I'm wading into the fray! My next book, provisionally titled Long Live The King? The Mysterious Fate Of Edward II, will be published in about May 2017. It's a detailed exploration of the evidence for a) Edward's murder at Berkeley Castle in September 1327 and b) his survival for years after that date. I want to try to present both sides as neutrally as possible and allow readers to make up their own minds. It's a very current debate; the latest edition of Fourteenth Century England contains an article by Dr Andy King called 'The Death of Edward II Revisited', an edition of BBC History Magazine earlier this year contained a debate on the topic by Ian Mortimer and Nicholas Vincent, and in November 2015 an entire TV programme was devoted to it. (A mostly horrible TV programme, but still.) There's so much information and so much to discuss that I decided to write an entire book about it; of course Edward's murder or possible survival is discussed in my two previous books, but I only had very limited space, and have been desperate to write a book dedicated to the topic for years. Yay! I hope you're excited :-)
Look forward to this. I'm a great believer in the principle that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and I feel you are very qualified to present what evidence there is without going over the top in either direction.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Kathryn, and I wish you all the best. I look forward to reading it when it is published.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the book! Also, were the people who put on Doherty to talk about Edward II on TV show the same as those who put on Philippa Gregory to present the case for Richard III's innocence (up against David Starkey)? I'm wondering if they have a penchant for popular writers whose status as "historians" is debateable.
ReplyDeleteEsther
I can't for this book!
ReplyDeleteJust finally broke down and bought your first book. Should arrive this week. Best of luck with your second book
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone!
ReplyDeleteActually my second book is about Isabella of France and came out in March this year. This one will be my third. :-)
I am not waiting for this one, I AM LOOKING FOR IT LIKE A THIRSTY LOOKS FOR A WATER. I am sure it will be a treat just like the two previous books. You are doing excellent job, lady K.
ReplyDeletePS. I have already made up my mind on this one. He was not murdered at Berkeley. Trust me, I know :-)
Kathryn, excellent news. Read the first one, nearly finished the second. So
ReplyDeletehurry please with the third!! My opinion - Edward survived and did indeed live his later years in Italy but he does lie in Gloucester cathedral. Amanda
Thanks, Sami and Amanda! Great to hear your thoughts on this!
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