The King in the Car Park

Langley, Philippa, and Michael Jones.  The King's Grave: The Discovery of Richard III's Lost 
         Burial  Place and the Clues It Holds.  London: John Murray, 2013.  
         ISBN: 9781250044105

The King's Grave is two short, intertwined books sharing a common cover.  The authors alternate chapters with Philippa Langley focusing on the search for the grave and Michael Jones the history of Richard III.

Philippa Langley opens the book by laying out how she became obsessed with Richard III.  She takes the reader with her as she walks the car parks in Leicester and experiences the feeling that she is standing on Richard  III's grave.  The whole process of arranging the funding, getting the permissions, finding archeologists willing to conduct the dig, etc. is all detailed.  Philippa Langly provides an immersive  experience for the reader  as she attends the dig, with all the emotions of finding bodies, disappointment regarding dating and placement, the thrill of possible identification and finally the acknowledgement that Richard III had been found and seeing the reconstruction of his features.  

Micheal Jones provides a more scholarly tone to the book with his chapters on the life and death of Richard III.  He provides a setting for Richard's life, placing him in his time rather than viewing him in isolation.  He takes the time to walk the reader briefly through Richard's life looking at the experiences that shaped and molded his character.  Micheal Jones then sets the scene for Richard's taking the throne after the death of his brother.  Richard III's brief reign is examined leading to the climax with the Battle of Bosworth Field.  The chapter on the battle provides one of the clearest account I have read of the fight and clarifies how and probably why Richard III ended up a loser in the battle. 

I found the two entwined tales interesting for the first-hand look at how archeology is done in modern England and the careful summarization of Richard III's life.  The two appendices were the only disappointing part of the book.  The first was an argument between the two authors regarding the fate of the princes in the Tower of London and Richard's role.  The second is a summarization of an article on the psychological profile of Richard III which had appeared in the March 2013 issue of Richarian Bulletin.  If you have an interest in Richard III or are intrigued by the finding of his grave in 2012, read The King's Grave to satisfy your itch for knowledge.