Richard III

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P.W. Hammond and Anne F. Sutton

Richard of Gloucester became King of England as Richard III in June 1483. His reign lasted a mere twenty-six months, and he was only thirty-three years of age when he was killed at the Battle of Bosworth. Despite this short career he is one of the best known of English monarchs, and one of the most vilified. He has been accused of a number of atrocious crimes, including the murder of his brother and his wife as well as political rivals, culminating in the murder of his nephews, the "Princes in the Tower". This book tells the story of his life in a way that has never been told before -- from the personal and official documents written during his lifetime. - Jacket flap.

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Philip J. Potter

"This biographical history tells the story of 30 Gothic monarchs who fought in the crusades, enforced their feudal rights throughout the kingdom, sponsored the growth of representative government through the parliament, and ultimately created a military power that would dominate European affairs"--Provided by publisher.

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Robert B. Shoemaker

"By 1700 London was the largest city in the world, with over 500,000 inhabitants. Very weakly policed, its streets saw regular outbreaks of rioting by a mob easily stirred by economic grievances, politics or religion. If the mob vented its anger more often on property than people, eighteenth-century Londoners frequently came to blows over personal disputes. In a society where men and women were quick to defend their honour, slanging matches easily turned to fisticuffs and slights on honour were avenged in duels. In this world, where the detection and prosecution of crime was the part of the business of the citizen, punishment, whether by the pillory, whipping at a cart's tail or hanging at Tyburn, was public and endorsed by crowds. The London Mob: Violence and Disorder in Eighteenth-Century England draws a fascinating portrait of the public life of the modern world's first great city."--Bloomsbury Publishing.

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David Loades

"'Henry VIII' focuses on the fluctuating, often fraught relationship between the king and his court, his Church and his people -- and with the other powers of continental Europe, relations with whom were thrown into turmoil by Henry's successive marriages. It explores Henry's policies and strategies and his manipulation of key players such as Wolsey, Cromwell, Fisher and More, as well as the shaping of his royal image over decades of change. It also probes the intriguing nature of the man behind the monarch, especially his complex religious beliefs that determined the shape of England's reformation. David Loades, an authoritative historian of Tudor England, begins by explaining how historians have treated Henry and the expectations contemporaries had of the Renaissance prince who ascended the throne. He describes the ensuing reign in detail, taking in the wars, law enforcement, the succession question, the court, the rebellions and the problem of Ireland, illustrating the narrative with original National Archives documents and full colour portraits of those involved.The author concludes by considering the ambiguous but still tangible legacy that this most high-profile of monarchs has left us."--Bloomsbury Publishing.