Table of contents for No. 58 in All About History

A LITTLE OFF THE TOP, PLEASE FROM HAIRCUTS TO AMPUTATIONS For centuries, if you needed a boil lanced, a tooth pulled or a bone set, you went to the same place that you had your hair cut. This sort of dirty work was considered beneath scholarly physicians and was left to barbers, who already had sharp implements to hand. BARBER-SURGEON’S TOOLS USE WITH CAUTION! The barber-surgeon had all kinds of tools at his disposal to perform his various medical operations. These would include combs, syringes, pliers, a bone saw for nasty amputations and, of course, jars of leeches, ready for any bloodletting services required. SHAVING CLOTHS CLEAN IT UP A barber-surgeon needed to keep a large stock of linen to wipe up shaving soap or double as bandages after minor…

In his lifetime, Leonardo was celebrated as an artist and was lauded for his detailed observations in the 19th century when his notebooks were rediscovered. But it wasn’t until the 20th century that Leonardo was regarded as an inventor. This was largely due to Roberto Guatelli, a science and engineering graduate from the University of Milan who made a career out of building and exhibiting ‘interpretations’ of Da Vinci’s sketches. This began in 1939, when Benito Mussolini’s fascist government was looking for a hero to demonstrate Italy’s historic dominance over science, technology and the arts. Guatelli was hired with a number of others to create models for major exhibition in Milan. The Italian Ministry of Culture later took this show on the road, sending Guatelli and the models first to…

18 JULY 1936 The insurgent Nationalists take Seville within a day of the military coup being declared in Spanish Morocco, with 3,000 opponents reportedly executed within weeks. 8 AUGUST 1936 France closes its Spanish border. Both it and the UK decide not to intervene – unlike Germany, Italy and Russia, who supply weapons and aid to either side. 26 APRIL 1937 Civilians in the Basque town of Guernica are bombed by German and Italian aircraft. Franco’s propaganda unit attempts to deny Nationalist involvement. 3-7 MAY 1937 Trouble at a telephone exchange in Barcelona sees the various leftist factions split, leading them to fight each other. About 500 people are killed. 25 JULY - 16 NOVEMBER 1938 The lengthy and bloody Battle of the Ebro is the last major Republican offensive…

MORAY A fiercely independent kingdom within Scotland, it inhabited most of the Highlands and served as a buffer between the king of Scotland and the lords of the Isles. Although its rulers were usually subservient to the king, many Moray rulers fought on until the region was suppressed for good by David I in 1130. ALBA Another name for the kingdom of Scotland, this was the seat of the king. Ongoing tensions between Alba and Moray would shape the political landscape of the territories until their unification in 1130. The kings of Alba were also in a near-constant state of war with their southern neighbours in England. BATTLE OF LUNFANNON The site of Macbeth’s final battle. Retreating from the onslaught of Malcolm III’s forces, Macbeth and his men were caught…

INTERVIEW WITH… DR HYUN JIM KIM A senior lecturer in Classics at the University of Melbourne, Dr Hyun Jim Kim is an expert on all things Attila. He is the author of The Huns, Rome and the Birth of Europe and other books examining the Hunnic Empire and Asia’s role in the fall of Rome. “What he was interested in was getting a steady flow of tributes, which would enhance his prestige among the Hunnic elite” How important was Attila the Hun in the history of the Hunnic Empire? Some say he was the only thing that held the whole creaky structure of the Hunnic Empire together in the middle of the 5th century. But my view is a little bit different. I think the Huns inherited quite a sophisticated…

1868 The backstabbing begins Marsh bribes the New Jersey marl pit managers Cope usually works with to send their future fossil finds to him at Yale instead. 1871 Frontier prospecting Both men go west to dig for fossils. Believing he has the greater claim because he arrived first, Marsh hires spies to track Cope’s movements in Wyoming. 1873 Scientific snipping Marsh and Cope attack each other’s findings in scientific journals, quibbling findings and questioning who discovered species first. 1878 Trench warfare The professors’ teams in Wyoming and Colorado openly fight one another as well as destroy unwanted fossils to keep them out of rival hands. 1890 Public scandal When Congress investigate the US Geological Survey, Cope recruits employees to testify against Marsh and also went to the newspapers. The public…

