Historic Doubts on the Life and Reign of King Richard the Third

A provocative and influential reassessment of one of England’s most maligned monarchs. Challenging the traditional Tudor narrative—popularized by Shakespeare and chroniclers like Thomas More—Walpole argues that Richard III has been unfairly vilified as a tyrant and murderer. Through meticulous examination of historical sources, he questions the evidence behind accusations such as the murder of the Princes in the Tower and Richard’s physical deformities, suggesting bias and propaganda shaped his dark legacy. While not a full exoneration, Walpole’s work pioneered revisionist history and sparked debate about historical objectivity. Written with wit and scholarly rigor, Historic Doubts reflects Enlightenment skepticism and remains a landmark in the re-evaluation of medieval English history.