richard iii is found!

Also, forgot to put this in last entry:

Richard III found under parking lot.

I'll be completely honest; I had tears in my eyes reading that he's been found. Richard III is my number one historical crush, with Caesar and Elizabeth I taking second and third (I have like, forty of these, but they're mostly unnumbered, but these three are the loves of my life, okay?).

For all your woobie Richard III professional novel needs:
The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman - this is one of my buy-in-all-formats books. I have bought it twice in paperback and once in ebook for my Kindle. This is the epic story of Richard III, who is the bestest brother, husband, and father ever, and everyone who hates him is just like, stupid, okay? Stupid.

I have many varied feelings on Richard. All of them are about how everyone else sucks.

Dear Henry Tudor (and Stanley, you fucker),

Suck it.

love,
seperis

Comments

[malnpudl]

Thanks for the book rec. That looks like a grand read.

[seperis]

It's huge, and every time I read it, I think I'll just read like, one part? And end up reading all of it and wondering where the time went. She works with a huge tapestry.

I hope you enjoy!

[raincitygirl]

I have just downloaded The Sunne in Splendour from iTunes based on your rec.

I would add to your rec both The Daughter of Time and also The Murders of Richard III. Both very well worth reading.

[seperis]

Ooooh, looking now! Thank you!

[raincitygirl]

The Daughter of Time is (deservedly) one of the Ricardian classics. The Murders of Richard III is a bit more tangential. It's an Elizabeth Peters mystery set at a Ricardian house party. i.e. the guests are all devoted Ricardians. It's a bit in-jokey at times, but if you've read any Ricardian stuff, you'll already be in on the jokes.

Those two books between them convinced me to do my special Grade 8 project all about how Richard III was framed. My teacher was...confused.

[dine]

this whole discovery has made my Ricardian heart so gleesome; have you seen the forensic reconstruction they did from the skull? the artist worked solely from the bones, and finished it looks a *lot* like known portraits. I enjoyed all of Penman's works, but The Sunne in Splendour is my absolute fave, and I have to second the recommendation for The Murders of Richard III; I'm pretty sure at some point I also read The Daughter of Time but can't recall most of it - clearly, I must reread!

*waves Ricardian flag*

[rydra_wong]

Can I add The Dragon Waiting by John M. Ford to the recs? (Link goes to my non-spoilery READ THIS BOOK NOW post.)

It's a brilliant, brillant alt-history. Richard's a major character (not one of the four leads, but of central importance), the plot culminates at Bosworth Field, and one of the many layers of the book is an intricate AU dance round the historiographical controversies about Richard (something very bad happens to Dominic Mancini ...). And I love Ford's characterization of Richard fiercely.

Also, here's the University of Leicester's website about the investigation, if you want to go right to the source for details:

http://www.le.ac.uk/richardiii/index.html

[ladyvyola]

Oh, seconding The Daughter of Time rec!

Not only is it a wonderful disection of how history is written by the winners (we hates Henry VII, yes we do, precious!) and the virtues of good research and primary sources but it is just a joy to read -- Tey's prose is clear and fluid.

I also feel that if someone can read it and not become a passionate Ricardian, they are not to be trusted.

Just saying.

[pensnest]

I third it! I have The Daughter of Time as an audio book, and have listened to it with great enjoyment while I knit.

My A-Level History course began with the Tudors, and I never liked Henry Tudor. Nasty, mean-spirited man, a much better candidate for Princes-in-the-Tower-Murderer than Richard.

[drlense]

I have to comment and I'm going to be THAT person, which is terrible, please forgive me in advance.

Tey's novel is definitely well written, but as a historian of the time period I found it incredibly insulting. I appreciate that her characters do research, but they way Grant so quickly and easily discards sources and evidence that don't fit his hypothesis is the exact opposite of what a trained historian should do. That Grant's entire hypothesis is based around what he thinks Richard III could or could not do based on his portrait is mind boggling.

I am endlessly sorry about this!! I have been biting my tongue for DAYS and I just... couldn't anymore. Please forgive me- I disagree as respectfully as I possibly can.

[ciaan]

On the other hand, if you read Tey's other novels, especially about Grant, well, that's her style as an author and that is exactly how he as a character works. He's not a trained historian; he's a detective famous for his intuitive "flair" and both Tey as a novelist and Grant as a person and an inspector have an obsession with facial features revealing personality. While that novel was my first introduction to the idea that Richard III didn't do it, it's not actually trying to be a work of historical scholarship, it's trying to be a mystery novel, and it does quite clearly show the quirks of both character and author. Obviously I disagree with the facial thing in real life but it's one of Tey's main stylistic narrative themes.

[brekke]

Ah, another one. My first trip out of the country 20-some years ago was essentially a "tour" of Penman sites - from Norther Wales where I founf Llewellyn's castle and his sarcophagus in a nearby church, to Anglesley (found his wife's sarcophagus) to Evesham where I begged the museum with a Simon de Montfort "room" to stay open just a little bit longer as we got there right as they were closing.... (they did!). Didn't quite make it up to Bosworth field due to time issues which I've always regretted. But ohg what a glorious trip it was through Plantagenet history!

I wholeheartedly agree - how could *anyone* read Sunne in Splendor and NOT be a RIII supporter - and boo and hiss every time a Tudor is mentioned!

[druidspell]

I shared the link to the Richard III find on my Facebook wall specifically for my mom's benefit, because I'm pretty sure she's written The Sunne in Splendour fanfic. She's a huge Richard III fan

Richard III in fiction

[dorothy1901]

There's a whole list of Ricardian stuff here: Cultural depictions of Richard III of England. I recommend the Jonny Quest comic, if you can find it.

[pudacat]

20+ years ago, while bored at work, (I cleaned offices after closing,so no one was aroundto yell at me for reading on the job) I read a ridiculous personal ad in the paper. (Remember them, children?) It was 2 women looking for others who believed Richard had been maligned by Shakespeare to curry favor with the Tudors. Theyb were looking to set up a group of like-minded people. I laughed, then researched. I've been an ardent Richard fan since. I'm thrilled he's been found.

Hi Ricardian ladies!

[redcyan]

Just thought I'd say hi as i adore him too; and how lovely he was to his family and the county, with a dishy face to boot!