Product Description

The war between the houses of Lancaster and York for England's throne saw some of the bloodiest battles on England's soil. This account of the war focuses on the human side - on the people and personalities involved in the conflict, chiefly King Henry VI and the Duke of York, Richard Plantagenet.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #237441 in Books
• Published on: 1998-05-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Customer Reviews

One of the best on the subject
This is an incredibly important work, as despite there being a stack of books covering the period of the Wars of the Roses, no other gives a clear and concise background to the conflict (and such information is vital in understanding why it occurred), and there are few others that are as thorough in their approach, without descending into academic jargon.

I should point out that this deals primarily with the background from Edward III to Henry VI's reign, and then focuses upon the years 1455 to 1471, in other words, finishing with Henry VI's capture and murder after Tewkesbury. It is true that the conflict was to continue until Bosworth in 1485 (and technically until 1487), but I believe she has had other volumes dealing with these years.

I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone with an interest in late medieval England, and the Wars of the Roses, as it caters for most levels of knowledge, and deals with the characters behind the violence and politics. It is very well written, and as gripping as I have ever found a history text to be.

A gripping and intriguing read
From 1455 to 1487, England was torn apart in a conflict that pitted a kaleidoscope of magnates, aristocrats and power-players against one another. Symbolized by the roses that represented the two royal families (York and Lancaster), this war was all about power, vengeance and position. This wonderful book begins in the 1300s, with the roots of the conflict, showing the roots of the war, and who fought it and why.

I must say that it is one of the most fascinating and informative history books I have read in a while. The era that the book discusses has it all - murder, intrigue, battle, betrayal, vengeance, infidelity, murder, and much more. And, as it should be, the author takes this era, and weaves its history into a gripping and intriguing read. Overall, I found this to be a great book, and I highly recommend it to you.

A good read.
For the first time I feel as if I have been able to follow the course of this episode of English history. Up to now it has been a confusing mess, but the characters are brought to life and the background thoroughly explained.