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Treason
Treachery in Love and War in the Struggle for the English Crown From the time he sees his parents brutally slain and his home destroyed in a bloody Lancastrian power struggle for the crown, young Martin Robsart's life becomes entwined with that of England's royal Plantagenet family. Through the turbulence of civil war, Martin serves his cousins -- Yorkist kings Edward IV and Richard III -- and learns the cost of loyalty and love in battlefields and bedchambers in a time when life is cheap and treachery hides behind a smile. Through Martin's eyes, Meredith Whitford's superbly researched and richly woven novel shows Shakespeare's conniving and perverse Richard III in a realistic new light - as a patriot and a lover. Never before has perceived history taken such a surprising turn as Whitford corrects the Shakespearean myth and crowns a new hero, bringing back to life the passion and heat of a breathless historical moment that shaped the world - a moment we know as the War of the Roses .a time of thorns and treason.
432 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2004
68 people are currently reading
1636 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Whitford
6 books26 followersMeredith Whitford lives in South Australia. She has a BA from the University of Adelaide and a Master's degree in Creative Writing from Flinders University. Her four published books are TREASON, fiction about Richard III; SHAKESPEARE'S WILL (also fiction,about WS's marriage) and MISSING CHRISTINA, a novel which draws on her experiences as an adopted child and includes a South Australian mystery, and the biography CHURCHIILL'S REBELS: JESSICA MITFORD & ESMOND ROMILLY. She won readers awards for TREASON and the biography. She has just finished another historical novel and is working on a family biography. She is a freelance editor, and as director of Between Us Manuscript Assessment Service has worked on several prize-winning books. Her interests are reading, history, and sleeping.
http://meredithwh.wixsite.com/home
www.betweenusmanuscripts.com .
She can be contacted at meredithwh@yahoo.com
http://meredithwh.wixsite.com/home
www.betweenusmanuscripts.com .
She can be contacted at meredithwh@yahoo.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 6, 2016
A fascinating look at the life of Richard III and The War of The Roses. The book details the life of Edward IV and Richard III as told from the point of view of their fictional cousin, Martin Robsart, who joins Richard's family after his family is killed during conflicts between the Lancasters and The Yorks. While I don't normally care for stories told in the first person, it worked in this book as it placed the reader intimately in Richard's life, starting at age eight until the final decisive battle at Bosworth Field. I thoroughly enjoyed Martin's dry wit and his take on some of the people in Richard's life were quite funny at times -- especially those Woodvilles!
This was a very entertaining and fast paced read and contains a lot of rich period details, and the battle scenes were kept to a minimum, which was a refreshing change for this reader. My only quibbles are that the dialogue seems a bit too modern at times (the use of the "f" word really jarred me -- was it really used and in such plentiful quantities back then?).
All in all a very good read, and although it's not quite up to the perfection of Sharon Kay Penman's Sunne in Splendour, it's still a pretty darn good book and a must for anyone interested in knowing more about this much maligned monarch, or for those Ricardians already out there. I'm going to knock off half a star due to the minor discrepancies noted above and give this one a solid 4.5 stars.
As a side note, for those Ricardians out there check out Brian Wainwright's hysterical send up of this period, The Adventures Of Alianore Audley. Mel Brooks couldn't have done better!
This was a very entertaining and fast paced read and contains a lot of rich period details, and the battle scenes were kept to a minimum, which was a refreshing change for this reader. My only quibbles are that the dialogue seems a bit too modern at times (the use of the "f" word really jarred me -- was it really used and in such plentiful quantities back then?).
All in all a very good read, and although it's not quite up to the perfection of Sharon Kay Penman's Sunne in Splendour, it's still a pretty darn good book and a must for anyone interested in knowing more about this much maligned monarch, or for those Ricardians already out there. I'm going to knock off half a star due to the minor discrepancies noted above and give this one a solid 4.5 stars.
As a side note, for those Ricardians out there check out Brian Wainwright's hysterical send up of this period, The Adventures Of Alianore Audley. Mel Brooks couldn't have done better!
April 20, 2008
Gosh, I enjoyed this - well as much as I ever enjoy any Richard III book. And I've read a lot of them. The trouble is that I know how the story must end, and it's not good.
This author used a fictional "best friend" of Richard as the narrator, an device that worked very well I think. She also painted one of the most human and believable portraits of Richard right through his life that I've read. He wasn't prudish as some books make him, nor was he saintly. He was certainly not a sinister, plotting Machiavellian monster - most works of fiction portraying him as such these days pass themselves off as non-fiction *cough Alison Weir cough*
This is an ideal first R3 book for anyone curious about the revisionist view of this slice of history. Highly recommended.
This author used a fictional "best friend" of Richard as the narrator, an device that worked very well I think. She also painted one of the most human and believable portraits of Richard right through his life that I've read. He wasn't prudish as some books make him, nor was he saintly. He was certainly not a sinister, plotting Machiavellian monster - most works of fiction portraying him as such these days pass themselves off as non-fiction *cough Alison Weir cough*
This is an ideal first R3 book for anyone curious about the revisionist view of this slice of history. Highly recommended.
