The Brothers York: A Royal Tragedy

Medieval historian Penn (Winter King) delivers a panoramic chronicle of the rise and fall of the House of York in 15th-century England. From the dubious enthronement of Edward IV in 1461 to the killing of his younger brother, Richard III, by Henry Tudor’s forces in 1485, Penn recreates the jousting tournaments, battlefield clashes, and ever-shifting political alliances of the era, adding texture and color to the historical record. Though the York brothers—magnetic Edward, who crushed the rival house of Lancaster at the Battle of Towton; treasonous George, “[a] simmering stew of self-entitlement and personal inadequacy,” who was executed on his older brother’s orders; and cunning Richard, who quietly accreted power in the background before sending his nephews to the Tower of London and seizing the throne following Edward’s death in 1483—take center stage, Penn also draws distinctive portraits of their allies and rivals, including “ruthless” Richard Neville, earl of Warwick; Henry VI’s indefatigable wife, Margaret of Anjou; and French monarch Louis XI. Though a bit baggy, this rigorous and richly detailed account breathes new life into the Wars of the Roses. Medieval history buffs and fans of Shakespeare’s Richard III will be rewarded. Agent: Anna Stein, ICM Partners. (June)