La vie et la mort du roi Richard III

The book opens by probing the tangled reputation of Richard III, a monarch whose name has long been haunted by accusations of cruelty and treachery. It shows how contemporary chroniclers, political rivalries and popular imagination combined to create a legend that often eclipses the man himself, and it asks whether any historical figure can ever be judged by modern standards. By juxtaposing the surviving records with later myth‑making, the author invites listeners to reconsider what is known and what has been imagined.

Turning to Shakespeare’s famous drama, the work explores why the play has endured as England’s most popular stage portrayal of the king. It examines how the playwright distilled chaotic historical events into a tight narrative of ambition, guilt and inevitable retribution, while still echoing the very chaos of the Wars of the Roses. Through vivid analysis, the book reveals how art and history intertwine, shaping the enduring image of a ruler whose life and death continue to fascinate.