The Wars of the Roses - Paperback

by Anthony James Pollard (Author)

The civil wars of the first half of the fifteenth century still stand in the popular imagination as the period of greatest anarchy in English history. While historians have long taken a more measured view, controversy still surrounds their interpretation.

In this revised edition of his revaluation of the Wars of the Roses, A. J. Pollard has incorporated into the text the product of new research and consideration of the debates which have emerged since the book was first published in 1988. These include the new stress on 'constitutional' history, intensified dispute about the origins of the wars, and recent reinterpretations of the careers of some of the principal personalities.

In a topic which has become more contested in the last decade of the twentieth century, this introduction offers a succinct narrative, a review of the historiography and an overview of the problems of interpretation of the character, causes, impact and consequences of the wars which periodically disrupted England between 1459 and 1487.

Back Jacket

The civil wars of the second half of the fifteenth century still stand in the popular imagination as the period of greatest anarchy in English history. This accessible introduction offers an overview of the debates surrounding the character, causes, impact and consequences of the wars. Thematically organised, the text also reviews the historiography of the years 1459-1487.

Thoroughly revised and updated in the light of twenty-first century scholarship, the third edition of this established text includes:

- a new chapter focused on the character of the wars
- significant new material on the engagement of ordinary people in the politics of the period
- additional sections on the involvement of, and impact on, women.

The Wars of the Roses is ideal for students and general readers seeking a reliable and balanced introduction to the topic.

Author Biography

ANTHONY JAMES POLLARD is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Teesside, UK. He has published extensively on fifteenth-century English history, his most recent book being Warwick and the Kingmaker: Politics, Power and Fame.
ANTHONY JAMES POLLARD is Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Teesside, UK. He has published extensively on fifteenth-century English history, his most recent book being Warwick and the Kingmaker: Politics, Power and Fame.