The History of King Richard the Third: by Sir George Buc, Master of the Revels

Sir George Buc (1560-1622) was a Renaissance scholar who served as Master of Revels under King James I and wrote The History of King Richard the Third, a study of Richard III's life and reign. In the late 1960s-early 1970s, Arthur Kincaid created the first authentic edition of the work from a badly fire-damaged manuscript draft, uncovering Sir George Buc's original scholarly work. This edition presents the History, reconstructed from the original text, with an updated introduction and extensive notes documenting Richard III's reign and controversies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 512 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2023
Publisher: Society of Antiquaries of London

Sir George Buc, a renowned antiquarian scholar of the English Renaissance, holds a significant place in literary history as the Master of Revels under King James I. His responsibilities included censoring Shakespeare's later plays, a role that often overshadowed his own artistic contributions. Regrettably, his own work has not received the attention and appraisal it truly deserves. In 1619, Sir George penned "The History of King Richard the Third," a comprehensive study delving into the life and reign of Richard III. This work serves as a defense against the slanderous narratives propagated by Tudor chroniclers, presenting a rational, objective, and meticulously documented account of the historical figure.

Over three and a half centuries, this remarkable work has made its way to us, albeit in a form that deviates from the author's original intentions. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Arthur Kincaid embarked on a pioneering endeavor to create the first authentic edition of Sir George Buc's History. Working with the severely damaged manuscript draft, now housed in the British Library, Kincaid painstakingly reconstructed the original scholarly work that had been plagiarized and distorted by George Buck, Sir George's great-nephew.

This book presents the reconstructed version of Sir George Buc's History, meticulously reconstructed from the original text. In this edition, Kincaid has undertaken a thorough update and revision of his introduction, exploring Sir George's position within the literary and scholarly circles of his time. He also unravels the mystery surrounding the text's transmission, shedding light on the complexities involved. Extensive notes provide detailed factual accounts of Richard III's reign and the controversies surrounding it.

Sir George Buc's "The History of King Richard the Third" stands as a testament to his intellectual prowess and dedication to historical accuracy. Through Arthur Kincaid's tireless efforts, this remarkable work has been restored to its original glory, allowing a broader audience to appreciate the profound insights and contributions of this lesser-known Renaissance scholar.

Weight: 1456g
Dimension: 179 x 232 x 51 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780854313044