Five centuries have passed since Richard III was King of England. He reigned for just two years before retribution swept away his throne, his life, his dynasty - and his reputation. But recently the Shakespearian orthodoxy has been challenged, and Tudor historians now stand in the dock. In this portrait of a complex man and his times, Dr Hicks re-examines Richard's life, and using hitherto neglected contemporary sources he focuses on the issues and ideas expressed by the King and his enemies, and on the politics and intrigues of the Ricardian court. The author's other works on this controversial king include "Rivals of Richard III".