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.
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.
Marian Campbell, Medieval Jewellery in Europe 1100-1500. V & A Publishing, 2009. ISBN: 978 851775 828 (Hardcover)
A beautiful book with chapters dealing with workmanship, style and fashion, ecclesiastical jewellery, cultural contexts etc of medieval jewellery and profusley illustrated in colour. There are photographs of jewellery from the Ricardian period, including the Middleham jewel as well as photographs of stained glass windows and paintings showing various types of jewellery. Mary of Burgundy and Margaret of York are featured in this book. A treasure to have!
At our recent AGM, our attention was drawn to some new Ricardian books, which might be of interest to our readers. These are:
1) The Kingmaker’s Sisters by David Baldwin
This book details the lives Warwick’s sisters and their roles as wives, mothers and deputies for their husbands, and the effect on them and their families during the Wars of the Roses.
(The History Press 2009 – 9780750950763 Hb)
Some of those present had already read this book and said that they had found it most interesting.
2) Richard III and the Death of Chivalry by David Hipshon
The author examines how politics of the quarrel between the Stanleys and the Harringtons, and Richard’s support of the latter, cost him support at the Battle of Bosworth.
(The History Press 2009 – 9780750950749 Hb)
3) Richard III and the Murder in the Tower by Peter A. Hancock
This book asserts that William, Lord Hastings, was dragged out of a meeting of the Royal Council and summarily executed on 13 June 1483. This book offers a solution to this precipitate act and the the role played by William Catesby. It also offers a solution the fate of the princes in the tower.
(The History Press 2009 – 9780752451480 Hb)
All three books sound like must-reads for Ricardians. In this context Dorothea mentioned the Book Depository in the UK with free delivery world-wide and thanked our member Jackie from the ACt for this tip. You can find their details on our Links page.
At our AGM on 7 November Lynne informed us about three recently released books which might be of interest to Ricardians. In this connection we started talking about places where we could order these (as well as other books) and it was suggested to put links to companies which members recommended on our Links page. If you know of others, please let us know.
Beloved Cousyn: John Howard and the House of York, by John Ashdown-Hill will be published by The History Press in November 2009 (£18.99 in the UK).
Impatient readers who loved John’s Eleanor, The Secret Queen might not want to wait until the author’s new book is published here (probably next year). The History Press have a offer of £15 for members of Ricardian Societies from November 2 to January 4, but we suspect that the offer of free postage and packing doesn’t apply to us. For individual orders contact www.thehistorypress.co.uk and quote offer code HPBeloved. If you would like to be part of a bulk order from either Amazon or The History Press, at about the same price or posssibly a bit cheaper for shared postage costs (to be advised), please let us know at library@richardiii-nsw.org.au by 23 October 2009 (sorry – members only).
John Ashdown-Hill, the Richard III Society’s tireless and ever helpful Branches’ and Groups’ Liaison Officer, sends this information:
John Howard, a 15th-century Suffolk gentleman founded a dynasty of dukes of Norfolk which has lasted to the present day. In 1455 Howard was untitled and obscure; at his death in 1485 he was Earl Marshal, Duke of Norfolk, Lord Admiral and a very wealthy man.
…The author examines Howard’s reasons for supporting Richard III, even at the cost of his own life; he reveals how Richard became king in 1483 and looks at Howard’s involvement with the fate of the ’Princes in the Tower’ and of the royal secrets he knew through his association with the private life of Edward IV.
Beloved Cousyn brings out many fascinating details which have previously been overlooked. The book also re-writes the history of shipbuilding, outlining Howard’s naval innovations, hitherto ascribed to the Tudors. The details of Howard’s death together with the subsequent fate of his remains are also explored.
