The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
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Book Reviews of The Daughter of Time
Book Review: THERE IS MORE TO THIS THAN MEETS THE EYE...
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful genre bending book...part history, part mystery. Written by Scotswoman Elizabeth MacIntosh, who wrote under the pen name Josephine Tey, it was first published in 1951. It is tragic that the author died in 1952 and was never to know the pleasure that this book would bring to generations of readers and that the Mystery Writers of America would ultimately rank it fourth among the one hundred best mysteries ever written.
The title of the book is derived from a historical source, as it is attributable to Sir Francis Bacon, "For truth is rightly named after the daughter of time, and not of authority." The book itself is not a traditional mystery but rather an application of deductive reasoning to an actual historical event. The event in question is the murder of the princes in the tower, sons of King Edward IV, allegedly by their uncle, Richard III, who eventually usurped the English throne after the death of his brother. It has been widely held that Richard III did, indeed, murder the two young princes, his nephews, in order to secure his claim to the throne.
The reader is introduced to Scotland Yard Inspector Alan Grant, who is hospitalized and recovering from injuries sustained in the line of duty. While convalescing, he becomes intrigued by a picture of a portrait of Richard III, a likeness with which he is unfamiliar. Grant is puzzled that someone with such a sensitive face could have been such a monster as to murder his two nephews in cold blood. So, our intrepid Inspector decides that he will reconsider the evidence upon which such a dastardly assumption has been based. With the help of an American researcher doing the necessary legwork, Grant compiles enough archival historical fact that incrementally helps him formulate a new theory as to who actually may have murdered the princes in the tower.
This analysis and reformulation is done as though it were being argued to a jury. Indeed, so persuasive is Inspector Grant through the application of some insightful deductive reasoning and clever dialogue that the reader comes away thinking that Grant has solved one of the most intriguing historical mysteries of all time. This is certainly an unusual book conceptually but one that succeeds brilliantly. It should appeal to those readers who enjoy having a mystery unraveled, as well as to those who harbor a love of English history. Bravo!
Book Review: PART ENGLISH HISTORY... PART ENGLISH MYSTERY...
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful genre bending book...part mystery, part history. Written by Scotswoman Elizabeth MacIntosh, who wrote under the pen name Josephine Tey, it was first published in 1951. It is tragic that the author died in 1952 and was never to know the pleasure that this book would bring to generations of readers and that the Mystery Writers of America would ultimately rank it fourth among the one hundred best mysteries ever written.
The title of the book is derived from a historical source, as it is attributable to Sir Francis Bacon, "For truth is rightly named after the daughter of time, and not of authority." The book itself is not a traditional mystery but rather an application of deductive reasoning to an actual historical event. The event in question is the murder of the princes in the tower, sons of King Edward IV, allegedly by their uncle, Richard III, who eventually usurped the English throne after the death of his brother. It has been widely held that Richard III did, indeed, murder the two young princes, his nephews, in order to secure his claim to the throne.
The reader is introduced to Scotland Yard Inspector Alan Grant, who is hospitalized and recovering from injuries sustained in the line of duty. While convalescing, he becomes intrigued by a picture of a portrait of Richard III, a likeness with which he is unfamiliar. Grant is puzzled that someone with such a sensitive face could have been such a monster as to murder his two nephews in cold blood. So, our intrepid Inspector decides that he will reconsider the evidence upon which such a dastardly assumption has been based. With the help of an American researcher doing the necessary legwork, Grant compiles enough archival historical fact that incrementally helps him formulate a new theory as to who actually may have murdered the princes in the tower.
This analysis and reformulation is done as though it were being argued to a jury. Indeed, so persuasive is Inspector Grant through the application of some insightful deductive reasoning and clever dialogue that the reader comes away thinking that Grant has solved one of the most intriguing historical mysteries of all time. This is certainly an unusual book conceptually but one that succeeds brilliantly. It should appeal to those readers who enjoy having a mystery unraveled, as well as to those who harbor a love of English history. Bravo!