The grave of the Birka Warrior, discovered in 1889, has always been held up as the pinnacle of the male Viking fighter. Buried alongside the remains were gifts of weapons, the skeletons of two horses and a board game. The latter may seem strange but it is an indicator that the deceased was a strategist and military leader. The conclusion that the grave belonged to a high-ranking warrior has existed for almost 130 years but in recent months it has been proven that the skeleton is actually that of a female, not a male. Now the game has changed as the evidence calls into question a long-standing norm — that Viking warriors were all male. The issue is that, despite this recent archaeological revelation, there is no concrete evidence that…

PORUS LEADER The king of the region lying between the Hydaspes and Acesines rivers was determined to prevent Alexander from invading his lands. Strengths Extremely brave and a capable general. Weakness Was lulled into believing that Alexander was not intent on crossing the Hydaspes soon. WAR ELEPHANT KEY UNIT Elephants were widely used in Indian warfare. Most crews of two to four men employed bows from atop the animals. Strengths Gigantic, strong, terrifying and intelligent animals. Weakness Would break off an attack when wounded or they lost their drivers. LONGBOW KEY WEAPON The weapon of the common Indian infantryman was a bamboo longbow that launched 1.4-metre arrows. Strengths Powerful, long-ranged and deadly. Weakness The big bow was heavy and difficult to string.…

“Walsingham was already cultivating the shrewd charisma and persuasiveness” The Elizabethan era is often seen as a golden age for England. The Virgin Queen offered stability after the bloody reigns of her brother and sister, Edward VI and Mary I. This led to a flourishing of literarure, art and music, with Shakespeare performing regularly in London. England also established its first colony, following Sir Walter Raleigh’s exploration of the New World. However, the truth is that 16th century England was the centre of a web of political intrigue. Elizabeth I was in constant danger of plots to overthrow her, with discontented Catholics who wanted to see an end to Protestant rule. These plotters were often in league with the most powerful nations in Europe, including Spain, France and the Papacy,…

Despite the fact that Walsingham likely saved the queen’s life countless times by thwarting conspiracies aimed to eliminate her, their relationship was complicated. It is no great secret that Elizabeth was a larger-than-life personality — loud, brash and outspoken — and she didn’t mince her words. Although she famously never married, Elizabeth was particularly fond of men and her support structure was composed pretty much entirely of them. She liked men who cooed over her, and especially ones who said what she wanted to hear. Walsingham, however, was not one of them. The two of them frequently disagreed on policy. Walsingham was very direct, honest and rather passionate about his opinions. For one, he was convinced that a marriage that Elizabeth sought between herself and Francis, the duke of Anjou,…

Author Simon Sebag Montefiore Publisher Weidenfeld & Nicolson Price £13 Released Out now Do not judge a book by its cover! This idiom has perhaps never been so true as it is about Simon Sebag Montefiore’s Titans of History. Sadly, while updating this collection of astonishing life stories with new entries on Michelangelo and Simón Bolívar, the publisher seemingly decided to take inspiration from The Guinness Book of Records for its new artwork. Fortunately, the book is everything it’s garish cover is not — a first-class chronology that is smart and exciting. From Jesus Christ to Genghis Khan, Shakespeare to Einstein, Catherine the Great to Margaret Thatcher, Titans of History features short biographical profiles of them all. A compilation of history’s most influential figures, it’s perhaps no surprise that these…

Author: Roy and Lesley Adkins Price: £20 Publisher: Little, Brown Britain was fighting on all fronts in the late 18th century, most notably with the American War of Independence from 1775, another war with France in 1778 and with Spain from 1779. The Siege of Gibraltar in 1778 saw the Spanish and the French assault the British garrison together in a sustained attack that lasted three years and seven months — the longest ever endured by the British Armed Forces. This highly readable account is told through papers and documents left behind by the people involved, so you feel as if you’re among the action. With plenty of drama to draw upon and an impressive commitment to research, this is a book to delight the military history enthusiast.…

Certificate 15 Director Peter Morgan Cast Claire Foy, Matt Smith, John Lithgow, Vanessa Kirby Price £25 Released Out now While costume dramas about kings and queens are commonplace, few are quite like The Crown. The opening scene rather graphically depicts George VI coughing blood into a toilet, while the following ten episodes are equally unflinching. Throwing open the doors of Buckingham Palace, The Crown bears all of the House of Windsor’s secrets from the royal couple’s marital tensions, the Duke of Edinburgh’s gaffes, and sibling squabbles as it charts the early years of Queen Elizabeth II. Claire Foy plays Elizabeth, from her marriage to Philip (Matt Smith) in 1947 through to the climax of her sister Princess Margaret’s (Vanessa Kirby) relationship with Peter Townsend (Ben Miles) in 1955. John Lithgow…