August 8, 2016
The novel has a slow start, but towards the middle it does improve considerably. Its plot, which covers from the time Edward of York takes his father and brother Edmund's places as Yorkist leader after they're killed by Lancastrians at Wakefield up to the Battle of Bosworth and his brother Richard's death, is told from the standpoint of a fictional cousin of the Yorks, Martin, Lord Robsart, and is written in a very modern language that can be jarring to some readers, though it's easy to get used to it.
I ended up liking Martin a fair bit, and Dickon on the whole is portrayed as quite likable as well, but other than that, I didn't find this more than acceptable as a historical novel, and I definitely didn't agree with the solution the author proposes for the Princes in the Tower controversy. As a positive counter, Martin is truly hilarious at times when he's mentally upbraiding people round him, and his adventures are mostly enjoyable.
Overall, a good and fair novelisation of Richard III's life, but not much more than three and a half stars worth in rating.
I ended up liking Martin a fair bit, and Dickon on the whole is portrayed as quite likable as well, but other than that, I didn't find this more than acceptable as a historical novel, and I definitely didn't agree with the solution the author proposes for the Princes in the Tower controversy. As a positive counter, Martin is truly hilarious at times when he's mentally upbraiding people round him, and his adventures are mostly enjoyable.
Overall, a good and fair novelisation of Richard III's life, but not much more than three and a half stars worth in rating.
August 5, 2020
3.5 rating that I bumped up to 4 stars. The first half struck me as a YA novel which is not criticism just not what I was expecting. In my opinion the last half was more compelling as we are finally immersed in the "meaty" part of The War of the Roses. Treachery, Murder, and Treason! I think this would be a good book to read for those who aren't familiar with the end of the Plantagenent reign. I liked the author's notes. She gives her insight into the history and also goes into more detail on the later lives of the historical characters. Let's just say most do not have a "happy ending". If after reading this you develop a fascination with the history of the earlier Plantagenets, The War of the Roses and Richard III, I highly recommend reading the historical fiction novels by Sharon Kay Penman. Her novel The Sunne in Splendour is VERY long and is my favorite book detailing the life of Richard III.
July 14, 2012
I enjoy reading historical fiction set in this time period and have a particular affinity for fiction about Edward IV, Richard III and the princes in the tower. Their stories are fascinating, with secrets, lies, cover ups, sacrifices, romance, heartbreak and mystery, they have everything except a happy ending.
I've read quite a few novels set during The War of the Roses, so I'm reasonably familiar with the historical figures. Though sometimes my aging mind needs a little help remembering what it once knew. To assist me in that regard I have a handy-dandy family tree of the Plantagenets including the Houses of York and Lancaster that I refer to when reading about this period. Meredith Whitford includes a list of characters with descriptions of how they are related but I think the inclusion of a family tree would have been a nice additional reference.
The fictional Martin Robsart, cousin and beloved friend of Richard Plantagenet, looks back on the period known as The War of the Roses sharing his recollections with the wisdom of hindsight, a wry sense of humor and a sometimes crass way with words. Whitford sets a tone of camaraderie between men with a kindness and affection that I haven't often seen in real life. The beginning of the story has a lively and amusing tone where Martin describes his youthful exploits. When he recalls events later in life his tone is more serious as the situation Richard finds himself in becomes more complicated. I liked Whitford's treatment of the princes in the tower and though I'm not necessarily qualified to have an opinion (that never stopped me before) I agree with her view on what happened to them.
This is fiction that takes you back in time and makes historical events come alive. I wish I had discovered this kind of fiction when I was young, it would have saved a lot of years of my thinking that history was dull.
I've read quite a few novels set during The War of the Roses, so I'm reasonably familiar with the historical figures. Though sometimes my aging mind needs a little help remembering what it once knew. To assist me in that regard I have a handy-dandy family tree of the Plantagenets including the Houses of York and Lancaster that I refer to when reading about this period. Meredith Whitford includes a list of characters with descriptions of how they are related but I think the inclusion of a family tree would have been a nice additional reference.
The fictional Martin Robsart, cousin and beloved friend of Richard Plantagenet, looks back on the period known as The War of the Roses sharing his recollections with the wisdom of hindsight, a wry sense of humor and a sometimes crass way with words. Whitford sets a tone of camaraderie between men with a kindness and affection that I haven't often seen in real life. The beginning of the story has a lively and amusing tone where Martin describes his youthful exploits. When he recalls events later in life his tone is more serious as the situation Richard finds himself in becomes more complicated. I liked Whitford's treatment of the princes in the tower and though I'm not necessarily qualified to have an opinion (that never stopped me before) I agree with her view on what happened to them.
This is fiction that takes you back in time and makes historical events come alive. I wish I had discovered this kind of fiction when I was young, it would have saved a lot of years of my thinking that history was dull.
