The Rose of York:Fall from Grace [Paperback]

The third in Worth's Rose of York trilogy, Fall from Grace addresses the kingship of Richard III, the most challenging and harrowing years of his tumultuous life. The young Richard, married to Anne Neville, takes the throne upon the death of his brother, King Edward, the pivotal figures of his earlier struggles dead by the time of his coronation. Historically, Richard III bears a heavy burden, the possible murder of the princes in the Tower (a threat to the throne), remembered as a devious and ambitious ruler. Worth takes exception to Richard's tattered reputation, portraying him as a thoughtful monarch whose concern for the rule of law lays the groundwork for our modern system of justice. Most notably, Richard heartily believes in the fair resolution of conflict and equality before the law, dealing with his subjects' legal issues with a prescient sophistication that benefits society as a whole.

Richard is not a craven man of self-serving impulses, more often than not forgiving those who challenge his rule. Perhaps the king is too lenient, but it is in his character: "My throne must rest on loyalty, not force." Always sensitive to rumor and innuendo, Richard is pained by the cruel gossip of his adversaries, the seditious questioning of his legitimacy and the constant scheming of Henry Tudor to usurp the crown. When the young princes, Richard's nephews, are taken from the tower and murdered, it is the king who is suspected of the infamous crime, although the truth of the matter has never been satisfactorily solved by historians, remaining a fascinating mystery. Tortured by these constant aspersions on his character, Richard prevails nonetheless, meeting Tudor in battle when unavoidable and tending to the business of state, buoyed by the support of his beloved wife.

The haunting memories of the past, the joys of earlier days, dominate Richard's thoughts, the king ever aware of the loss of those he has loved, especially his brother, Edward and Richard Neville, "the Kingmaker". These men relegated to eternal life, Richard has no choice but to survive, comforted by his wife and young heir, Ned. When life deals its cruelest blow, Richard staggers, barely able to recover: devastated, he rallies, defending his throne with honor and dignity to the end. Whether or not Worth changes the opinion of scholars, the author makes a strong case for a man who set the parameters of justice (innocent until proven guilty; equality before the law), a compassionate and tortured ruler, the last Plantagenet king, maligned by history as villain and murderer, made more human in this incarnation. Luan Gaines/2007.

The novel, (the third and last in The Rose of York trilogy) opens with Richard's coronation and immediately addresses the burden's of kingship and the instability of friendship and loyalty, a devotion that at times was sadly lacking in this man's life who is portrayed to have dedicated so much of his life to that very trait.

Worth tells Richard's story with an evocative prose that squarely crafts a compelling and believable ambiance. The build-up of tension, the rolling of emotions, and a couple of conceivable and well-thought out plot twists, make Fall from Grace a solid and absorbing conclusion to this series.

Worth covers the major markers of Richard's life, his relationships, the strides he made in the laws for the common man, his strong sense of fairness, and of course the princes in the tower and Worth bases much of this on historical text. (The Author's Notes are fantastic.)

The romantic in me, (and there is so little of the romantic in me) was surprisingly moved by the inspired way Worth handled the infamous rumored 'affair' between Richard and his niece, Elizabeth of York. There is so little in Ricardian fiction that catches me unawares, it was truly a terrific and orderly migration.

Altogether, a first rate read.

On a side note of little importance, indisputably, this is one of the most stunning covers, Amazon, doesn't do it justice. It's truly magnificent.

Written by political science and economics expert Sandra Worth, who lectures regularly on the subject of the War of the Roses, The Rose of York: Fall from Grace is the dynamic, award-winning conclusion to Worth's "Rose of York" series of historically accurate novels. Revolving around the tragic figure of King Richard III, The Rose of York: Fall from Grace explores his legacy past the conclusion of the protracted war and into the modern day of Western democracy. Pulsing with intrigue, passion, betrayal, murder, war, and fragile hope, The Rose of York: Fall from Grace is an immersive page-turner and highly recommended.

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