Alison Weir investigates the 1483 disappearance of Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, from the Tower of London. She reconstructs the political transition from the death of Edward IV to the coronation of Richard III, analyzing the circumstantial evidence surrounding the boys’ presumed murder. Weir argues that the evidence points to Richard III as the instigator, dismissing theories involving Henry VII or the Duke of Buckingham as culprits. The narrative tracks the discovery of skeletal remains in 1674 and evaluates the medical findings regarding the age and identity of the bones.
This book serves readers interested in the Wars of the Roses and the transition to Tudor rule. It provides a detailed account of palace intrigue for those who want to examine the primary source materials used by contemporary chroniclers. Readers finish the book with a timeline of Richard III’s rise to power and a logical framework for interpreting the mystery of the missing heirs. It is a resource for understanding how late-medieval royal successions functioned and how a king’s legitimacy was established or undermined by allegations of regicide.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Evidence Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1992
- Language
- EN
