The most recommended Richard III books

Who picked these books? Meet our 19 experts.

19 authors created a book list connected to Richard III of England, and here are their favorite Richard III of England books.
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Book cover of The White Queen

Madina Papadopoulos Author Of The Step-Spinsters

From my list on transporting you to medieval life.

Why am I passionate about this?

Madina Papadopoulos is a New Orleans-born, New York-based freelance writer and author. She is currently working on the sequel to The Step-Spinsters, the first in the Unspun Fairytale series, which retells classic princess stories set in the late Middle Ages. She studied French and Italian at Tulane University and received her MFA in screenwriting at UCLA. After teaching foreign languages at the university level, as well as in childhood and elementary school programs, she developed and illustrated foreign language coloring workbooks for preschoolers. As a freelance writer, she focuses on food, drinks, and entertainment.

Madina's book list on transporting you to medieval life

Madina Papadopoulos Why did Madina love this book?

It’s often said that the golden rule for storytelling is “thou shalt not bore.” While as a history buff, I get a kick out of historical fiction even when it might read more non-fiction than fiction, the genre risks falling prey to having to balance fact over fun. This is not the case with esteemed historical fiction author, Philippa Gregory. For those who like their history with a touch of steam and can forgive historical “embellishments,” Gregory delivers heavily researched stories that put character arcs and plot twists front and center. These tempting books follow the women in power behind the scenes of the War of the Roses. As a prolific writer, Gregory bestows upon us a bounty of six books in this series, carrying the reader on more of a year abroad than just a quick vacation. 

By Philippa Gregory,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The White Queen as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The inspiration for the critically acclaimed Starz miniseries The White Queen, #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings to life the extraordinary story of Elizabeth Woodville, a woman who rises from obscurity to become Queen of England, and changes the course of history forever.

Elizabeth Woodville is a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition. Her mother is Jacquetta, also known as the mystical lady of the rivers, and she is even more determined to bring power and wealth to the family line. While riding in the woods one day, Elizabeth captures the attentions of the newly crowned King…


Book cover of Richard III: The Self-Made King

John Gribbin Author Of Six Impossible Things: The Mystery of the Quantum World

From John's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Bookworm Science buff Short distance walker Chess player Pedagogue (aka know-all)

John's 3 favorite reads in 2023

John Gribbin Why did John love this book?

Everybody knows the name of Richard III, the short-lived king of England whose defeat ushered in the Tudor dynasty. But the story everyone knows and argues about is his time as king and the fate of the “princes in the tower.” 

Michael Hicks tells the story of Richard’s life before he became king, his loyal support for his brother Edward IV, the political scheming that made him the ruler of the north of England, and his reforming zeal, which might have transformed the country had he lived. 

Nothing like Shakespeare’s caricature (written to please the Tudors!), Richard emerges as a complex and fundamentally decent man of his time, whose story deserved this telling.

By Michael Hicks,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Richard III as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An "excellent new biography" (Keith Thomas, New York Review of Books) of the wily and formidable prince who unexpectedly became monarch-the most infamous king in British history

"An intricately detailed account of Richard's every recorded move on his journey from younger son of the powerful Duke of York to the last of England's mediaeval monarchs."-Mark Jones, Albion Magazine

The reign of Richard III, the last Yorkist king and the final monarch of the Plantagenet dynasty, marked a turning point in British history. But despite his lasting legacy, Richard only ruled as king for the final two years of his life.…


Book cover of The Drift

Richard Cosgrove Author Of I Was a Teenage Rock Fan

From Richard's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Reader Musician Animal lover Nerd

Richard's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Richard Cosgrove Why did Richard love this book?

The Drift takes the classic trope of having what initially appear to be three very distinct and separate stories gradually converge on each other and delivers a masterclass on how to pull it off with style and aplomb.

The phrase ‘page-turner’ is often bandied about, but I genuinely found I couldn’t stop reading due to CJ Tudor’s effective use of short chapters and advancing each of the stories in a rapid-fire round-robin manner. Each chapter ends with a tantalizing hook that encourages you to push on until, finally, the pieces all fall into place in a series of powerful but logical revelations.

