The White Queen (The Cousins' War, #1)

Jun 04, 2009

Erika rated it

Philippa Gregory’s latest historical fiction release is, to put it mildly, absolutely amazing. I think this is one of her better books--on par with The Other Boleyn Girl. The scope of The White Queen is just as if not more epic, in terms of literary drama, than the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn at the hand of King Henry VIII. It focuses on The War of the Roses, a bloody war of politics and rival family members pitted against each other as the Yorks and Lancasters fought to become the next ruli...morePhilippa Gregory’s latest historical fiction release is, to put it mildly, absolutely amazing. I think this is one of her better books--on par with The Other Boleyn Girl. The scope of The White Queen is just as if not more epic, in terms of literary drama, than the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn at the hand of King Henry VIII. It focuses on The War of the Roses, a bloody war of politics and rival family members pitted against each other as the Yorks and Lancasters fought to become the next ruling family of England.

I didn’t know much about this time in England’s history except that the Tudors, as part of the House of Lancaster, are the winners and the symbol of Henry VII’s unification of the two houses is the Tudor Rose. Of course, since it’s a war of cousins, as soon as I began reading, I had a hard time keeping track of this huge family and found a really handy family tree on Wikipedia made specifically for following the lineage and contributing royals to this war. Even with that, it’s hard to keep track of three generations of names like Richard, Edward, and George. But I think I did fine.

The White Queen is told through the voice of Elizabeth Woodville, a widow of the House of Lancaster with two sons left fatherless from the war with the Yorks. She finds herself in the middle of her mother’s plotting and is soon exerting her ambitions on the upstart York King Edward IV. Gregory imagines theirs being a true romance, despite Edward’s kingly indulgence of other women--she manages to make Edward and Elizabeth’s relationship seem much deeper than political ambition. They are married in secret--an act which eventually comes back to haunt them and puts their positions in danger. Rumors and scandals spread by rivals--even Edward’s own brother--threaten to overturn Elizabeth’s good luck and the safety of her large family of heirs.

Among the accusations is a cry of witchcraft at the hand of her mother, Jacquetta, who believes herself to be a descendant of Melusina, the mythic influence of The Little Mermaid fairy tale. Wielding strange beliefs in the power of her little spells and enchantments, the inclusion of this in the text adds an elusive and magical femininity to The White Queen and like Philippa Gregory’s other books, both confirms and denies age old questions of the wickedness once believed to be punishable only by drowning or burning. It’s just as easy to believe in the childhood mysteries and superstitions drawn out into her burgeoning womanhood as it is to think Elizabeth’s successes and failures are the result of her and her mother’s ambitious and well thought out machinations.

If I read correctly, there are also references to stories of Cinderella and real-life influences for the myth of Robin Hood. Belief in fairy tales or not, they add an ambiance and counter the surprisingly bloody and graphic battle scenes Gregory writes with the confidence of a writer who’s been doing it her whole life. I’ve read eight of her books--in none of them do I remember ever reading the specifics on combat. That she does venture bravely into that arena emphasizes the extend of the war fueled by the political ambitions of the York and Lancaster families. If she hadn’t, I don’t think I would have understood the gravity, the severity, or the consequence of the war as much. I’m grateful and impressed--Gregory has definitely gone up a notch in my book. She reenforces her existing mastery of writing scandal, intrigue, romance, and the political maneuvering and flirtations of the court. But she also shows off skills I never knew she had; the darker side of Gregory’s writing is just as inviting as it is graphic.

I think it’s this addition to the book and the almost magical realism of the Rivers family and the storms they wield that make this a really spectacular first part in a trilogy (The Cousins War) that will include two other titles: The Red Queen and The White Princess. Of course, Philippa Gregory’s mastery over English history and phenomenal research makes for spell-binding historical fictions when combined with her superb storytelling and attention to the type of detail that adds veracity and momentum to every one of her books.

It helps that she wrote about such a tumultuous and dramatic time in English history--ripe for literary exploration. With the way she approaches her subjects and writes, I think Philippa Gregory could make almost any period in history sound scrumptious. That being said, the mysterious disappearance of the Princes in the Tower was an event way outside of my bubble of knowledge--I admit, I cheated and Googled the phrase to learn what about their fate has become so profound. After reading the book, I’m tickled to learn that Gregory has intertwined their fictitious fate with that of Henry VIII in The Other Boleyn Girl who blames Anne Boleyn for his impotence and her inability to produce a healthy heir. I had to laugh as I read the curses of Elizabeth and her daughter. After all, Henry VIII, if Elizabeth’s magic is to be believed, has the right to place the blame on his troubles elsewhere--he’s just blamed the wrong woman is all!

In any event, I completely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and anyone interested in reading a riveting story of love, jealousy, and vengeance. And I absolutely recommend this to Philippa Gregory fans. She’s reinvented herself in this one, I think and proves she can use fairy tales, romance, and gore in the same book and make it all completely plausible. I can’t say enough how much I loved this book. You should go pre-order it right now. Right now.(less)

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Mar 16, 2010

Alycia rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction, medieval, kindle-books

I have to start out this review with a disclaimer. This is a wonderful piece of historical fiction. The author, Philippa Gregory took facts and obscure history to weave an exciting tapestry of power, greed, and betrayal set against the backdrop of the late medieval British court in the late 1400's.

Our heroine Elizabeth Woodville, comes from mostly humble origins with a uniqueness of her own. Her mother's Burgundy family are descendants of a water goddess, Melusina. Wishing, tricks a...moreI have to start out this review with a disclaimer. This is a wonderful piece of historical fiction. The author, Philippa Gregory took facts and obscure history to weave an exciting tapestry of power, greed, and betrayal set against the backdrop of the late medieval British court in the late 1400's.

