The White Queen - The Cousins' War Book 1

The White Queen – The Cousins' War Book 1

Philippa Gregory

Synopsis

      1464. Cousin is at war with cousin, as the houses of York and Lancaster tear themselves apart… And Elizabeth Woodville, a young Lancastrian widow, armed only with her beauty and her steely determination, seduces and marries the charismatic warrior king. Edward IV of York.

Crowned Queen of England, surrounded by conflict, betrayal and murder, Elizabeth rises to the demands of her position, fighting tenaciously for her family’s survival. Most of all she must defend her two sons, who become the central figures in a mystery that had confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the tower.

      The White Queen is set right at the heart of the War of the Roses – or The Cousin’s War. It is based on a true story, with a bit of artistic licencing. It is told from the perspective of Elizabeth Woodville, and begins after her husband Sir John Grey – a Lancastrian - is killed in battle by the Yorks. Shortly after Elizabeth goes to the King – at that point Edward IV, a York – to plead for her lands back, left to her by her husband. As soon as Elizabeth sees Edward, she is in love, and Philippa Gregory portrays that beautifully.

     Using historical accuracy and perfect storytelling, Gregory plots the life of the White Queen from her secret wedding to the York King if England, the birth of her ten children, the death of her father, brothers and also her mother and Edward himself. Following the death of her husband the story continues into the reign of Richard III and the mysterious disappearance of her two sons Edward and Richard – The Princes in the Tower.

    Gregory puts so much emotion into her words it is impossible not to feel for Elizabeth in the decisions she has to make, in the situation that marrying into the royal house of York has put her in. Spending some of Edward’s reign and also Richard’s in sanctuary at Westminster, Gregory writes a very strong, courageous character who would stop at nothing to save her family.

    All in all, The White Queen is a fantastic book with twists and turns at every corner. It is hard to believe that this story is, in part, a true story. This is the first novel I have read of Philippa Gregory’s and I am very glad I picked it up. I read this book before the 2013 TV series was broadcast but even if you have seen the TV series it makes a fantastic companion to the book, putting faces to the names which you read about. A recommended read for all!

You can buy this book at Waterstones here: The White Queen: Waterstones

And also at Amazon here: The White Queen: Amazon