Secret history: The truth about Richard III and the Princes

by John C. Dening

192 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Pernille Timm]

Exceptionel interesting!!

[Hortense Eve Lefevre]

I am a sceptic, as this is a book about a medium contacting Richard III. The 'spirit' who is communicating with the medium is kind of how I would imagine Richard III to be. But I won't leave any spoilers. But this was gripping nonetheless, and the revelations were mostly plausible. The second part of the book puts forward the theory that Edward IV was poisoned, and that bit was the most intriguing of all, and makes you look twice at certain key members of the Woodville family.

I recommend this short book as a bit of light, entertaining reading. Even if you don't believe, it is fun.

[Loreley Maidana]

I read this book in 1 sitting
I’m a Ricardian
I strongly believe in the afterlife (after losing many family members I read lots on the matter)
And i found the book fascinating especially thinking this book was published before the remains of Richard were found so there are mentions of his grave being lost.
Without spoiling I found some details fascinating like the Bishop Richard and Edward mention several times (people like me obsessed with the period, we kind of knew of him but it’s reassuring) the comment about Henry VI death made sense to me but the most spooky revealing thing for me is Richard confirming how he was killed which marches the findings in 2012.
I also loved the stories about sightings of them by total strangers at York and Middleham - I enjoyed it very much.

[Radar Mike]

As i read the book i was skeptical but it did resonate and changed my image of richard as this strong perfect king who was in total control to young richard who was controlled by the immense authority and corrupt church at that time, that there was so much betraayal and backstabbing , he and his family had to survive and yet he ended up placing his trust in the wrong hands. The church that never had his best interest
even when they were deceiving him appearing to be on his side.

I read the part where he talks about his death at bosworth. He says that as he and few of his army was
regrouping to fightback , he was hit at the back of his head by some one who he thought was loyal to him.
The attack or death blow did not come from front but from back. That surprised him but his death was quick and painless.
this book was written in 1992.

In 2012 they dug out his skeletal remains and the skull showed a big chunk missing at the back , showing he received the death blow from the back from someone with a weapon like helberd.

In 2015 An author named Susan did extensive research and found out that a person named Rhys Alp Thomas swore loyalty to richard iii few weeks before the battle of bosworth and then while in the battle delivered the death blow from behind , he killed richard by attacking from behind.
This totally matches with what the medium received from richard iii. Death blow from behind by someone he thought was loyal to him.

Another thing that I noticed that the Author couldn't figure out who the Bishop was.
I am surprised that inspite of Edward IV & Richard III spirits telling the Author that Edward made the Bishop a cardinal after he became king and the said Bishop was right in the middle of all the events that were involving princes in the Tower, the author could not connect the dots as to who was that Bishop.
Author kept asking for a name and mentioning John Morton but John Morton was not made cardinal by Edward iv. The Bishop in heart of this matter is Thomas Bourcheir. Everything the spirits point to make him seem to be the real culprit behind the murder of the princes .The very man who convinced Elizabeth to handover her second son from the Sanctuary.
He was negotiating between Richard , Elizabeth along with Buckingham.
He coronation Henry Vii and died in 1486.
Strange that the Author couldn't connect the dots here.

[Andrea Willers]

I have a sceptical nature and I have had an interest in spiritualism and I believe Bryan Gibson is a well thought off medium in the spiritualist movement. The only thing that disappointment's about this book is it dodges the issue about what happened about the princes in the tower. I was left in the air about it all with it's vagueness. If they really had got Richard though I am sure he would of defended himself a little better than that. It is interesting way of finding out about history, but I could not take this book as gospel. I was left with just about much of much a mystery as before I read that book. I did find Edward IV death rather interesting which it was revealed that he was poisoned. This is a theory that I have strongly supported. I have had some rather interesting readings at my local Spiritualist Church. I have never had Richard though but I kept on getting my mother though which was strange as my mother is still alive. I one of the mediums what was my mothers name and the medium told me that her name was Cicely. That's the name of Richard's mother and Cicely said that Edward had been poisoned. I have had her come though in a few readings.