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Yorkist Stories: A collection of short stories about the Wars of the Roses
A collection of short stories about fascinating men and women who found themselves by birth, marriage, or fate on the Yorkist side of the Wars of the Roses.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester muses about his brother, Edward IV. William Stanley contemplates marrying. Francis Lovell celebrates Easter, and others appear in a variety of situations in this collection. Even a ghost or two turn up.
All proceeds of this will go to Médecins Sans Frontieres.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester muses about his brother, Edward IV. William Stanley contemplates marrying. Francis Lovell celebrates Easter, and others appear in a variety of situations in this collection. Even a ghost or two turn up.
All proceeds of this will go to Médecins Sans Frontieres.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2020
10 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Alex Marchant
16 books37 followersBorn and raised in the rolling Surrey downs, and following stints as an archaeologist and in publishing in London and Gloucester, I now live surrounded by moors in King Richard III’s northern heartland, working as a freelance copyeditor, proofreader and, more recently, independent author of books for children aged 10+.
My first novel, Time out of Time (pub. 2021), won the 2012 Chapter One Children’s Book Award, and my second (to be published in May 2025 as Tower of Shadows) was put on the backburner in 2013 at the announcement of the discovery of King Richard’s grave in a car park in Leicester. As a Ricardian since my teens, that momentous announcement prompted me to write about the real Richard III for older children (there being no such book available), and so The Order of the White Boar and its sequel The King’s Man were born.
The Order of the White Boar has been described by the Bulletin of the Richard III Society as ‘a wonderful work of historical fiction for both children and adults’ and The King’s Man as ‘a brilliant, gripping, heart-wrenching sequel’
The third and fourth books in the sequence, King in Waiting and Sons of York take the story of Matthew Wansford and his friends beyond 1485 to explore the legacy of Richard III in terms of the fate of the so-called 'Princes in the Tower'. My standalone timeslip book, Time out of Time, set in the legendary hot summer of 1976, was at last published in June 2021.
I have also edited three anthologies of short stories by a variety of international authors also inspired by King Richard III, Grant Me the Carving of My Name, Right Trusty and Well Beloved... and A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince, all sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).
My first novel, Time out of Time (pub. 2021), won the 2012 Chapter One Children’s Book Award, and my second (to be published in May 2025 as Tower of Shadows) was put on the backburner in 2013 at the announcement of the discovery of King Richard’s grave in a car park in Leicester. As a Ricardian since my teens, that momentous announcement prompted me to write about the real Richard III for older children (there being no such book available), and so The Order of the White Boar and its sequel The King’s Man were born.
The Order of the White Boar has been described by the Bulletin of the Richard III Society as ‘a wonderful work of historical fiction for both children and adults’ and The King’s Man as ‘a brilliant, gripping, heart-wrenching sequel’
The third and fourth books in the sequence, King in Waiting and Sons of York take the story of Matthew Wansford and his friends beyond 1485 to explore the legacy of Richard III in terms of the fate of the so-called 'Princes in the Tower'. My standalone timeslip book, Time out of Time, set in the legendary hot summer of 1976, was at last published in June 2021.
I have also edited three anthologies of short stories by a variety of international authors also inspired by King Richard III, Grant Me the Carving of My Name, Right Trusty and Well Beloved... and A Spirited and Most Courageous Prince, all sold in support of Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 22, 2020
This is an anthology of short fiction inspired by Richard III and other figures who were on the Yorkist or White Rose side in the War of the Roses. Some stories I enjoyed more than others, but the variety and quality were excellent overall.
Naturally enough, Richard is the subject of some stories, but a variety of other historical personages also make appearances, including Francis Lovell, William Stanley, Elizabeth of York, and Richard, Duke of York, among others. One tale creates a memorable picture of a young Margaret of York donning armor outgrown by her brother Edward so she can visit her father’s army camp in Ludlow.
The stories vary in tone as well. We see a reflective Duke of York at the first battle of St. Albans and a disillusioned Richard waiting to meet his brother , Edward IV at Fotheringhay in 1482. Several stories paint poignant vignettes: a merciful guard giving poor Edward of Warwick a precious gift one Christmas; and, a fearful Richard awaiting the birth of his son.
Finally, Jennifer C. Wilson delights with a trip report for those peripatetic royal ghosts, Richard and Anne, whose latest jaunt is to check out the changes their old stomping ground of Middleham has undergone. As an inveterate traveller myself, I can appreciate their need to continue to explore and “see where the world takes us.” Are future journeys in the offing, perhaps accompanied by brother George? I certainly hope so.
Naturally enough, Richard is the subject of some stories, but a variety of other historical personages also make appearances, including Francis Lovell, William Stanley, Elizabeth of York, and Richard, Duke of York, among others. One tale creates a memorable picture of a young Margaret of York donning armor outgrown by her brother Edward so she can visit her father’s army camp in Ludlow.
The stories vary in tone as well. We see a reflective Duke of York at the first battle of St. Albans and a disillusioned Richard waiting to meet his brother , Edward IV at Fotheringhay in 1482. Several stories paint poignant vignettes: a merciful guard giving poor Edward of Warwick a precious gift one Christmas; and, a fearful Richard awaiting the birth of his son.
Finally, Jennifer C. Wilson delights with a trip report for those peripatetic royal ghosts, Richard and Anne, whose latest jaunt is to check out the changes their old stomping ground of Middleham has undergone. As an inveterate traveller myself, I can appreciate their need to continue to explore and “see where the world takes us.” Are future journeys in the offing, perhaps accompanied by brother George? I certainly hope so.
May 16, 2020
This was a surprise as my sister wrote one of the stories ...
Taking me back in time to era where Kings were Kings and were never safe...
Each story is different and a great pleasure to read...
So very worth the time to read...
Taking me back in time to era where Kings were Kings and were never safe...
Each story is different and a great pleasure to read...
So very worth the time to read...
November 20, 2021
Oh dear. I really cannot recommend this. Poor English, poor grammar and, with a couple of exceptions, poor storytelling. I'm glad I made the donation to Medecins sans Frontières, but now I wish I'd just made donation and saved myself the reading of the book. I honestly wouldn't bother, if I were you. This is one of those books that would benefit from being thrown from a fast moving train. Buy something else. Really.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews