Richard III Loyalty Binds Me

"King Richard III remains one of the most controversial figures in British history. Matthew Lewis's new biography aims to become the definitive account of his life. Arranged in three parts, the book deals firstly with the background to the Wars of the Roses into which Richard was born and with his childhood. Richard went from insecurity and exile to become a royal prince in the household of his guardian Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker. The book's second part describes Richard's return from exile with his brother, Edward IV. Richard develops into a crucial figure in his brother's government, taming the unruly north, bringing it greater wealth, becoming the military arm of Edward's rule, yet growing increasingly distant from London and the Court he served. In the third part, the critical events of spring and summer 1483 are investigated to uncover the truth about the fallout from Edward IV's unexpected death. Beginning with the details of Richard's coronation, the critique of his time as king examines what he did well and what he got wrong, exploring the complex reasons that men finally deserted him on the battlefield. Incorporating the most up-to-date information about the Battle of Bosworth, where Richard fell amongst his household knights (his friends), the book closes by assessing the short-term and long-term impacts of Richard's reign, and establishes why he remains so controversial; a king with his own fan club and a man who remains elusive even now his body has been rediscovered. As he finally lies at rest, this book seeks to bring peace to Richard III's reputation. It seeks out the man behind the myths, not looking to create a monster or become lost in admiration. Using all of the available primary source material and adding secondary sources whilst considering their bias, this new book presents a real man living in difficult times"–Provided by publisher.