Our heroine Elizabeth Woodville, comes from mostly humble origins with a uniqueness of her own. Her mother's Burgundy family are descendants of a water goddess, Melusina. Wishing, tricks and witchcraft do make recurring appearances in this book. Elizabeth starts out begging the new King, Edward IV for her deceased husband's land as an inheritance for her two sons. After this initial meeting, Elizabeth wins the heart of the new young King and they secretly marry. Edward is from the House of York that took the throne by force through war from King Henry of the House of Lancaster.

Throughout this book, King Edward has to constantly fight to keep his throne from the former King Henry and his plotting wife, Margret de Anjou. This is the first book of a War of the Roses trilogy. This war is also called the Cousin's war where cousins fight against cousins depending on loyalties and physical location in the kingdom. It also eventually turns into a brother's war, brothers fighting against brothers. King Edward not only has to constantly defend his throne and royal line, but he has to do so against his brothers George (who dies a traitor's death) and Richard (who betrays his loyalty to his brother and king) after his trusted adviser, the Kingmaker, Warwick decides to take his power and elevate himself or his family towards the throne once he no longer has control over what Edward does. Edward starts listening to his wife's advice.

I think a central theme in this book is women of incredible strength. It seems back then (a time period where enlightenment was just starting) in order to survive you had to have faith and a strong constitution to make it through life during a time when women were only valued for the heirs that they left. Women were seen as a commodity, and only worth the grave or a nunnery if they could not produce sons. Which was an incredible feat back then to survive childbirth, let alone have multiple children or even multiple sons. Elizabeth Woodville is with child almost every year to secure her husband's line and the Plantagenet rule. (Plantagenet rule was before Tudor rule, the Tudor royal line was established once the throne was fought and won). Being a strong woman was even more necessary to plan and plot to keep your family in power if you were Queen of England.

One way Elizabeth did this was through wishing, sometimes ill wishing, magic tricks, and the like taught by her mother. Sometimes it seemed like Elizabeth did not believe in this, but it gave her courage to do so. Other times in this novel, her wishing did help turn the tide in her family's favor, but always came back to her to ruin whatever goal she and her family were trying to achieve. Her family was never really safe from the curses and prayers she offered. Her mother and herself were accused of witchcraft at one point in the book.

After King Edward dies, we see Edward's sons, the Prince and soon to be King Edward and his brother Prince Richard in danger of their lives from their uncle (Edward IV youngest brother) who swore to be an adviser and protector until Prince Edward could rightfully rule by himself, now this uncle is a claimant as King himself. More battles are fought, new men rise to power, such as Henry Tudor and a Howard (Ann Boleyn's ancestor)set their sights from winning the throne for the young king, to then plotting for the throne themselves. Unfortunately the young king is lost, and presumed dead. His brother is put into safe hiding. The loss of Prince Edward is heart wrenching. The reader never knows for sure if he is alive or will be found. Elizabeth believes for the longest time that he cannot be dead, despite various rumors circulating the kingdom. Then she finally accepts that this must be so, that her oldest son will never be able to claim what is rightfully his. The end of the book closes with the return of Prince Richard to Elizabeth.

True to British court at this time and Gregory's writing we are caught up in an onslaught of constant plotting and intrigue. This really drives the book forward, without it, the novel would have dragged on, which it unfortunately does in some parts. I liked the paranormal aspect of Elizabeth, but felt at some parts I was reading two different books at the same time, the different aspects didn't always connect neatly. This being said, I rate this book a solid 3.5 stars out of 5 and recommend this book to any Gregory fan or someone looking for a solid British historical fiction to try. I am interested in checking out the next book in the series, The Red Queen, which is released August 19, 2010.(less)

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Sep 07, 2009

Sara rated it

After showcasing as many Tudor royals as any one reader can comfortably stomach, Philippa Gregory strives to show us another English Royal family as equally interesting. The White Queen launches her War of the Roses trilogy, and focuses on Elizabeth Woodville. Gregory’s Woodville falls instantly in love with the King, and she ascends the throne at a dangerous time of civil war. An incredibly cut throat period in which each claimant to the throne has a much right as the next, and the alliances...moreAfter showcasing as many Tudor royals as any one reader can comfortably stomach, Philippa Gregory strives to show us another English Royal family as equally interesting. The White Queen launches her War of the Roses trilogy, and focuses on Elizabeth Woodville. Gregory’s Woodville falls instantly in love with the King, and she ascends the throne at a dangerous time of civil war. An incredibly cut throat period in which each claimant to the throne has a much right as the next, and the alliances of the Great Families of England are always shifting. We soon learn that no one, especially your own family can be trusted in noble England. Elizabeth and Edward’s union makes instant enemies, and the entirety of their marriage will be spent on defending the throne.

In my opinion, while this novel is good, it is not as good as either Boleyn book chiefly because I felt that I understood those characters. In The White Queen, Elizabeth is painted as complacent and dutiful wife during the first half of the novel, and ambitious shrew during the second. Towards the end it becomes a Woodville on the throne at any cost which may have been historically accurate, but it didn’t fit with Elizabeth’s established persona up until then. Elizabeth also believes she is the descendent from a water goddess from a fairy tale which Gregory interrupts literally, and that tale is interspersed with Elizabeth’s tale although they don’t quite connect. The tenses also shift from Elizabeth’s first person to assumedly Elizabeth’s first person describing battle details as they happen which doesn’t make sense and is jarring.

