Richard II
King, Culture and the Court of Venus
Format:Hardback
Publisher:The History Press Ltd
Published:22nd Oct '26
Should be back in stock very soon
The definitive extended biography of not only Richard II but also his fourteenth-century court
Richard II is one of England’s most notorious kings. Just a child when he came to the throne, he was thrust into instability. Even so, Richard was not a warrior king, but someone who championed art, literature and frivolity. He surrounded himself with a glittering court in which women played an unusually prominent role. He honoured them as Ladies of the Garter, while his favoured courtiers were derided as ‘knights of Venus’, mocked for having ‘more prowess in the bedroom than on the field of battle’.
Beneath this carefree surface, however, dangerous tensions simmered. As resentment deepened, rivalries erupted into exile, murder and rebellion, pushing England to the brink of civil war. But Richard’s reign was also a golden age for culture and the arts, and reshaped the royal court in ways that would echo for generations, helping to lay the foundations for the conflicts that culminated in the Wars of the Roses.
Acclaimed historian Gemma Hollman brings Richard’s fascinating world to life, offering a definitive look at the origins of one of the most significant eras of English history.
‘A deeply researched, richly detailed and endlessly fascinating account of ... one of England’s most intriguing monarchs. Highly recommended!’ - KATHRYN WARNER, author of Richard II: A True King’s Fall
'In sparkling, pacy prose, Gemma Hollman expertly weaves together the myriad strands of politics, warfare, culture, religion and finance that dominated royal life in the late fourteenth century, while also giving due prominence to the many influential and often overlooked women at Richard II’s court. The resulting tapestry is a revelation: an original, nuanced and multi-layered portrait of one of England’s most misunderstood kings.'
-- Catherine Hanley'Richard II is usually remembered as a boy-king and a tyrant, his reign cut short by deposition and death. In this book, Gemma Hollman reveals a different side to Richard and his court, skilfully contrasting rebellion with artistic brilliance, courtly glamour with political collapse. As ever, Hollman brings women to the forefront of medieval history, shining a light on their roles at the dazzling court of Richard II and offering a fresh perspective on one of England’s most fascinating kings. A must-read for scholars and history lovers alike.'
-- Sylvia Barbara Soberton, author of Mary Boleyn: The Queen's Slandered Sister'A deeply researched, richly detailed and endlessly fascinating account of the turbulent life, reign, and court of one of England's most intriguing monarchs. Highly recommended!’
-- Kathryn Warner, author of Richard II: A True King’s FallISBN: 9781803995250
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