Product Description
In October 1483 a series of risings was planned across southern England According to the official indictment the rebels sought to 'murder' and 'utterly destroy' Richard III and replace him with the Lancastrian exile Henry Tudor, uniting him in marriage with Elizabeth of York, the eldest daughter of the late Edward IV, thereby joining the houses of York and Lancaster. These risings were known collectively as 'Buckingham's Rebellion' in recognition of the involvement of Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. Through analysis of a cross-section of the rebels, the author demonstrates in vivid detail the connections between the leading southern gentry, their collective involvement in local government and their links with the court of Edward IV. Continuity of service under the new regime is set alongside the conspiracies and rebellion of 1483, providing the context for a detailed examination of Richard's response to the rising and the political dislocation it created. The study of the rebellion serves also as a fascinating expose of power relationships, patronage and cronyism in Ricardian England. ... Read more

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North vs. South in Medieval Britain
A detailed account of the circumstances leading to Buckingham's rebellion, and the connection between the revolt and the ultimate fate of Richard III at Bosworth Field.The focus is on the gentry of the south of England whowere loyal to Edward IV and eventually became the instigators of therebellion.This book may be heavy going for the casual reader since itpresumes basic familiarity with the events of the period.A goodcomplement is Paul Murray Kendall's biography of Richard III, whichdescribes how Richard gained support from the nobility and gentry of thenorth of England.The book includes lots of photographs and helpful maps. All in all, a good read. ... Read more

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Three Crises in Early English History gives a clear, concise, and up-to-date account of the three crises in early English history beginning with the Norman Conquest which began with the battle of Hastings and ended in William the Conqueror's Suppression of the Yorkshire rebels in 1071. There is a detailed account of the positive and negative effects of the Conquest on English government. A special effort is made to explain King John's judicial and financial expedients, which collectively drove a determined minority of the country's baronage into the open rebellion that led to the sixty-three clauses of the Magna Carta. The book concludes with four connected essays of the Wars of the Roses, which resulted from England's defeat in the Hundred Years' War and the ineffectual rule of Henry VI and lasting a whole generation. Here these complicated episodes and the colorful figures involved, like Richard of York, Warwick the Kingmaker, and Edward the IV are laid out clearly for the reader. ... Read more

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This book presents a fresh interpretation of the period, reconstructing the reign of William III through the eyes and in the words of those who lived through it. ... Read more

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The Wars of the Roses were central to 15th century English history.Their seed was planted along with that of the Lancastrian dynasty and their fruit was poisonous to that royal house and to its Yorkist sucessor.But the House of Lancaster and its fortunes were pivotal to the course of events; the usurper Henry IV, the glorious victor of Agincourt Henry V and the pious but feeble Henry VI, whose weaknesses lead to the demise of his line. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well researched and fun to read
The End of the House of Lancaster begins with the minority of Henry VI and his descent from his usurping grandfather, Henry IV, and it ends with him being deposed by Edward IV. The book is well-researched, citing and quoting many primary sources from the period, to the extent that I never disputed the facts. There are also many maps throughout the text which are useful when a certain battle is being discussed. The demise of Lancaster and the rising of York are both explained by bringing to life the two warring families (well one, actually, but they obviously didn't get along) and documenting their violent actions for a period of over twenty years.
I would recommend this book as a concise, easy to follow, and thorough history of Lacaster in the war of the roses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Story of two fascinating sisters
This was a wonderful book that highlighted yet another tumultuous time period in English history. The author did a great drop researching her subjects but never did I feel I was just reading a tedious recounting of historical facts. She did a very good job portraying these girls/women's personalities as they were recorded in history and capturing the captivating essence of Lucy Percy.

As the daughters of the "Wizard Earl", or Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, one would think they would cower under a man's presence and be the 'seen, not heard' type of woman men tended to gravitate towards for wives. However, with the Earl's incarceration in the Tower for the majority of their formative years, the girls blossomed into strong, independent and free-thinking women who became determined to make their own decisions. Dorothy Percy would become the Duchess of Leicester and produce twelve (!) children while her sister Lucy would marry Lord Hay, Duke of Carlisle and would play important roles during the fall of the monarchy under Charles I of England.