However, the book is still one of Gregory’s best. As always the story is instantly gripping. You are immediately immersed in the Woodville family, and their struggles to advance their family while ensuring security for Edward’s reign. Gregory does a great job of fleshing out a family that has been villanized by history, and presenting their side of the story. And even those who know the inevitable outcome will be surprised by Gregory’s take. Gregory doesn’t attempt to pander for sympathy to Elizabeth’s plight and instead gives us as even a portrayal of Elizabeth as the historical records afford. And Elizabeth’s relationship to her own daughter (also Elizabeth) is easily my favorite element of the novel, this relationship is almost portrayed as Elizabeth wrestling with her own conscience which is not only brilliant but expertly builds interest for the next two books in the series.

Gregory’s books are one of my guiltiest and most anticipated literary pleasures. This book was no exception. Gregory fans and first time readers who enjoy the genre will want to puck it up immediately and will count down the days until her next book in the series, The Red Queen. Moderate fans may want to wait for the paperback.
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Sep 10, 2010

Ladiibbug rated it

4.5 stars

Book One in a new series featuring the War of the Roses era of English history

This is a wonderful historical tale, a book that pulled me in from the first few pages and never let go. Thrilling, fast moving, this is a deliciously engrossing read!

I was even more thrilled to read that this book explored one of the biggest mysteries of history -- (no spoiler) Richard III. History is not my strong point, but this entire subject is fascinating to me.
...more

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Mar 04, 2010

Maliha rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction

Alright, I honestly did not like this novel. I can't believe this woman has written more than 10 books? I've been trying to conjure up excuses to give Gregory some credit but this novel just wasn't my style. Mainly because all it really is, is a detailed historical timeline with a little embellishment here and there; its bland soup. Her writing style in the beginning of the book was abominable. The first 10 pages were all I, I, I, and then He, He, He. What I'm trying to say is that there was no ...moreAlright, I honestly did not like this novel. I can't believe this woman has written more than 10 books? I've been trying to conjure up excuses to give Gregory some credit but this novel just wasn't my style. Mainly because all it really is, is a detailed historical timeline with a little embellishment here and there; its bland soup. Her writing style in the beginning of the book was abominable. The first 10 pages were all I, I, I, and then He, He, He. What I'm trying to say is that there was no sentence variation, making the story very annoying to read after about five minutes. She improves on this towards the middle of the book but not immensely; her writing style is still pretty "feeling-less".

I also did not like the plot, now this I cannot blame on Gregory as she can not be held responsible for the irritating nature of the Old Regime. There are some take-away lessons from this story about power and "government" but after a while, the atrocities that men and women committed just to gain power became a little redundant and even annoying. Its like okay how many times are going to fight for someone else's throne? It just seemed like all these people had to do before the advent of television was go to war and try and become King of so and so. I would HATE to have lived in that era or to be a Queen or a Princess and be caught up in the endless web of greed. I hold all these views thanks to Gregory's perspective.It would be great to read something about this era written from the perspective of a common man.

Gregory really had something going with the witch side plot line. Magic always adds intrigue to a predictable story. But this was a very minute part of the novel. Most of the novel was just this happened and then that happened and then we were happy (summary) and then we went to war. The war details were great! This is why I'm even giving the novel two stars. There was a lot of detail there and you really could see the battles happening. The personal relationships were colorless though so unless you need to learn about the House of York for history class, I wouldn't waste my time with this book.(less)

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Aug 04, 2009

Bobbie Crawford-McCoy rated it

Recommends it for: Philippa Gregory and Historical Fiction fans!

Shelves: books-that-i-own, all-reviews, fiction-reviews

The White Queen
Book 1 in a new series – The Cousin’s War
Written By: Philippa Gregory
Published By: Touchstone/Simon & Schuster
Date: Available – August 18th, 2009!
Pages: 432
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1847374554

The White Queen is the 6th book written by Philippa Gregory, that I have reviewed. I am very pleased to share a little something with you all; like a fine wine that improves with age, so too, does Philippa Gregory’s writing. As a fan of P...more

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Aug 23, 2009

Misfit rated it

The White Queen is the first in a new series Gregory is writing based upon the Plantagenets and the Wars of the Roses - or The Cousins War as she calls it. The book begins as a widowed Elizabeth Woodville waits on the side of the road with her two young sons to plea for her dower lands from Edward IV. Several years younger, Edward is captivated and must have her - but Elizabeth holds out for a wedding ring and gets it. Elizabeth is crowned queen and immediately goes about getting the best positi...moreThe White Queen is the first in a new series Gregory is writing based upon the Plantagenets and the Wars of the Roses - or The Cousins War as she calls it. The book begins as a widowed Elizabeth Woodville waits on the side of the road with her two young sons to plea for her dower lands from Edward IV. Several years younger, Edward is captivated and must have her - but Elizabeth holds out for a wedding ring and gets it. Elizabeth is crowned queen and immediately goes about getting the best positions and marriages for her relatives, which earns the enmity of just about everyone else. The story continues as Edward battles with Margaret of Anjou and the deposed Henry VI, as well as his treacherous brother Clarence and Warwick, The Kingmaker, and finally culminates at the death of Edward IV (that's known history, no spoilers here), and his brother Richard ascends the throne. That's really about all I want to tell you about the plot. If you're familiar with the period you know the basics and if you're not it's way too complicated to try and put it all into a review.

I found the writing overly repetitive to the point that I felt like I was being clubbed over the head. Whether it be the first chapters where she keeps referring to twenty-two year old battled hardened Edward as a "boy" (counted it at least six times on one page), to the locket with the names written in blood, as well as the ever present and over bearing references to her ancestor Melusine - I got the point the first time. Outside of the first few chapters at the beginning of their relationship I didn't pick up much chemistry between Edward and Elizabeth - they should have sizzled right off of the pages and instead they fizzled. But worst of all was the magic and spells cast by Elizabeth and her mother, whether you buy it or not I found the casual way everyone in the book treated it more than just a tad bit unbelievable. It’s just another day in the park and I’ll whistle up another storm to thwart my enemies. I think with all the people who hated her someone would have had her tried as a witch.