Book Review: Richard III as a mystery story
Summary: 5 Stars
Many years ago, a friend of mine who was interested in English history (she now writes mystery novels from the Medieval Era), suggested that I read a book on Richard III. I did so and found my prejudices against that monarch begin to fall away as I considered the evidence rather than what had been transmitted to readers.
This is that book, Josephine Tey's historical mystery as to who killed the two young sons of Edward IV. The plot is very simple. London police officer Alan Grant is in a hospital for an injury related to his work. While lying in bed, bored, he receives some pictures from an actress friend. One of these is a rendering of Richard III. He finds the image transfixing and decides that he wants to learn more about that monarch. With a young researcher, he sets out to solve the mystery of who murdered the young children. By the way, keep the genealogy on pages 8-9 available at all times. It's hard to know the players without this handy listing of who begat whom and who married whom.
Grant, with his young partner, gathers secondary and primary information. Grant, as a result, comes to think that Richard had gotten a bad rap, that he was--in fact--a good brother to Edward IV, a good administrator, a brave and capable military leader, and a person who was willing to forgive his adversaries (much to his regret as events turned out). A curious sort of person to order the death of his nephews. At any rate, some historical figures take a beating in this book. As soon as I read the phrase that the two sleuths used for Thomas More, "the sainted More," I knew that this was the book I had written long ago. I recall bon mots with my friend over that phrase after she had convinced me to read this volume.
In the end, Grant uses his detective's mind set to determine who the murderer (or he who ordered the murders) was. His logic makes a certain degree of sense, although others would disagree. Nonetheless, this is a fascinating book, written over a half century ago. It still reads well and moves along quickly.
Book Review: WHAT IS TRUTH
Summary: 5 Stars
Author Elizabeth MacKintosh, wrote under the pseudonym of Josephine Tey. She died in 1952 but her unique talent continues to entertain and enlighten her readers with her unusual mystery scenarios. With Daughter of Time she invites us to join the team of a 20th century Scotland Yard inspector Alan Grant and an American researcher currently on assignment at the British Museum as they utilized their powers of deductive reasoning (ala Sherlock Holmes) to ascertain the truth about with Richard III. Having been previously characterized by everyone from Shakespeare to Sir Thomas More as an evil hunchbacked usurper who murdered his two young nephews in the Tower of London in order to claim the throne; the Richard Plantagenet of this investigation is portrayed as an unusually trusting, loving and gentle man with no physical deformity.
As creatively and intellectually plotted as this novel is, its' true beauty lies in the fact that it encourages the reader to THINK. It obliquely tells us that one should never accept any recorded history without question since most history is written from the perspective of those in power at the time and is not necessarily factual. In addition it enhances knowledge and vocabulary and sent this reader scurrying to the computer to look up definitions of items such as Bill of Attainder, Titulus Regius, and Star Chamber (lo and behold....it is more than a movie with Michael Douglas).
Admittedly, this is a novel and the "Richard argument" presented by Tey's characters, although compelling, should not be viewed as incontrovertible fact. Her writing, however, deserves to be treasured and enjoyed like a fine wine that is rolled around on the tongue and savored before it is swallowed.
Book Review: This book will forever change your idea of history!
Summary: 5 Stars
We tend to believe that the history we are taught, certainly at least in regard to the major figures and events, is as actual and factual as any hard science. In fact, the narratives of history, even the common structures about which there seems to be scant controversy, are in great measure opinions bequeathed to us by power brokers in justification of the continuation of their power and our subservience to it. This little entertaining book, presented as a novella, tears the cover off of this charade and once you have read it you will never be able to relax back into the quasi sleep of mass societal amnesia from which it has awakened you. While the story here is the pursuit of the truth of Richard III, who we all "know" as taught to us by Shakespeare and academic history primers was a disfigured arch villain who murdered the innocent princes in the Tower in unrelenting pursuit of the crown and who it turns our was nothing of the kind, this propaganda concocted by...... (here I stop so as not to spoil the mystery!) we then feel empowered to eschew mindless acceptance of all similar tales we have been spoon fed. Let this tiny classic illuminate some rainy afternoon. Then, particularly for American readers, move on to James Loewen's LIES MY TEACHERS TOLD ME, and your awakened life will have begun in earnest.