The Lost King cover art

The Lost King

The Search for Richard III

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The Lost King

By: Philippa Langley, Michael Jones
Narrated by: Emma Spurgin Hussey
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About this listen

The official inside story of the life, death and remarkable discovery of history's most controversial monarch.

On 22 August 1485, Richard III was killed at Bosworth Field, the last king of England to die in battle. His victorious opponent, Henry Tudor, went on to found one of our most famous ruling dynasties. Fifty years later, the king's grave was lost, its contents believed to be emptied into the river Soar and Richard III's reputation buried under a mound of Tudor propaganda.

Philippa Langley and Michael Jones trace the remarkable story of the search for the lost king, leading to the incredible moment when the 500-year-old mystery was solved as his remains were uncovered beneath a car park in Leicester. Featuring years of research on Richard III's fifteenth-century life and death, this is a compelling portrayal of one of our greatest archaeological discoveries that shines new light on history's most controversial monarch.

©2013 Philippa Langley (P)2013 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Archaeology Europe Great Britain Medieval Politics & Activism Royalty England King Tudor

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All stars
Most relevant  
One of the most incredible discoveries of all time. All made possible by one woman’s dogged determination.

A must read

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Liked author's narrative, and narrator's voice, very interesting and informative story, everything covered. Regained interest in history

difficulty with funding and dig prices

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Although self confessed in favour of overturning assumption about Richard III, this is an exciting and fascinating journey of great discovery. The achievement in finding the lost King’s remains cannot be understated. Nicely read and more palatable than many of the academic who-did-what-to-whom works.

Fascinating

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a wonderfully read story of a journey to discover the remains of one of the most controversial monarchs in British history.
emotive and enjoyable.

fit for a king

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I couldn't stop listening to this, the presentation of the life and history of Richard iii was well presented and done in a way that humanised him and brought him to life, while sharing information about him I had never heard before. This mixed with the emotional and fascinating events that was the search for his body, it's discovery and authentication makes for a simply wonderful book that is well read and completely sucks you in.

Brilliant, interesting, emotional and intriguing

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A very interesting book combining a biography of Richard III with the compelling search for his remains. Having listened to this book, I’m eager to find out more about Richard III. Well-read and an easy listen.

A wonderful book!

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I couldn't stop listening to this compelling book in both the search for his grave and righting the wrongs of our view of this English King. The Tudors and Shakespeare have done so much to blacken his name. This belief has carried on though the centuries since his death at the Battle of Bosworth.
Having read Josephine Teys Daughter in Time about Richard III I have had a fascination for his story. So many books have been written about the Tudors but few about Richard III, other than what the Tudors wanted to report of his short life.
I found it an excellent narrative, and quite emotional at times.
Well read and I for one throughly recommend.

Richard III dispelling the Tudor myth

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This book explains how the dig for Richard came about. I have always had a leaning towards Richard based on reading the Daughter of Time some years ago. 5 years ago my husband and I went to live in Market Bosworth on a narrow boat and every where you went were plaques to the battle and Richard. We took Dutch and Irish friends to the battle field to explain to them what happened. We lived there until the pandemic when we moved to a town close by as my husband is ill. This book brought back all we saw of the dig when it happened and also the journey of the body to its re burial. Today I bought the book in Kindle that kicked if off The last says of King Richard and what happened to his DNA. Read the both.

A modern miracle

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Really really enjoyed this book. I saw the original documentary but it was fantastic to hear more of the backstory, the passion involved and the different challenges faced.

It was great to get a in-depth portrait of Richard III.

Absolutely fantastic

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Despite the cover picture, this is NOT the book of the 2022 comedy drama film by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, The Lost King, but is the true account of the actual Looking for Richard project led by Philippa Langley and documented by Channel 4, as The King in the Car Park.
Langley describes her years of interest in Richard, her experiencing her certainty of his burial site, the raising of funds and gaining permissions to launch an archaeological investigation and the results ending shortly before the Kong's reburial. Interspersed between chapters is a fine and surprisingly easy to follow, given the turbulent times, account of Richard's life and foreground with illustrative quotations from contemporary documents,plus a final brief section considering the Princes in the Tower.debate.
A fascinating book, well read by Emma Spurgin-Hussey and clearly written, without bias, by Langley and co author, Michael Jones.
A must for anyone who has any interest in Richard 111, medieval or Tudor history, archaeology or just sheer stamina and belief in one's personal conviction.
Highly recommended.

"The most famous Prince of blessed memory."

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