The Wars of the Roses: Peace and Conflict in Fifteenth-Century England

I'm a medieval history enthusiast, but my expertise is in an entirely different subject. As a non-historian, I found Gillingham's book intriguing and easy to read. I am more interested in the times - life, society, politics - than in the battles and military strategy. But while the book does provide this military history, it also gives the reader a big-picture view of the years 1455-1487. Readers with some knowledge of the times will be able to dig right in. But even those, like me, whose prior knowledge is sparse will learn quite a bit. If your handle on the subject before reading the book is like mine was, expect to have to fill in some blanks with additional research. Gillingham assumes a certain level of understanding. For instance, in one of the final chapters, he writes about the prospective Edward V: "The wishes of a twelve-year-old king could not be simply disregarded, particularly once he was anointed king, and if he remained in the hands of the Woodvilles, there could be little doubt that he would wish to do what they wanted." It is assumed that the reader knows the designs of the Woodvilles. I especially appreciate the author's bibliographic guide at the end of the book. There are many recommendations for further study with comments on his view of the value (quality of information) of the sources.

The period in question is far from my specialty, so I am not qualified to offer an in depth analysis of the scholarship in this work. I can, however, attest that it is extremely well written, well argued and accessible to an educated audience. Gillingham raises important questions not only about this particular series of events in English history but more broadly about the shaping of historical memory and the interaction between literature and history. These lessons will never be irrelevant. I turn to this book whenever I need a dose of late medieval England.