A 15-year battle to uncover the remains of King Richard III has come at a significant cost, with Leicester University's treatment of Philippa Langley emerging as an egregious injustice.
In a stunning display of tenacity, Langley embarked on a quest that was deemed impossible - finding the last Plantagenet king of England whose remains had gone undiscovered for over 500 years. The odds were stacked against her, and yet she persevered with dedication and determination. Her unwavering conviction paid off when Richard III's remains were discovered in Leicester.
Despite this groundbreaking achievement, Langley received scant recognition from the media and academic circles. It wasn't until a Channel 4 documentary brought her story to light that the world was able to appreciate her remarkable journey. The filmmakers behind "The Lost King," which tells the story of Langley's quest, made a conscious effort to humanize her, showcasing her vulnerabilities and strengths.
However, it was not until the release of the film that Langley's plight became more widely known. Unfortunately, this was also the time when her health began to decline due to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME), which severely impacted her ability to testify in a civil trial against Richard Taylor, a former deputy registrar at Leicester University.
The university and Taylor have since denied any wrongdoing, with Taylor even suggesting that an inquiry is necessary. But it's difficult not to question the motivations behind his claims when one considers the university's history of downplaying Langley's contributions to the discovery of Richard III.
Despite this, the film "The Lost King" serves as a powerful reminder of Langley's achievements and her unwavering dedication to uncovering the truth. It is a testament to her courage in the face of adversity and an acknowledgment of the sacrifices she made to achieve her goals. As Coogan so eloquently puts it, the film gives voice to an amateur who found herself at the center of one of history's greatest discoveries.
The debate surrounding this saga will undoubtedly continue, but for now, "The Lost King" stands as a triumphal celebration of Langley's achievements and a testament to her unyielding spirit.
In a stunning display of tenacity, Langley embarked on a quest that was deemed impossible - finding the last Plantagenet king of England whose remains had gone undiscovered for over 500 years. The odds were stacked against her, and yet she persevered with dedication and determination. Her unwavering conviction paid off when Richard III's remains were discovered in Leicester.
Despite this groundbreaking achievement, Langley received scant recognition from the media and academic circles. It wasn't until a Channel 4 documentary brought her story to light that the world was able to appreciate her remarkable journey. The filmmakers behind "The Lost King," which tells the story of Langley's quest, made a conscious effort to humanize her, showcasing her vulnerabilities and strengths.
However, it was not until the release of the film that Langley's plight became more widely known. Unfortunately, this was also the time when her health began to decline due to chronic fatigue syndrome (ME), which severely impacted her ability to testify in a civil trial against Richard Taylor, a former deputy registrar at Leicester University.
The university and Taylor have since denied any wrongdoing, with Taylor even suggesting that an inquiry is necessary. But it's difficult not to question the motivations behind his claims when one considers the university's history of downplaying Langley's contributions to the discovery of Richard III.
Despite this, the film "The Lost King" serves as a powerful reminder of Langley's achievements and her unwavering dedication to uncovering the truth. It is a testament to her courage in the face of adversity and an acknowledgment of the sacrifices she made to achieve her goals. As Coogan so eloquently puts it, the film gives voice to an amateur who found herself at the center of one of history's greatest discoveries.
The debate surrounding this saga will undoubtedly continue, but for now, "The Lost King" stands as a triumphal celebration of Langley's achievements and a testament to her unyielding spirit.
I mean, I get why Philippa Langley is being praised for finding Richard III's remains after 500 years. She was determined and stuff. But can't we give credit where credit is due? Like, she didn't do it alone - there were tons of people who helped her on this journey. And what about all the other excavations and research that went into finding those bones? It feels like Langley got most of the glory for being a lone wolf. 
The documentary "The Lost King" did make her story more accessible, but I'm not sure it's entirely fair to say she was ignored by media and academia beforehand... 
. I mean, she's been fighting for years to find the remains of King Richard III and then she gets overlooked by everyone? It just doesn't seem fair 
. And now that her health is failing due to ME, it's like she's losing everything all over again 
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. But it's not fair that she had to go through all this to get recognition in the first place. I mean, can't we just acknowledge her achievements already? 
. It seems like he's just trying to cover his tracks and downplay Langley's contributions. But the film is definitely giving voice to an amazing woman who deserves all the recognition 
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... I mean, she was literally the one who found Richard III's bones for them! You'd think they'd be thanking her, not trying to downplay her role in it all 
. But hey, at least someone finally gave her a platform to share her story, right? That Channel 4 doco was a game changer 
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I think it's super unfair that Philippa Langley got roasted by the media and academia for being a driven amateur who just wanted to uncover the truth about King Richard III. Like, what's not to respect about someone who dedicated 15 years of their life to finding something they were passionate about? 
I hope she gets some justice for herself and can finally rest easy knowing her legacy is being celebrated instead of torn apart.
Can't believe the state of academic politics - all that drama over Richard III, yet Philippa Langley's real heroics get ignored till after she's sick 
. And for us all to know about it now? It's like, what took so long?! 
. 15 years of dedication, perseverance, and it all paid off when they found Richard III's remains. But what really gets me is how she was treated by the university afterwards. It's like, you know, she risked her life to find this guy's bones, and then everyone else just kinda ignores her 
) to uncover the truth about Richard III and she didn't give up even when everyone else said it was impossible 
she's not just some amateur treasure hunter, she's a historian and a detective who single-handedly changed our understanding of the past 
. GIVE PHILIPPA LANGLEY THE RECOGNITION SHE DESERVES, PEOPLE!!!