The King's Grave

September 16, 2013
In September 2012, the remains of England’s Richard III, whose two-year reign marked the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and a long, bloody civil war, were exhumed from under a Leicester car park. Langley, who spearheaded the dig and a related TV documentary, and medieval historian Jones (Bosworth 1485), sought a more nuanced and complex Richard, hoping to quash the caricature of the murderous, hunchbacked psychopath vilified by Tudor propagandists and Shakespeare alike. Richard’s skeleton exhibited severe scoliosis, but the disability didn’t hamper his martial skills in battles that restored his brother Edward IV to the throne in 1471. The skeleton’s wounds likely show that this last English king to die in battle led a courageous and carefully planned cavalry charge at Bosworth against an inexperienced, fearful Henry Tudor luckily saved by mercenary French pikemen. Moreover, the authors argue that Richard was an idealistic king with a keen sense of justice and humor. It is a solid, perceptive work that rights historical injustices, but Langley’s recalling of premonitory goose bumps at Richard’s lost grave and her hiring a graphologist to interpret Richard’s handwriting is off-putting, and her passion devolves at times into cheerleading. Illus.

October 1, 2013
Exciting, engagingly narrated tale of the "search to discover the real Richard III," co-authored by screenwriter Langley and historian Jones (Total War: From Stalingrad to Berlin, 2011, etc.). What would drive Langley to spearhead a quest to dig up a car park in Leicester, searching for the remains of Richard III? The author credits her initial inspiration to Paul Murray Kendall's biography Richard III, which refutes the Shakespearean image of the king. However, it was after reading her co-author's Bosworth 1485: Psychology of a Battle (2002) that she found the story she needed to tell. During her research, she was drawn to a car park across from the supposed site of Richard's grave. A strange sensation, pounding heart, dry mouth and a cold chill convinced her that she was at the correct site. On her second visit, she discovered a newly painted "R" (for a reserved parking spot) in the same spot where she knew the king's grave would be found. The book is woven cleverly with the story of the author's drive for funding, archaeology details and permission requests, alternating with Jones' strong biography of Richard. This much-maligned king reigned only two years, but there was no sign of an evil character in the courageous warrior who was devoted to his father and brother. While no one can defend the death of the two princes in the tower, the authors note that Richard's nephew and grandnephew, his legitimate heirs, each disappeared during the two subsequent reigns. "[W]e put a stop to the stigmatizing and vilification and allow for complexity," write the authors. Compelling throughout, this unlikely story of a three-week dig in an obscure car park is simultaneously informative and enchanting. Langley and Jones include extensive family trees and a helpful timeline. Ricardians rejoice!

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November 1, 2013

Langley, who spearheaded the search for Richard III's grave, and independent historian Jones (Bosworth 1485: Psychology of a Battle) alternate chapters in this volume, with Langley describing the successful expedition to find Richard III's remains and the historian offering a comprehensive yet concise history of Richard's reign. Jones seeks to provide a more nuanced view of the king than Shakespeare's famous depiction of a scheming and murderous ruler. Despite the short turnaround from the successful search for Richard's grave and this publication, the authors present two well-realized and complete narratives, both of which are accessible and fresh. Taken together they form a popular history combining an intriguing mystery, the moving story of Langley's personal journey, and a revisionist portrait of Richard. While using new information, such as from studies made of the discovered remains and details of a psychological interpretation of Richard to show a more intricate representation of the king, is certainly valuable, at times readers may feel that Langley and Jones, both affiliated with the Richard III Society, portray Richard through rose-tinted glasses, always giving him the benefit of the doubt. VERDICT This title will appeal to general readers with any level of interest in or knowledge of the time period or the historical figures within, especially since the subject matter is newly topical owing to the publicity concerning the discovery of Richard's bones.--Ben Neal, Sullivan Cty. P.L., Bristol, TN

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