By Christopher Miskimon

The period of conflict in the second half of the 15th Century, known generally as the Wars of the Roses, is one of the more chaotic and dramatic times in British history. It can be difficult for modern students to effectively visualize, as art of the period is not visually realistic. The author, also the artist, visited Bosworth battlefield three decades ago and was inspired to create the images needed to impart a vision of the action.

This book contains over 120 of the author’s paintings and drawings accompanied by a detailed written history of the conflicts. The imagery is vibrant and engaging, based on the best available information about weapons, armor, and clothing of the time. This coffee table book provides not only a written and visual history, but also many of the artist’s notes and comments to add even more detail to his work.

The Wars of the Roses: The Medieval Art of Graham Turner (Graham Turner, Osprey Books, Oxford UK, 2024, 288 pp., illustrations, bibliography, index, $50, HC)