Patrick Carleton (1907–1942)

This novel tells the story of the Yorkist dynasty, beginning in 1470 with the Earl of Warwick and George, Duke of Clarence petitioning money to overthrow Edward IV, and ends with Richard III's death at Bosworth. It is told episodically, and while it is always in the third person, the novel focuses on different characters at different times, sometimes shifting to the point of view of the character and sometimes as omniscient author. The episodic technique diminishes the narrative flow somewhat, but the individual episodes are very vivid and sometimes gripping. Despite the title, which alludes to an insulting rhyme about Richard III, he is not always the focus of the book. He only gradually moves to the center of the book as he grows older and more powerful. On the continuum of Traditionalists, who regard Richard III as evil, and Richardians, who regard him as good, this book falls somewhere in the middle, presenting Richard as a basic good human being who sometimes makes bad decisions. The book is none too complimentary to Edward IV, who comes across as someone who mostly wasted his vast potential. Well worth reading for fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in the Yorkists and the Wars of the Roses. There are some very good reviews on Amazon.com.… (meer)