December 1, 2025
I just re-read this book and find I like it more the second time around. The central figures are fictional characters: Martin, Richard’s best friend, and his wife Innogen. Innogen is also the mother of Richard's illegitimate son John--so with this little ménage à trois twist, how could these characters and their relationship to Richard not be somewhat interesting? Martin is an orphan and after the death of his Yorkist parents, he seeks out the new young Duke of York, Edward, for help. Martin, thus, is at Richard’s side from eight years old to the latter’s death in battle and Martin gives us a perceptive look at the important people in Richard’s life: Anne, Warwick, George, and Edward.
There is a rather compelling depiction of the decline of Edward IV from the young, golden warrior whom Richard and Martin idolize to a lazy and degenerate King.
What impressed me the second time around is that, in contrast to a lot of other fictional accounts of Richard's life, it tells his story with dramatic action and not just a recitation of facts. in doing so, it creates some memorable images: during pursuit of the Lancastrian army before Tewkesbury the king of England with a wet handkerchief tied around his head; George bragging about his children like any other father; four handkerchieves (from Richard, Francis, Rob, and Martin) instantly appear to dry Anne's tears when she is brought in after Tewkesbury. One of the most effective chapters deals with the invasion of France in 1475. Prior to their departure, Innogen makes a wager with Richard that Edward will make peace the first chance he gets for a price. She wins a diamond necklace from Richard but Richard makes one of the most cogent arguments against the peace that I have read in a fiction book while presenting it in an entertaining manner.
The character of Innogen was too much a 21st Century woman, but overall the book told Richard’s story with humor, irony, and insight—and above all in an entertaining manner.
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There is a rather compelling depiction of the decline of Edward IV from the young, golden warrior whom Richard and Martin idolize to a lazy and degenerate King.
What impressed me the second time around is that, in contrast to a lot of other fictional accounts of Richard's life, it tells his story with dramatic action and not just a recitation of facts. in doing so, it creates some memorable images: during pursuit of the Lancastrian army before Tewkesbury the king of England with a wet handkerchief tied around his head; George bragging about his children like any other father; four handkerchieves (from Richard, Francis, Rob, and Martin) instantly appear to dry Anne's tears when she is brought in after Tewkesbury. One of the most effective chapters deals with the invasion of France in 1475. Prior to their departure, Innogen makes a wager with Richard that Edward will make peace the first chance he gets for a price. She wins a diamond necklace from Richard but Richard makes one of the most cogent arguments against the peace that I have read in a fiction book while presenting it in an entertaining manner.
The character of Innogen was too much a 21st Century woman, but overall the book told Richard’s story with humor, irony, and insight—and above all in an entertaining manner.
.
May 13, 2021
This book is a novel about Richard III from the view of his ficitional cousin called Martin.
Being honest I don't like to read fictional characters in this type of novels I found them unnecessary and the same way I dislike the first person telling, well this book has both things and somehow it works perfectly, apart from the fictional character the book is historical accurate, well researched and enjoyable.
Martin is a fictional cousin of the York family, he lost his family thanks to the Lancaster Army so he goes to live with Duchess Cecil and he ended being the best friend of his cousin Richard III since they are children, together they will face the good and bad of the war of two roses, their life as teens is extremely funny and that's something that I loved, isn't easy to find an historical novel with a good touch of humor like this, Martin is a man of his time and very likable, he met his wife when she is mistress of Richard actually she is the mother of Jhon of Gloucester but there is nothing exageratte, just an interesting touch of jealousy and drama to the plot.
Martin will be with Richard through the battles and he will be part of his success when they go to live in the north, and of course when Richard become king so he will allow us to see what we need to understand the events, there are very funny scenes like when Anne found Richard with Martin's wife and their son I almost cry of fun, despite the fact that the first person telling doesn't show us how are Richard's feelings or thoughts those are clear thanks to the well written that is this book.
The book is ricardian but finds a nice balance to his character, the same way other characters are well done, I liked how is explained the fall of Edward IV, the part that Elizabeth Woodwille played and in general is a great book .
Being honest I don't like to read fictional characters in this type of novels I found them unnecessary and the same way I dislike the first person telling, well this book has both things and somehow it works perfectly, apart from the fictional character the book is historical accurate, well researched and enjoyable.
Martin is a fictional cousin of the York family, he lost his family thanks to the Lancaster Army so he goes to live with Duchess Cecil and he ended being the best friend of his cousin Richard III since they are children, together they will face the good and bad of the war of two roses, their life as teens is extremely funny and that's something that I loved, isn't easy to find an historical novel with a good touch of humor like this, Martin is a man of his time and very likable, he met his wife when she is mistress of Richard actually she is the mother of Jhon of Gloucester but there is nothing exageratte, just an interesting touch of jealousy and drama to the plot.
Martin will be with Richard through the battles and he will be part of his success when they go to live in the north, and of course when Richard become king so he will allow us to see what we need to understand the events, there are very funny scenes like when Anne found Richard with Martin's wife and their son I almost cry of fun, despite the fact that the first person telling doesn't show us how are Richard's feelings or thoughts those are clear thanks to the well written that is this book.
The book is ricardian but finds a nice balance to his character, the same way other characters are well done, I liked how is explained the fall of Edward IV, the part that Elizabeth Woodwille played and in general is a great book .
