The Daughter of Time

by Josephine Tey

Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard, recuperating from a broken leg, becomes fascinated with a contemporary portrait of Richard III that bears no resemblance to the Wicked Uncle of history. Could such a sensitive, noble face actually belong to one of the world's most heinous villains - a venomous hunchback who may have killed his brother's children to make his crown secure?

Grant determines to find out once and for all, with the help of the British Museum and an American scholar, what kind of man Richard Plantagenet really was and who killed the Princes in the Tower.

• ISBN13: 9780099576273
• Publish Date: 2009 (first published December 1959)
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Imprint: Arrow Books
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 222
• Language: English

Reviews

[brokentune]

Richard III had been credited with the elimination of two nephews, and his name was a synonym for evil. But Henry VII, whose ‘settled and considered policy’ was to eliminate a whole family was regarded as a shrewd and far-seeing monarch. Not very lovable perhaps, but constructive and painstaking, and very successful withal. Grant gave up. History was something that he would never understand. The values of historians differed so radically from any values with which he was acquainted that he could never hope to meet them on any common ground.
I loved this book - it had absolutely everything that I wanted/needed on the rainy winter weekend when I read this.

In a way, I could relate quite well to Inspector Grant as he was laid up in hospital with nothing to do but stare at the ceiling, bored out of his head. Rainy winter weekends can have a similar effect. Unlike Grant, of course, it didn't occur to me to start a research project into the life and legacy of Richard III, I merely cozied up with Tey's book and a good supply of tea and snacks.

I can't even put my finger of why I thought the book was so enjoyable - part of me liked the characters and the banter, part of me liked the "mystery" element, even tho there is little mystery to it, and part liked the historical aspect of it. I loved how Tey chose to format the story, how she disguised her research into the story of RIII as a hobby to pass time with.

In a way, this is why I love historical fiction, not because it sugar-coats all of the historical information and presents it in an easily digestible narrative, but because it dares to ask questions and share how the actual research of non-fictional topics can be fun. It has the power to inspire people to learn more.

I for one will take a much closer look at portraits from now on, and especially the one of RIII.

[MurderByDeath]

I don't know what to say about this book.  I hate talking about books like this because I can't treat it as purely fiction, nor purely non-fiction.  It was well written; it was riveting, even when I was wondering why the hell I was still reading a book about a man flat on his back in a hospital bed.  I kept trying to drag MT into it so he could share my bemusement (he wouldn't be dragged).   At the end I'm left with two lingering questions:   Where the hell does the title of this book come into play?   Why, if this book uses factual evidence, do so many academic sources still claim Richard III killed the princes?   I enjoyed this, but I think someone with a stronger interest in the history of the British monarchy would eat this up and appreciate far more than I did.  And I'll definitely be checking out Tey's more traditional mysteries.

[nightingalereads]

3.5 stars