The Power of Rumor in History

Alan Grant's primary point in this novel is that what we read in history books did not necessarily happen the way it is written. When there are power struggles and people vying for influence, rumors and stories are put out as truth and sometimes are adopted as reality for many generations. Further, it is human nature that we do not like it when someone points out a long-held erroneous belief because we feel safer believing what we thought was right. In the case of Richard III, there is nothing that points to his guilt in the murder of his nephews, and no logical actions were taken that would even make him suspect, but Henry VII launches the possibility, long after the fact, and the legend of Richard III as the "wicked uncle" becomes reality for most people for hundreds of years. The example...