Lancaster Against York: The Wars of the Roses and the Foundation of Modern Britain [Hardcover]

In this sweeping history, Trevor Royle details one of the bloodiest episodes in British history. The prize was the crown of England, and the players were the rival houses of Lancaster and York. The dynastic quarrel threatened the collapse of the monarchy as a succession of weak rulers failed to deal with an overzealous aristocracy, plunging England into a series of violent encounters. The bloody battles and political intrigue between the rival heirs of King Edward III brought forth one of the most dynamic ruling families of England--the Tudors.

Trevor Royleis a historian, specializing in war and empire. His previous books includeCivil War: The Wars of Three Kingdoms, Crimea: The Great Crimean War 1854-1856, andWinds of Change: The End of Empire in Africa. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Associate Editor ofThe Sunday Herald.He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

To understand the Wars of the Roses, one should read Shakespeare's History Plays for the epic drama, and Trevor Royle's Lancaster Against York for the epic truth. Royle has produced a tremendous achievement: a modern classic for all times. Amanda Foreman, bestselling author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire

Royle does a good job of capturing the mood of the country, roiled by great economic uncertainty during the years of the Yorkist uprising. He leaves no stone unturned in this exhaustive retelling, and he has a sharp eye for detail... Royle's meticulous research makes this a welcome addition to the body of literature about this pivotal epoch in English history. Kirkus Reviews

Royle paints a broad, satisfying picture, illuminating Henry IV's reign. Library Journal

A well-written and thorough study. The New York Times Book Review

Thorough and informative. Publishers Weekly

Trevor Royle's achievement is to have skillfully encompassed and explained the complexitielÓ8