Originally written in 1938. Carleton's prose is a bit dry, yet intricate, and he requires a hefty foreknowledge of characters and events. It took me awhile to get used to his style, but then settled in for a great read. Apparently this book isn't a favorite among Ricardians because Richard is portrayed as guilty of the murder of his nephews. However, he commits the crime because he is sincerely convinced of its necessity. It is a compelling and ambiguous portrait of him with faults and virtues. He is human yet vicious enough to be king and fight for his crown against all obstacles. It is certainly a more interesting rendition of him than many novels where he is portrayed as a paragon of heroic love and chivalric awesomeness.

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