A Brief History of the Wars of the Roses [Paperback]

Desmond Seward (Author)

Book Description

Series: Brief History Of... | Publication Date: September 7, 2007

During the fifteenth century, England was split in a bloody conflict between the Houses of York and Lancaster over who should claim the crown. The civil wars consumed the whole nation in a series of battles that eventually saw the Tudor dynasty take power. The much admired historian Desmond Seward tells the story of this complex and dangerous period of history through the lives of five men and women who experienced the conflict first hand. In a gripping narrative the personal trials of the principal characters interweave with the major events and personalities of one of the most significant turning points in British history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A brilliant study of the period. Rich in historical detail, yet passionately written, the smell of battle seems to linger on the page.' Yorkshire Post 'It is hard to imagine a historian more in command of his subject... The result is history as compelling as any novel' Independent 'This is a splendidly and vividly written book.' Evening Standard" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Bloody rivalry for the throne of England

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (September 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786720662
• ISBN-13: 978-0786720668
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,438,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Primer, January 23, 2008

By 

E. R. Bridges - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Brief History of the Wars of the Roses (Paperback)

With all the books available offering a comprehensive examination of the Wars of the Roses, it was only a matter of time before a helpful primer was written. This "Brief History" is just that, a sort of "Wars of the Roses for Dummies."

Fortunately, it is lively and well-written, with a pace more like a novel than a history text. By hitting the high points of the period, Seward is able to keep the story moving, without the hundreds of details that would bog down the narrative. This primer achieves its goal of providing the reader with a concise exposition of the main characters, the "whats and the why's".

Those who know the period in detail know that the period makes for a good yarn, and Seward tells it as well as any. Of course, those hundreds of details left out of this book are readily available in lengthier histories of the period. The "Brief History" is just that -- an intelligent and highly readable survey, perfect for those who want to just hit the high points, and an excellent "first book" for those just beginning to learn the period in depth.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing account of several lesser known people during the Wars of the Roses ..., October 25, 2007

By 

JaneConsumer (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Brief History of the Wars of the Roses (Paperback)

While I enjoyed Seward's approach to this topic - he examines the civil strife as it affected the lives of William Hastings, Margaret Beaufort, John Morton, John de Vere and Jane Shore - it's not a book for those without some knowledge of the Wars of the Roses. The transition is often difficult to follow. It's as if the book were edited to reduce the size of the content so that a paragraph may contain a series of pronouns with no obvious name to attach to them.

I also found the citations to information stated as fact to be inconsistent. Some claims were cited; many were not. Although certainly by the sections on Richard III, it was obvious that the majority of his sources were the controversial early chroniclers, such as Sir Thomas More.

Despites these problems, I enjoyed the book. I don't necessarily swallow Seward's interpretation of events, but they do inform about the traditionalist viewpoint. He could have toned down his bias against the Yorkists, but that would have made for very dry reading.

If you have a basic handle on the time period, or if you're a student of Ricardian history, this book adds to the body of literature available because of its focus on the lives of lesser known players.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing, June 25, 2009

By 

K. Buckley "Sid The Dog" (Bloomington, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Brief History of the Wars of the Roses (Paperback)

There is entirely too much repetition here, primarily because the author attempts to track the lives and experiences of far too many people. Seward compounds this serious narrative issue with unwarranted speculation and outright errors. Instead of borrowing so heavily from Barbara Tuchman's structural techniques, Seward would have done well to emulate her research skills.