August 27, 2020
At first I was skeptical about this book, because I'm not overly fond of historical novels told by the point of view of a fictional charachter. The risk is always for the latter to take over the narrative and overshadow the true historical figures he's telling about.
That dosn't happen here and Martin Robsart is likeable charachter who manages to tell Richard III's story in a wonderful way, and with an hint of irony that I really appreciated (and I found myself laughing more than once). The dramatic scenes are wonderful (and I found myself weeping also).
My only criticism is that I couldn't find really believable the charachter of Innogen, a medieval woman who beds as many men as she wants and wishes to be respected for this as a man... too anachronistic to me. Also the triangle between she, Martin and Richard was too far stretched and improbable in my opinion.
But here stops my criticism, because this is one of the best Richard III novel I've ever read, just a step short of The Sunne in Splendour and Some Touch of Pity.
That dosn't happen here and Martin Robsart is likeable charachter who manages to tell Richard III's story in a wonderful way, and with an hint of irony that I really appreciated (and I found myself laughing more than once). The dramatic scenes are wonderful (and I found myself weeping also).
My only criticism is that I couldn't find really believable the charachter of Innogen, a medieval woman who beds as many men as she wants and wishes to be respected for this as a man... too anachronistic to me. Also the triangle between she, Martin and Richard was too far stretched and improbable in my opinion.
But here stops my criticism, because this is one of the best Richard III novel I've ever read, just a step short of The Sunne in Splendour and Some Touch of Pity.
February 8, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book in which we see the life of Richard III and the tumultuous events of 1461 through 1485 through his (fictional) best friend's eyes. Ah, it would be nice to think that Richard really did have someone like the loyal Martin Robsart by his side.
The author, through Martin's often witty narration, does an excellent job at disentangling the complicated, confusing network of family relationships and political intrigues that characterize this period.
Unfortunately, as much as I hoped against hope, the tragic ending at Bosworth Field doesn't change.
In general, this is a highly engaging and entertaining book, filled with historical events and characters, adventure, and romance. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Wars of the Roses specifically or compelling historical fiction generally.
The author, through Martin's often witty narration, does an excellent job at disentangling the complicated, confusing network of family relationships and political intrigues that characterize this period.
Unfortunately, as much as I hoped against hope, the tragic ending at Bosworth Field doesn't change.
In general, this is a highly engaging and entertaining book, filled with historical events and characters, adventure, and romance. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Wars of the Roses specifically or compelling historical fiction generally.
November 19, 2017
I'd had this sitting on my Kindle for several years. I ran out of library books last week so decided to read it.
I'm glad I did. It was excellent. It's the story of Richard III told from the point of view of a fictional cousin, Martin Robsart.
The only complaint I have about it, and what keeps it from being a 5 star read, is the fact that the author seems to think the sun shone out of Richard's backside. He's too good to be true in most parts of the book.
I do give points though for the description of Richard's official portrait making him look like a 'Welsh nun with piles'. Have seen the painting up close at the National Portrait Gallery in London I nearly bust a gusset laughing at the description.
All in all an excellent read, but you'll probably enjoy it more if you're a dedicated Ricardian than a general reader of historical fiction.
I'm glad I did. It was excellent. It's the story of Richard III told from the point of view of a fictional cousin, Martin Robsart.
The only complaint I have about it, and what keeps it from being a 5 star read, is the fact that the author seems to think the sun shone out of Richard's backside. He's too good to be true in most parts of the book.
I do give points though for the description of Richard's official portrait making him look like a 'Welsh nun with piles'. Have seen the painting up close at the National Portrait Gallery in London I nearly bust a gusset laughing at the description.
All in all an excellent read, but you'll probably enjoy it more if you're a dedicated Ricardian than a general reader of historical fiction.
August 5, 2019
Richard III is one of my favourite historical characters, and Meredith Whitford has brought the Plantagenets back to life in spectacular fashion. The story is told by the king’s cousin, Martin Robsart. He serves Yorkist kings Edward IV and Richard III and learns the cost of loyalty and love in battlefields and bedchambers. This meticulously researched and reimagined novel shows Richard III in a light that’s far removed from Shakespeare’s villain (Shakespeare, after all, was dependent on the goodwill of the Stuarts who’d toppled the Plantagenets). Treason is a spellbinding saga. A word of warning: Don’t open it when you’re strapped for time. My coffee got cold several times and I burnt dinner when I fell into the “just one more chapter” trap.
June 29, 2021
What we have here is clearly a case of "it's not you, book, it's me" - it's a perfectly good historical novel about the Wars of the Roses (this one is of the pro-Richard/anti-Woodville variety), engaging, well written and all, but I've clearly overdosed on books about the topic. While there are some historical subjects I find fascinating enough to want to read absolutely everything ever written about them without ever getting bored by going over the same events over and over, this particular period of English history just isn't one of them.
