Product Description
Price: [price_with_discount]
(as of [price_update_date] – Details)
[ad_1]
Richard Plantagenet never wanted to be king, but fate has other ideas in store.
Though Richard would be content to live a simple life in Middleham with the woman he loves, he is drawn back into the maelstrom that is English politics in the 15th century again and again.
Betrayal is rampant at the English court, perpetrated by both members of his own family, and one-time friends, those long thought to be Plantagenet allies. His brother George would take the throne for himself, and his cousin Warwick would see the former Mad King Henry restored. All the while, Richard’s brother Edward is a king without an heir.
With the death of Warwick, and Edward’s line secured after the birth of his son, Richard is finally reunited with Anne Neville, who he has loved for years, and is able to retire quietly to the countryside and begin to raise his own family.
But peace can never last, and soon enough, Edward is dead, leaving a power vacuum and two sons who are too young to rule. Chaos ensues in London, with families at each other’s throats, and Richard’s hand is forced by a terrified government when they demand he take up the crown.
Though he never wished for power, as king, Richard will rule with an even and fair hand, through triumph and tragedy, putting the care and safety of the people first. Surrounded by a scant handful of trusted friends, he strives to move England forward, toward the glorious rebirth of cultural and scientific advancements that are blooming on the Continent, until the fateful day on Bosworth field. A day that will change the world forever.
ASIN : B0D7ZS5T8B
Editore : Independently published (24 giugno 2024)
Lingua : Inglese
Copertina flessibile : 395 pagine
ISBN-13 : 979-8328914512
Peso articolo : 508 g
Dimensioni : 12.7 x 2.51 x 20.32 cm
[ad_2]
A tale of the latter years of the Wars of the Roses, The Last Winter Rose, details the love story between Richard III and his wife, Anne Neville. Childhood friends, they are separated by the war that rages through their lives and the political intrigue designed to keep them apart. Finally together, they strive for a peaceful family life, but are constantly dogged by the political machinations in London, until multiple personal tragedies leave Richard alone, bereft of family, to face his enemies. Supported by his three closest friends, Richard Ratcliffe, William Catesby and Francis Lovell, Richard strives to rule with an even hand until he finally engages the enemy in battle at Bosworth Field, leading to the rise of the Tudor dynasty.
The cover of this novel proclaims itself to be a novel of Richard III. So did Penmanâs The Sunne in Splendour, but otherwise the reader can forget about trying to compare the two. What is this authorâs take on Richardâs story? He loves Anne Neville from the time he was in her fatherâs household, and he definitely does not want to be a king. No, never, perish the thought; he simply wants to marry his Anne and live a simple life in the north of England. And, he does mean simple. When they finally settle down at Middleham, Richard and Anne milk the cows, groom the horses, clean the stables and hang out at the village pub with the locals. After little Edwardâs birth, a local boy teaches Richard how to diaper him. Doesnât Anne have any ladies in waiting? Do they have any other servants? Very odd, indeed.To be kind, I would say that the writing is simple, not necessarily a bad thing, but to be honest it is more often banal. The beginning was promising with Anne chastising Richard for being clumsy and never cutting his hair, but almost all scenes between them end with proclamations of undying love. The characters are pretty much one-dimensional. Richard is too good to be true. Anne Neville is the strongest person Richard has ever knownâat least that is what we are constantly being told. Cecily Neville is the doting mother whose favorite son is, of course, Richard. Edward does not really want to be king either, and is in his cups throughout their exile in Burgundy (well, he is depressed about his wife and kiddies) so it is Richard who has to organize everything to retake the crown.The history is slimmed down. When Edward goes off and is eventually taken prisoner at Olney, he leaves Richard in charge of the government in London. We donât see Richard leading forces to gain Edwardâs release or in his Welsh campaign. He and Edward flee to Burgundy directly from Londonâso the question is why didnât they take some money with them? There are puzzling inaccuracies. Thus, we see Richard visit William Herbert in Burgundy to ask for his support in Edwardâs attempt to retake the crown. (Remember that Edward is in his cups and it is only Richard who has sufficient gravitas to impress men.) Wasnât this Herbert beheaded the year before? Buckingham is given only two brief mentions.There are some interesting takes on history: Buckingham set up Hastings who was completely innocent; and the little twist on the fate of the princes. But then there are even more odd takes such as the illegitimate children John and Margaret (for some reason, not identified as Katherine) were actually Edward IVâs, but Richard agreed to acknowledge them so they couldnât be used to foment rebellion. (Heaven forbid that the saintly Richard ever had lustful thoughts outside of marriage.). And, of course, thereâs no mention of the illegitimate children, Arthur and Grace, that Edward did acknowledge. Perhaps even odder is Richardâs desire to name Elizabeth of York as his heirâan idea that everyone including Bess thinks makes no sense. There is some humorâactually, only one scene where Richard gets absolutely wasted during the 1484 Christmas festivities. It was an effort to finish this novel, although the final 30 pages improved. If the author used the word âchuckleâ one more time (at one point, someone âchuckles darklyâ), I was going to throw the book at the wall.
wonderfully Written.