Just Finished Reading: The White Queen by Philippa Gregory (FP: 2009)

England, Spring 1464. At the end of her tether Lancastrian supporter Elizabeth Woodville throws herself on the mercy on King Edward IV as her passes her father’s estate on the way to yet another battle to confirm his claim to the throne of England. Entranced by her beauty and her forthrightness he decides to give her back the lands taken from her husband after his execution for rebellion against his rightful lord. So begins a relationship that propels the Woodville family to the very centre of English politics during the turbulent years of what became known as The Wars of the Roses. With her two young sons she enters into royal life innocent of the powerful enemies she has created merely with her existence. Quick to make friends and place her family and loyal retainers in places of power she hopes that by doing so she can weather the inevitable backlash as her husband the King fights for his throne and the House of York he represents. But it is not only the Lancastrian pretenders that must be defended against. There are those in the House of York itself who think they would make a better King than the present incumbent and even the Kings brother is not above plotting against him. It is a dangerous time to rule and an even more dangerous time to be a woman with power.

I think this is only my second Philippa Gregory book. Many years ago – long before the Blogging habit – I read ‘A Respectable Trade’ about the slave trade in Bristol. I remember it being eminently readable but nothing more. This book however entranced me from the very first page (not surprisingly both Elizabeth Woodville and her Mother where both accused of being witches). Not only where the plethora of characters extremely well drawn but the feel of the period – especially now that I know more about it from other sources – comes across very well indeed. I did struggle more than once coming back to the early years of the 21^st century after being totally absorbed in the goings on of the late 15^th century. I literally lost myself in this book. Luckily for me – and you if you pick up this growing series – there are many more books to follow. Gregory excels at saving historic women from relative obscurity. Far too many of them have been overlooked by historians and by authors of historical fiction. Elizabeth Woodville is a fantastic character and I will look forward to reading more about the real Elizabeth after being so impressed by the fictionalised version. The Wars of the Roses brought several strong and decisive women centre stage and such women should not be forgotten. With authors as good as Philippa Gregory this will, thankfully, not come to pass. Highly recommended.