Penguin Monarchs: Edward IV | Review

If, like me, you ever wondered how exactly Shakespeare’s “winter of discontent” came to be, and came undone, this book provides the perfect introduction.

The Perfect Prelude

There is one particular period of Edward IVs life that drew my interest so much - whilst reading a biography of his little brother, Richard III - that prompted me to read more about him. This is the time the Duke of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence drove him from his kingdom to take refuge in Burgundy with only a handful of loyal men at his side.

This story of a hard-won crown, fought for by his father, the Duke of York, and now squandered by bad governance, reads to me like a perfect prelude to the episode of Richard IIIs betrayal.

The Winter of His Discontent

Edward IV perhaps thought the English crown would never be retrieved, and in his exile contemplated how his people, and his own brother, could so easily turn against him. We can imagine it turning to a crises of conscience and faith.

But the qualities that made him ill-suited to govern were outmatched by his prowess on the battlefield, and ability to inspire his men. His reconquest of England was by no means a sure bet, but within five months he had not only retaken the throne, but done so to a triumphant reception of his people, all the while, reconciling with his treacherous brother.

Indeed, the winter of discontent was made glorious summer by this sun of York. But of course, Shakespeare had to choose the most thrilling aspect of the Wars of the Roses to adapt, and Richard IIIs saga cuts a fair way above Edwards.

Review

The appeal of the Penguin Monarch series is that the books are very short. I have read Charles I, Cromwell, and now A.J. Pollard’s Edward IV. They hardly surpass 100 pages.

It’s clear that the purpose of these books are to introduce the reader to their titular monarchs, not to give a detailed account of their lives.

In this, Pollard succeeds. His writing is accessible and flows well enough. We are given accounts of Edward’s character by contemporaries and historians, and a picture of how his reign may have seemed to the nobles and peasantry.

I would like to have seen more about the relationship between Edward and his brothers, but it is fair to say it was venomous at its best. And the period covering Edward’s exile was rather scarce, but it has continued to spur my fascination with that time of his life, and the commentary Pollard gave on all accounts was an even-handed estimation of Edward’s character, but what I’m after most of all, is an evaluation of his psychology.

For all it’s worth, Pollard’s Edward IV has put together some pieces of the puzzle of that king, unable to live up to his father’s achievements, but this book hints at a richer experience I’m yet to explore.