Annette Carson is a freelance writer with a preference for history and biography, and has sold over 70,000 non-fiction books. As Historical Consultant she was a founder member of the 'Looking For Richard Project' that discovered Richard III's grave in 2012. She has written on various subjects including aviation and an acclaimed biography of rock guitarist Jeff Beck.
Her first Ricardian book was Richard III: The Maligned King, first published in 2008, which has reached sales of over 15,000 and is still regularly updated, with a new edition in 2023 covering newly found evidence. Her book Richard III: A Small Guide to the Great Debate (2013) is written as a layman's introduction to the Richard III controversy, and has been described as 'Probably the clearest and shortest and most enjoyable read ever'. In 2014 she edited, co-authored and published Finding Richard III: this is the official account of how the 'Looking For Richard' team independently, and at their own expense, pieced together the historical evidence that indicated the correct location of his grave, AND raised the money needed to commission archaeologists to perform the excavation. This was dramatized in the film The Lost King.
In May 2015 she published new research into the protectorate that preceded Richard III's accession: Richard Duke of Gloucester as Lord Protector and High Constable of England. Dr Arthur Kincaid wrote 'this confirms my sense that you are the most important writer on Richard today'. Her next publication was a new English translation of the 'Domenico Mancini' report, probably the most important contemporary document describing Richard's accession to the throne, with extensive historical background and analysis (2021). These last four are available in print and as Troubador eBooks.
Most recently in 2021-2023 she was responsible for publication, from the files of Arthur Kincaid, of the 1619 'History of Richard III' by Sir George Buc; and in 2025 Troubador will publish her new book Richard III Unspun.
Annette Carson has a page in Wikipedia and has contributed to Encyclopaedia Britannica. She is a Fellow of the Richard III Society, having been given Honorary Life Membership in 2014 for distinguished services to the Society's aims. She featured as the expert witness on BBC Radio 4's series 'Great Lives' when Richard III was nominated by Philippa Langley, 6 January 2015, available on podcast and BBC Sounds.
Annette Carson's new book, Richard III Unspun, will be an in-depth analysis of two of the most perplexing incidents in Richard III's career: 'The Mysterious Affair at Stony Stratford' and 'The Trouble with Hastings'. The ebook is scheduled for November 2025 and a limited edition of printed books shortly afterwards.
N.B. All books are available as ebooks but print copies are now getting scarce!
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