Product Description

William II of England, nicknamed "Rufus the Red King" was killed by an arrow loosed by one of his own men. By concentrating on both old and new evidence, the author demonstrates that the king's death is highly suspect. Through the eyes of Anselm, the great philosopher and secret admirer of the Red King, the author develops a much more chilling interpretation of the Red King's death.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #252710 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 200 pages

Customer Reviews

What really happened on August 2, 1100? The mysterious death of a King
Royal deaths always had been fascinating if the occurred unexpectedly. The recent report of the death of Diana Princess of Wales is only one in many proving this.

Here the subject is a medieval English King - William II Rufus.

William II (called "Rufus", perhaps because of his red-faced appearance due to his propensity for anger or his red hair) was born, the third but second surviving son of William the Conqueror. He succeeded his father as King of England in 1087 and rules until 1100.

Perhaps the most memorable event in the life of William Rufus was his death, which occurred on August 2, 1100 while William was hunting in the New Forest. He was killed by an arrow through the heart.

Was this an accident or deliberate? That is the question this book tries to answer.

Paul Doherty continues with this book his interest in royal murder cases -Edward II. and Tutankhamun being the subjects of his first books. However, this one is different as he approaches the subject in form of a novel. The setting is the last months of the life of Anselm, the saintly Archbishop of Canterbury, mentor, guardian and opponent of William Rufus. His devoted secretary Eadmer describes the last quest of Anselm as he tries to find out what really had happened to the king. So the evidence is presented in this form. Fiction and report quoting from sources change which I found in the beginning a bit odd and I had to get used to it. However, it makes a pleasant read and it is not a dry book quoting and comparing various medieval sources on the king's death. Like in Agatha Christie's Poirot mysteries the cases is finished with a dramatic dénouement when all the still living principle figures come together and Anselm (Doherty) reveals what he believes really has happened on August 2nd, 1100 in the New Forest.

The book is interesting, well written, fact and fiction coming easily together to forma well argued case. All in all, a book I enjoyed. Find out for yourself what happened to William Rufus.

A Search for the Truth
Paul Doherty is the consummate storyteller and whatever subject he happens to pick to write about the books and the characters within them seem to come to life. Be it medieval England or Ancient Egypt his grasp of the subject is always first class. He has written many, many books over the years and how he manages to achieve this and also have the full time job of a school headmaster beggars belief. I do not think I have missed reading one of his books and there really are a lot of them. But with hand on heart I can say that there has not been one that I have not thoroughly enjoyed. Even the ones written under other pseudonyms, (Michael Clynes etc.).

William Rufus was the second surviving son of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders. Just before the Conqueror died he decided that William Rufus rather than his brother Robert Curthose should become King of England after him and Rufus was crowned on September 26th, 1087.

Most of the history books will tell you that on August 2, 1100, King William Rufus went hunting at Brockenhurst in the New Forest. Gilbert de Clare and his younger brother, Roger of Clare, were with the king. Another man in the hunting party was Walter Tirel, who was married to Richard de Clare's daughter, Adelize. Also present was William Rufus' younger brother Henry. During the hunt, Walter Tirel fired an arrow at a stag. The arrow missed the animal and hit William Rufus in the chest. Within a few minutes the king was dead. Tirel jumped on his horse and made off at great speed. He escaped to France and never returned again to England.

In this book Paul Doherty looks into the death of the king, through the eyes of Anselm, the great philosopher and secret admirer of the Red King. After studying evidence, both old and new the author put a much more sinister interpretation on William's death.