Customer Reviews

Three Richards: Richard I, Richard II and Richard III

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For those unfamiliar with the reigns of the Richards, this book provides some useful points of comparison in an accessible way. Those who want to look at any one of the Richards in more detail will need to read other books.

The strength of Saul's book is that while it provides observation and interpretation, it allows the reader leeway to form his or her own views.

While I'm not convinced that the name alone is a strong enough thread to connect these reigns, I enjoyed the way this was done. Recommended for those 'dipping a toe' into this period of history.

Nice book, interesting about Richard I, not so with Richard II or Richard III. I would recomment reading Marlowe's play about Richard II, even Shakespeare and as for Richard III, this author seems to be buying the old myth as Richard III, the wicked uncle. Not for Ricardians.

Nigel Saul's book on the Three Richards is in direct emaulation of the Three Edwards by Michael Prestwich. This book is very important as it brings back many unknown quailites that the Richards brought about in England. On the side, Professor Saul brought to the forefront the correct way of how to be a Medieval King, which is terribly important for people to understand.

Richard I: Richard the Lionheart is the most famous king of England after Henry VIII. But he didn't care for England as Saul says, for he was very much interested in French affairs. Aquaitaine was his kingdom, and he loved it. England was nothing to him. In despite of all that, Richard did succeed in one great value for a medieval king: creating a legend that inspires historians to this day. Richard was a great warrior-king and a brillant general, who went on crusade and defeated Frsnce. In that sense, he was a success

Richard II: This Richard was a failure as king. Sure, he glorified England into a great culture on the European stage, but as a war leader (which he had to be at that time) and a poltician, he was hopeless. Richard was only ten when he came to the throne, so we can pity him for that, but when he was old enough to rule, he prefered to disign cloths, have great jewelry made, and invent the handkerchief. Richard was brave; The Peasants Revolt saw that. But in the long run he ruined his country militarily and destroyed an successful idea, for the time, of the English king gaining back his great possestions in France.

Richard III: This Richard is by far the most maligned king. He has the dark reputation for murdering his nephews and taking their crown. But he was also a very good soldier and judge and his reforms of the law were very longlasting. He was brave as shown ast Bosworth and he was very cabable in other areas. If the Princes in the Tower had not stung him so bad, Richard would be well remembered today.

This book was a great read for me. It was a nice story of power poltices in medieval England.