William Shakespeare was an outstanding playwright but a miserable historian.

For instance, his portrayal of Macbeth is one of literature's most blatant character assassinations -- written, as it was, to find favor in the court of King James I, and not to adhere to any kind of historical accuracy. Now, Matthew Lewis tackles the truth behind one of England's most notorious villains: Richard III.

We probably all have heard of Richard's brutal murder of his nephews in the Tower, for instance, or how his evil nature was reflected in his twisted physical form. Lewis, in the Fact & Fiction series from Pen & Sword books, attempts to set the record straight.

It turns out Richard III's reputation was quite different before Henry Tudor took the throne. Shakespeare wasn't alone in rewriting history to find favor at court.

In painstaking detail, Lewis looks at each act of villainy or deformity ascribed to Richard -- Was he truly a hunchback? Did he rule fairly in York before becoming king? Did he seize power without right? Did he actually kill his nephews in the Tower, and did he commit a host of other murders that Shakespeare and others have laid at his feet? -- and then examines the historical record, contemporary accounts and other sources to determine the truth or likelihood of each act.

The truth of Richard III's personality, deeds and brief reign might surprise you. It surprised me, quite a lot. Had fortune proved kinder, and if he'd survived the battle of Bosworth, he might be remembered today in a wholly different light.

Lewis is thorough but he never belabors his points. His accounts of Richard's history are concise, presented in nuggets of information that are enjoyable to read. With the amount of research Lewis had to do for this book, he probably could have written a much longer volume ... but, at just over 125 pages, Richard III is a fast, informative read. I wish more history was presented with this kind of clarity and brevity!