One last minor nitpick and thanks to Robin and Susan who spotted this – one of Elizabeth’s palaces is Nonesuch (or Nonsuch). Google that and you’ll find that it was built by Henry VIII. Oops. I am recommending this one only for die-hard Gregory fans, you’re better off reading Penman’s fabulous Sunne in Splendour. If you’re not sure get it from the library first. Glad I did.(less)

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Apr 22, 2010

Kate rated it

Shelves: cannonball-read

I have a confession to make: I’ve been known to read trashy books. Now, this isn’t something that I like to shout from the rooftops, but if you spent your days reading Chaucer, you would unwind with something less cerebral too. I’ve done the romance novel thing, but the formula becomes grating after a while. So, my most turned to brainless literature is mediocre historical fiction.

I don’t think Philippa Gregory stared out as a mediocre artist. Her break-out novel, The Other Boleyn G...moreI have a confession to make: I’ve been known to read trashy books. Now, this isn’t something that I like to shout from the rooftops, but if you spent your days reading Chaucer, you would unwind with something less cerebral too. I’ve done the romance novel thing, but the formula becomes grating after a while. So, my most turned to brainless literature is mediocre historical fiction.

I don’t think Philippa Gregory stared out as a mediocre artist. Her break-out novel, The Other Boleyn Girl , was pretty gripping and presented a side of that worn out Tudor saga that I hadn’t heard before. Unfortunately, her work has started to go down a long, dull hill. She’s now turning her attention to the final years of the Plantagenet reign over English with The White Queen .

The White Queen follows the rise of Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner widow, who captures the eye of the young King Edward IV and rises to be the queen of the penultimate reign of a Plantagenet monarch. This period of time has been much discussed by artists and historians as an era of greed and blood. Many a historian has portrayed Edward IV’s queen as the head of a family of grasping bloodsuckers who wormed their way into the highest positions in the kingdom, much like the Boleyns a few generations later. Shakespeare even dedicated his pen to a play based on the period: Richard III . There’s an incredible amount to tell and so many points of view to take in.

Unfortunately, Gregory decides to take the least believable route. Inspired by the whispers of witchcraft that surrounded the Woodville family (which was supposedly descended from a water goddess), Gregory portrays Elizabeth Woodville, her mother, and daughter Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII) as practitioners of wizardry. What made Edward fall for Elizabeth? A ring tied to a string. What made a boat carrying important dignitaries toss violently over the sea? A storm called up by witches’ breath. What withers Richard III’s sword arm and cripples his health? A curse and a locket. Really, Philippa, really?

I think her choice in plot devices shows an author taking the easy way out. Elizabeth Woodville, whether you liked her or not, was a force to be reckoned with. She defied an ordained king by claiming sanctuary for herself and her children in a basement. She suffered through accusations that her husband had been a bastard, sired by a lowly English bowman. She climbed to the highest position in the land and hung there through some of the greatest storms in English royal history. And Gregory credits it to witchcraft? Ugh.

Seriously, if you find this era interesting, pick up Sharon Kay Penman’s The Sunne in Splendour , a hefty novel that relies on history and the strength of the characters. Gregory would indeed need witchcraft to reach her standard of work. Sadly, I’m probably going to end up reading Gregory’s next book, which will be a depiction of the same events, just from the point of view of Margaret Beaufort, mother to Henry Tudor. I will grit my teeth in irritation, then maybe through my Kindle in the trash, but I will read it shamefaced. Why am I so weak?!

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Jan 22, 2010

Alyce (At Home With Books) rated it

If you had asked me last month what the War of the Roses was about I would have probably made some crack about the Michael Douglas movie of the same name in order to distract from my ignorance of this particular segment of history.

Once I started reading The White Queen I realized that I was familiar with parts of the plot from reading Richard III years ago. Even this knowledge was pretty scanty - just something about two boys being imprisoned in the tower. While I had some idea of the ...more

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Feb 17, 2010

Madeline rated it

Shelves: don-t-judge-me, historic-fiction

Considering that I've now read six of her books, it pains me to say that I might be getting over Phillipa Gregory. Most of the reviews for The White Queen were good, and I expected to like it. But for the most part, it was just...meh.

So, plot summary: we've moved back in time from the Sexy Sexy Tudors to the Sexy Sexy Plantagenets, but unfortunately these people do a lot less fucking and a lot more plotting. Also witchcraft, which was weird.

Reasons I Did Not Particularl...moreConsidering that I've now read six of her books, it pains me to say that I might be getting over Phillipa Gregory. Most of the reviews for The White Queen were good, and I expected to like it. But for the most part, it was just...meh.

So, plot summary: we've moved back in time from the Sexy Sexy Tudors to the Sexy Sexy Plantagenets, but unfortunately these people do a lot less fucking and a lot more plotting. Also witchcraft, which was weird.

