Warwick, the Kingmaker

"Warwick, the Kingmaker" by Charles Oman is a historical exploration of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, a dominant player in the Wars of the Roses, a time of great unrest in England. The book aims to bring Warwick's story to light, focusing on his family connections and the political forces that defined this pivotal era. The story starts by pointing out how Warwick's achievements have often been overlooked when compared to others like Henry the Fifth and Richard the Third. It paints a picture of the 1400s, a time when the Lancastrian dynasty was weakening and tensions were building up, eventually leading to civil war. The book stresses the political climate, the heavy burden of the French wars, and the declining morals of the aristocracy, all as it introduces Warwick's background and the difficulties he faced in rising to power in a turbulent political world.