Recently the National Geographic Channel commissioned a series called The Mystery Files, which is also showing on this channel here in Australia.  The objective of the series is to re-examine the legends surrounding a number of famous and infamous figures from history.

One episode, entitled Royal Murder, is of particular interest to Ricardians as it deals with the Princes in the Tower.  As the Chairman of the Richard III Society, Dr Phil Stone, informed us the Society assisted with background information as well as suggesting a number of academic contacts who could be interviewed.  One of those chosen to take part was Lynda Pidgeon, whom we all know as the research officer of the Society.

Phil emphasised what a refreshing change it was to come across a popular programme maker prepared to examine historical events with an open mind rather than accepting the usual premise and twisting the facts to fit.

The programme has been screening on the National Geographic Channel in Australia for a while, the next showing is due on Monday 24 May 2010 at 14h30.  If you do not have access to Pay TV, don’t despair.  Phil has kindly send a copy of the DVD of the episode to our branch and members (of the NSW and QLD branches) are welcome to borrow it from Julia.

You can find out more on the Mystery Files website or check the time of the next showing on the Australian National Geographic Channel website.

Tags: Media, Princes

We first heard on the Ricardian grapevine about a  new analysis the Battle of Wakefield and  a fresh perspective on Richard of York’s final battle on 30 December 1460.  The book by Helen Cox is due to be published later this month.

On her website Helen tells us that historians have for a long time tried to reason why the Duke of York would have taken on the much stronger Lancastrian forces in this battle.  Some believe that the Duke was reckless and stupid, an ageing commander past his prime who made a bad decision – or that he charged out in blind fury because the enemy had sent heralds to insult him. Others think he made a heroic but futile attempt to rescue some of his foragers who were under attack; or that he didn’t realise how big the Lancastrian army was, because many of their troops were cunningly hidden in nearby woodland, waiting to charge out and ambush him.

Helen says that she has never been convinced by these theories, which aren’t well supported by contemporary reports of the battle. So in The Battle of Wakefield Revisited she has tried to pull together and re-examine all the surviving historical and archaeological evidence relating to the encounter.  She promises us a far simpler and more plausible explanation of why the Duke of York rode out to face his enemies that day.

The book will be launched on 31 May 2010 at Mickelgate Bar in York.  Helen and her husband Mick will be there in costume to sell and sign copies.  What a pity that we won’t be able to join them!

So we contacted Helen, to find out how we would be able to get hold of copies of this fascinating new study.  She informed us that the book will be available online from York Publishing Services £12.00 sterling plus p+p (at today’s exchange rate approx. Aus $20 plus p+p).

She also told us that writing the book was a real labour of love for the past 18 months.  She is fortunate enough to live only a mile from the Duke of York’s castle at Sandal, so she regularly visits it and often thinks of him and her favourite of his sons.  And I’m sure you can all guess who that is!

Keep an eye on Helen’s website for further information and developments.

Tags: Battles, Books, House of York, Richard Duke of York, Richard III

We just heard from Joan Szechtman that her book This Time was named finalist in the General Fiction/Novel category for the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Congratulations, Joan!  We are thrilled for you.

This nomination is very well deserved indeed.  We hope that it helps to promote the real Richard III as well as Joan’s book.

For a review of This Time have a look on our Bookshelf in the Ricardian Library or click here.

Tags: Books, Richard III

The March issue of the BBC History Magazine has finally arrived on Australian shelves.  As I had heard that  it contains extensive coverage of the new location of the Battle of Bosworth it was impatiently awaited.  So when I popped into my local newsagent the other day, the first thing that caught my eye was the picture of our man – Richard III – on the cover of the magazine.

The magazine shows the most important finds like the silver gilt boar badge, which might show the area where Richard fell, as well as others.  There is also a discussion about the use of guns in the battle and a description of how the actual location was found (with maps).

Other articles which caught my eye in the magazine is an evaluation by Leanda de Lisle (The Sisters Who Would Be Queen) of Jane Grey, where the author argues that it was her firm religious stance that sealed her fate.  Linda Porter examines the relationship between Henry VIII and his last wife, Katherine Parr.  And there are several articles covering the 16ooth anniversary of the end of Roman Britain in 410 AD.

This issue is certainly well worth buying and keeping.

Tags: Battles, Henry Tudor, Richard III

Julia reviewed The Final Act of Mr Shakespeare by Robert Winder.  This is a fascinating novel about William Shakespeare continuing his cycle of history plays by writing about Henry VII.  A book not to be missed.

You can find her review on our Bookshelf in the Medieval Library or just click  here.

Tags: Books, Henry Tudor, Shakespeare, Theatre

A recent article in The Australian (1) alerted me to a new production of Shakespeare’s Richard III by the Melbourne Theatre Company, which according to the reviewer is outstanding.

So I decided to find out a bit more.  Instead of setting it in a historical context (and as the historical accuracy of the play is questionable at best, this makes a lot of sense), the play takes place in the boardrooms of the corporate world.  “Set as a contemporary political thriller, this gripping production dissects the corruption of power in testing times; when peace is abandoned and enemies mount in the minds of the paranoid.”(2)  Should politicians like George W Bush come to mind when watching the “spin and chicanery” in this performance this is not unintentional, the director Simon Phillips explains.  He does, however, not limit the analogy to one particular politician, as ”A lot of politicians try to hide their dirty laundry in the same way that Richard does, someone with ‘neither pity, love nor fear’.”

The director did intentionally not set the play in a totalitarian state as it was often done, as this “allows people to put everything at arm’s length from contemporary life because nobody identifies with them today. But I believe the play has so much to offer the modern sensibility.” (3)

In line with the modern setting the media are playing the role of the nobles of the play, while Buckingham is Richard’s ruthlessly ambitious PR man.  However, the stage belongs to Richard, as it should in this play, and it is him that the audience is interested in, as one reviewer says “we can’t but be moved by him”.

I particularly liked the comment on Richmond’s overthrow of Richard:  “his [Richmond’s] promises of peace uneasily echo Richard’s empty words at the beginning of his reign, hinting that the cycle of violence is by no means over.”(4)  Whatever your opinion of the historic Richard, these words are certainly true for the historic Richmond (ie. Henry Tudor).

The play runs until 12 June – maybe we should consider a little trip south?!

Notes:

1.   The Australian.
2.   Melbourne Theatre Company.
3.   The Age.
4.   The Australian.

Tags: Shakespeare, Theatre