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Richard II (Yale English Monarchs Series)
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| List Price: | £14.95 |
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Product Description
A biography of Richard II. It offers a radical reinterpretation of a complex king whose reign was characterized by a mixture of high principle and despotic legislation.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #215267 in Books
- Published on: 1999-04-06
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 416 pages
Customer Reviews
The best book on Richard II - a new understanding of this King
Professor Nigel Saul is a British academic who was formerly the Head of the Department of History at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is recognised as one of the leading experts in the history of medieval England. His major biography Richard II (1997) was the product of ten years' work and was acclaimed by P. D. James as "unlikely to be surpassed in scholarship, comprehensiveness, or in the biographer's insight into his subject's character". Is this praise justified?
I suppose Shakespeare's view of Richard II has left quite a mark on us how to view Richard II: was he really like the cruel, vindictive and irresponsible king, who only attained a semblance of greatness after his fall from power as Shakespeare portrait him. Well of course, Shakespeare took many liberties and made great omissions. For me Richard II was always a bit of an enigma, difficult to grasp and understand.
The rule and personality of Richard II is far more complex as a theatre play. Nigel Saul indeed captures this complexity to perfection and in a way that non academics could follow too. One has the impression of developing an understanding of this King and his personality, understands his basic insecurities and his politics and why they led to failure and in the end to his death. I feel that Saul Nigel has shed light into this enigma. For me it was the best of the books on Richard II I read. Sometimes it was difficult read, but in the end a very satisfying one.
Highly Readable
Arguably there is no better tribute for a book of this type than the fact that it is indeed highly readable
It contains all the right information but its presentation and the lay out and structure provide a much more satisfying read then many of the other books i'm required to read on my history course