June 28, 2020
4.5★
February 28, 2013
This book captivated my interest from the very beginning. When Whitford introduces the fictional Martin as Richard's best friend we are immediately thrown into the violence of the Wars of the Roses. Through Martin's eyes we watch Edward IV's stellar rise and gluttonous fall. Richard is portrayed as a somewhat average noble boy - with a little too much emphasis on the teenage sleeping around for my taste, but once you get past that part the story is brilliant and fascinating.
Whitford tells Richard's story from the Revisionist point of view and has good arguments against the Tudor portrayal of him. Though this is not as complex and moving of a work as Sharon Kay Penman's Sunne in Splendour, it is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in this era. As always when reading about Richard, one must brace themselves for the ending that has made me staunchly Yorkist. There was not much explaination in this book for why so many would turn against Richard if he was such a good king and Tudor barely English let alone royal. As many of the characters state, England would learn its mistake when under the rule of a tyrant.
There is a short summary of the remaining characters in the last chapter including Whitford's theory on the Princes in the Tower, which is plausible but not original. Of course, every book on this topic leaves me wishing for more information than exists. What really happened to the Princes? Why did Richard lack support? Who was the real Richard, Shakespeare's villian or Penman's upstanding King? I guess the fact that these things are left to our imaginations is what makes Richard III so compelling.
As for Whitford's writing style, it is direct and simple. She uses very little medeival lingo, few battle details, and the first person narration presents events as though we are Richard's best friend. Some of the modern dialog seems odd, but it is a very readable and enjoyable novel.
Whitford tells Richard's story from the Revisionist point of view and has good arguments against the Tudor portrayal of him. Though this is not as complex and moving of a work as Sharon Kay Penman's Sunne in Splendour, it is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in this era. As always when reading about Richard, one must brace themselves for the ending that has made me staunchly Yorkist. There was not much explaination in this book for why so many would turn against Richard if he was such a good king and Tudor barely English let alone royal. As many of the characters state, England would learn its mistake when under the rule of a tyrant.
There is a short summary of the remaining characters in the last chapter including Whitford's theory on the Princes in the Tower, which is plausible but not original. Of course, every book on this topic leaves me wishing for more information than exists. What really happened to the Princes? Why did Richard lack support? Who was the real Richard, Shakespeare's villian or Penman's upstanding King? I guess the fact that these things are left to our imaginations is what makes Richard III so compelling.
As for Whitford's writing style, it is direct and simple. She uses very little medeival lingo, few battle details, and the first person narration presents events as though we are Richard's best friend. Some of the modern dialog seems odd, but it is a very readable and enjoyable novel.
November 10, 2025
Treason
I just finished the book Treason. It was an ok read. It was very readable from the beginning all the way through, but did noticeably get better from the middle towards the end
It's a very safe read (nothing new to be gained if you already know the story)- it doesn't venture far from the established history, with just a little tweak with the Princes at the end (literary license here)
I did enjoy the section about Richard's successful life changing laws for the average citizen, his introduction of bail laws, statutes/laws to be written in English so the average person could read them and fairer trials.
I found the book had alot of assumed knowledge about the circumstances and history of events, which was fine for me, but someone unfamiliar might have questions about, or not know the bigger picture. This might be because the story is by a fictional character Marten, whom wasn't "everywhere" to record all the intertwining stories.
The battle scenes were quite good.
The book has swearing about half a dozen times. Quite unexpected, and for me quite jarring and unnecessary.
I just finished the book Treason. It was an ok read. It was very readable from the beginning all the way through, but did noticeably get better from the middle towards the end
It's a very safe read (nothing new to be gained if you already know the story)- it doesn't venture far from the established history, with just a little tweak with the Princes at the end (literary license here)
I did enjoy the section about Richard's successful life changing laws for the average citizen, his introduction of bail laws, statutes/laws to be written in English so the average person could read them and fairer trials.
I found the book had alot of assumed knowledge about the circumstances and history of events, which was fine for me, but someone unfamiliar might have questions about, or not know the bigger picture. This might be because the story is by a fictional character Marten, whom wasn't "everywhere" to record all the intertwining stories.
The battle scenes were quite good.
The book has swearing about half a dozen times. Quite unexpected, and for me quite jarring and unnecessary.
February 16, 2009
This book gave me, a Ricardian, much pleasure. It is a rollicking and constantly compelling story of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, though the eyes of a loyal companion. My only complaint is the occasional usage of Australian slang. It is a bit distracting to find such language in fifteenth century England.
September 17, 2012
I read Meredith Whitford's Treason several years ago and really liked her writing style and her devotion to historical events. I highly recommend this book.
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October 25, 2025Go behind the scenes of Treason with the following interview!
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November 26, 2020
¡Great book !
This book shows a positive portrait of Richard III ,the book covers since childhood until his death all trough the eyes of his fictional cousin Martin, who here is bassically his best friend, Martin has his own story so we get to know about him, he is involved in all the most important episodes of Richard's life , means that you will read about the war of the roses, the princes of the tower, Warwick and all the main characters and events
Martin loves Richard and he is witness of his life so you will get a good view to it.
