MJ Grow did a excellent job on the writing of this book on Richard III..As we will never ever know for sure if the claim of him being a murderer and a kidnapper of his nephews, it's best to just read all you can of this man and his family and his life and you figure it out for yourself!! I love the way this book was written..It tells a story of such where Richards life is laid out and it's in a way that tells small stories on who was who,what happened to them,how they are related when in time it happened what they did or didn't do and the rest is up to you!! You so understand the events as they happened where for me I will remember better and understand who was who and what and why!!! It's a fact finding story as I said where you can understand the long history of all of the Kings and Queens, when they regin and the order... As you read you will see what I mean ...I would so have anyone that's interested in this period of England's history to read and you can see how much time was spent in the research of this historical time!!! They did finally find Richard his body..I remember hearing this on the news..his body had been lost for so long...now as you read you will find out where and why he was lost and asb they say,Now was found to put him where he has always belonged!! Received from Net Gallery..didn't get it read and reviewed in the time period I was asked to do but I did finally...Fantastic Historical Read as you can understand!!

This book is a good start if you want to know more about Richard III. It stayed very true to what we know of the person behind the crown. It take you on the historical ride and goes all the way to the edge of the cliff. There is not much we know about the man but this book puts a light on things you many not know yet. I would recommend this to any historical nut.

Easy to read and loved all the illustrations, it helped familiarize with the locales and happenings of the times. I was happy with the history starting with Richard's parents and his childhood having a good background to build on.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Move aside Prince Harry. Shove over Prince Andrew. If there ever was a Royal in desperate need of a public relations specialist, it was Richard III. In an attempt to blacken his reputation and validate their usurpation of power, the Tudors did everything in their power to paint him as an evil deformed devil. They had lots of help from toadying writers who knew on which side their bread was buttered. In fact, one such hatchet job by Shakespeare has been the definition of how history viewed him.

In recent years, that description of the man and his endeavours has been called into question. Research into whatever material remains has been studied and a picture of the man emerges far different from the evil being. In fact, when his remains were discovered under a parking lot, he was reburied with the honours denied him at the time... which coincidentally, he gave to those whom he bested but was not given by the Tudors. It turns out he was a capable and caring man who managed well and wisely. He had no need to murder his nephews, a crime for which he has been pilloried for centuries. He was already King, not through any machinations of his own. Someone else had done the research to eliminate his nephew.

This is a well research book that treats Richard with respect and tells his story, putting to bed some outrageous claims that by geography or age he could not have done. He is not put on such a pedestal that he becomes something he never was. But he is given his fair due and that is probably all he would ask.

Five purrs and two paws up.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read a free advance copy of this book. Unfortunately I hadn't found time during the year to read this book, and so I will be picking up a paid copy in 2021 to support the author instead as an apology.

This is an excellent look at Richard III. History books can be rather hard going, however the author’s writing style makes this a very interesting and an easy read.

If you are interested at all in Richard III and the Plantagenets, then this is a must read. This is a very balanced view of his time as King,

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

This was a great book: well-written, well-researched, and well-planned. It covers Richard III, his elder brothers Edward IV and George, his father Richard, and all the main battles, people, and politics of the time. Trow does an excellent job of placing people and events within historical context and encouraging us not to look at history with twenty-first century views. Trow also does an excellent job assessing contemporary resources: who should be trusted, who had what agenda, and how should that color what we read? While Richard and the rest of his family don't come across as martyrs, they are placed firmly in context and given much of the credit that later Tudor historians tried to deny them. An excellent book for newcomers to the Wars of the Roses and those who are looking for an excellent, in-depth assessment of the time period and people.

Very well written fact based account of the life and lineage of Richard III. It was clearly very well researched, the only issues I had were being confused at times which Richard the author was referring to. A definite read for history buffs, especially for those with a love for the Wars of the Roses.

Begins with an introduction to Richards family in particular his parents, Richard, Duke of York and Cecily Neville.

I hadn't read much about Richards childhood, where he was brought up and how he spent his childhood so I was very interested in this. Trow discusses Richard's early life, the events leading to his fathers death, his relationship with his siblings and the events following the death of his brother, King Edward IV.

There's a lot of rumours about Richard which Trow discusses, in particular the individual portrayed by Shakespeare many years later. Many of these rumours were quashed upon the discovery of Richard's body but Trow discusses where the rumours may have originated from and gives an opinion on the largely discussed Princes in the Tower mystery. I'm not a Ricardian but I do have a great interest in the Plantagenets. Trow appears sympathetic to Richard throughout the book referring to contemporary evidence where possible and providing explanations for where this evidence has been incorrectly interpreted previously.

As a northerner I found the North/South divide something I could relate to as it remains evident even now and applaud Richard for the Council in the North.

Trow provides plans of the castles which were an interesting addition to help imagine where Richard spent his life especially those that are now ruins.

Now I am biased and can say I am not surprised Richard fell in love with the North, it's a beautiful place but it's also the place that provided a home and loyalty to Richard throughout his life.

