Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell

BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL: the King's troublesome younger brother

Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell

Show Notes

Imagine, if you can, a king with two younger brothers. One of them, the youngest, is hardworking and loyal, a little dull, but always shows up when needed. The middle brother is flamboyant, egotistical, entitled, unreliable and capable of great cruelty and abusive behaviour. After putting up with this for perhaps longer than might be expected, eventually the Crown loses patience and the law takes its course.

This is, of course, the story of George, Duke of Clarence, the wayward brother of Edward IV, who lived from 1448 to 1479 when he was executed by being drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine. His bones are stored in a vault in Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire. For a bank holiday special episode of this podcast I spoke to Professor James Clark of the University of Exeter about the Duke of Clarence and the strange resonances with the modern day.

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