Richard II: King, Culture, and the Court of Venus

The colorful, often-violent story of how Richard II came to define one of the most controversial eras in English history.

Richard II is one of England’s most notorious kings. Just a child when he came to the throne, he was thrust into instability. Even so, Richard was not a warrior king, but a man who cared for art, literature, and frivolity. Women were to be found everywhere at court, and Richard lavished them with the honor of being appointed Ladies of the Garter.

But troubles rumbled under this carefree surface. The men of the court were accused of being "knights of Venus" who had "more prowess in the bedroom than on the field of battle,” and the prevalence of women did little to help this reputation. Tensions came to a violent head, with clashes leading to exile and murder, and the country teetering on the brink of civil war.

While often filled with tension and rebellion, Richard’s reign was, at the same time, a golden age for culture and the arts. Women found a greater importance at the heart of government, and the fracturing of the royal family sowed the seeds for the Wars of the Roses. Acclaimed historian Gemma Hollman explores this fascinating period in this stunning new narrative, offering a definitive look at the origins of one of the most significant eras of English history.