For those interested in reading more about Richard I really recommend this book. Trow has a very easy to read writing style that comes across almost conversational.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Mr. Trow has an easy flowing style of writing that makes this book easy to read and remember who was who in the Plantagenet family war. I appreciate the effort he makes to be fair to Richard III and his enemies, while also calling out out the medieval and later writers when they are obviously biased either way. Mr Trow also uses humor when it is possible in discussing Richards life, death, and reburial. The end notes and illustrations are helpful for readers who are not as familiar with the landscape as someone in the north of England might be.

Despite having lived near several of the places mentioned in this book for more than 20 years, "Richard III in the North" provided a lot of information that was new to me. It's an absolutely brilliant book, and I will never look at those places in the same way again. The writing is very good, and I would like to read more of this author's work. The plans of the castles are a welcome addition which helps the imagination.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

If you have studied the Wars of the Roses, you are obviously very familiar with the infamous last Plantagenet King of England, Richard III. He is known for many things, but the most notorious thing that he is associated with is the murder of the Princes in the Tower, his nephews. However, we cannot be certain that he committed this crime or if a crime was committed in the first place. These rumors swirled around London and Southern England where Richard III was not popular. It was a different story in Northern England, where he was much beloved. In M.J. Trow’s latest book, “Richard III in the North”, he tries to uncover the true story of Richard III by looking at his life while he was living in the North. Was he really the monster that literature has portrayed him as or do we have a case of a misunderstanding a historical figure?

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book. I am by no means a Ricardian, but I do enjoy nonfiction books about a historical figure that gives a new twist to their story, which this book does rather well.

To understand why Richard was positioned in the North and why it was crucial, Trow takes readers on a journey through the past. Trow first explores the origins of Richard Duke of York and Cecily Neville, Richard III’s father, and mother, which was very interesting to read. As someone familiar with these characters, it was easy for me to follow the genealogy, but I know that there would be some readers who would have found family trees helpful in this particular section. At the start of each chapter, Trow has decided to include the coat of arms of a different historical figure that made an impact in Richard’s life, which I thought was an elegant touch.

Obviously, since Richard III lived in the time that we refer to as the Wars of the Roses, Trow spends quite a bit of time discussing major battles and causes of the conflict. What I really appreciated is when Trow went into details about major battles that are often overlooked, like Wakefield. These battles and these causes led to the decision by Richard’s brother King Edward IV to send Richard to the north to quell the violence that might have been caused by allies of the Lancastrians.

It is the North that Trow gives us as readers a different view of the much-maligned man. It was here that Richard was beloved and that he spent much of his adult life. He creates a different world that is hostile to Southerns, yet Richard is able to make a cordial relationship that would turn into him being adored by the people. Trow includes vivid descriptions of castles that were associated with and what life was like for him and his immediate family. It was a unique side of the infamous figure that made him more life-like instead of how he is portrayed in literature.

This may seem like yet another book about Richard III, but I think Trow’s focus on the relationship between the last Plantagenet king and the North makes this stand out from all of the rest. Trow has a very casual writing style but you can tell he has obviously done his research. I think if you are a Ricardian or if you want to look at a new aspect of the Wars of the Roses, I would recommend you read, “Richard III in the North” by M.J. Trow.

Did Richard III murder the princes in the Tower? Was he really the wicked hunchback which Shakespeare made famous? Since King Richard III's bones were found in a carpark in an amazing story, there has been more interest in him than ever.

This book sweeps along like a novel, except for the slow beginning. MJ Trow mounts a commendable defence of this much maligned King, and studies his relationship with the North. Even when he was only 19, his brother, King Edward IV gave him considerable power and estates in the lands above the Trent, so he really had a mini-kingdom there until he became King himself. Richard was a good King, who introduced the Council of the North, made wise laws, and employed huge numbers of people in the North. He was very much loved by the people of the North, and this is where his heart lay, so his relationship with the North is worthy of a book.

Trow is very much on Richard's side, and goes through the evidence for and against whether he was guilty of the murders of the princes (and others) clearly, and he goes through it step-by-step with an extra Appendix at the end, dealing with each alleged murder in turn. It also puts paid to many myths about Richard. He was deeply religious, so I am inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, but the accusation that Edward IV's marriage was illegitimate because of an alleged marriage to Eleanor Talbot still seems rather sudden, and extremely beneficial to Richard's road to power.

Reading Chris Skidmore's book first is helpful. Luckily, I read this not long ago. It is more academic and dry than this one, and quite convincing as well.

This was a riveting addition to Ricardian history, well-worth reading. I really enjoyed it. If only I could see Richard's tomb!

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Starting with the author's relationship with Shakespeare's Richard III as a young boy, Trow draws reference to the affection and affinity this king had with the North of England.

A great read with lots of little known facts and details about king Richard III. Perfect for any fan of the war of the roses

I will admit to being a little biased - I have read a number of non-fiction (Vlad) and fiction (Marlowe) by MJ Trow. I find the writing style to be more conversational than academic, more so in this tome.

What we have here is a great (abridged) introduction to the Wars of the Roses and the family of Richard III. Trow uses the fortifications and castles associated with the Yorkist cause and with Richard himself as the anchor point from which to condense and recount Richard's thirty-three years.

