Richard III: His Life & Character, Reviewed in the Light of Recent Research

Featured

Richard III: His Life & Character, Reviewed in the Light of Recent Research

(6 User reviews) 1063

By Emma Reed Posted on Mar 18, 2026

In Category - Wildlife Tales

Authors: Markham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir, 1830-1916 Published By : Markham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir, 1830-1916

Book Language: English

Okay, so you know the story: Richard III, the evil king with the hunchback who murdered his nephews in the Tower of London. It’s one of history’s most famous villain tales. But what if almost everything you think you know is wrong? That’s the wild ride this book takes you on. Published in 1906, Sir Clements Markham’s book isn’t just another history lesson; it’s a full-on detective story. He goes back to the original documents and asks the tough questions everyone else had glossed over. Who really benefited from those princes disappearing? How reliable are the sources that painted Richard as a monster, especially when they were written under the rule of the family that defeated him? Markham puts Shakespeare’s infamous character on trial, and the evidence he presents is shocking. It’s a book that doesn’t just tell you about the past; it makes you question how history itself is written. If you love a good mystery where the ‘facts’ aren’t what they seem, you need to read this.

File: Richard III: His Life & Character, Reviewed in the Light of Recent Research

Let's be honest, most of us picture Richard III as the sinister figure from Shakespeare: scheming, physically twisted, and cold-blooded enough to kill his own family. Sir Clements Markham's 1906 book grabs that popular image and holds it up to the light. He doesn't just retell the story; he investigates it like a cold case.

The Story

The book isn't a traditional narrative. Think of it as a lawyer's brief for the defense. Markham walks us through the chaotic end of the Wars of the Roses, when Richard, Duke of Gloucester, became king after the death of his brother. Then came the big mystery: the disappearance of his two young nephews, the "Princes in the Tower." For centuries, Richard was the prime suspect. Markham meticulously goes through the evidence—or lack thereof. He highlights the problems with the main sources accusing Richard, showing they were created by his enemies after his death. He points the finger at Henry Tudor, the man who defeated Richard at Bosworth and became King Henry VII, arguing he had a much stronger motive. The book is a step-by-step argument, trying to separate centuries of Tudor propaganda from what might have actually happened.

Why You Should Read It

What's fascinating isn't just whether Richard was innocent or guilty. It's watching how history gets made. Markham shows us that the 'truth' we learn is often the version told by the winners. Reading this feels like being part of a historical society debate from over a century ago. You can feel Markham's passion. He's not a dry academic; he's a man on a mission to clear a name. It makes you look sideways at every other 'villain' in history. Could they have been misunderstood, too? The book is a powerful reminder to ask, "Who wrote this, and why?"

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for anyone who loves a historical puzzle or is tired of one-sided stories. It's perfect for fans of true crime podcasts, but set in the 15th century. You don't need to be a scholar to enjoy it, just a curious mind. Be warned: it might ruin Shakespeare's play for you, or at least make you see it as brilliant propaganda instead of fact. If you're ready to have your assumptions about one of England's most infamous kings completely turned upside down, pick this up. It's a classic piece of revisionist history that still sparks arguments today.