The Drift is only Tudor’s fifth book, but already, she has become one of only a handful of authors that I make a point of picking up on release day.

By C. J. Tudor,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Drift as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

PRE-ORDER THE HEART-POUNDING NEW NOVEL FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE CHALK MAN AND RICHARD & JUDY PICK THE BURNING GIRLS

'The wildest thriller of the year is three thrillers in one. Buckle up' LINWOOD BARCLAY

'An exceptional thriller that blew me away with its original, high-octane plot, jaw-dropping twists and characters I cared about. When I wasn't reading The Drift I was thinking about it. A writer at the top of her game' CLAIRE DOUGLAS

'A truly terrifying, ice-cold chiller from the master of macabre. C.J. Tudor should be on everyone's must-read list' CHRIS WHITAKER

'Taut, action-packed…


Book cover of Domenico Mancini: De Occupatione Regni Anglie

Philippa Langley Author Of The Lost King: The Search for Richard III

From my list on Richard III by the writer who discovered his grave.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a British writer/producer with a 30-year interest in Richard III (1452-1485). A visit to Bosworth Field, the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses changed my life irrevocably. This haunting place captured my imagination and with it the story of the last Plantagenet monarch who died fighting in this small corner of Leicestershire for crown and country.

Philippa's book list on Richard III by the writer who discovered his grave

Philippa Langley Why did Philippa love this book?

Domenico Mancini was an Italian visitor to London in 1483 who witnessed Richard III’s rise from Protector to King, and wrote the only genuinely contemporary account. His short narrative, less than 7,000 words, is so important that it’s used and quoted by every commentator who has anything to say about Richard III. This translation renders Mancini up-to-date and accessible for today’s readers. 

By D. Mancini, Annette Carson (translator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Domenico Mancini as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Annette Carson, a member of the team that found Richard III s grave, has produced this new edition of Mancini s important eyewitness report. Domenico Mancini was an Italian visitor to London in 1483 who witnessed Richard III s rise from Protector to King, and wrote the only genuinely contemporary account.
His short narrative, less than 7,000 words, was originally published in the 1930s in an edition that, for modern historians, leaves much to be desired. The title and a number of key passages were mistranslated. In addition, Mancini s misunderstanding of England s laws and governance, and his omission…


Book cover of Richard III: Loyalty Binds Me

Juliana Cummings Author Of Medicine in the Middle Ages: Surviving the Times

From my list on for those with a fascination for filth and torture.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always been fascinated by the history of medicine, particularly the more macabre details. While researching my family lineage, I became especially interested in medieval medicine and the lives of English monarchs. I was honored to be asked to write a book on medicine in the middle ages, and I dove into the research head first. I have been lucky enough to write for several other publications, and I have self-published on Amazon. I enjoy writing historical fiction and my novel, Sleeping with the Impaler, was a book I truly enjoyed writing. I hope the books I recommended spark your interest as they will stay with me forever.

Juliana's book list on for those with a fascination for filth and torture

Juliana Cummings Why did Juliana love this book?

Matt Lewis is a brilliant historian and writer. This biography of Richard III is beautifully written. Matt takes us through Richard’s life from his time as a young boy to his death at Bosworth. Matt’s passion for this monarch is clear, and he makes a very strong case for why he believes the crown was stolen out from under him. Well done, Matt.

By Matthew Lewis,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Richard III as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

King Richard III remains one of the most controversial figures in British history. Matthew Lewis's new biography aims to become a definitive account by exploring what is known of his childhood and the impacts it had on his personality and view of the world. He would be cast into insecurity and exile only to become a royal prince before his tenth birthday.

As Richard spends his teenage years under the watchful gaze of his older brother, Edward IV, he is eventually placed in the household of their cousin, the Earl of Warwick, remembered as the Kingmaker; but as the relationship…


Book cover of The Virgin Widow

J.P. Reedman Author Of Dangereuse

From my list on lesser-known medieval queens and noblewomen.

Why am I passionate about this?

