The Wars of the Roses: Military activity and English society, 1452-97

This book presents an overall view of the campaigns, from the first skirmishes of 1452 to the last campaign in 1497, and examines the generalship of the commanders in both camps. Anthony Goodman discusses military organization and assesses the effects of wars on society in general. He shows that in a period of rapid change in European methods of warfare the English were not so old fashioned as had sometimes been supposed. The book makes extensive use of 15th century sources, both English and Continental, including chronicles, civic centres, and letters, and presents a picture of the wars as they were seen and described by contemporaries.