Rating: Not rated
Tags: History, Lang:en
Summary
England, 1455
**
King Henry VI is proving to be an unstable monarch, prone to
bouts of mysterious illness and susceptible to manipulation
from others. Richard of York, the most powerful magnate in the
land, steps in to manage affairs whilst Henry is unwell.
Many people prefer York’s rule, which does not please the
queen. The country begins to divide and plots start to hatch.
York himself is directly descended from the royal family line,
in fact, a little more directly than Henry but he puts this
fact aside and strives only to serve the king. This, however,
becomes increasingly difficult due to the acts of the queen,
who, now feeling threatened by York, calls her men to get rid
of him.
The York family is strong and the two eldest sons, Edward and
Edmund are approaching manhood. Edward, bold and eager, is keen
to leave his childhood behind and enter the world of men, of
politics, combat and love. Edmund, the younger brother is more
introspective and struggles to project his public image. Both
boys look to York as their mentor, a match for any king; and
Richard is proud of them both.
But with sons comes the question of inheritance. Who will
succeed Henry’s throne? His own son, the young Prince
Edward, or the capable York and his heirs?
This historical window into the past lifts figures from the
history books and gives the personality and purpose behind
their actions. The story bears witness to the extremes of the
human condition, from loving tenderness in court to vengeful
violence on the battlefield.