A history of the York vs. Lancaster family feud, a very nasty tale of carnage, murder, and madness.
From William Shakespeare’s series of history dramas to George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, the British civil war of 1455 to 1485 has inspired countless writers. Illuminating the history that’s sparked so much fiction, Ed West’s My Kingdom for a Horse describes the bloody war fought for thirty long years between the descendants of King Edward III in a battle for the throne.
Named after the emblems used by the two leading families, the Houses of York and Lancaster, the “War of the Roses” conveys a romantic feeling that probably wasn’t as apparent to those on the battlefield having swords shoved into their eyes. And, for all the lovely heraldry and glamorous costumes of the era, the war saw the complete breakdown of the medieval code of chivalry in which prisoners were spared, which makes it even more suitable for drama. In 1460–61 alone, twelve noblemen were killed in the field and six were beheaded off it, removing a third of the English peerage.
With a blackly comic tone, My Kingdom for a Horse is an ideal introduction for anyone interested in one of history’s most insane wars. Featuring such infamous figures as King Henry VI, whose madness triggered the breakdown, and the wicked Richard III, who murdered his young nephews to take the throne, this entry in Ed West’s A Very, Very Short History of England series is a must for fans of British history.
