Description
The story of Perkin Warbeck is one of the most compelling mysteries of English history. A young man suddenly emerged claiming to be Richard of York, the younger of the Princes in the Tower. As such, he tormented Henry VII for eight years. He tried three times to invade England and behaved like a prince. Officially, however, he was proclaimed to be Perkin Warbeck, the son of a Flemish boatman. A diplomatic pawn, he was used by the greatest European rulers of the age for their own purposes. All who dealt with him gave him the identity they wished him to have: either the Duke of York or a jumped-up lad from Flanders. It is possible that he was neither. It is also possible that, by the end, even he did not really know who he was. In Perkin Ann Wroe tells again a marvellous tale that is on the brink of being forgotten. She also dissects the official cover story. In doing so she delves into the secret corners of European history and produces a portrait of the late fifteenth century that is breathtaking in its detail.
An extraordinary work of history by the author of Pilate.
About the Author
Ann Wroe is the Obituaries editor of The Economist, and has written its weekly obituary for almost two decades. She is the author of eight previous works of non-fiction, including biographies of Pontius Pilate (shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Award and the W.H. Smith Award), Perkin Warbeck, Shelley, Orpheus (winner of the Criticos Prize) and St Francis. She lives in Brighton and London.
Reviews
Extraordinary... Perkin is a masterclass in how biography can breathe life into the darkest and most inert pockets of the past * Guardian *
An unforgettable book... The best book I have ever reviewed in these pages * Mail on Sunday *
Gripping... With Perkin, Wroe has breathed new life into an obscure figure * Daily Mail *
A book that captures the temper of an age * Financial Times *
Rewards every moment of attention * Sunday Telegraph *
Book Information
ISBN 9780099449966
Author Ann Wroe
Format Paperback
Page Count 640
Imprint Vintage
Publisher Vintage Publishing
Weight(grams) 460g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 40mm
An extraordinary work of history by the author of Pilate.
About the Author
Ann Wroe is the Obituaries editor of The Economist, and has written its weekly obituary for almost two decades. She is the author of eight previous works of non-fiction, including biographies of Pontius Pilate (shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Award and the W.H. Smith Award), Perkin Warbeck, Shelley, Orpheus (winner of the Criticos Prize) and St Francis. She lives in Brighton and London.
Reviews
Extraordinary... Perkin is a masterclass in how biography can breathe life into the darkest and most inert pockets of the past * Guardian *
An unforgettable book... The best book I have ever reviewed in these pages * Mail on Sunday *
Gripping... With Perkin, Wroe has breathed new life into an obscure figure * Daily Mail *
A book that captures the temper of an age * Financial Times *
Rewards every moment of attention * Sunday Telegraph *
Book Information
ISBN 9780099449966
Author Ann Wroe
Format Paperback
Page Count 640
Imprint Vintage
Publisher Vintage Publishing
Weight(grams) 460g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 40mm
