Lancaster Against York: The Wars of the Roses and the Foundation of Modern Britain

by Trevor Royle

In this sweeping history, Trevor Royle details one of the bloodiest episodes in British history. The prize was the crown of England, and the players were the rival houses of Lancaster and York. The dynastic quarrel threatened the collapse of the monarchy as a succession of weak rulers failed to deal with an overzealous aristocracy, plunging England into a series of violent encounters. The bloody battles and political intrigue between the rival heirs of King Edward III brought forth one of the most dynamic ruling families of England - the Tudors.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature, Medieval History, War

368 pages, Hardcover

First published July 22, 2008

About the author

Trevor Royle is a broadcaster and author specialising in the history of war and empire. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was a member of the Scottish Government’s Advisory Panel for Commemorating the First World War.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This paragraph was really in my book. The only thing I added was what is in parenthases. Please read them.
"The fact that he (Obama) had huge personal wealth must also have helped reinforce the idea that as far as finance was concerned, Henry's (Obama's) reign would be a golden age and there would be no repetition of Richard's (Bush's) profligacy and the abuse of the king's personal powers to raise funds. John Gower (the New York Times) thought as much when he wrote his welcoming poem to the new king, and he went further, emphasizing his belief that Henry's (Obama's) claim to the throne came not only from Royal descent (African heritage) but also from the Almighty. However, from an early state in the reign it became clear that Henry (Obama) had an embarrassing lack of experience in administration and good governance. He (Obama) was not short of courage or self-confidence and possessed a willingness to learn, but he (Obama) had no training for the actual business of kingship. As a young man he had traveled extensively in Europe (Indonesia) and had won renown as a soldier (community organizer), but now he had to learn new administrative skills. Not surprisingly, he relied heavily on the support of trusted Lancastrian retainers (democratic-controlled Congress). Although experienced administrators like Sir Hugh Waterton and Sir Thomas Erpingham (Sir Harry Reid and Sir Nancy Pelosi) served him well, any king who leans on his own people to the exclusion of others creates suspicions among those who are outside what appears to be a charmed circle. That being said, in Henry's (Obama's) case his family patronage (African descent) was an astute move, as throughout his reign the support of his Lancastrian retinue (Congress) did much to shore up his position, expecially when he faced the inevitable challenges against his authority (greedy republican congressmen). As Henry (Obama) was soon to discover, it had been one thing to claim and win the throne, but it was quite another to hold on to it. Not only would he face a seemingly never-ending battle with parliament over money, but there would also be far too many occassions when he had to struggle with others (Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton) to retain his own authority. Throughout his reign the threat of a descent into civil war (against the mobbing tea parties) was never far away."
Eerily repetitive of history. I only hope that we learn.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written work about what can be a very confusing period of English history, one in which you truly have difficulty telling the players without a scorecard. References and terms are defined and illustrated, and a comprehensive guide to "Who's Who" is also included. The narrative is always lively; Mr. Royal knows how to tell a complicated story well. An excellent work for anyone interested in The Wars of the Roses, whether new to the subject or already long familiar with its kings, queens, usurpers and tragic figures.

[Alexis Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to find nonfiction that's a pleasure to read. There's a fine line between readable and Alison Weir. I have REALLY enjoyed Trevor Royle's narrative of the War of the Roses. He's no Tuchman, but he has a wonderful touch and I'd recommend this to any casual armchair historian looking for a nice entertaining read.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done history of the period. The author minimizes reader confusion without losing the complexity of the time. Demonstrated a good sense for the available primary documents.

[David Elkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice overview and summary of the Wars. Highly recommended for Game of Thrones fans.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent historical overview of the War of the Roses, which I'd always heard about but didn't know much about, apart from Shakespeare. It held my interest, but the biggest problem with this book was trying to keep all the principals straight. A lot of them are dukes and earls who are all carrying the same titles, and one Earl of Arundel (for instance) might be loyal to one faction, and his successor who's also the Earl of Arundel might be loyal to the other faction. There are some charts of the various nobility in the front of the book, and I referred to them frequently - it's the only reason I managed to avoid getting lost.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent account of the two families but nothing new, and a lot assumed as truth. Like the author, I agree that Richard likely had his nephews murdered, but this is hardly the ONLY possibility - Henry VII had just as much to gain by their deaths. However, Richard probably did it and no amount of ridiculous sobbing about it by Philippa Langley will change that.

There are several other instances of suppositions being presented as fact and while this book was okay, it would take far too much time to address each one. If you do read this one, be sure it is not the only volume you read on these subjects.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Game of Thrones without any feasts, dragons, boiled leather, or long-winded descriptions of same.

A brisk no-nonsense no-footnotes mainstream history.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read. Combines the end of the 100's year war and develops the foundation of the Tudor monarchy.