Since early childhood I have had a passion for medieval times. I can remember climbing my first castle keep at 4. I became particularly interested in lesser-known medieval queens and noblewomen when I moved to Amesbury in Wiltshire—and found out that Eleanor of Provence, wife of Henry III, was buried somewhere in the grounds of the nearby rest home, her grave lost since the Reformation. I wrote a novel on her life which became more successful than I could have ever imagined, and now I am a full-time author writing further novels about medieval women, as well as the Wars of the Roses…and Stonehenge.

J.P.'s book list on lesser-known medieval queens and noblewomen

J.P. Reedman Why did J.P. love this book?

The Virgin Widow is a novel of one of England’s lesser-known Queens, Anne Neville, the wife of Richard III. Before she married Richard, however, she was briefly wed to Edward of Westminster, the Lancastrian heir, who was killed at the battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. This book chronicles Anne’s early life and her relationship with her father, the famous Warwick the Kingmaker, and then with the two young men she would marry. Anne O’Brien writes many interesting and engaging novels about medieval women.

By Anne O'Brien,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Virgin Widow as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A Sunday Times Bestseller England's Forgotten Queens

'O'Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale.'
-The Times

'I was a penniless, landless petitioner, my Neville blood a curse, my future dependent on the charity of those who despised me...'

Anne Neville is the heiress and daughter of the greatest powerbroker in the land, Warwick the Kingmaker. Trapped in a deadly tangle of political intrigue, she is a pawn in an uncertain game, used by the houses of Neville, York and Lancaster alike.

In England's glittering, treacherous court, not all wish to see the Nevilles raised high.…


Book cover of Fortune Like the Moon (Hawkenlye Mysteries)

Felicity Pulman Author Of Blood Oath

From my list on medieval murders and mysteries.

Why am I passionate about this?

After enjoying Josephine Tey’s wonderful Daughter of Time, in which she exonerates Richard III from the crime of murdering the princes in the tower, followed by the Brother Cadfael mysteries, I became hooked on historical crimes and decided to try writing them myself! It was quite a challenge researching both the history and the settings from Australia, but the novels became a wonderful excuse for lengthy visits to travel around Great Britain and France. As well as writing the Janna Chronicles, my passion for history has also prompted several other published novels and series, including the Shalott trilogy.

Felicity's book list on medieval murders and mysteries

Felicity Pulman Why did Felicity love this book?

Because my character Janna seeks refuge in an abbey while on her quest to find her father, I found it interesting and instructive to read about Abbess Helewise and life at Hawkenlye Abbey in more detail. I also enjoyed trying to second-guess whodunit as the Abbess and her helpmate, lord of the manor, Josse d’Acquin, solve the many crimes that come their way. And I was intrigued by the supernatural elements introduced by Alys Clare, with the abbey being situated so close to the ancient forest in the Great Weald, and how the two worlds often intertwine. 

By Alys Clare,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Fortune Like the Moon (Hawkenlye Mysteries) as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Shortly before his unexpected coronation, King Richard passed a law letting all of England's prisoners go free. Shortly afterwards a young nun is found, gruesomely murdered. Richard swiftly employs an old military colleague of his, Josse d'Acquin, to unravel this hideous mystery. Who could have wanted to kill this innocent young novice, and, more worryingly, why?

Josse goes to Hawkenlye Abbey to find out the answers to these questions. He is having little success until meets the Abbess Helewise, a woman who quickly proves herself to be his equal, both as an amateur sleuth, and as a figure the community…


Book cover of Bosworth 1485: The Battle that Transformed England

Kenneth L. Campbell Author Of The History of Britain and Ireland: Prehistory to Today

From my list on British and Irish history with a wide range of topics.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have a Ph.D. in British history and have taught a variety of courses on the topic for the past 40 years. Since first visiting Scotland on a study tour in 1981, I have been to Britain and Ireland both multiple times and have spent extended periods of time there. From Shakespeare to the Beatles, from the Norman Conquest to the Second World War, from Roman Britain to Brexit, I have found each period of British and Irish history endlessly fascinating and sharing my passion with students and readers has been one of the great joys of my life. 

Kenneth's book list on British and Irish history with a wide range of topics

Kenneth L. Campbell Why did Kenneth love this book?

Also published as Bosworth 1485: The Psychology of a Battle, this is one of my all-time favorite books on military history. Like Josephine Tey’s historical novel, The Daughter of Time, Jones challenges the Shakespearean and Tudor versions of Richard III’s reign.