As many would already know, following the accession of Edward IV, Richard received many honours and land, predominantly based in the north of England - t would be here that he would create long lasting ties with local landowners, religious and civil leaders - he was a popular figure.

However, not all the anchor points are linked with the north but with the family, and there is much discussion about these places not only associated with Richard, but also key points in the family history and with events being played out.

Richard's links to the north were not only about his own time there, but also with how the northern barons - more often or not Lancastrians - impacted his childhood, adulthood, his political and personal perceptions. Trow tells us that Richard was often associated as a "northerner" due to his deliberate decision to base himself there - to live and to work - and muses that had things followed the anticipated successional course, Richard may have indeed spent much more time in the North. Regardless of how things finally played out, his legacy is and will always be associated with the North. And funnily enough, much of what Richard set about creating, the Tudors adopted themselves.

Trow also delves into the myths and perceptions of Richard himself, including the vexing question of the Princes in the Tower, finishing up with the discovery of Richard 's remains and his final internment.

Trow provides a "floor plan" for all the anchor buildings and possible plans for the major battles. All sources (of which a selected few are listed at the end) are considered and scrutinised, but here also Trow laments that lack of contemporary sources that shed light into the man himself that have not be "rewritten" or "formualted" with a specific target audience or patron in mind.

There are many books on the Wars of the Roses, Richard III and the Tudors, Trow's book will appeal to many - it is an accessible, uncomplicated history of the period and the man.

Richard III is one of the most controversial kings in English history. You either love him or you hate him. There really is zero in between. As I was reading through this book, there was quite a bit of history that, of course, you need where it sets up what happens, and what we are focusing on for this book. I kept thinking, “come on, get to Richard... “ but that history is needed - because if you do not understand the events that lead up the event in question - well, the book will not make much sense.

Richard III was a magnate of the North, long before he became the king of England. There was distrust among many over the marriage of Edward IV to Elizabeth Woodville - and rightly so. Her family did not bring anything to the country, but they sure knew how to get what they needed out of it (including marrying one brother to a woman who was 60 years older than he was - in order to gain control of her fortune). Anyway, back to Richard. His time in the North not only solidified many things, but he showed himself to be fair, concerned about everyone who lived within his bounds, and willing to help those who needed it.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I love anything Richard III, and so this was a fun, informative read. I highly recommend it!

Richard III has spellbound for centuries, mostly for one reason...child murder. But then that's what controversy does; historically, many people prefer good juicy gossip and conjecture over facts. In this book Trow takes a refreshing approach by questioning established "facts" and disproving "fake news" rather than building on commonly-held beliefs. It's done engagingly, too, and with loads of research and common sense.

This book begins by chronicling Richard III's ancestry then moves on to detail his life and death, including information on how and why he got where he did, bloody battles, fortified castles, enemies, festivities, horrible deaths and his passion for the North. Illustrations show castle/fortress outlines as well as battle plans and movements. Prefacing each chapter is a different coat of arms which is interesting. We see snippets of what Richard III's personality must have been like which really opened my eyes. Before reading this he seemed aloof and unknowable but now he seems like a man who genuinely loved his God, family and country. He took his various roles seriously. He and his wife, Anne, were involved in Northern affairs and he established the Council of the North. Even with all his land and wealth he chose to live in the North where he provided jobs and grants. He excelled at intercession between Neville family members. He experienced intense sorrow when his young son died. He was very human.

Trow also analyzes Shakespeare's portrayal of Richard III and shatters his ill-concocted ideas. You will see the princes in the Tower story differently.

Read this book whether you are new to Richard III or not. His character and personality came alive for me. The author challenged me to really think. I love that in a book.

The princes in the Brackenbury Tower photo is pure gold!

My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this mesmerizing book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.

In offering new insights on a person whose life has already been dissected minutely, the author presents an accessible and entertaining account which gives new colour to known facts. The balance between presenting facts and offering analysis was perfect, while the quality of writing was also high. Even if you know all there is to know about this fascinating historical figure, you will get a lot out of this new perspective.

192 pages

4 and 1 / 2 stars

Mr. Trow's genealogy was a little difficult to follow with all the Richards born in a row. I had significant trouble trying to figure out which Richard was who.

Other than that, it was a very interesting book. It was a rehash in some places of stuff I already knew, but for the uninitiated Richard III reader, it would be a treasure. I especially liked the manner in which Mr. Trow sorted out Shakespeare and other writers who set out to show that Richard was a pure villain. They all had their motives.

The author gives an interesting account of the two princes in the tower – and what might have happened to them. It would be exciting to have those bones they found DNA tested to learn if they really are the boys...Trow puts for the theory that since the boys had already been declared illegitimate, Richard had no reason to have them murdered. I must agree with this sentiment.

The book is well written and chronologically set out. It is easily accessible for any reader who would like to learn more about Richard. In this book, Richard is more human, more understandable than in some other works I have read. There are also extensive notes and a bibliography for those who would like to explore Richard's story further.

I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this informative and interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review.