I have not seen that new "Roses" movie, but I intend to. However, this isn't about that.
Coincidentally, I have been reading a book called The Wars of the Roses: The fall of the Plantagenets and the rise of the Tudors by Dan Jones. It is a history, not a novel. I have a sincere interest in history, especially concerning Europe. Why? I dunno. Maybe that should be a separate post.
Jones writes compellingly for nosy civilians like me. The book is action-packed, revealing the nature, intention, and driving force behind actions of flawed yet formidable rulers. Men, and a few women, who knew few (if any) limits to their egos and lust for power. The world benefited from the best of them. Not just in Europe, but across the world we survived the worst of them, but not without historical regression and decreased virtue.
Sounds modern, doesn't it? Why don't we evolve into wise and just people? The human race could get by making mistakes in the past. Now, I'm not so sure.