Reasons I Did Not Particularly Love This Book:
-The main character, Elizabeth Woodville, apparently came from a family that actually claimed to be descended from the water goddess Melusina. Okay, I can stand by that, but then Gregory takes it a step further (several steps, actually) and decides that not only do Elizabeth and her mother regularly perform spells that actually work, but they both have the Sight. Capital S. Gregory's pulled this trick before, with the vision-having character in The Queen's Fool, but it wasn't a major plot point there, and ultimately didn't influence the story that much. The supernatural element in this one borders on the ridiculous - Elizabeth whistles in a storm to stop Henry Tudor from invading London. I am not making this up, but Gregory is.
-This is a prequel, so there's lots of foreshadowing to what's going to happen in the next books. And it's very, very blatant foreshadowing. Characters are always saying things like, "Henry Tudor will never be king, none of the Tudors will" and "I trust Richard with my life, he's a great brother" and I can just see Philippa Gregory winking from behind the page, singing "I know what's gonna happen, I know what's gonna happen!" SO DO I, PHILIPPA.
-Elizabeth Woodville is traditionally vilified, which seems like a good enough reason to write a book from her perspective, but even when she's telling the story she can't hide the fact that she's kind of...evil. She manipulates people to serve her own agenda, is ruthless in securing the throne for her children even after Richard takes over and her kids just want to go home, and she also holds very creepy grudges against anyone who killed a member of her family. Her dad and one of her brothers gets killed in battle, and from then on every single time she mentions the men responsible she's like, "I'm going to kill them. They are dead men. I'm going to kill them so hard with magic and then I will make necklaces out of their spines and dance naked on their graves." Tone it down, woman!
-Every single man is named either Edward, Richard, George, or Henry. A family tree is provided at the beginning of the book, but since it stops at Edward IV and his brothers, it's no help at all when it comes to tracking Elizabeth's ten million siblings and children.

Maybe I'm moving beyond Philippa Gregory. This makes me sad, mostly because it means I need to find a new series of trashy guilty-pleasure books to read. (less)

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Oct 28, 2009

Jennifer rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Yes, another piece of historical fiction but this time from not quite Tudor England (pre-Tudor, War of the Roses era). I can't help myself. These folks were a ruthless, ambitious, plotting, crazy, wretched group of people with the women playing really interesting roles. Glad I didn't live then.

The two problems with this book:

1) Our heroine, Elizabeth Woodville, didn't DO much. After winning the heart of the king, she mostly looked after the fortunes of her relatives, had...moreYes, another piece of historical fiction but this time from not quite Tudor England (pre-Tudor, War of the Roses era). I can't help myself. These folks were a ruthless, ambitious, plotting, crazy, wretched group of people with the women playing really interesting roles. Glad I didn't live then.

The two problems with this book:

1) Our heroine, Elizabeth Woodville, didn't DO much. After winning the heart of the king, she mostly looked after the fortunes of her relatives, had babies, and spent a lot of time waiting around and fretting about things. Her mother and daughter both were more interesting characters (along with most of the men for a change). I also am a bit tired of using the common device in historical fiction where one of the main characters has "the sight" or some other sort of gift in order to make it more interesting, move the plot along, or go overboard with the foreshadowing. I will cut the author a small break after reading some background information that this family did consider themselves descended from a water goddess and the mother was accused of witchcraft.

2) Sometimes historical fiction is hard to make a nice happy ending out of when we already know something bad is going to happen. Like probably why the new Amelia Earhart movie has got to be a downer--we know she is going to disappear and probably die. Well, in this story, the mother has to send her sons, the famous "Princes in the Tower," to the Tower. Not much suspense there.

Here are some things I really liked:

1) The author gave me good arguments to consider that Richard III might NOT have been the one who murdered the Princes in the Tower. And I like the intrigue and learning who changed sides when and for what reasons. Oh, and I had no idea that a royal brother of a king was convicted of treason and chose drowning in a barrel of wine as method of execution.

2) I learned some about Sanctuary. It is hard to imagine that these historical figures who seemed to have little honor or loyalty would respect Sanctuary. Go figure.

3) Now I am dying to know if the author made up all the weather that both aided and waylaid battles or if that portion of the story was grounded in historical fact.

Although this isn't one of my favorite Philippa Gregory novels, I will undoubtedly read the rest of the series when they are published.

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Oct 08, 2009

Stacey rated it

Here is a thought that has probably never occurred to anyone while reading a Philippa Gregory novel: You know what this book needs? More politics!

Gregory is best known for her fictionalized tales about the lives of the Kings and Queens of England, most famously The Other Boleyn Girl. This is a genre I like to call Historical Harlequin, whereby there may be some actual fact but it is mostly sappy, glorified romance in what was probably just a time period more miserable than the 90’...more

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Lady The equivalent for "misogyny" is "misandry." It wouldn't surprise me if Elizabeth did use magic, if she truly believed herself to ...more
May 26, 2011 09:53am

Lady Oh dear, I made some mistakes in that comment. I meant "ascended" the throne, not "descended" it, and as for the recording of Edwa...more
May 26, 2011 09:54am

Sep 21, 2009

Aimee rated it

Let's get one thing straight before we begin: I have a deep, unconditional love for Philippa Gregory's books. Therefore, I am going to try very hard to write a mostly unbiased review - and I hope you realise how difficult this is for me!

The White Queen is a complete departure from Gregory's usual focus on the Tudors - this time we are taken a generation or two back to when the passionate risk-takers, the Plantagenets, ruled.

The White Queen herself is Elizabet...more

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Aug 27, 2009

Tara Chevrestt rated it

Shelves: women-that-really-existed-fiction, historical-fiction, england

After being disappointed almost to tears by Gregory's The Other Queen, this one came as a pleasant surprise. It is not her best work in my opinion, but it was entertaining enough for the three days it took me to read it. This is the first in a series that Gregory has titled "the cousins' war," but this particular one is more a brothers' war. Through the eyes of Elizabeth Woodville, we witness a major case of brothers behaving badly. Elizabeth begins the story when she meets King Edward...moreAfter being disappointed almost to tears by Gregory's The Other Queen, this one came as a pleasant surprise. It is not her best work in my opinion, but it was entertaining enough for the three days it took me to read it. This is the first in a series that Gregory has titled "the cousins' war," but this particular one is more a brothers' war. Through the eyes of Elizabeth Woodville, we witness a major case of brothers behaving badly. Elizabeth begins the story when she meets King Edward. After a secret wedding ceremony, Edward goes off to fight his cousin Henry, whom he has stolen the throne from. The first half of the book focuses on Elizabeth and Edward's marriage and Elizabeth's rush to put her own family in power as well as the constant fighting with a demented Henry. By the middle of the book, it becomes obvious that Henry is the least of Edward's problems as his own brother George is constantly raising armies for the throne as well. It seems that not one of these York boys (I am referring to a trio of brothers, Edward, George, and Richard in case one is not familiar with War of the Roses) is happy simply being brother to a king. Each one wants to be a king. Tho in Richard's defense, he had the grace to wait till Edward left this world before attempting to take the throne for himself.

