The King’s Grave: The Discovery of Richard III’s Lost Burial Place and the Clues It Holds by Philippa Langley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
England’s cruelest king? Just about everyone has heard of the “two princes in the tower”. And, most people know it was evil uncle Richard who sent them there. And, to be honest that’s about all knew either — until now.
The book mixes the discover of Richard’s bones with a look at the history of and surrounding the king.
It’s a quick and interesting read. And, we get an accessible look at excavating and archeology. As an American interested in the topic, it never ceases to amaze me what is hiding just under our feet-particularly in Europe. Of course we have digs of native Americans in the US. But finding a king in a car park is just wild!
Readers are treated to the role science plays in teasing out history. And, we are treated to an understanding of the physical challenges facing Richard.
As for resurrecting Richard’s reputation, I am not sure the book fits the bill. The author is clearly pro-Richard, but she does a nice job of still presenting the facts.
I did find a few parts about the project to be filler and or an ego trip. So I simply skimmed them.
All in all, a fun read.
The Booky Mom 