Rating: 
Summary: Did he or didn't he?
Review:
History is full of examples of the scramble to the winning side - especially when the consequences of being on the wrong side are often fatal. When Henry Tudor's troops killed Richard III at the battle of Bosworth Field, it was in no one's interest to align themselves with the Plantagenets. The king was dead, long live the king.
And Richard was a monster, anyway. Wasn't he? The evil uncle. The scheming hunchback who killed his innocent nephews. A vile man who was involved in the murder of the saintly Henry VI. Who was involved in his brother George's unfortunate encounter with the vat of malmsey wine. A villain for the ages.
We have only to reconcile this with other information. He led the vanguard of great armies. Not usual for a crippled crookback. He was entrusted by his brother with the rule of the whole of the north of England. His personal motto was "Loyalty Binds Me".
And when he died, when it was certainly not in their interest to do so, the City of York read into the council minutes: "King Richard late mercifully reigning upon us was thrugh grete treason...piteously slane and murdred to the grete hevynesse of this citie..."
Sharon Penman's The Sunne in Splendour gives us an alternative reading of this history. After all, history is written by the victor. Henry Tudor was the victor and had no love of the previous reign.
Rating:
Summary: Still amazing, years later
Review: This is my all-time favorite book; I re-read it every year. Besides being responsible for me changing my major at university and falling absolutely in love with medieval history, this book is thoroughly entertaining to those who may not have a history passion or even passing knowledge of the time period. Penman is detailed enough to help along readers with little to no knowledge of medieval British history, but enthusiasts will delight in her detail and character development. If you have even a remote interest in history, Richard III, or murder, intrigue and deceit, read this book!!
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Enjoyable
Review: What an awesome work this is.Since Penman's prose is a bit headier than most these days, it may take a while to warm up to her style. But once you do, this novel really sings. Makes you feel as if you knew Richard.
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