I’ve been lucky enough to be able to follow the exciting Richard III news on Goodreads; heaven knows American news has been doing diddly all with it, so the Ricardians and Plantagenet fans online were where I learned about the excitement, and where I’ve been kept apprised of happenings.
What news, you say? THIS news.
The skull of Richard III
It’s so extraordinarily cool. Even if he really did have a deformed back, which Ricardians have been refuting for ages (see Josephine Tey’s Daughter of Time). Shakespeare’s depiction of him was so very very bad, I guess they felt they had to refute it point by point, but he actually had scoliosis. We may never know how much else is true or false (princes in the Tower, and all), but it’s such a stunning thing to know exactly how he died, to be able to see that spine.
O to be in England now that the facial reconstruction’s done!
Related articles
- 6 things the discovery of Richard III’s remains isn’t going to do (nevillfeast.wordpress.com)
- England’s King Richard III found after 500 years – Reuters (reuters.com)
- In praise of … lost Richard III speech | Editorial (guardian.co.uk)
- Richard III’s Remains Found In Council Car Park (news.sky.com)
- Archaeologists unearth Richard III (blogs.nature.com)
- Where does skeleton revelation leave legend of Richard III? (cnn.com)
- Was Richard “Rubbished?” (blogs.loc.gov)
- Collection of links
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Helen
February 4, 2013 at 8:07 pm
this is just so exciting – I’ve read so much recently; differing opinions on his physical state ie scoliosis, his mental stability, his relationships with his peers, his reasons behind his marriage etc etc etc … fascinating
stewartry
February 4, 2013 at 8:10 pm
I know! I’ve been fascinated since the first time I read Daughter of Time – this is wonderful.
Helen
February 4, 2013 at 8:17 pm
of course, much has been made up here of the “Canadian connection” :) thank goodness for science & dna or we would never have known
stewartry
February 4, 2013 at 8:22 pm
That’s true, at least you had that! I haven’t seen a thing about it on our news till tonight.
Helen
February 4, 2013 at 8:32 pm
it did make the news when they found Mr. Ibsen and wanted to do DNA testing, but has been pretty quiet until now of course. I have been occasionally wandering the net in search of news though
Helen
February 5, 2013 at 6:16 pm
have you seen this article? http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2013/02/the-shape-of-a-life-richard-iiis-twisted-bones.html?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews
stewartry
February 5, 2013 at 8:45 pm
Thank you! That’s great stuff. Poor Richard – Shakespeare’s version of him will never go away, no matter what.