Ever the object of scrutiny and speculation, Richard III has fascinated royal watchers as far back as the 15th century when he lived and died. Portrayed as a bitter, manipulative hunchback who killed anyone who stood between himself and the throne in the Shakespearean play “Richard III,”the monarch received short shrift in the fictional account of his life. Conversely, members of the Richard III Society have worked hard since 1924 to uncover what they believe to be the truth and dispel many of the rumors that have continued to dog Richard III's legacy centuries after his death. Love him or hate him, he's arguably one of the most intriguing characters to appear on the horizon of England's political landscape.

"Instead of painting Richard III as a villain or a victor, Horspool reviews the facts and provides readers with plausible insights into the personality and life of a fascinating figure of British history."

As mysterious in death as he was in life, Richard III's burial place remained unknown to anyone living until an astounding discovery in Leicester, England in 2012. Thought to have been hastily buried in the choir of Grey Friars church in Leicester without benefit of even a coffin shortly after his death, the monarch's final resting place was located underneath a modern-day parking lot belonging to a local city council. While Richard III may have lost the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, he made one last stand when he received an official burial and reinterment at Leicester Cathedral in March 2015.

One of the possible crimes for which Richard III was most famous was the disappearance, and most likely murder, of his two nephews, the sons of his dead brother, Edward IV, who stood between King Richard and the throne. The story of the princes in the tower and the mystery of what became of them has swirled like an all-consuming fog around Richard III in life and in death. Theories abound, although none have ever been proven.

Another crime that was laid at Richard's feet by some was the death of his wife, Anne Neville. Having become ill shortly after Christmas in 1483, Anne passed away on March 16, 1484. While it may have been from illness, Richard's detractors and opponents put forth the idea that he'd poisoned Queen Anne so he could marry his niece, Elizabeth of York. An eclipse of the sun that occurred on the day of Queen Anne's death was taken by many as an omen that the House of York was destined for doom.

David Horspool examines all aspects of Richard III's life with a view to impartiality and truth as far as it can be discovered centuries after the death of the monarch. Instead of painting Richard III as a villain or a victor, Horspool reviews the facts and provides readers with plausible insights into the personality and life of a fascinating figure of British history. In these pages, we are treated to a complete picture of Richard III beginning with his birth at Fotheringhay Castle to his death in the Battle of Bosworth Field.