One of the arguments surrounding the study of history is where to categorize it. Most university systems (ours included) call history a social science. As a science, many believe history should be studied as such. The scientific method is the most accepted form of study in science. It is used to prove and disprove theories. Many historians use the scientific method to aid their study. Many others choose to basically gather as much information as possible and use this information to formulate an idea. In The Daughter of Time, this is what Grant does. He absorbs as much information as possible in order to come to a conclusion regarding the life of King Richard III.

In the beginning Grant is given a photo of King Richard III. Without knowing who the man is everyone seems to feel bad for him and view him as someone who is ill. Once it is clear who he is they immediately ?gsee?h the evil within the man being portrayed. When Grant turns the painting over and realizes that it is Ki

In all Grant?fs research it is a statement from Carradine that I think sums up the way a historian should think. ?gGive me research. After all, the truth of anything at all doesn?ft lie in someone?fs account of it. It lies in all the small facts of the time. An advertisement in a paper. The sale of a house. The price of a ring.?h (Tey, 89) This statement is similar to what I believe history to be about. I think it should be based on the facts. Most historians are very good at this, but there are many cases in history where things get blown out of proportion or facts get distorted. The ideal historian to me is someone who searches for and reports on the truth. I think the problem with that is many times the truth might not sell books. Propaganda can have a drastic effect on what someone may view as truth.

How is it then that a historian can access the information to study someone who has been long dead, such as Richard III? I believe that Grant has found the proper way to research. He uses many different resources in order to find the truth. Just reading and believing someone else?fs ideas is a great way to learn about someone, but it is important to realize that you are not necessarily reading the truth about that person.

Next we get into the alleged history of Richard as written by Sir Thomas More. Only Grant is

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Approximate Word count = 903
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)