Being honest I didn't want to read it, indeed I thought a lot before do it, but I got it for a very good price in Amazon and Richard III is my favorite topic, I really love fictional books of him so I did it , the main reason I didn't want to read it in first place ,was because for me is silly to create a fictional character better say a main character when you have a lot of interesting historical people ,specially in the war of the roses for me there is not a more interesting episode ,so is useless and not needed add exaggerated fiction I was sure this would be a boring book .Well in this book I happily say I was wrong .
Martin that is the fictional cousin of Richard is just awesome , he is cynical but funny and loyal but at the same time he can feel jealousy and fear, and his story is so well done that is impossible not love him, since the beginning his background i was like wow, what a way to start telling a story, through Martin's eyes we can see Richard as a child then as a teenager, and an important lord and of course his time as king , in my opinion the best part of the book is when they are youn is very refreshing to read it with a funny touch I mean not all in Richard's life was a tragedy so kudos for this ,they being besties during their teen times was so damn well ,Martin and Richard are two womanizer as man of his type would for sure have been specially rich and young boys, Martin explains very well the two illegitimate children of Richard, and the lovely initial relationship between Richard and Edward the same way explains how that relationship changed once Edward changed himself, I loved how George is presented and the mother of Richard has a good participation here and is more than a religious cold woman what I really find nice.
Its surprising how the book is telling in first person but without lose the events and the course of the story, somehow Martin is always in the middle of the important moments , but the book finds the way to make it feel natural , for example how Richard realized his love for Anne when she looks awful after the tewkesbury battle , my favorite part was the description of the intimate moment between Richard and Anne in the Sanctuary that Martin can realized without see , also that funny moment when Anne met Richard's illegitime children and the mother now wife of Martin, I almost die of fun with that scene, and the top is when Edward almost caught Richard with Anne doing things after he forbidden a marriage between them , even the fight between Richard and Anne was good explained with the funny touch of Innogen (Martin's wife ) I even loved that woman, she was so different what you could expect in a medieval wife, Anne is also interesting but we see less of her what is good enough to love her .
My only complain would be that after the wedding Richard / Anne , the story becomes very short or very summarized it is not explored as I would love to or as it was in the first part , still the book is good until the end and we have positive explanations for biggest myths that was nothing new but is well done, other thing that I didn't love is how is omitted few things like the death of henry VI, and similar episodes, its mentioned but somehow excluded Richard of it .
Something important to consider is that this book is in general historical accurate except for the fictional character that doesn't change big matters but this is not the type of book you can say oh maybe this was how things happened, because is logical which doesn't mean is not realistic or crazy.
Anyway is an enjoyable book and refreshing, believe me when I say I have read a lot of books about Richard III and I love this type of fiction is my favorite topic so far and I rarely found a good book from the beginning to end, this is not perfect but is good enough, I had a good time with this and I highly recommend it.
This book shows a positive portrait of Richard III ,the book covers since childhood until his death all trough the eyes of his fictional cousin Martin, who here is bassically his best friend, Martin has his own story so we get to know about him, he is involved in all the most important episodes of Richard's life , means that you will read about the war of the roses, the princes of the tower, Warwick and all the main characters and events
Martin loves Richard and he is witness of his life so you will get a good view to it.
Being honest I didn't want to read it, indeed I thought a lot before do it, but I got it for a very good price in Amazon and Richard III is my favorite topic, I really love fictional books of him so I did it , the main reason I didn't want to read it in first place ,was because for me is silly to create a fictional character better say a main character when you have a lot of interesting historical people ,specially in the war of the roses for me there is not a more interesting episode ,so is useless and not needed add exaggerated fiction I was sure this would be a boring book .Well in this book I happily say I was wrong .
Martin that is the fictional cousin of Richard is just awesome , he is cynical but funny and loyal but at the same time he can feel jealousy and fear, and his story is so well done that is impossible not love him, since the beginning his background i was like wow, what a way to start telling a story, through Martin's eyes we can see Richard as a child then as a teenager, and an important lord and of course his time as king , in my opinion the best part of the book is when they are youn is very refreshing to read it with a funny touch I mean not all in Richard's life was a tragedy so kudos for this ,they being besties during their teen times was so damn well ,Martin and Richard are two womanizer as man of his type would for sure have been specially rich and young boys, Martin explains very well the two illegitimate children of Richard, and the lovely initial relationship between Richard and Edward the same way explains how that relationship changed once Edward changed himself, I loved how George is presented and the mother of Richard has a good participation here and is more than a religious cold woman what I really find nice.
Its surprising how the book is telling in first person but without lose the events and the course of the story, somehow Martin is always in the middle of the important moments , but the book finds the way to make it feel natural , for example how Richard realized his love for Anne when she looks awful after the tewkesbury battle , my favorite part was the description of the intimate moment between Richard and Anne in the Sanctuary that Martin can realized without see , also that funny moment when Anne met Richard's illegitime children and the mother now wife of Martin, I almost die of fun with that scene, and the top is when Edward almost caught Richard with Anne doing things after he forbidden a marriage between them , even the fight between Richard and Anne was good explained with the funny touch of Innogen (Martin's wife ) I even loved that woman, she was so different what you could expect in a medieval wife, Anne is also interesting but we see less of her what is good enough to love her .
