The Wars of the Roses - Softcover

Lander, J. R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0750900180 ISBN 13: 9780750900188

Publisher: Sutton Pub Ltd, 1992

Synopsis

The dynastic struggles of the Wars of the Roses have been traditionally portrayed as belonging to one of the most dramatic periods in the history of England, creating an age of murder and melodrama. In his classic history of the wars, charting their origins, progress, conclusion and effects, Professor Lander sets the record straight by putting the wars into their contemporary context, basing his argument both on the written records of the time (many of which are reproduced in the text) and on the results of modern research, and scholarship. What emerges is a balanced view which shows that the wars were, in fact, very limited; while not denying that contemporary English society was disorderly and violent, Professor Lander suggests that this state of affairs was due far less to civil war than to habits of violence among all classes of society, the limited disciplinary powers of central government and the unsatisfactory state of the law of real property.
Totally revised since its first publication and richly illustrated, The Wars of the Roses offers an accurate and accessible overview of events in England during the latter half of the fifteenth century.

About this title

About the Author

J.R. Lander is Professor Emeritus at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, and one of the foremost authorities on fifteenth-century English political history. Among his other publications are Conflict and Stability in Fifteenth Century England, The Limitation of English Monarchy in the Later Middle Ages, Crown and Nobility 1450-1509, Power and Politics 1450-1509 and Government and Community in England 1450-1509.

From Library Journal

Lander's book was originally published in 1965 ( LJ 5/1/66). New pictures have been interspersed throughout the text and the preface has been updated. The Wars of the Roses (c.1450-c.1500) continue to fascinate readers even though professional historians would prefer to abandon the misleading concept. And, in spite of much new scholarship published in the last 25 years, the subject still remains poorly understood. Lander is possibly the foremost expert on late-15th-century England, and his is a narrative history consisting of extracts from contemporary letters and chronicles. For those already familiar with the basic events, this method of presentation adds authenticity and immediacy. Novices may find the approach confusing. They will be better served by starting with Charles Ross's The Wars of the Roses (LJ 6/15/77; 1986. pap.).
- Ronald Fritze, Lamar Univ., Beaumont, Tex.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sutton Pub Ltd
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0750900180
• ISBN 13: 9780750900188
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256