Unlike Tey, Jones does not completely exonerate Richard for the murder of his nephews, but nor does he regard the future Henry VII in any more favorable of a light. What I liked best about this book is the way in which Jones humanizes the historical participants in the Wars of the Roses to a degree usually reserved for historical novels.

The reader will finish this book with a better understanding of the human factors, complexities, and contingencies of late medieval history—indeed of history in general. 

By Michael Jones,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Bosworth 1485 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

On August 22, 1485, at Bosworth Field, Richard III fell, the Wars of the Roses ended, and the Tudor dynasty began. The clash is so significant because it marks the break between medieval and modern; yet how much do we really know about this historical landmark?

Michael Jones uses archival discoveries to show that Richard III's defeat was by no means inevitable and was achieved only through extraordinary chance. He relocates the battle away from the site recognized for more than 500 years. With startling detail of Henry Tudor's reliance on French mercenaries, plus a new account of the battle…


Book cover of The Survival of Princes in the Tower: Murder, Mystery and Myth

Philippa Langley Author Of The Lost King: The Search for Richard III

From my list on Richard III by the writer who discovered his grave.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a British writer/producer with a 30-year interest in Richard III (1452-1485). A visit to Bosworth Field, the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses changed my life irrevocably. This haunting place captured my imagination and with it the story of the last Plantagenet monarch who died fighting in this small corner of Leicestershire for crown and country.

Philippa's book list on Richard III by the writer who discovered his grave

Philippa Langley Why did Philippa love this book?

The murder of the ‘Princes in the Tower’ is the most famous cold case in British history. Matthew Lewis delves into the context of the disappearance and the characters of the suspects and asks a crucial but often overlooked question: what if there was no murder? Lewis provides a rounded and complete assessment of this most fascinating historical mystery.

By Matthew Lewis,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Survival of Princes in the Tower as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The murder of the Princes in the Tower is the most famous cold case in British history. Traditionally considered victims of a ruthless uncle, there are other suspects too often and too easily discounted. There may be no definitive answer, but by delving into the context of their disappearance and the characters of the suspects Matthew Lewis examines the motives and opportunities afresh as well as asking a crucial but often overlooked question: what if there was no murder? What if Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York survived their uncle's reign and even that of their brother-in-law…


Book cover of Under the Hog: A Novel of Richard III

Stephen Morillo Author Of War and Conflict in the Middle Ages: A Global Perspective.

From my list on about medieval warfare globally.

Why am I passionate about this?

I fell in love with medieval military history in high school, and have been studying and writing about it as an undergraduate at Harvard, as a graduate student at Oxford, and as a professor of history ever since, eventually bringing the comparative methods and urge to generalize of a world historian to the task. I’ve written ten books and numerous articles. Good history gives me the thrill of time travel without the risk of the bubonic plague, and it has spawned related interests in sword and sorcery fantasy lit and wargaming, alongside my interests in painting, cartooning, and cooking the food of my native New Orleans. My motto: Have fun!

Stephen's book list on about medieval warfare globally

Stephen Morillo Why did Stephen love this book?

Academic books too dry? Primary sources too intimidating? Find a copy of Under the Hog, a historical novel set in the War of the Roses in 15th century England that is perhaps the best historical novel ever — certainly the best written by a pseudonymous author! It gives a variety of close-up views of medieval combat, politics, and culture, and is a favorite among folks who think that king Richard III of England (yes, the evil hunchback of Shakespeare’s depiction) got a reputational raw deal from the Bard. 

By Patrick Carleton,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Under the Hog as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

‘This is still one of the best novels on the life of Richard III’ - The Richard III Society

England, 1471.

In a kingdom rent by civil strife Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is determined to keep the Royal House of York on the throne and bring peace to England.

His unswerving support of his brother, Edward IV, against the conspiracies of both their turncoat brother George, Duke of Clarence, and the powerful Lancastrian claimants, wins him many enemies.

And when fate destines him to take the throne, he is forced to quell the rebellions of Lord Rivers and the Duke…


Book cover of The White Queen
Book cover of Richard III: The Self-Made King
Book cover of The Drift

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