Voted greatest mystery novel of all time by the Crime Writers’ Association in 1990, Josephine Tey recreates 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 … 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.
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This is the first Tey mystery I have read. Rather than a traditional detective story, our hero is confined to a hospital bed for the entire story. While convalescing Detective Grant becomes obsessed with the story of Richard the Third and his murder of his two nephews and decides there must be more to the story than is commonly taught in school. …
Like most modern Americans, my knowledge of British history is limited to the popular–not to mention critical–highlights: 1066, Henry VIII and his luckless wives, Victoria’s introduction of white as the preferred color for wedding dresses. Beyond that, I really don’t care.
So when a fellow mystery lover expressed his shock that I’d never read …
This look at the life of Richard III from contemporary accounts is mesmerizing. The real Richard is portrayed as gentle, just, and concerned for his people — nothing like the character created by Shakespeare, whose patroness was Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry Tudor (who usurped Richard’s throne).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how it exposes the truth and lies of history. I’ve thought about this book many times since reading it; history is written by the winners and there will always be a slant to it but truth is the daughter of time.
I’m new to Josephine Tey, and I understand she is well known for her mysteries. This book was published in 1951, and I see she is a Scottish writer, so I guess I was expecting something quaint. And I would say this pretty much falls into that category for me. The protagonist is a cop—or a detective, I suppose—who is laid up in the hospital and …
Trapped in a hospital bed by a broken leg, Inspector Grant sets out to think his way through the enduring historical mystery of whether Richard III was really the villain Shakespeare portrayed.
I found myself wondering, was it really a novel? More like a revisionist history of Richard III validated by the remove afforded by fiction. But that’s a …
This story is about Inspector Alan Grant who is laid up in the hospital with a broken leg. During his boredom, he discovers Richard III and become fascinated with his story. He sets out to find out the truth about him. Did he really kill his two nephews to secure the crown? Or was he framed? Alan sets out to find out the truth of who really …