Edward IV, England’s Forgotten Warrior King

Dr. Corbet’s Edward IV, England’s Forgotten Warrior King is a fascinating biographical account of King Edward IV, who ruled England off and on in the mid-fifteenth century. The first section of this book tells the story of Edward IV’s rise, his first reign, and his second reign after regaining the throne. The second section looks at the aftermath of Edward’s passing, at his young successor Edward V, and his brother Richard, the man named Protector, who would go on to take the throne for himself, as well as at the legacy Edward IV left behind. The last section looks at the people in Edward IV’s life — his family, the other major power players if the English aristocracy, various other rulers in Europe at the time, and, of course, Edward’s enemies. Included at the back are various useful appendices.

King Edward the Fourth is not a historical person with whom I have much familiarity. My historical interests lie in different eras, and different regions. Yet, for all that, I do enjoy historic accounts, and this was no exception. I found this book to be easy to read, with none of the dryness I have had the misfortune to come across in some of my other scholarly readings, making it a good choice for both the passing enthusiast, as well as the more serious scholar. While admittedly unfamiliar with this particular person, the book and its contents seemed well-researched and accurate. In addition, there is an extensive bibliography section for further research of one’s own into the materials the author used in crafting his biography of Edward IV.

My favorite part was the very first section. While arguably the shortest of the sections, it was where most of the interesting action to me, relatively speaking, took place. Corbet’s take on Edward IV gave me a greater appreciation for the man, the King, and the times in which he lived. If you have an interest in Edward IV in particular, or in English history of the fifteenth century, I would highly recommend giving Dr. Anthony Corbet’s Edward IV, England’s Forgotten Warrior King a read.