The Betrayal of Richard III ― An Introduction to the Controversy

This fully revised edition of Lamb's classic introduction to the last Plantagenet ruler's lifecoincides with Richard III's reburial in Leicester

In this classic work, the late V.B. Lamb and Peter Hammond survey the life and times of Richard III and examine the contemporary evidence for the events of his reign, tracing the origins of the traditional version of his career as a murderous tyrant and its development since his death. The evident grief of the citizens of York on hearing of the death of Richard III—recording in the Council Minutes that he had been "piteously slane and murdered to the Grete hevynesse of this citie"—is hardly consistent with the view of the archetypal wicked uncle who murdered his nephews, the Princes in the Tower, and there is an extraordinary discrepancy between this monster and the man as he is revealed by contemporary records. An ideal introduction to one of the greatest mysteries of English history, this new edition is revised by Peter Hammond and includes an introduction and notes.

V. B. Lamb was archivist at the College of Arms and librarian to the Sussex Archaeological Society.Peter Hammond is president of the Richard III Society and was research officer of the society for more than 30 years.