The New Murrey and Blue blog

“….There is one line in Josephine Tey’s magnum opus, ‘The Daughter of Time’, that chills to the bone: “Tomorrow, a whisper may destroy you.” In the novel, these words ring true for Richard III, whose reputation is decimated by Tudor propaganda….”

Oh, yes, how true, especially when the whispers come in a thunderous stage-managed torrent. Because of this, it is a fact universally acknowledged that the honour and reputation of King Richard III has indeed been decimated by his enemies’ lies…. Why in the heck we should believe the Tudors, I really don’t know, but they sure were efficient at spreading disinformation. And they had ample help from Bishop John Morton, Sir Thomas More, Shakespeare and an endless stream of prominent TV documentaries by Tudorite historians who couldn’t see the truth if it bit them.  This being so, how on earth are today’s children going to even wonder if there was another side to the Richard III coin?

As for Tudor efficiency with their never-ending destruction of Richard’s reputation, well, they had to justify planting their usurping backsides on the throne—which they did through the treachery of the Stanleys at the Battle of Bosworth. But for the wretched Stanleys, I don’t doubt that Richard’s final, magnificent charge would have succeeded  But it’s hard to win a charge when some of your own side suddenly nip over to the opposition and stabs you in the back. The Stanleys were adept at changing allegiance, and for anyone to trust them was perhaps a little unwise. Whatever, they were responsible for Henry Tudor stealing Richard’s throne. What else could be said of their actions when they planned to turn on Richard and manipulate his death. That’s murder.

Anyway, thanks to their treachery, we had over a hundred years of the “glorious” Tudors. Eh? They were a dark, miserable, cruel, oppressive bunch, one of whom was the odious Henry VIII, scourge of womankind. The only decent one was Elizabeth I. What might have happened if she’d had a son is anyone’s guess. But the Plantagenets had gone forever.

This article https://tinyurl.com/5baw5vh7 encourages schools to give their students copies of The Daughter of Time, a landmark novel by the late Josephine Tey. Why landmark? Because it set out the case in favour of Richard III, but in the form of a detective novel. It’s a brilliant work that has been the reason why thousands of people have begun to see the Richard III side of the coin. Which side is, of course, very different indeed from the glib lies churned out by the Tudors. To the victor the spoils, and history is written by the winners.

“….Published in 1951, this detective story delivers a stark warning, illustrating how unchallenged narratives – even a mere ‘whisper’ – can rewrite history, destroy reputations, or distort the truth. Without the skills to separate fact from fiction, we are effectively helpless….”

To read more of Tey’s plot, and why the book remains so hugely popular, please go to the same link https://tinyurl.com/5baw5vh7.

The moment has come to show today’s students that the usual old lies are NOT the truth! And truth is The Daughter of Time. For heaven’s sake, show them how to question what has been spewed out so relentlessly for too many centuries. Shakespeare wrote fiction, not fact. Sir Thomas More was not an eye witness to the events he writes about so convincingly. Oh, and as he’s now a saint, he couldn’t possibly have told untruths! Oh, yeah? Wanna bet? And as for Bishop John Morton….he simply hated Richard III and the House of York, and would have advocated Satan’s side of it if he thought it would damage Richard!

So yes, please! Give today’s students a book they’ll not only enjoy but will teach them to think anew about Richard III. They will also learn how unwise it is to accept what one reads or hears….or is even taught in schools. There is always another side of the coin.

And as a PS to this article, what should pop up on my screen this morning but this! https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/cast-confirmed-for-the-daughter-of-time-stage-adaptation_1681613/ and https://theatreweekly.com/the-daughter-of-time-announces-full-cast-ahead-of-world-premiere-at-charing-cross-theatre/. The Daughter of Time is certainly advancing the true history of Richard III.

by viscountessw.