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The Lost King
- Narrator
- Emma Spurgin Hussey
- Publisher
- John Murray Press
- Publish Date
- 19 July 2018
- Run Time
- 9 hours 1 minute
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
On 22 August 1485, Richard III was killed at Bosworth Field, the last king of England to die in battle. His victorious opponent, Henry Tudor, went on to found one of our most famous ruling dynasties. Fifty years later, the king's grave was lost, its contents believed to be emptied into the river Soar and Richard III's reputation buried under a mound of Tudor propaganda.
Philippa Langley and Michael Jones trace the remarkable story of the search for the lost king, leading to the incredible moment when the 500-year-old mystery was solved as his remains were uncovered beneath a car park in Leicester. Featuring years of research on Richard III's fifteenth-century life and death, this is a compelling portrayal of one of our greatest archaeological discoveries that shines new light on history's most controversial monarch.
(P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Critics Review
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In almost the exact spot where Langley had first become convinced she was standing on top of Richard's grave, a careful flick of a trowel revealed the leg bone of what would turn out to be the remains of the king, complete with the twisted, scoliosis spine so compellingly placed centre stage by Shakespeare. Now the remarkable story of King Richard's life and death - and the amazing journey of the intuitive woman who never gave up believing that she would one day find his body - has been brought together in this fascinating and informative book
Lancashire Evening Post
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A history-making book which I had trouble putting down
Historical Novel Society
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It is being called once of the most significant finds in archaeological history, shedding light on a king's last resting place and solving a 500-year old mystery over his death
Daily Telegraph
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Archaeologists described the find as one of the most significant 'in recent times' and said history books will be rewritten
Daily Mail
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Jones's historical chapters are measured, reasonable and elegantly written
Sunday Times
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[Philippa Langley] has just written a compelling book with historian and friend Michael Jones . . . It is cleverly constructed: in alternate chapters she tells the story of her quest, while Michael details the life of Richard colourfully. It reads like an up-all-night thriller
Mail on Sunday
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This is the year that Richard III rose up from his unmarked grave in a Leicester car park, and this is the book that describes the painstaking quest for the king's body, and the battle that destroyed him. Philippa Langley pursued his remains, Michael Jones pursued his reputation and together they have written a book which explains and defines the battle where he died, the grave that was lost, and the legend that followed him. This book is about an important excavation indeed, of the body from a lost grave, and of a king from a long libel
Philippa Gregory
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The King's Grave . . . reveals the remarkable story of how the remains came to be unearthed. And the result is a compelling portrayal of one of this century's most important archaeological discoveries
BBC History Magazine
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History at its most fascinating
Books Monthly magazine
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[A] page-turner
Current Archaeology
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Langley's invaluable contribution to the investigation is undisputed; she envisioned, facilitated and drove it for years. Her confidential, breathy, diary-style chapters recreate the immediacy of the dig for the reader . . . The Search for Richard III makes for compelling reading
TLS
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Interesting [and] engaging
Daily Express
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The King's Grave tells two remarkable stories in alternating chapters
Wall Street Journal
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Fascinating
Bookseller
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Jones's cogent and nuanced narrative provides the historical ballast to Langley's search
Guardian
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Philippa Langley and Michael Jones
- Narrator
- Emma Spurgin Hussey
- Duration
- 9 hours 1 minute
- Release Date
- 19 July 2018
- ISBN
- 9781473689763
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- John Murray Press
- Genre
- Archaeology by period / region, European history: medieval period, middle ages, European history
Synopsis
The official inside story of the life, death and remarkable discovery of history's most controversial monarch.On 22 August 1485 Richard III was killed at Bosworth Field, the last king of England to die in battle. His victorious opponent, Henry Tudor (the future Henry VII), went on to found one of our most famous ruling dynasties. Richard's body was displayed in undignified fashion for two days in nearby Leicester and then hurriedly buried in the church of the Greyfriars. Fifty years later, at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, the king's grave was lost - its contents believed to be emptied into the river Soar and Richard III's reputation buried under a mound of Tudor propaganda. Its culmination was Shakespeare's compelling portrayal of a deformed and murderous villain, written over a hundred years after Richard's death. Now - in an incredible find - Richard III's remains have been uncovered beneath a car park in Leicester. The King's Grave traces this remarkable journey. In alternate chapters, Philippa Langley, whose years of research and belief that she would find Richard in this exact spot inspired the project, reveals the inside story of the search for the king's grave, and historian Michael Jones tells of Richard's fifteenth-century life and death. The result is a compelling portrayal of one of our greatest archaeological discoveries, allowing a complete re-evaluation of our most controversial monarch - one that discards the distortions of later Tudor histories and puts the man firmly back into the context of his times.(P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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