Re-imagining the Sons of York ~ A guest post by Wendy Johnson

When I began work on my debut novel, The Traitor’s Son, a retelling of the turbulent life of a young Richard III, I decided to keep the action close. Focussing on deep-seated family relationships, the novel reimagines Richard’s early years as he matures from a troubled child to a courageous warrior of eighteen.

The sons of Richard, duke of York – King by Right, yet branded a traitor by his Lancastrian enemies – were born into a world of violence and uncertainty. York’s dissatisfaction with the ineffectual rule of Henry VI and the disastrous influence of the queen’s favourites, led to over thirty years of dynastic strife known to us as the Wars of the Roses. Parliament’s acceptance of York as heir apparent, which disinherited Henry’s son, was rejected by the queen and led to the duke’s death; a political crisis which overshadowed his three surviving sons, Edward, George and Richard. The Traitor’s Son, explores the brother’s tragic lives, delving deeply into their psyche and their complex relationships with each other.

York’s children appear to have been united in their reverence for their late father, but how well did they get along with each other? Much has been made, particularly in fiction, of Richard’s idealistic view of his eldest brother, Edward; of George’s jealousy of Edward’s kingship and his hatred of the queen’s Woodville family; and of Edward’s favouritism for Richard over George.

But how do we sift fact from fiction? The facts can only provide us with so much, and the novelist may argue that an essential part of their role is to place flesh on the bones of history. I agree, but I also feel that an author has a responsibility to remain true to the known facts.

In The Traitor’s Son, volume one of my Richard III trilogy, I have attempted to understand the motivations of each of the York brothers, seeking out the essence of their characters, as a means of recreating the past. My interpretation of the Yorks may or may not chime with the way others see them, but either way I hope I’ve managed to bring them to life for my readers.

‘My’ Edward is very much aware of his role in rescuing his family from the chaos of 1460. He has striven hard to uphold his father’s legacy but, having achieved that, feels entitled to follow his own path. As a result, his relationship with George suffers, as George consistently refuses to accept the king’s marriage to a Lancastrian widow.

George himself is undeniably an intriguing person to interpret and remains one of the easiest and most exciting characters to recreate. My interpretation of this most erratic of the York brothers offers readers a George whose fervent hopes are dashed by what he sees as Edward’s blatant betrayal of their father’s cause. This painful disappointment shapes George and pushes him towards the edge of treason. His feelings towards his youngest brother, Richard, are at times arrogant and intimidating, but are equally those of an elder brother who wants to protect his sibling, and to preserve the closeness they felt as children. 

Everyone, particularly every Ricardian, has their own view of the real Richard III. He fascinates, divides, and captivates both admirers and detractors. In The Traitor’s Son, I have tried to faithfully recreate the Richard who has presented himself to me over the years. As I researched his story, a loving grief-stricken son emerged – a youth desperate to become the man his father would have wanted him to be. But there is also another element to ‘my’ Richard, which has so far remained unexplored.

It occurred to me that a boy who had lost his beloved father when he was only eight years old, must surely have spent the best part of his youth searching for a father figure. Of course, Richard had two elder brothers, but neither were old enough to fulfil the role Richard so desperately craved. His cousin, the Earl of Warwick, must surely have become that figure. And if I am correct – that Warwick became the figure to fill the void in the boy’s life – then how did Richard feel when Warwick rebelled? When he had to choose between loyalty to Edward, his blood brother and anointed king, or to the man who had become a surrogate father? Facing his cousin across a battlefield must have been traumatic enough, but to lose Warwick in a violent way, as he had lost his father just over ten years previously, must have wounded Richard deeply.

We cannot know how Warwick considered his three cousins. It is clear from his behaviour that he deeply resented Edward’s choice of wife, and that the two became irreparably divided, but what about George and Richard? Could it be that, as in my novel, the two boys felt Warwick’s influence to be both reassuring and fatherly?

If so, did this cause tension between the boys as they each vied for his favour? With this family breakdown at the heart of my story, I had to consider all aspects of the insoluble breakup. The bond between Richard and George is strong, forged in early childhood and deepened during their exile in the Low Countries. Such a connection must surely have survived the arguments, disputes and traumas of later years.

And what of Edward? Did he feel a fatherly bond towards his brothers, as well as a fraternal affection? Or could it be that their subsequent behaviour – George’s rebellious tendencies, and Richard’s dutiful support – dictated how they were considered by their king? One might reasonably assume so. But as the saying goes, blood is thicker than water, and for the three sons of York, danger and uncertainty remained a dominant factor in all of their lives.

The Traitor’s Son

ISBN: 978-84-125953-7-6

BUY NOW LINK: https://mybook.to/the-traitors-son

Review quotes:

“Exquisitely written. An evocative and thoughtful retelling of the early life of Richard III.” Philippa Langley, MBE

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Caught between a king and a kingmaker, young Richard Plantagenet knows he’ll have to choose…

1461: Richard Duke of York, King by Right, has been branded a traitor and slain by his Lancastrian foes. For his eight-year-old son—Richard Plantagenet—England has become a dangerous place.

As the boy grapples with grief and uncertainty, his elder brother, Edward, defeats the enemy and claims the throne. Dazzled by his glorious sibling, young Richard soon discovers that imperfections lurk beneath his brother’s majestic façade. Enter Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick—cousin, tutor, luminary—whose life has given him everything but that which he truly craves: a son. A filial bond forms between man and boy as they fill the void in each other’s lives. Yet, when treachery tears their world asunder, Richard faces an agonizing dilemma: pledge allegiance to Edward—his blood brother and king—or to Warwick, the father figure who has shaped his life and affections.

Painfully trapped between duty and devotion, Richard faces a grim reality: whatever he decides will mean a fight to the death.

In “The Traitor’s Son”, Wendy Johnson masterfully weaves a tapestry of loyalty, love, and sacrifice against the backdrop of England’s turbulent history. Through the eyes of a young Richard III, readers are transported into a world where every choice is fraught with peril, and the bonds of kinship are tested to their limits. As Richard Plantagenet navigates the explosive tensions within his own family, readers are swept along on a journey of intrigue and passion that will leave them spellbound until the final page.