If there ever was a family that had their finger in every seditious pie, was irascible and over-proud, thy name be Percy. That family had had a long history of being on the wrong side of things and thinking themselves kings of their lands in the far north of England, a tradition that Lucy carried on with pride. They might not have made their father proud, but what great, exciting lives they led.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a bit of excitement and verve in English history between the death of Elizabeth I and the rise of the Commonwealth under Cromwell and a woman's role during that time.

I had to pick something
I had to choose a biography for my history college class. She gave us a list of people and books to look at and this was one of them. I would not read this book on my own but having to do it for a class, it's not that bad. I find it hard to look at as a biography but my teacher swears it is. I give the book a 7 out of 10. Its not what I usually read.

nice slice of history
While reading this book, I made a few notes on my computer. Rather than making a clumsy attempt to turn them into a smooth essay, I'll give my notes to the world in the following short blurbs:

1) The author used the story of two prominent sisters born into seventeenth-century nobility as a frame on which to hang a description of English life, court intrigue, and national politics.

2) I was surprised to learn that King James, the king who commissioned the King James Bible, was openly bi-sexual, and his queen consulted a medium on at least one occasion. (As a Christian, I find this significant.)

3) Women had no real legal or property rights, but some women, such as Lucy Percy, could exert great influence in court and in national politics by the force of their of personality.

4) For me, this book highlights the drawbacks of rule of man rather than rule of law. King James wisely kept the peace to promote commerce and prosperity, but King Charles I arbitrarily went to war against the Spanish, French, andScots for what were virtually personal or religious reasons.

5) In recent days, the Iranians have been marching in the streets and shouting "Death to the tyrant" in reference to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameni, so I was quick to note the similarity when I read that the English people were saying (probably behind closed doors) "Death to the tyrant" in reference to England's Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, when they grew tired of his dreary, repressive, Puritan government. (This time in English history and modern Iran are good examples of why there should be a wall between church and state despite what my fellow Christians might say regarding that wall.)

6) I've learned more about the English Civil Wars than I ever knew before. Very interesting.

Fascinating and Readable
This was an excellent scholarly work, while yet imminently readable.Betcherman follows the vastly different lives of two sisters during 17th century England, with one being immersed in Court life while the other centers her life around home matters.It is a fascinating read and very enlightening for those interesed in social history, women's history, 17th century British history, or any combination.I highly recommend it to the casual historian as well as to the more serious scholar.

Eye opening read!
This book was very good and although I cannot say I devoured it, I certainly had trouble putting it down. It was eye opening in the way that many modern readers may find their ideas of life and marriage in the seventeenth century shaken up a bit. It is amazing to see just how influential these women could be in their own circles. ... Read more

Product Description
In the wake of the rebellion of Owen Glyndwr the fear with which the English regarded the Welsh was reinforced with military occupation. In the ensuing Wars of the Roses the centre of gravity of the military situation was in Wales and the Marches: Ludlow was the seat of Richard, duke of York, and mid-Wales his favourite recruiting ground; at Ludford Bridge he suffered his first serious reverse and at Mortimer's Cross his son won his way to the throne as Edward IV. Further, Henry Tudor landed at Milford Haven and with a partly Welsh army defeated Richard at Bosworth. To understand the Wars of the Roses a clear view of the role played by Wales is essential. This superb survey, based largely on the words of contemporary chroniclers, poets and eye-witnesses, brings to life the warriors and bards of fifteenth-century Wales caught up in a conflict of immense political importance. Repeatedly referred to but long unavailable, this classic work has been completely reset and newly illustrated. With a valuable new introduction by R. A. Griffiths, it is an indispensable addition to the library of anyone with a serious interest in this dramatic period of British history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Yorkist Age
Paul Murray Kendall's Richard III and The Yorkist Age are the classics for anyone interested in Richard III, the "princes in the Tower," Elizabeth Woodville or the origins of the Tudors. Not only is Kendall's scholarship incomparable, but he writes with the verve and immediacy of a novelist.

