A new balanced portrait of Richard II, one of the mosat important and controversial of the mediaeval Plantagenet sovereigns. Overshadowed in his youth by the personality and illustrious name of his father, the Black Prince, he nevertheless lacked neither mental or physical courage despite beibg of slender build. His aim was to establish a regime of royal absolutism. Why did he fail? Bryan Bevan gives an intriguing answer. He alaso assesses Richard's civilised tastes and artistic importance of his reign.
