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The Daughter of Time
Explore history and mystery with The Daughter of Time on Bookdio. Josephine Tey’s audiobook summary investigates the true story behind King Richard III’s reputation.
Book Written by JOSEPHINE TEY
Summary Narrated by Bookdio
Genre: Fiction
English
00:00 / 05:57
About the book The Daughter of Time
Imagine solving one of history’s most famous mysteries from the comfort of a hospital bed. That’s exactly what detective Alan Grant does in The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. This brilliant mystery novel isn’t about a thrilling chase or a heart-pounding escape—it’s about reexamining the past with fresh eyes and uncovering the truth hidden in the shadows of time.
The story starts with Alan Grant, a Scotland Yard detective, laid up in the hospital with a broken leg. Bored and frustrated, he turns to a portrait of Richard III, the notorious English king accused of murdering his young nephews. Grant, however, isn’t convinced. The more he stares at the painting, the more he begins to question everything he’s been taught about the man known as "The Tyrant."
Grant embarks on a fascinating investigation, relying not on clues or physical evidence but on books, historical records, and logic. He digs into the events surrounding Richard’s reign, seeking to uncover the truth about the infamous “Princes in the Tower.” What he uncovers, however, is not just a different view of history, but a revelation about how much history has been shaped by bias and misinformation.
One of the most profound lessons from this book is the importance of questioning history. The past is often written by the victors, and those who control the narrative. In this case, Richard III’s reputation was tarnished by Tudor propaganda, which painted him as a murderer to legitimize the rule of Henry VII. The novel shows how easily we accept what we’re told without questioning it, and how truth can be obscured by politics and power.
Grant’s investigation reveals that Richard may not have been the villain he’s often made out to be. Instead of killing his nephews, he may have been the victim of a smear campaign—a king betrayed by history. The book asks readers to consider how much of what we believe is actually constructed rather than factual.
The real “daughter of time” in this book is the idea that time itself often distorts truth. As history passes through the ages, stories get altered, myths get created, and truth gets buried. Tey uses Grant’s sleuthing to remind us that sometimes the most important thing we can do is stop, question, and dig deeper into the stories we’ve been told.
The Daughter of Time is a brilliant combination of historical intrigue, mystery, and philosophy. It challenges readers to think critically about what they know, why they know it, and how history is written. It’s a testament to the power of logic, reason, and careful investigation in uncovering truth.
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