Decoding da Vinci ‘s genius Famed as an artist and an inventor, Leonardo has long been regarded as the original Renaissance man. But what did he really do to deserve the title? Battle of Hydaspes Alexander the Great takes on an army of elephants, while trying to cross a river, in the middle of a raging storm, in the dark. What could possibly go wrong? Elizabeth I’s secret agents Discover the extreme lengths Sir Francis Walsingham and his band of spies went to protect the Virgin Queen from foreign powers and homegrown plotters.…

From long braids to powdered wigs and pixie cuts, discover how hairstyle trends have changed throughout time 1550 BCE - 332 BCE WIGGING OUT Both Ancient Egyptian men and women shaved their heads entirely and wore elaborate and heavy wigs instead. Archaeologists have discovered combs inside the tombs of those from the elite circles of society. 800 BCE - 500 BCE CLASSIC CURLS Greek women curled their long hair using bronze rods heated over a fire and wore updos adorned with flowers and gold powder. The length of a woman’s hair indicated her social status while men either shaved or kept their hair short with facial beards. 509 BCE - 476 CE ALL HAIR LEADS TO ROME False hairpieces, made from slave hair, created long, thick hair that was elaborately…

Marie Antoinette is arguably the most iconic queen that France ever knew. Saint to some, the epitome of sin to others, she was famed for her love of decadence, beauty and largesse. She lived a life of luxury and became a figurehead of the Bourbon monarchy thanks to her exquisite taste in fashion and her trend-setting and painstakingly created hairstyles. The man responsible for keeping the queen’s do looking just so was Léonard-Alexis Autié. As a society stylist with a list of illustrious clients, no man knew the queen of France’s coiffure more intimately. THE JOURNEY TO VERSAILLES Thanks to his association with Marie Antoinette, Léonard-Alexis Autié, known as Léonard, was the most popular and in-demand stylist in Paris. This meant that he could only find room in his busy…

In the 18th century, more was more. Extravagance was the leading principle in art, music, architecture and, of course, fashion. Seldom have hairstyles been so wonderful and fantastic as during the Baroque period. Ladies all over Europe wanted to imitate the elaborate styles of the French court, which took inspiration from everything from political alliance to major life events. While the likes of Madam de Pompadour would employ a team of servants to create her giant coiffures, beauty blogger Lucy Kyselica explains how you can do it yourself. For more of her historic style tips, visit loepsie.com. WHAT YOU’LL NEED… Apply a pomade Prepare a mixture of beef marrow or lard, hazelnut oil and a few drops of lemon essence to set the hair. Style scaffold Use wool, tow, a…

The son of a minor Milanese noble, Francesco Melzi met da Vinci in 1505, aged 15, and joined his household soon after. He became da Vinci’s faithful companion and pupil, accompanying him wherever he went. Unlike some of da Vinci’s other students, Melzi was actually a talented artist whose style emulated his master’s so much that it has proven difficult to associate the correct artwork with the correct painter. It has often been argued, most notably by Sigmund Freud, that Melzi’s loyalty to da Vinci was to the detriment of his own artistic accomplishments, which were overshadowed. For centuries it has been debated whether da Vinci and Melzi were actually lovers but today most historians agree that it was more of a father and son relationship. It was Melzi who…

THE VIRGIN AND THE CHILD WITH SAINT ANNE Da Vinci had spent almost 20 years working on this painting when he died, leaving it incomplete. It depicts the Virgin Mary sitting on the lap of her mother, Saint Anne, while holding a young Jesus, all painted in the famous sfumato technique. Why the painting was left unfinished has led to much speculation but it is most likely because da Vinci’s attention was diverted elsewhere. COLOSSUS One of Leonardo’s greatest disappointments was his unrealized vision, Colossus, a seven-metre bronze equestrian statue. Commissioned by the duke of Milan, the statue provided da Vinco with the artistic challenge that he craved. He completed the clay model in 1493, ready for it to be cast in bronze. However, his work was dashed when the…