The whole "brothers behaving badly" story got too repititive for me at times. There were some interesting twists I enjoyed tho, whether they be historically accurate or not. Namely, George choosing to die in a vat of wine. My interest is certainly picqued enough that I will have to google for more information on that. I also enjoyed the relationship between Elizabeth and her mother. I was sad when Elizabeth's mother was no longer in the novel.

Something that bothered me incessantly and I want to mention is how Elizabeth constantly refers to her sons from her first marriage as her "Grey" sons. Like we would forget? I also felt that her character preferred her sons with Edward over her "Grey" sons. (Stuck in my head now, sorry all.) She attempts to protect Edward's boys while at the same time, sends her sons from her previous marriage off to possibly their deaths.

The story ends with Elizabeth's daughter, another Elizabeth, planning to face her own uncertain future.(less)

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Oct 27, 2011

Eileen Souza rated it

Shelves: europe

Re-read October 2011

This is the beginning of a new three part series on the War of Roses (Lancaster vs. York). In this first book we learn the story of Elizabeth Woodville, who had such an interesting life that little fiction really needed to be added to spice it up.

The book was full of the intrigue, secret planning, and backstabbing that we have grown accustomed to since reading the 16th century period, though admittedly it's a bit tamer than the Henry VIII years. Although ...more

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Aug 11, 2009

Andrew rated it

Shelves: history

As usual, Philippa Gregory spins an engrossing tale around fascinating characters in the history of England's royal family. My only basis for comparison is The Other Boleyn Girl, a story I enjoyed more, simply because I found the history more interesting.

I have two complaints about the novel: one I recall feeling while reading The Other Boleyn Girl, and the other I do not. The first complaint is her repetition. I realize that some authors use this as a literary device, but some facts...more

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Sep 03, 2009

Lauren rated it

I pre-ordered this book because I am very interested in the Wars of the Roses. However, I am not a big Philippa Gregory fan because she is generally too loose with facts, treats sensational rumers as true, and is not thorough in separating fact from fiction in her authors notes (and is guilty of this in this novel as well). Similar to The Other Boleyn Girl, Gregory plays a bit of "what if" in this novel, basically treating the myths surrounding Elizabeth Woodville as if they were tru...moreI pre-ordered this book because I am very interested in the Wars of the Roses. However, I am not a big Philippa Gregory fan because she is generally too loose with facts, treats sensational rumers as true, and is not thorough in separating fact from fiction in her authors notes (and is guilty of this in this novel as well). Similar to The Other Boleyn Girl, Gregory plays a bit of "what if" in this novel, basically treating the myths surrounding Elizabeth Woodville as if they were true. Well, all of them but one. More specifically, Gregory treats as true that:

- Elizabeth Woodville practiced witchcraft (she gives her the sight - which makes me wonder how she ended up losing three of her sons and in some awful predicaments). Also Elizabeth is oddly open about her spells and curses, which would have been VERY dangerous for a woman in the 14th century.
- Elizabeth and Edward IV's relationship was due, in part, to Elizabeth and her mother's witchcraft
- Perkin Warbeck really was Elizabeth and Edward's second son and an imposter was sent to take young Richard's place in the tower
- Richard III had some sort of deformity affecting his sword arm (apparently caused by Elizabeth's witchcraft)
- Richard III had evil/greedy intentions in taking the throne
- Edward's brother George really drowned in a vat of malmsey
- Richard III had a romantic liaison with Elizabeth of York, Elizabeth Woodville's daughter with Edward IV and the future wife of Henry VII and mother of Henry VIII
- Richard III married Anne Neville purely from self-interest
- Elizabeth descends from Melusina (i.e. "The Little Mermaid")

This is of course a sampling of the myths that Gregory takes as true. However, coupled with this adoption of myth, Gregory somehow paints Elizabeth Woodville as a popular queen (really!!!) who is generally liked by her subjects - basically liked by everyone except for Edward's family, Warwick, and the Lancastrians. She treats as good-natured fun the Woodville's ability to marry every heiress in the kingdom and downgrades the broad unpopularity of Elizabeth's Woodville kin. For anyone familiar with the story of Edward IV, this is certainly not the typical tale of Elizabeth Woodville.

Is it believable? I think that it is not. Unfortunately, Gregory is very loose with facts. She cuts out huge swaths of history and the shifting loyalties that characterize the Wars of the Roses and Edward IV's reign. She makes little to no mention of Edward's inability to inspire trust in his vassals, leaving out completely the story of John Neville, Richard's brother. Elizabeth goes well into Richard III's reign but leaves out the Battle of Bosworth. She rushes through important events in the Wars of the Roses only to devote an inordinate amount of time to the myth of Melusina and its similarity to Elizabeth's own life.