My only complain would be that after the wedding Richard / Anne , the story becomes very short or very summarized it is not explored as I would love to or as it was in the first part , still the book is good until the end and we have positive explanations for biggest myths that was nothing new but is well done, other thing that I didn't love is how is omitted few things like the death of henry VI, and similar episodes, its mentioned but somehow excluded Richard of it .
Something important to consider is that this book is in general historical accurate except for the fictional character that doesn't change big matters but this is not the type of book you can say oh maybe this was how things happened, because is logical which doesn't mean is not realistic or crazy.
Anyway is an enjoyable book and refreshing, believe me when I say I have read a lot of books about Richard III and I love this type of fiction is my favorite topic so far and I rarely found a good book from the beginning to end, this is not perfect but is good enough, I had a good time with this and I highly recommend it.
April 20, 2018
This book does a great job of blending everyday court life, grueling battle scenes, and political machinations all while sprinkling it with a bit of humor here and there. Set in the 1400's in England it follows the reigns of Edward IV and Richard III as told through the eyes of a fictional relative named Martin. The interplay between the main characters is done well and the conjectured conversations among those characters show why events might have unfolded as they did.
Alas, the English were not too varied in naming their children so in this book there are several Edwards, Richards, Margarets, Johns and Elizabeths. Added to this bewildering array is the fact that people are also known and called by their title (for example, Richard, Duke of Gloucester is at times called Gloucester) which is perplexing enough, but when the title is also a first name (Clarence) it becomes downright confusing.
Nonetheless, I found the book interesting and informative and marvel at the tides of fortunes of the nobility of the times.
Alas, the English were not too varied in naming their children so in this book there are several Edwards, Richards, Margarets, Johns and Elizabeths. Added to this bewildering array is the fact that people are also known and called by their title (for example, Richard, Duke of Gloucester is at times called Gloucester) which is perplexing enough, but when the title is also a first name (Clarence) it becomes downright confusing.
Nonetheless, I found the book interesting and informative and marvel at the tides of fortunes of the nobility of the times.
May 22, 2017
I have long been a believer in Richard III as a warrior, a loyal friend and brother. I love Shakespeare, but he was writing for a Tudor viewership. Ms. Whitford's Richard is a man I could like and admire, and was so pleased to see my view here. Ms. Whitford has an Author's Note at the end in which she explains what is fact and what is fiction. The book is very readable, her characters, both good and bad, are well-drawn, their actions reasonable and stay true to character. Yes, I am very biased in favor of a book which treats Richard III well,, but I can also follow her reasons for making him so.
I follow all the current findings about Richard III with interest and look forward to a time when the cruel, crippled hunchback is no more.
I follow all the current findings about Richard III with interest and look forward to a time when the cruel, crippled hunchback is no more.
October 23, 2018
Thoroughly good read
I picked this book by chance and was rewarded with an immensely thoughtful and well researched story. It follows many of the known facts. The fictional part of the story only enhances the known facts. The story is a wonderful mix of action and the emotions of the characters is all too believable. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a good read and not just readers of historical fiction
I picked this book by chance and was rewarded with an immensely thoughtful and well researched story. It follows many of the known facts. The fictional part of the story only enhances the known facts. The story is a wonderful mix of action and the emotions of the characters is all too believable. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a good read and not just readers of historical fiction
April 9, 2024
Excellent historical novel
We all know wth that Richard III was a bunch back who killed his 2princes. Well William of Avon lied. Great book, loads of intrigue and battles. England waives the rules and all that. Great insight into feudal power politics. What life was like 500 years ago is vivid. Its fiction with truth.
We all know wth that Richard III was a bunch back who killed his 2princes. Well William of Avon lied. Great book, loads of intrigue and battles. England waives the rules and all that. Great insight into feudal power politics. What life was like 500 years ago is vivid. Its fiction with truth.
April 8, 2018
Excellent
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Richard iii has always been the villain of history I personally have never believed it , we will never have the truth of it, but this version could have merit . A great historical/ fictional read.
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Richard iii has always been the villain of history I personally have never believed it , we will never have the truth of it, but this version could have merit . A great historical/ fictional read.
February 14, 2025
Wonderful
I found this book very interesting and very detailed. The story flows well so it is easy to follow. At times it was hard to put down but one must sleep at some time.Enjoy!
I found this book very interesting and very detailed. The story flows well so it is easy to follow. At times it was hard to put down but one must sleep at some time.Enjoy!
January 1, 2019
Really enjoyable. However, there was a sex scene early on that was brief and explicit and really out of place. Nothing else in rest of book and it just came out of nowhere. Mild profanity.
June 15, 2021
Accurate
Well Researched and truly appreciated by history buffs. The Martin character and family are fictional but they are surrounded by the real royalty of the time.
Well Researched and truly appreciated by history buffs. The Martin character and family are fictional but they are surrounded by the real royalty of the time.
November 23, 2018
This book is your best option for have fun.
