BOOK REVIEW: New life is given to the turbulent Wars of the Roses
THE Wars of the Roses saw countrymen square up against their peers, with personal vendettas marring the medieval code of chivalry. Gallantry died on the battlefield.
The conflict between Lancastrians and Yorkists saw a huge shift in the nature of military campaigns and battles. Nobles became the first to fall, personal animosity was never far from the action, and relentless fighting to the last man became common.
The closing battle of the wars, Bosworth, was a pivotal moment in British history. It saw Richard III become the last British monarch to fall on the battlefield. Henry Tudor, with a dubious claim to the throne at best, took the English Crown for himself and united the warring factions through marriage. But decades of little-known strife and intrigue built up to this moment.
John Sadler breathes life into the turbulent and complicated period, with new book The Red Rose and the White: The Wars of the Roses, 1453-1487. Sadler breaks down the complex events of the Wars of the Roses and its context into an informative and lively narrative. Through Sadler's attention to detail, vivid descriptions and accessible delivery, readers will find pinnacle scenes and decisive moments at their fingertips.
The Red Rose and the White offers an in-depth exploration into the troop movements and military thinking during the wars, while offering an insight into the art of war in the fifteenth century. Sadler discusses battle sites, troop movements and provides an analysis of key commanders and senior figures. He also raises and explores influential issues of the time such as morale, propaganda, disease and betrayal.
The Red Rose and the White will be of interest to all who wish to discover more about the intriguing and complex events of an often forgotten period. Sadler presents a military and political account, which can be enjoyed by both military enthusiasts and the general reader.
Giving a voice to the men fighting on the ground, Sadler's The Red Rose and the White presents a clear and concise portrayal of what it meant to be part of the Wars of the Roses.
John Sadler is an experienced military historian with a particular interest in the High Middle Ages and the Wars of the Roses. He lectures at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, Sunderland University and for many years has acted as a battlefield tour guide in Britain, Europe and North Africa. Sadler has previously published Border Fury with Longman (2005).
* The Red Rose and The White: The Wars of the Roses, 1453-1487 by John Sadler. Published by Longman, Hardback, priced 25.
DARRYL ARMITAGE
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