THE GHOST OF BANQUO In the play, Banquo is a friend Macbeth murders, only to be haunted by his ghost. Banquo was a mythical figure that the Stuarts — including King James I & VI — claimed descent from. Courting favour with the monarch, the Bard even has the witches predict Jame’s coming in the play, telling Banquo, “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.” In reality, it’s likely the Stuarts originated from a Breton family who came to Scotland after the Battle of Hastings and after Macbeth’s reign. LADY MACBETH Shakespeare’s leading lady is one of the most powerful women in literature, a queen with vaulting ambition and hardened ruthlessness. Sadly, we know little about Macbeth’s real wife, Gruoch, or her part — if any — in her…

Real timeline Attila comes to power Following the death of Rugila, Attila and his brother Bleda become rulers of the Huns in the West and East respectively. 434 CE Betrayal of brother Attila likely murders Bleda and becomes the single ruler of the Huns, shifting their centre of power west. 445 CE A new target Attila begins plotting a new attack on the Eastern Roman Empire to force them to pay tribute to him. 452 CE Real timeline Death of Attila After marrying an East German woman, Ildico, Attila dies on his wedding night, possibly after choking on a severe nosebleed. 453 CE The Huns divided The empire is split between Attila’s three sons but civil war soon breaks out. 454 CE Sacking of Rome Rome is sacked by Vandals,…

AUD THE DEEP-MINDED Queen of Dublin After the deaths of her husband, the Norse king of Dublin, and her son, Aud had her own ship constructed and she left the British Isles for Iceland. As a widow with control over her own resources, she provided land for the slaves that had accompanied her, whom she then turned into freedmen. She is often credited with introducing Christianity to Iceland. THE OSEBERG WOMAN Queen The remains of two women, one in her 50s and one in her 20s, were discovered inside the Oseberg burial ship, Norway. The richest Viking burial to be uncovered, it implies that one of the women was extremely wealthy and powerful. It has been suggested that this person could be Queen Åsa of Agder, who is associated with…

“This close proximity to the Führer meant that the two became close, impressing each other and finding mutual respect” Better known by his nickname the ‘Desert Fox’, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel is one of the more famous and polarising military commanders of World War II. Instantly recognisable by his trademark leather jacket and scarf, his command of the German Afrika Korps in their fight against General ‘Monty’ Montgomery and the 8th Army has seen his memory attain legendary status in the public eye. A member of the armed forces under the leadership of a powerful eugenicist, he is often held up as one of the few chivalrous men in an otherwise toxic leadership. But do his character and actions reflect this, or has propaganda — both Axis and Allied —…

Ingredients For one 30cm cake tier • 400g currants • 560g raisins • 840g sultanas • 3 tablespoons rum • 3 tablespoons brandy • 1/2 orange (juice) • 2 oranges (zest) • 375g unsalted butter • 225g brown sugar • 150g caster sugar • 4 tsp vanilla essence • 12 eggs • 450g self-raising flour • 1tsp bicarbonate of soda • 1 tsp ground cloves • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 2 tbsp black treacle Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh mark their platinum wedding anniversary on 20 November. Their marriage at Westminster Abbey 70 years ago was followed by a reception at Buckingham Palace. Even in the opulent palace ballroom, the royal wedding cake stood out. Nine feet high, it was made up of four tiers of…

Author Sarah Gristwood Publisher Oneworld Price £10 Released Out now They say that behind every great man there is a great woman, and this belief is comprehensively supported by the women in Sarah Gristwood’s latest book Game of Queens. In today’s age of influential female leaders, it is refreshing to read an account of the queens that held even greater power during 500 years ago. The fact that a proportion of them schemed and smiled their way to high places, as opposed to having to win elections to get there, only adds to the intrigue that permeates this original book. While the expected names of monarchs such as Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, feature, it is the shadowy characters like Catherine de’ Medici and Isabella of Castile that…

Author John Broich Publisher Duckworth Overlook Price £20 Released Out now Leopold Heath, George Sulivan, Edward Meara and Philip Colomb. Four Royal Naval officers who were determined to end the East African slave trade, despite the opposition they faced from the merchant class and the British government. Their story has been largely forgotten but historian John Broich has made a brilliant attempt at bringing these men back into the fold. Laid out chronologically, Broich entwines their stories with their battles against the slavers, seizing their ships and freeing the slaves trapped on board. He includes the impact their campaign had back home — it is interesting to discover how the abolition movement, which at this point was lulling in 19th-century Britain, was hit with renewed zeal as abolitionists seized on…

