The Dreams
of Kings is set in Medieval England during the late 15th century and
cleverly manages to mix an exact timeline of events that match up with the
fight for the throne between the people who were involved in the thirty years
of civil unrest historians refer to as, “The War of the Roses”
The battles
that took place were perhaps some of the most bewildering periods in history
for England and Europe as it involved a timely power struggle between the
Lancastrians and the Yorkists, in their fight for the crown.
David K
Saunders skilfully steers the reader through the complexities and controversies
that occurred in this period of history by bringing to life a number of
authentic historical characters’. Each character
has their own thoughts, theories and strategies including, treason, adultery,
murder, blackmail, torture, kidnapping, theft of land and even witchcraft while
cousin fights cousin and brother fights against brother in this savage
conflict.
Out the many
characters’ in this book, I found I was intrigued with was Simon Langford, who
continued with his father’s service to restore King Henry to his rightful
throne by acting as a spy at Middleham Castle in an attempt to get information
on Warwick’s strategies, troop movements and anything else that would aid the
Lancastrians in their victory to retrieve the crown. Although the author did admit in his closing
notes that the love affair between Simon and Margret of Anjou was purely
fictitious, it was still highly engaging and a stroke of genius to add this
slant as Margret did seem to have a sexless marriage to Henry.
The torture
scenes are not for the faint hearted, especially with John de Bothall, as he was
sentenced to a traitors death, which included many of his body parts being cut
off and burnt in a brazier in front of his eyes, his arms and legs hacked off
and then finally his head.
All of which
leaves me to close, that David K Saunders knows his subject very well and
writes with considerable insight into the power struggle and battles fought by
the clashing fractions for the reigns of kings in the 15th century.
My Ranking:
5 Stars
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