Overview

On 22 August 1485, Richard III was killed at Bosworth Field, the last king of England to die in battle. His victorious opponent, Henry Tudor (the future Henry VII), went on to found one of our most famous ruling dynasties. Richard's body was displayed in undignified fashion for two days in nearby Leicester and then hurriedly buried in the church of the Greyfriars. Fifty years later, at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, the king's grave was lost--its contents believed to be emptied into the river Soar--and Richard III's reputation buried under a mound of Tudor propaganda. Its culmination was Shakespeare's compelling portrayal of a deformed and murderous villain, written over a hundred years after Richard's death. Now--in an incredible find--Richard III's remains have been uncovered beneath a car park in Leicester. The King's Grave traces this remarkable journey. In alternate chapters, Philippa Langley, whose years of research and belief that she would find Richard in this exact spot inspired the project, reveals the inside story of the search for the king's grave, and historian Michael Jones tells of Richard's fifteenth-century life and death. The result is a compelling portrayal of one of our greatest archaeological discoveries, allowing a complete re-evaluation of our most controversial monarch--one that discards the distortions of later Tudor histories and puts the man firmly back into the context of his times.

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Reviews

"A solid, perceptive work that rights historical injustices.-- ""Publishers Weekly"" ""A solid, perceptive work that rights historical injustices."" -- ""Publishers Weekly"" ""Corrie James narrates in a clear, matter-of-fact manner that enhances the listening experience."" -- ""Library Journal, audio review"" ""James has a cultured--almost delicate--voice and precise diction. She retains the listener's sympathy while conveying Langley's passion for the Plantagenet king, giving us a person who was intuitive, sensitive, energetic, and mystical."" -- ""AudioFile"""

Author Information

Philippa Langley is a screenwriter and producer who inaugurated and led the successful archaeological search to locate King Richard III's grave in Leicester. Her project became the basis for the acclaimed TV documentary The King in the Car Park. Philippa is the secretary of the Scottish branch of the Richard III Society. She lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. Michael Jones, author of Bosworth 1485, is a military historian, battlefield tour-guide, and documentary film presenter. He is coauthor of The Women of the Cousins' War and The King's Grave: The Search for Richard III. He lives in England. Corrie James has worked on both sides of the Atlantic in theater, radio, and audiobooks. She credits growing up listening to the BBC for her love of the spoken word. Her audiobooks include The Companion of Lady Holmeshire by Debra Brown and Remember Me by Trezza Azzopardi. Corrie James has worked on both sides of the Atlantic in theater, radio, and audiobooks. She credits growing up listening to the BBC for her love of the spoken word. Her audiobooks include The Companion of Lady Holmeshire by Debra Brown and Remember Me by Trezza Azzopardi.

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