- THE ORIGINAL COLOUR OF SANTA’S SUIT REVEALED - WHY JINGLE BELLS ISN’T A CHRISTMAS CAROL - HOW GOOD WAS KING WENCESLAS REALLY? - WHY THE VIKINGS USED TO KISS UNDER MISTLETOE WU ZETIAN: THE DRAGON EMPRESS How the only woman to ever rule China clawed her way to the top SIMON SCHAMA: THE QUEST FOR BELONGING The historian reveals the challenge of chronicling Jewish history THE NAZIS VS THE NEW YORK MOB Why the US teamed up with the Mafia to fight fascists on home soil PLUS: London’s forgotten frost fairs, Viking law and order, Edward Longshanks: Thief king, The Bayeux Tapestry, The Byzantine Empire, Brazil’s Bandeirantes…

À LA BELLE POULE PARIS, 18TH CENTURY The victorious French battleship La Belle Poule was commemorated by adorning the hair with a (rather large) miniature. À LA POMPADOUR PARIS, 18TH CENTURY Madame de Pompadour, mistress of King Louis XV and great fashion idol of her time, first introduced the iconic pouf. TÊTE DE MOUTON PARIS, 18TH CENTURY The ‘sheephead’ was a popular French mid-century hairstyle featuring a row of defined curls along the front of the hair. À L’INOCULATION PARIS, 18TH CENTURY When vaccines proved to be successful against smallpox, ladies celebrated — of course — with an allegorical hairstyle.…

“THE BARD DIDN’T HAVE TO LOOK HARD TO FIND DRAMA AND INTRIGUE” Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s most famous works, having kept audiences spellbound with its tales of murder, betrayal and a sprinkling of the supernatural for centuries. It tells of an ambitious noble whose lust for power sees him kill his friend and king to gain the throne, spurred on by a prophecy from a trio of witches and his ruthless wife. Macbeth’s treachery sees his enemies come back for revenge and he dies alone and friendless at the end. We do not know a lot about the real Macbeth, who lived from 1005 1057. But what records we have suggest his rise to the throne, while quite different to Shakespeare’s tragedy, was no less bloody. We find…

GOLD 2500 BCE As far back as 2500 BCE the Chinese knew gold was resistant to corrosion, and they associated it with prolonged life. But with the rise of alchemy in Medieval times, the quest to create a drinkable form of gold kicked into high gear. Around 1300 CE an alchemist named Geber figured out how to make gold dissolve in a liquid, producing a salt – gold chloride – that could be mixed with water. 16th-century alchemist Paracelus later claimed drinkable gold helped with mania, epilepsy and St Vitus Dance disease. Yet it was toxic. The gold chloride salts could cause kidney damage and auric fever. This made the sufferer feverish and involved profuse salivation and urination. LOBOTOMY 1888 With no surgical experience, Swiss doctor Gottlieb Burckhardt operated on…

From the one-eyed god Odin to his hammer-wielding son, the thunder god Thor, Norse mythology is full of colourful deities. They were an integral part of the Old Norse religion, paganism, which was displaced in Scandinavia by the end of the 12th century with the arrival of Christianity. However, out of all of them, there was one pagan deity whose popularity continued to rise after Christianisation: Freyja. Devotion to her remained strong among Norse women despite Christian attempts to stamp out her popularity. Freyja, along with her brother Freyr, was the child of Njörd and his sister, whose name remains unknown. She was married to Oðr and together they had two daughters, Hnoss and Gersemi, although Oðr’s eventual disappearance leaves Freyja heartbroken. She is the goddess of love, sexuality, fertility,…

As a goddess of aeiðr, Freyja was seen as the archetype of the Völva, a Norse seer. Seiðr was a type of sorcery that could be used to see into the future and was practised by a number of Freya’s followers, who travelled from place to place delivering their prophecies. Freyja herself was a representation for the wandering seiðr, as she supposedly roamed the earth in search for her husband, Oðr, who had vanished. Völvas held a very prestigious position in society and were treated with great respect. Their status can be confirmed through the Völva graves that have been excavated, with the riches inside demonstrating that the women were indeed wealthy. Among some of the most common possessions to be discovered in Völva graves are magical staffs or wands,…

