My review of Stephen's latest book

Book title: The Battle of Pavia,
1525 (Bretwalda Battles)
Kindle ebook
ASIN: B00JJ4XEJW
Author: Stephen Lark
Published by Bretwalda Books, April
2014

For me, this little book's initial attraction
was that it features the riseand eventual fallof the noble de la Pole family
of England, centring specifically on the sons of John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of
Suffolk and Elizabeth Plantagenet, sister of both Edward IV and Richard III. It
is the youngest son, Richard de la Pole, known to history by the sobriquet White
Rose, who is of consequence here. Well, he is if the reader is, like me, deeply
immersed in the Ricardian aspects of these events. But from the White Rose I
have been lured into the broader, more intricate political wheeler-dealering in
Europe that culminated in the famous battle at Pavia in Italy. A long way from
home for poor Richard de la Pole, the last Yorkist claimant to the throne of
England.
The de la Poles owed their political
importance to a believed decision made by Richard III in 1485. Widowed and
without a legitimate child, the king is said to have chosen his eldest nephew,
Lincoln, as his heir. This changed everything for the de la Pole brothers. From
the moment of King Richard's bloody demise at Bosworth Field, the Earl of
Lincoln became the rightful king, with a claim far greater in blood and
legitimacy than that of the usurper, Henry VII, who set about ridding himself of
the de la Poles, one by one.
On seeing the fates of his elder brothers,
Richard de la Pole wisely skipped to France and stayed there. He fell in with
the French King, Francis I, and became widely regarded as the true King of
England. Francis saw in him a very useful weapon with which to prod and threaten
the Tudors, who always feared a Yorkist challenge. Francis intended to aid the
White Rose in an invasion of England, but first had other things to attend
to.
France had designs upon parts of Italy which
she believed were her property. Richard de la Pole joined Francis in this, and
the scene was set for what was to come, including the swift and inexorable
advance of the Renaissance. Everything, from religion and printing, to art and
science, and much more, seemed to coalesce in a short period. Add this to the
Italian wars, and the powder keg is primed.
The Spanish Habsburgs were powerful across
Europe, and their army, joined by the garrison of Pavia, confronted the French
outside the city on a February morning in 1525. The French were decimated, and
Richard de la Pole, the White Rose, was left dead on the field. With him died
the de la Pole claim to the English throne. There is no doubt that had he lived,
he would have endeavoured to return to England in the hope of applying a Yorkist
crowbar between the throne and the tenacious Tudors. But it was not to be. Pavia
put paid to everything.
All this is related precisely in this
book, and yet in full detail. I was impressed by the depth of the author's
knowledge. Not only does he write compellingly, but commands a wealth of
invaluable research about the lead up to, and outcome of, the Battle of Pavia,
which conflict is the undoubted star of the show. And
being Stephen Lark, he starts his book with a tantalising hook' concerning the
marriage of a mysterious lady, Marguerite de la Pole-Suffolk. Then he leaves us
wondering . . . until, at the very end, he explains a little more about her,
offering the fascinating and exciting information that not only was she
Ah, but I think to tell more would be a spoiler. All I will say is that I
venture to hope the author might delve a little more into Marguerite's
story
I am not a historian, but enjoy history,
especially when it concerns events that touch in some way upon King Richard III.
This book comes with my recommendation. I hope other readers enjoy it as I did .
. . and that they realize how very much more they know afterwards than before.
As I
do.

Been quite busy over the last few months but this is on my list to buy. At present Stephen is writing another book and is playing havoc with the Ricardian site on Facebook giving little clues but not enough to be able to guess the subject of the book.Apparently it has Ricardian connections. So that will be a good read too, when it comes out. Mary

Thanks, Sandra for this review--Battle of Pavia is now on my "to read" list.  A good reminder that the legitimatist Yorkist cause was far from finished by Bosworth, and furthermore how contingent history really is.  
Anne