December 21, 2024
I thought this book very enjoyable and will look out for more by the same author.
April 17, 2013
In studying history we learn about the events, but we rarely get into the heads of those who lived it. Their motivations and the zeitgeist is often lost in the fog of time. In "Treason," Meredith Whitford succeeds and providing plausible motivations for the characters, bringing this medieval world to life.
Only a certain type of reader will enjoy this book. That reader must love history and be willing to deal with a cast of dozens of characters (known by both names and titles), complex interrelationships, multiple factions, and people changing sides at a moment's notice. Fans of Richard III, however, will love it regardless. Although the Wars of the Roses were a time filled with battles, in "Treason" the battles lack detail, and are mainly described as chaos, expressed in a whirlwind of feelings and snippets of sight and sound. As a reader I enjoy battles, so that was a minor disappointment for me, but that is a matter of my taste as opposed to a flaw in the book. This isn't a book about battles. It's a book about the characters and the political roller coaster of the time.
This tale, rather than being told from Richard III's perspective, is told in first person by Martin Robsart, a fictional cousin and confidant of Richard. This device gives us a personal view of Richard from the outside, but the tradeoff is that the Richard-centric story is limited in its view. This is a tale of political intrigue from the perspective of the plottees, not the plotters. Therefore we rarely see any plotting actually occur. We only see the plots when they are hatched, or when the protagonists scratch their chins and say "There is something suspicious going on..."
The first 20% of this book consists of little more than the protagonists (Martin & Richard) hearing news about what is happening. They are young, so they are not yet ready to be the center of the action. This may prove tedious to some readers, but it sets the stage for what is to come. The agency of the protagonists grows as they come of age, and soon they are influencing events and driving the story.
While reading this I could not help but compare these books to Sandra Worth's "The Rose of York" trilogy. "The Rose of York" is a romance, with a large focus on Richard's relationships with Anne Neville and Elizabeth of York. "Treason" is a story of political intrigue, and while there is romance, it feels more grounded. Whitford's take on the Richard's relationship with Elizabeth of York is a significant departure from Worth's. Whitford's Richard is savvy, down-to-earth, stubborn, and even ruthless when necessary, while Worth's Richard is idealistic, introspective, and at times almost naive.
In the Author's Note Whitford states that she uses modern vernacular in the text--because once you go medieval, where do you stop? This is an excellent point, but even so she steers clear of most modern idioms that would appear jarring. The text is generic enough that is clear to the modern reader without jarring them out of the medieval setting. That said, when in the text archers "fired" their arrows rather than "loosed" them it still irked me. :)
In all, Whitford tackles an extremely complicated history and turns it into a turns it into a great read. We all know the ending, but the magic is in the telling of the tale.
Only a certain type of reader will enjoy this book. That reader must love history and be willing to deal with a cast of dozens of characters (known by both names and titles), complex interrelationships, multiple factions, and people changing sides at a moment's notice. Fans of Richard III, however, will love it regardless. Although the Wars of the Roses were a time filled with battles, in "Treason" the battles lack detail, and are mainly described as chaos, expressed in a whirlwind of feelings and snippets of sight and sound. As a reader I enjoy battles, so that was a minor disappointment for me, but that is a matter of my taste as opposed to a flaw in the book. This isn't a book about battles. It's a book about the characters and the political roller coaster of the time.
This tale, rather than being told from Richard III's perspective, is told in first person by Martin Robsart, a fictional cousin and confidant of Richard. This device gives us a personal view of Richard from the outside, but the tradeoff is that the Richard-centric story is limited in its view. This is a tale of political intrigue from the perspective of the plottees, not the plotters. Therefore we rarely see any plotting actually occur. We only see the plots when they are hatched, or when the protagonists scratch their chins and say "There is something suspicious going on..."
The first 20% of this book consists of little more than the protagonists (Martin & Richard) hearing news about what is happening. They are young, so they are not yet ready to be the center of the action. This may prove tedious to some readers, but it sets the stage for what is to come. The agency of the protagonists grows as they come of age, and soon they are influencing events and driving the story.
While reading this I could not help but compare these books to Sandra Worth's "The Rose of York" trilogy. "The Rose of York" is a romance, with a large focus on Richard's relationships with Anne Neville and Elizabeth of York. "Treason" is a story of political intrigue, and while there is romance, it feels more grounded. Whitford's take on the Richard's relationship with Elizabeth of York is a significant departure from Worth's. Whitford's Richard is savvy, down-to-earth, stubborn, and even ruthless when necessary, while Worth's Richard is idealistic, introspective, and at times almost naive.
In the Author's Note Whitford states that she uses modern vernacular in the text--because once you go medieval, where do you stop? This is an excellent point, but even so she steers clear of most modern idioms that would appear jarring. The text is generic enough that is clear to the modern reader without jarring them out of the medieval setting. That said, when in the text archers "fired" their arrows rather than "loosed" them it still irked me. :)
In all, Whitford tackles an extremely complicated history and turns it into a turns it into a great read. We all know the ending, but the magic is in the telling of the tale.
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