ALEXANDER THE GREAT LEADER Alexander was one of the finest generals of the ancient world and nearly invincible in battle. He died undefeated in 323 BCE. Strengths Daring, quick-thinking, fearless and aggressive. Weakness He often exposed himself to danger and had suffered several serious wounds by the time of the Hydaspes. COMPANION CAVALRY KEY UNIT The elite cavalry troopers of the Macedonian army. They fought beside Alexander in battle and delivered the killing blow against the enemy. Strengths They were brave, fast and talented horsemen. Weakness Few in number. SARISSA KEY WEAPON The two-handed, 1.5-metre-long pike of the phalangite, Alexander’s common infantryman. Strengths The extreme length of the weapon allowed for five pike-heads to project beyond the front rank of the phalanx. Weakness Unwieldy and of little use if the…

Napoleon Bonaparte, still a general for Revolutionary France but with one eye on seizing power, has invaded Egypt. His intention was to establish a colony and disrupt British trade with India. Unfortunately, the Egyptians have not thanked him for liberating their country from the Ottoman Empire as he had hoped. In fact, they are instead resisting him quite vigorously. But since the British Navy destroyed his fleet at Aboukir a few months ago, he can’t retreat or expect any reinforcements. This conquest is doomed to fail but will kick-start the serious study of the land of the pharaohs. Fancying himself a modern-day Alexander the Great, Napoleon handpicked 150 scientists, artists and engineers — collectively known as ‘the savants’ — to join his 55,000 troops. Instructed to document the ancient civilisation…

Giordano Bruno An Italian friar, poet and philosopher, Bruno was close friends with Philip Sydney. While he was in London, it is believed that Walsingham had him deployed as a spy for the court in the French embassy. His information led to the reveal of a plot to dispose of Elizabeth and replace her with Mary Stuart. Thomas Phelippes Coming from humble origins as the son of a cloth merchant, Phelippes managed to climb the social ladder thanks to his amazing ability with languages. Speaking French, Italian, Spanish, Latin and German, his skills easily transferred to make him a talented cryptographer and he was snatched up by Walsingham to decipher enemy letters. His work proved that Mary Stuart was involved in a plot to oust Elizabeth, resulting in her execution.…

“This is a story of possibly the most forlorn century in human history” Author Barbara Tuchman Publisher Penguin Random House Price £13 Released Out now For an author to attempt to tackle the best part of a century in one tome is a hugely ambitious endeavour. But to weave one’s way through the blood-soaked carnage of the 14th century is another challenge entirely. Barbara Tuchman, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, stands up to the task in this gripping book. Told largely through the eyes of Enguerrand de Coucy VII, a French nobleman blessed with a cool-headedness often lacking in so many of his contemporaries, this is a story of possibly the most forlorn century in human history. A 634-page-long book may sound like a summit too high for some readers,…

Author Philippa Gregory Publisher Simon & Schuster Price £20 Released Out now As he lay on his deathbed, aged just 15-year-old, King Edward VI named his Protestant cousin Lady Jane Grey as his heir. Within days of his death, despite her vehement refusal to be the de facto queen, Lady Grey was forced onto the throne. Bitter envy from Mary Tudor and her supporters dictated the queen’s short reign and by day nine she was removed from power. Considered a threat to the crown, she and her inner circle were escorted to the Tower of London where they faced certain death — the victims of the papist and Protestant battle that dominated England. Spared her life by Mary, the outlook for the Nine Day Queen continued to look bleak as…

Author Matthew Lewis Publisher Amberley Publishing Price £14 Released Out now Delving into Medieval history can sometimes feel daunting, especially for the uninitiated or casual enthusiasts. Not only is there an often-complex series of events to learn about, but the nature of politics and society were often so vastly different from what we know today that it adds another layer of confusion, rendering Medieval history off-putting for many. And it’s a shame, as the intricate history of events such as the Wars of the Roses is nothing short of fascinating. That’s why Matthew Lewis’ bite-sized addition to this extensively covered period of upheaval in Medieval England is such a welcome treat for enthusiasts of the period. By essentially dividing the most seminal, intriguing and sometimes strange events and elements of…