A gripping biography unearthing the truth behind England's most controversial king. Richard III has been the cause of more spilt ink than any other domestic figure. This biography explores what is known of Richard's childhood and the impacts it had on his personality and view of the world. Cast into insecurity and exile, he became a royal prince before his 10th birthday. As Richard spends his teenage years under the watchful gaze of his older brother, Edward IV, he is eventually placed in the household of their cousin, the Earl of Warwick, yet is compelled to make a choice when the House of York fractures. After another period in exile, Richard returns to become the most powerful nobleman in England. When crisis hits in 1483, it is to Richard that his older brother turns on his death bed. The events of 1483 remain contentious and hotly debated, but by understanding the Richard who began that year, it will become clearer what drove some of his actions and decisions. Returning to primary sources, this new life undoes the myths and presents a real man living in tumultuous times. For readers of English history , royal biographies , and the Wars of the Roses .