Kendall Teaches As Few Others Do
Kendall's is a superb book about everything Yorkist in 15th century.With 504 (paperback) pages he speaks to the history, culture, society, politics, and cosmology of England's lords, gentry, and commoners from Henry VI through Henry VII.

Showcasing (in the Epilogue) the War of the Roses, Kendall provides drawings and photographs for the main players, their haunts, and their strategies for securing the crown. His list of "Principal Persons" (just prior to the prologue) is helpful and should be used as future reference material.

Although he provides significant history, Kendall also relishes telling the anecdotal stories of "Robin Hood" and "May Day" (page 237).He describes the cultural origin of "halloween bells" (page 245), "Easterlings" (page 308), and 15th century bathing (page 339).In the chapter "The Fabric of Life", Kendall even proffers 15th century cooking recipes (pages 355 to 360) for poultry, venison, and boars head.

The book is somewhat lengthy- its size requires a commitment- however it is well worth a read.I never got bored turning it pages.It teaches as few others do.

To the student of history or novice reader on Britain this book is very recommendable.

Good overview of daily life in late-15th-century England
The "Yorkist" period of English history is often overlooked---it's overshadowed, in many peoples' minds, by the more spectacular eras of Henry V before it, and the Tudors afterward.However, a lot of what the Tudors did was to build on the foundations laid at this time, and much of what came to fruition under the Tudors was started under their predecessors. ... Read more

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The Vinland Sheep is an adventure story, set between Autumn 1470 and Spring 1471, that centres around two families, one English, one Welsh. The attraction between Agnes and Gwyneth simmers next to the Wars of the Roses and the myriad excitements that voyages across the Atlantic generated. This novel's purpose is to entertain rather than educate readers about 15th century society. ... Read more

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Pirates and Gold
I was expecting a little more depth after having read other of Stevenson's works. Jim Hawkins' parents keep an inn, to which the pirate who has possession of a treasure map comes to stay. He is found by his former companions who are greedy for his gold, and he dies of a heart attack soon after. Jim and his mother open the sea chest, taking the gold the pirate owed them for his stay, as well as the treasure map. With other friends, Jim sets out to recover the treasure, for no other reason than that the map is in his possession. Nothing seems too extraordinarily noble about that. Jim discovers that part of the crew have joined with the intention of stealing the gold for themselves, and they have little regard for the lives of others. However, this may not be considered stealing on their part, as Jim and his friends have as little right to the money as anyone else. Through many perils from very unsavory characters, Jim and the others make it back to England with a portion of the gold. He seems to have learned a lesson, however, for he states in the conclusion that nothing would tempt him back to collect the rest of the gold from Treasure Island. ... Read more

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General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1921Original Publisher: Princeton University PressSubjects: Cities and townsGreat BritainHistory / Europe / Great BritainHistory / Military / GeneralHistory / Military / World War IIHistory / Military / United StatesHistory / Military / OtherSocial Science / Sociology / UrbanTechnology ... Read more

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This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: The Battle of Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians. Their leader Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, became the first English monarch of the Tudor dynasty by his victory and subsequent marriage to a Yorkist princess. His opponent Richard III, the last king of the House of York, was killed in the battle. Historians consider Bosworth Field to mark the end of the Plantagenet dynasty, making it one of the defining moments of English history. Richard's reign began in 1483 when he seized the throne from his twelve-year-old nephew Edward V. The boy and his younger brother soon disappeared, to the distress of many, and Richard's support was further eroded by rumours of his involvement in the death of his wife. Across the English Channel Henry Tudor, a descendant of the greatly diminished House of Lancaster, seized on Richard's difficulties and laid claim to the throne. Henry's first attempt to invade England in 1484 was frustrated by a storm, but his second arrived unopposed on 1 August 1485 on the southwest coast of Wales. Marching inland, Henry gathered support as he made for London. Richard hurriedly mustered his troops and intercepted Henry's army south of the town of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire. Lord Thomas Stanley and Sir William Stanley also brought a force to the battlefield, but held back while they decided which side it would be more advantageous to support. Richard divided his army, which outnumbered Henry's, into three groups (or "battles"). One was assigned to the Duke of Norfolk and another to the Earl of Northum... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=3793 ... Read more