Richard III: The Search for the "Real" King

Richard III is one of the most famous—and possibly the most infamous—of all British monarchs. For more than 500 years, his true nature has been debated. Evil uncle who deprived a young nephew of his claim to the crown? Or loyal Yorkist who took his rightful place on the throne and saved England from slipping back into civil war?

Richard’s story resonates in all its forms, from Shakespeare’s portrayal of a “bottled spider” to the undervalued king who received a five-day reburial celebration in 2015, complete with a tribute from Queen Elizabeth II. In an absorbing program, Tudor and Renaissance scholar Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger explores the various attempts to portray Richard III over the centuries, from the villain of Shakespeare to the heroic English king killed on the battlefield. She also considers the lasting impact of the last Plantagenet king as the country began to move into the Renaissance.

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