I could look past the lack of historical depth if it were a good novel. Unfortunately, the storytelling is weak too. One of the big mysteries of Elizabeth Woodville's life is why Edward IV married her of all people. She was not an heiress, she was the widow of a Lancastrian knight, she already had two children, she was significantly older - she brought nothing to the relationship. I expected sparks here. What I got were some simpering school-girl passages of longing followed by a secret wedding. There was no analysis of Edward's own motivations and the romance was so lukewarm that it is hard to believe that Edward was so driven by passion that he would destabilize his relationship with Warwick, the "kingmaker" who helped him become king. This is compounded by an oddity in the story Gregory makes it seem as if Edward made a habit of marrying irresistible women in order to bed them and then pretending that the marriage never occurred. This is odd for several reasons. First, if it was well known, it compromised the legitimacy of any heirs to the throne because Edward would be a bigamist. There is no evidence in the historical record that I am aware of that this was so. It certainly would have endangered Edward's prospects on the foreign marriage market, which was very important for an eligible "bachelor" king. Second, later in the novel, Gregory attributes the main rationale for Richard's claiming of the throne in the Titulus Regius as Elizabeth's use of witchcraft to lure Edward into marriage, making the marriage invalid. Gregory doesn't even mention Eleanor Butler - Edward's precontract with Butler is given as the reason (in the Middle Ages, precontract made a person ineligible to marry someone else). Given Edward's purported reputation for luring women into marriage in order to sleep with them, I thought for sure that Gregory would mention Butler. This is an odd choice. Adding to the oddness of the plot, Gregory treats as true the myth that Richard III intended to marry Elizabeth of York. In reality, this is doubtful. Richard's entire claim to the throne rests on the proposition that Edward IV had no legitimate issue. Marriage to Elizabeth of York would have called that into question.

I noticed some minor historical oddities as well. Gregory repeatedly referred to Edward's favorite mistress as Elizabeth Shore even though she was widely known as Jane Shore - a merchant's daughter who did not offer land. Not sure why she changed the name except maybe to create another symbol or comparison to Elizabeth Woodville and what she would have become had Edward not married her?

Overall, this is neither a great work of fiction nor a great look at history. Fans of romantic novels set at this time should look at The Innocent and its sequels, written by Posie Graeme Evans. They are somewhat historically accurate but very entertaining. If you want a serious look at the Wars of the Roses (and also great fiction), look to Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman. The White Queen is a rather dull historical fiction lightweight.(less)

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Dec 28, 2009

Brandy rated it

Recommends it for: NO ONE

Not what I was hoping for. The book jacket is better than this book. I finished it, but barely. The story went on and on and on- drama and drama and drama. Gregory's other books were interesting and hard to put down. This story was lacking the same intensity. The main character's voice was weak and a bit whiny. The first 100 pages were about how much she loved her husband, the king- how much she wanted him, how great the sex was and then what she gave to her family once she was queen. To...more

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Oct 26, 2011

Denae rated it

Shelves: fiction-historical, house-of-york, royalty, aristocracy, sweet-sweet-luuuuurve, conspiracies, greedy-relatives, non-fic-war, up-to-no-good, everybody-dies, 2000s, author-american, london-town

I suspect that, had I read The White Queen first, I would have understood and enjoyed Richard III far more. I do not find Philippa Gregory to be a particularly compelling author, but the subject matter fascinates me. I cannot say where this fascination with the Tudors and now their Yorkist and Lancastrian ancestors first began, but it seems to be quite persistent. I will almost certainly read more of these books. They are a pleasant diversion from anything serious. Well, pleasant other than all ...more

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Oct 07, 2011

cindy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, indonesian

Di suatu masa, di tengah-tengah peperangan keluarga York dan Lancaster demi tahta kerajaan Inggris, seorang janda muda membawa dua orang putranya menghadang perjalanan sang Raja, mengharap kemurahhatiannya agar harta dan gelar suaminya dapat diwariskan pada putra sulungnya. Terpikat pada kecantikan wanita ini -atau mungkin juga pengaruh sihirnya- Raja Edward bukan hanya mengabulkan permintaannya namun juga memperistrinya, menjadikannya seorang Ratu Mawar Putih (lambang keluarga York).
Sela...moreDi suatu masa, di tengah-tengah peperangan keluarga York dan Lancaster demi tahta kerajaan Inggris, seorang janda muda membawa dua orang putranya menghadang perjalanan sang Raja, mengharap kemurahhatiannya agar harta dan gelar suaminya dapat diwariskan pada putra sulungnya. Terpikat pada kecantikan wanita ini -atau mungkin juga pengaruh sihirnya- Raja Edward bukan hanya mengabulkan permintaannya namun juga memperistrinya, menjadikannya seorang Ratu Mawar Putih (lambang keluarga York).
Selama 20 tahun menjadi Raja dan Ratu, kekuasaan Edward dan Elizabeth tidak pernah sepi dari intrik, peperangan dan pengkhianatan. Kesetiaan berubah seperti angin yang berganti arah. Sepupu melawan sepupu, bahkan Saudara memusuhi saudara.

****

Membaca novel ini rasanya seperti tercebur dalam kolam intrik yang tidak jelas ujung pangkalnya. Layar dibuka di tengah-tengah kecamuk War of the Roses, periode perang saudara di Inggris pada pertengahan abad ke-15 antara Keluarga Lancaster dan Keluarga York. Di halaman awal buku memang tersedia sebuah silsilah singkat tokoh-tokohnya, namun sebagai orang awam sejarah Inggris, keterangan ini sangat minim, bahkan untuk mengerti siapa adalah siapa. Ditambah lagi dengan banyaknya nama yang sama, sekian banyak Edward, Richard, Henry, Elizabeth, Anne dan Margaret. *nggak kreatip ya, orang-orang Inggris kuno ini*

Namun dengan sedikit kesabaran, ritme penceritaan akhirnya dapat dipegang. Fakta sejarah dan intrik-intrik yang ada disajikan dengan cukup menarik, karena dipandang dari sudut pandang seorang Ratu. Terlebih lagi, Philippa Gregory memilih menjadikan Sang Ratu benar-benar seorang penyihir, yang mampu meramalkan masa depan, bermain guna-guna, mendatangkan hujan badai dan banjir atau bahkan mengutuk seseorang.

