| Wildlife and Nature Books Online in Association with Amazon.com |    |
|
|
|
| Daughter of Time | 
| Author: Josephine Tey
Publisher: Berkley Pub Group (Mm)
Category: Book
List Price: $1.50
Buy Used: $0.44
You Save: $1.06 (71%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  136 reviews
Sales Rank: 3487446
Media: Paperback
ISBN: 0425019276
EAN: 9780425019276
ASIN: 0425019276
Publication Date: October 1975
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
Josephine Tey is often referred to as the mystery writer for people who don't like mysteries. Her skills at character development and mood setting, and her tendency to focus on themes not usually touched upon by mystery writers, have earned her a vast and appreciative audience. In Daughter of Time, Tey focuses on the legend of Richard III, the evil hunchback of British history accused of murdering his young nephews. While at a London hospital recuperating from a fall, Inspector Alan Grant becomes fascinated by a portrait of King Richard. A student of human faces, Grant cannot believe that the man in the picture would kill his own nephews. With an American researcher's help, Grant delves into his country's history to discover just what kind of man Richard Plantagenet was and who really killed the little princes.
Product Description
Josephine Tey re-creates one of history's most famous -- and vicious -- crimes in her classic bestselling novel, a must read for connoisseurs of fiction, now with a new introduction by Robert Barnard Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard, recuperating from a broken leg, becomes fascinated with a contemporary portrait of Richard III that bears no resemblance to the Wicked Uncle of history. Could such a sensitive, noble face actually belong to one of the world's most heinous villains -- a venomous hunchback who may have killed his brother's children to make his crown secure? Or could Richard have been the victim, turned into a monster by the usurpers of England's throne? Grant determines to find out once and for all, with the help of the British Museum and an American scholar, what kind of man Richard Plantagenet really was and who killed the Little Princes in the Tower. The Daughter of Time is an ingeniously plotted, beautifully written, and suspenseful tale, a supreme achievement from one of mystery writing's most gifted masters.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 131 more reviews...
recovering Richard December 1, 2008
The Daughter of Time is an historical mystery structured as an investigation by a bored and bed-bound detective, contemplating a portrait of Richard III.
The title of this book is itself something of a mystery - who is the daughter? The mystery revolves around Richard III, his brother Edward IV, his cousin Henry VII, and the nephews Richard was blamed for murdering. The story is told in the male voices of detective Alan Grant and his research assistant Brent Carradine. Josephine Tey opens her book with a proverb attributed to Aulus Gellius: "truth is the daughter of time." So the title is ostensibly nothing but an irrelevant personification. But reader will notice that much of the story development relies on snippets from "The Rose of Raby," a fictional biography of Cicely Neville, the mother of Edward IV and Richard III. "The Rose of Raby" is Ms. Tey's own invention. It is tempting to suppose that her original intention was to write a romantic history of a woman who raised both the best and worst of Kings (Edward vs. Richard). This intention would have been sidetracked when her research proved that the popularized villainy of Richard was nothing but the well-publicized slander of Henry Tudor.
I note that in 2002 C. L. Grace published a derivative detective story titled "La Rose de Raby."
Nevertheless, the story is compelling even for the modern reader who expects a more naturalistic treatment of history and the American reader who has no natural respect for royalty.
And the title of this review? The cover illustration on my copy of this book is appropriately a mirror image of the National Gallery portrait that is the subject of the story.
 Don't Get It, Don't Care October 6, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Almost one-half way through this so-called mystery, I had to put it down. Perhaps you had to be British to care about whether Richard III killed his nephews. There seems to be more engaging historical mysteries. And what about the use of research as a device to tell a mystery tale? It simply did not work. Perhaps she could have written a history book instead? I didn't get it. Also, I doubt if I will read anything else by Tey.
 A brilliant concept September 11, 2008
Josephine Tey obviously did a great deal of research for this brief mystery and the finished product is one of those literary gems that will always be one of my (our) favorites. A great mystery and truly great read.
Ed Wells
Witty, dynamic and uncomplicated August 21, 2008
Dynamic and uncomplicated story that keeps unraveling with the speed of an avalanche.
Set in an unexpected surroundings (a hospital), the story evolves around the investigation
and subsequent discovery of the true reason behind the murders of the Two Princes in 1483.
The writing style is engaging, full of interesting fact and witty comedic nuances that make one oblivious to the time it takes to finish the book. The author gets to the heart of matter without painting unnecessary surroundings. It's a well-written, entertaining book and I recommend it if you have an afternoon to kill.
by Simon Cleveland
WHAT IS TRUTH June 12, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
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.
|
|
|
Wildlife, nature and the Environment
Sponsored Links
Learn how to get your own Amazon Book shop | |
|
