After a long civil war between the royal families of York and Lancaster, England enjoys a period of peace under King Edward IV. But Edward’s younger brother, Richard, resents the power and happiness around him. Malicious, power-hungry, and bitter about his physical deformity, Richard begins to aspire secretly to the throne—and decides to kill anyone he has to. Using his intelligence and his skills of deception and political manipulation, Richard manipulates a noblewoman into marrying him, has his own older brother executed, and accelerates King Edward’s illness and death.