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Hugh Bicheno graduated from Cambridge and later joined the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). He is the author of Crescent and Cross: The Battle of Lepanto 1571, Razor's Edge: The Unofficial History of the Falklands War, Elizabeth's Sea Dogs, and Battle Royal. He lives in England.
Blood Royal: The Wars of the Roses: 1462-1485
by Hugh Bicheno
eBook
$26.23
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ISBN-13:
9781681774831
- Publisher: Pegasus Books
- Publication date: 06/06/2017
- Sold by: Barnes & Noble
- Format: eBook
- Pages: 416
- File size: 36 MB
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The concluding volume to this rousing two-part history of the Wars of the Roses, England’s longest and bloodiest civil war, narrated by a master historian.
England, 1462.The Yorkist Edward IV has been king for three years since his victory at Towton. The former Lancastrian King Henry VI languishes in the Tower of London. But Edward will soon alienate his backers by favoring the family of his ambitious wife, Elizabeth Woodville. And he will fall out with his chief supporter, Warwick “the Kingmaker,” with dire consequences.
Told with extraordinary authority and narrative verve, Blood Royal is the second part of a two-volume history of the dynastic wars fought between the houses of Lancaster and York for the English throne from 1450 until 1485. Hugh Bicheno tells the story of the Wars of the Roses as an enthralling, character-driven saga of interwoven families, narrating each chapter from the point of view of a key player in the wider drama.
This latest volume describes three Lancastrian attempts to overthrow the Yorkists, ending with the death of Edward's successor, Richard III, at Bosworth in 1485—and the accession of Henry VII and the rise of the Tudor dynasty.
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Publishers Weekly
04/03/2017Bicheno wraps up the Plantagenet saga in this companion to Battle Royal, highlighting the reigns of Edward IV and Richard III and foreshadowing the rise of Henry Tudor. He deftly describes how just a few generations of familial politics among the Yorkists, Lancastrians, and Nevilles resulted in bloodshed, all while the antagonists were egged on by their mothers. Both monarchs receive credit for leadership (in battle and as a statesman of the north, respectively), but the blunders that hastened their dynastic end are unsentimentally detailed. Bicheno makes his anti-Ricardian stance clear, but he also doesn’t really like Richard’s relatives, calling them “psychopaths” without delving into how their often brutal actions fit within the era of Florence’s Medicis and the Spanish Inquisition. The famous Warwick claim that Edward was the product of a well-known maternal affair repeatedly appears in the text, but the intentional lack of specific primary source citations stunts its effectiveness. Clear maps and detailed backgrounds create lively battlefield descriptions, and multiple relevant appendices clarify the roles of key figures and families. Bicheno provides a broad look into the mythologized world behind the archetypal strong, handsome king and the rot that invited power struggles and ruin. (June)
Library Journal
05/15/2017Bicheno's previous work on the Wars of the Roses (Battle Royal: The Wars of the Roses; 1440–1462) ended with the defeat of Henry VI at the Battle of Towton. This second and concluding volume begins with the early reign of Edward IV and ends with Richard III's ignominious defeat at Bosworth Field. As with Battle Royal, the lengthier format means there is ample space to explore the various players and plots at work during these events, though it should be noted that nearly the entire bulk of the narrative is devoted to Edward IV and his allies and enemies. The (admittedly shorter) reign and defeat of Richard III is summarized in about 50 pages. For the most part, Bicheno demonstrates a strong dedication to laying out the complex schemes and motivations brewing during this period. VERDICT A strong, personality-driven history of these dynastic wars. With its companion volume, these works offer valuable resources for readers seeking more detail than a single-volume history can provide.—Kathleen McCallister, Tulane Univ., New Orleans
Kirkus Reviews
2017-04-04Bicheno (Battle Royal: The Wars of the Roses: 1440-1462, 2016) continues his work on the War of the Roses.A quick glance through the family trees, charts, maps, timelines, and cast of characters (20-plus pages) will encourage British history buffs who know the connections and love the extras. Other readers, however, will need to refer frequently to the detailed charts just to keep the story straight. Even those with a strong knowledge of this internecine war may stumble while trying to remember the familial relations and many interconnections and allegiances. The author turns upside down some of the most common myths about the war, especially regarding the Woodville family. Edward IV's wife, Elizabeth Woodville, came with a whole gang of siblings as well as a couple stepsons for Edward to favor. Bicheno asserts convincingly that Edward was much too strong a character to kowtow to his wife. A strong queen, she immediately usurped and made an enemy of Edward's mother, Cecily, who furiously spread it around that Edward was a product of adultery, thereby making his brother, Clarence, the rightful heir. Unfortunately, Clarence's only value was as a puppet to Richard Warwick, the kingmaker, who won control over the apparatus of government but had no true authority. He felt he made the king and should be able to dictate policy to him—so much so that he used Clarence to lead a failed rebellion. Edward's reign must be known as much for the granting, revoking, attainting, and regranting of titles and lands. He knew that assigning lands to men with proven followings would secure territorial claims and establish peace. England then enjoyed 12 years of relative political stability and rising prosperity, which ended with Edward's early death. For academics researching the period, this book is a godsend; it not only allows, but demands consultation with all the provided background information. For general readers, it may be too scholarly and confusing. A well-written conclusion to a history perfectly suited to scholars and students.