A Guide to the Wars of the Roses (ePub)
Imprint: Pen & Sword History
File Size: 6.8 MB (.epub)
Pages: 224
Illustrations: 30 mono illustrations
ISBN: 9781036120528
Published: 30th January 2025
Other formats available | Price |
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A Guide to the Wars of the Roses Hardback Add to Basket | £20.00 |
So much has been written, and is still being written, about the Wars of the Roses – both in print and on the internet - that the interested student of history is in grave danger of being utterly overwhelmed. The key players in the conflict are very interesting personalities but they have become so distorted by caricature that they now appear as a procession of heroes and villains rather than living, breathing people.
The aim of A Guide to the Wars of the Roses is simple: to help the reader understand what happened and why during the great political upheaval of the fifteenth century. It describes the origins, nature and aftermath of the wars in short, accessible chapters and explains how the period can be divided into three separate, though related, political crises.
In describing the rise of Richard, Duke of York, in the mid-fifteenth century, the Guide traces how his rivalry with Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, ultimately led to the deposition of the hard-pressed, and wholly unsuitable, King Henry VI. It also explains how the accession of a new king from the House of York failed to solve England’s political problems. The triumphant Yorkist faction is examined to chart how the fears and jealousies of its leading figures eventually led to a fatal instability at the heart of government.
By putting the wars firmly in their medieval context, the Guide seeks to strip away the hype of half a millennium to examine objectively the roles and motives of those involved, without seeking either to exonerate, or demonise, any particular individual. While the Guide is intended to be comprehensive, it is also an easy-to-follow manual for a subject which has often been dismissed as ‘too complicated’.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Andrea Romance
This accessible guide explains the origins, key events, and aftermath of the Wars of the Roses. It examines the rivalries and power struggles that led to the deposition of Henry VI and the rise and fall of the House of York, offering a clear perspective on this complex historical period.
This is the best book I’ve read on the Wars of the Roses. Though not particularly long, it’s thorough. It explains the battles without getting into the weeds. It focuses on facts rather than motivations, yet also explores the personalities of the key players in a logical way. I’ve been fascinate by the Wars of the Roses since I was a teenager, and I feel like I finally understand why they happened the way they did.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Amanda Richardson
This is a very a cool guide to all things York and Lancaster. Helps to sort out the characters in the Wars of the Roses, which is one of my favorite historical time periods to learn and read about.
This is a nice introduction to the Wars of the Roses. Written in simple, easy to understand prose, it offers a very good overview of this dynastic struggles that rocked England so many centuries ago. For those who know little about the topic, it will be a fun and informative read.
NetGalley, Rebecca Huang
I found this to be very readable. The author adds in his own humorous asides. It is not a stuffy history but well done. I thought the author did a nice job of cutting through all the mythology and popular “ideas” about this period of English history and the participants. He drills down with the Jack Friday method - “just the facts ma’am”. It was fresh and enlightening.
NetGalley, Joan Hipp
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Randal White
I've been trying to improve myself by reading the history's of different times and regions. I knew very little about this time period, and the "War of the Roses". The author should be given knighthood for the excellent job that he did here! He presented the history clearly, in an interesting manner, and with more than a bit of humor. I honestly could not put this book down, it kept me interested all the way through. I thought the treachery, selfishness, and politics of today was something new, but I know see it was just as bad, if not worse then. At least the politicians of today have not resorted to killing their children, or selling their daughters into a marriage just to gain an advantage (well, at least as far as I know). I'm looking forward to reading more of the history of England/France/Spain/Holland in this time period. I sincerely hope that the author will continue writing in this vein, he's excellent at it!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Lori Schokman
In recent years I decided it was time to learn more about the Wars of the Roses, mostly because it was neglected during my youth. A year or two ago, I read a pretty basic overview on it and understood it better. Mostly it was about dates and the houses of Lancaster and York and who ruled when. Sure, there were some details, but it didn't really delve into in a way that I truly understood.
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses changes it all for me. I started reading a few weeks ago and it was almost like having a chat and learning bits and pieces along the way. The writer makes it very accessible and goes back well before the actual period to look at what happened to create the wars. In fact, I think it wasn't until nine chapters in that we reached the start of the Wars of the Roses. But it was so much richer for having all that background. There were far more issues creating the conflict than normally are discussed and it really felt like these were real people instead of the two-dimensional ones that seem to create much of history. It reminds me of two history teachers from school who really made history alive for me.
I really enjoyed reading this and highly recommend it for anyone wanting to take a deeper dive into this period. It's not at all dry and it brings to life a really chaotic period in English history. I
Anyone who wants a thorough understanding on The War of the Roses needs to read this book! Such an interesting way of presenting all the facts as far as they are known and then putting forth the authors carefully thought out opinions was intriguing. You may not always agree with the authors opinion but it will give you food for thought. Highly recommended.
NetGalley, Christine Cazeneuve
A Guide to the Wars of the Roses is a fantastic resource for readers who want to understand what happened without getting lost in the labyrinth of historical details. It’s perfect for beginners who need a straightforward entry point and equally valuable for seasoned history buffs who want to brush up on the basics. Birks doesn’t just retell history—he makes it understandable without dulling its complexity. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by this bloody chapter of English history, this guide is the perfect companion to help you navigate the battlefield of kings, dukes, and unrelenting ambition.
NetGalley, Chelsea Dugan
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Catherine O’Connor
As someone who loves History, this book was a great read. Reading about the War of the Roses from a different perspective was insightful! There is so much information about this period of history and it was refreshing to read it all in a simplified way, without complicated historical jargon. Highly recommend!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Kara Race-Moore
Birks does a very good job tackling the messy, convoluted Wars of the Roses and breaking them down into understandable parts, digging into both the facts of what happened, who did what, and what the possible motivations were. Birks outlines the factions and battles, making a point to underline the idea that the wars were not an inevitable outcome.
I love how he pushed back against the classist, oft-repeated idea of the Woodvilles being a powerful faction, showing just how individual and power-less the Woodvilles actually were. Birks also works to try and get away from all the bias over Richard III, righty pointing out how tainted most of what we think we know about him, and he works hard here to try and look at just the actions Richard took... it is an excellent guided tour of the thorny wars of the roses.
About Derek Birks
Derek was born in Hampshire in England but spent his teenage years in Auckland, New Zealand, where he still has strong family ties. After gaining an Honours degree in History at Reading University, he taught history for many years in a Berkshire secondary school.
Interested in a wide range of historical themes, Derek began his writing career with the late medieval period and in 2010, he took early retirement to concentrate on writing action-packed historical fiction which is rooted in accurate history.
His debut historical novel, Feud, was the first of a series of eight books and one novella -now entitled The Wars of the Roses - which follows the fortunes of the fictional Elder family. Derek has also written a bestselling trilogy set largely in post-Roman Britain. The Last of The Romans focuses on the real Romano-British character of Ambrosius Aurelianus during the fifth century AD.
Derek’s first foray into non-fiction history came with a very well-received podcast series about the Wars of the Roses and he now co-hosts the Slice of Medieval podcast with historian Sharon Bennett Connolly.
To find out more about his books, or to contact him you can go to his website: www.derekbirks.com