtroom, Fields outlines and evaluates the arguments on both sides, weighs the evidence, and offers the definitive truth about this extraordinary man." "Fields examines the earliest biographers of Richard, exposing the political, cultural, and geographical biases inherent in their portrayals and reveals how much "fact" was actually gossip and disinformation, including that given the world by More and Shakespeare. He sets the stage for the coming drama with a lucid and colorful picture of the War of the Roses, the long struggle between the houses of York (white rose) and Lancaster (red rose), that put Richard's family on the throne.
Contents: Introduction -- Solving a murder -- The "witnesses" -- The Wars of the Roses -- Edward IV -- The protector -- Taking the throne -- Usurper or rightful King? -- The coronation -- "A rumor arose" -- "The most untrue creature living" -- Governing the realm -- Bosworth field -- "Infants blood" -- "Pretenders" and "imposters" -- The confession -- The bones -- The proclivity to kill -- The behavior of contemporaries -- "Falsus in unus" -- Other suspects -- Summing up -- What if?