In the second half of the fifteenth century, for over thirty years, civil war tore England apart. However, its roots were deeper and its thorns were felt for longer than this time frame suggests.

The Wars of the Roses were not a coherent period of continual warfare. There were distinct episodes of conflict, interspersed with long periods of peace. But the struggles never really ceased. Motives changed, fortunes waxed and waned, the nature of kingship was weighed and measured and the mettle of some of England’s greatest families was put to the test.

Matthew Lewis examines the people behind these events, exploring the personalities of the main players, their motives, successes and failures. He uncovers some of the lesser-known tales and personal stories often lost in the broad sweep of the Wars of the Roses, in a period of famously complex loyalties and shifting fortunes.

• This is an unusual take on the Wars of the Roses, making a difficult subject accessible to everyone. It will look at the more unusual or quirky facts of the conflict.

• The medieval period will be a big media focus this year with several prominent anniversaries, including the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt.

• Matthew Lewis has a popular blog about the later Middle Ages, focussing on  the Wars of the Roses. He is also very involved in social media, having an extensive twitter following. In addition, he has written two historical fiction novels about this period and runs two history podcasts. He is therefore very well placed to publicise his book.