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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
After a humiliating fall through a trap door, Detective Alan Grant is laid up in the hospital. Bored and stuck on his back, he tries to amuse himself by counting cracks on the ceiling and avoiding the dull books his friends brought him. Thing change, however, when his actress friend, Marta, decides to bring him a collection of historical portraits. Each portrait figure has a mystery attached to their lives. Marta means for Grant to take on one of the mysteries to wile away the time. He quickly discards portraits of Lucrenzia Borgia and Robert Dudley, only to discover one that catches his eye. He reads it as a portrait of a man weighed down by great sadness—a man with the face of a judge and not a criminal. The portrait is that of Richard III.
Grant, fascinated by his read of Richard’s portrait, decides to get more information on the king. He seeks to reconcile his read with what he knows of the king’s history. (To Grant, the man in the portrait doesn’t seem capable of having his two nephews killed.) The more he learns about Richard, however, the more confusing things get. Everything about the man and what people have said about his rule seems contradictory. Marta helps Grant further by introducing him to a young researcher from the British museum. Together, these men comb historical record, hoping to uncover the truth behind Richard’s supposed guilt.
It’s difficult not to fall a little bit in love with the Richard III presented in Daughter of Time. He’s a good man, a good administrator, and a good king, and the reader is easily swept along with Grant in his quest to prove the man innocent. Grant almost becomes a secondary character here, but it is through his eyes that we see Richard III evolve from cold blooded murderer into an honorable king.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a mystery, but it’s different than what you usually find shelved in that section. The detective is stuck in bed for the entire novel, and his investigation is done through books rather than through following blood trails and clues. Still, it is exciting. I found myself not wanting to put it down (a rare occurrence for me). All the characters are likable in their own way and the historical mystery is fascinating.
My primary knowledge of Richard III (as an English major) came from Shakespeare’s play. I didn’t expect it to be historically accurate, but I was surprised to find that Richard was not the hunchbacked, withered armed fiend that he is often presented as (I looked this up afterwards, and it is true he wasn’t deformed). And, regardless as to whether he did have the boys murdered or not, it is good to know that there is controversy in the case. I never knew there was any question as to his guilt. I like that her book made me question those assumptions. If there is a lesson in this novel, it is that history books contain outright lies…so be careful what you believe.
Overall, I found Tey’s novel to be a fascinating romp through history. It makes historical research seem romantic and exciting (a great accomplishment in and of itself), and it is just plain enjoyable. I highly recommend it.
Grant, fascinated by his read of Richard’s portrait, decides to get more information on the king. He seeks to reconcile his read with what he knows of the king’s history. (To Grant, the man in the portrait doesn’t seem capable of having his two nephews killed.) The more he learns about Richard, however, the more confusing things get. Everything about the man and what people have said about his rule seems contradictory. Marta helps Grant further by introducing him to a young researcher from the British museum. Together, these men comb historical record, hoping to uncover the truth behind Richard’s supposed guilt.
It’s difficult not to fall a little bit in love with the Richard III presented in Daughter of Time. He’s a good man, a good administrator, and a good king, and the reader is easily swept along with Grant in his quest to prove the man innocent. Grant almost becomes a secondary character here, but it is through his eyes that we see Richard III evolve from cold blooded murderer into an honorable king.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a mystery, but it’s different than what you usually find shelved in that section. The detective is stuck in bed for the entire novel, and his investigation is done through books rather than through following blood trails and clues. Still, it is exciting. I found myself not wanting to put it down (a rare occurrence for me). All the characters are likable in their own way and the historical mystery is fascinating.
My primary knowledge of Richard III (as an English major) came from Shakespeare’s play. I didn’t expect it to be historically accurate, but I was surprised to find that Richard was not the hunchbacked, withered armed fiend that he is often presented as (I looked this up afterwards, and it is true he wasn’t deformed). And, regardless as to whether he did have the boys murdered or not, it is good to know that there is controversy in the case. I never knew there was any question as to his guilt. I like that her book made me question those assumptions. If there is a lesson in this novel, it is that history books contain outright lies…so be careful what you believe.
Overall, I found Tey’s novel to be a fascinating romp through history. It makes historical research seem romantic and exciting (a great accomplishment in and of itself), and it is just plain enjoyable. I highly recommend it.
The book is classified as a mystery, but I consider it more as a novel about the reconstruction of history from the “loser’s” perspective. Inspector Grant, in a hospital for an injury, becomes interested in Richard III and the never solved disappearance of his two nephews who were heirs to the throne. His research leads to the question of whether Richard or his successor Henry VII, the first Tudor King, was responsible. The book is worth reading, but I found it required a lot of concentration because I am not very knowledgeable about British history during that period. What I do know is from Shakespeare’s play.
Easily Josephine Tey's best book and a wonderful read for anyone with the remotest interest in English history, as Alan Grant tackles the problem of Richard III and the somewhat inconsistent accepted story that he murdered his nephews in the tower of London.
I enjoyed this book. I don’t think I’d ever read it again, but it kept my attention and the mystery was intriguing if complicated (a lot of characters to keep track of!).
The original "Serial"/"Making a murderer".
Reading this book after having watched Games of Thrones makes this book more vivid.
Reading this book after having watched Games of Thrones makes this book more vivid.
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
My partner bought this on a whim after it appeared in a Listener crossword. I read it and had my socks blown off!
This is one of those unique novels that shakes one's concept of what can be done within a genre. I whole-heartedly recommend it to all.
This is one of those unique novels that shakes one's concept of what can be done within a genre. I whole-heartedly recommend it to all.
I FINALLY finished this book. Such a small book and yet it took me 3 whole weeks to read i-
But to think that this whole book was spent in the same hospital bed and yet I felt like I travelled all throughout ancient England. A truly interesting and eye opening book.
But to think that this whole book was spent in the same hospital bed and yet I felt like I travelled all throughout ancient England. A truly interesting and eye opening book.
Using contemporary historical sources to SOLVE CRIME. I don't think I can adequately convey how awesome this book is. Now I, too, will always have a soft spot in my heart for Richard III.