Menurut saya, sekitar 300 halaman pertama sedikit membosankan, karena pesona sang Ratu tertutupi oleh pribadi ibunya. Elizabeth seakan hanya menjadi perpanjangan tangan si Ibu dalam meraih ambisi kekuasaan, dan tempat Sang Raja memperoleh keturunan (dengan kalimat "Istriku, mari kita ke ranjang" setiap 5 bab sekali). Namun setelah kematian sang ibu, kepribadian Elizabeth lebih menguat, seperti juga ambisinya untuk mempertahankan tahta dan keinginannya untuk melindungi Edward dan keluarga besar mereka. Semua ini mencapai klimaks setelah kematian Raja Edward yang begitu tiba-tiba, yang memaksa Elizabeth mengerahkan segala upaya, adu siasat dan kejelian berpikir, juga sihir, mantra dan kutukan. Di sini Elizabeth benar-benar terlihat sebagai pribadi yang matang dan pantas menjadi Ratu.

Selain kisah Elizabeth, ada sesuatu yang menarik dan mencuri perhatian saya, yaitu penggalan-penggalan kisah Melusina, sang Dewi Air, yang dijalin masuk dalam cerita utama. Unik!

***

Yang saya baca ini adalah edisi advance uncorrected proof dari penerbit yang didapat dari http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6393... Terjemahannya lumayan oke, tapi catatan saja, typo masih bertaburan di sana-sini, smoga saat diterbitkan nanti sudah "typo free".
Covernya saya suka, dominasi white on white-nya cocok untuk judulnya. Apalagi wajah sang Ratu juga hanya sebagian, terserah pembaca untuk mengimajinasikan kecantikan beliau. Tapiiii..., resolusi gambarnya kok jelek sekali yaaa...
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Aug 27, 2011

Mary Taitt rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction, literary-fiction

I'd like to write a lot but I don't have time right now.

The book started off fabulously! Very interesting, mysterious and evocative. It devolved into a series of gory disgusting wars. Just when I was about to permanently give up on it, it got better again. None of the characters were entirely likable, including the speaker and main protagonist. She starts out likable but turns into a bitch. She is too power hungry. It makes a pretty good novel, but the war parts are boring and...more

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Feb 13, 2011

Patricia Rodrigues rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: meus, livros-2011

Um dos meus géneros literários preferidos é o romance histórico, em que Philippa Gregory é uma das minhas autoras preferidas.
Assim, parti para esta leitura com muito entusiasmo, pois para além de ser um livro da Philippa Gregory, é sobre uma época sobre a qual não tenho grandes conhecimentos – A Guerra das Rosas ou A Guerra dos Primos.
Tenho que dizer que adorei o livro e apesar de ter demorado cerca de 3 semanas a ler, não teve nada a ver como livro em si, mas simplesmente pelo cansa...more

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Jun 04, 2010

Elizabeth Scott rated it

Oh, I do love Philippa Gregory's historical novels about England's royalty! This book, the start of a new series (yay!) focuses on Elizabeth Woodville, who, although not a commoner, was not royalty, and shocked England (and the world!) when Edward IV married her.

Her story is like something out of a story--truly, the woman went through so much!--and I was delighted to finally read a really well-drawn portrait of her. Since it's fiction, obviously some things are stretched a bit, but ...more

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May 07, 2010

Phoebe rated it

Shelves: phreminism, loved-it, chick-lit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I first encountered Philippa Gregory while working in a library. I was desperate for a juicy read, and a co-worker suggested The Other Bolelyn Girl. It definitely pulled me in, and, though I loved it enough to get my mother hooked on Gregory's Tudor series and race through all of them myself, I never quite managed to feel less-than self-conscious about reading them. All the perfect, lily-white and lovable heroines always struck me as a bit Mary Sueish, and though the history was fascinating, at ...moreI first encountered Philippa Gregory while working in a library. I was desperate for a juicy read, and a co-worker suggested The Other Bolelyn Girl. It definitely pulled me in, and, though I loved it enough to get my mother hooked on Gregory's Tudor series and race through all of them myself, I never quite managed to feel less-than self-conscious about reading them. All the perfect, lily-white and lovable heroines always struck me as a bit Mary Sueish, and though the history was fascinating, at times her interpretation of it felt overly modern and lacking in grit.

Gregory's certainly come into her own, stylistically and in terms of characterization, in The White Queen

The White Queen is the first of a new series--having exhaustively chronicled the lives of the Tudor women (which, by The Boleyn Inheritance had exhausted me)--she takes us back a generation and introduces us to the Plantagenets and the War of the Roses. This first book is narrated by Elizabeth of Woodville, who certainly seems to have been a worthy subject. A widow, whose secret marriage to King Edward IV raised rancor between he and the man who helped him ascend to the crown, she was also frequently rumored to be a witch.

Gregory's inclusion of witchcraft here, along with the integration of the medieval myth of Melusina, from whom Elizabeth Woodville's family believed themselves to be descended, was one of my favorite things about The White Queen. The myth itself is included within the text and is a beautifully written compliment to Woodville's story. And the acts of witchcraft shine as an almost feminist, but still believably-period trope. Through their spills and charms the Woodville women attempt to maintain some semblance of influence over their lives, lives which are very much largely decided by the political whims of the men around them. This is a welcome change from Gregory's murkier use of witchcraft in her Tudor books. There, the title of "witch" is only ever used as a weapon against women. Here, while witchcraft isn't without its risks, it's a risk that Woodville gladly takes in order to express her desires and hopefully help them come to fruition.

Woodville's motivations generally were varied; she's a refreshingly believable character and remains so as we watch her grow into middle age. But the speed of this growth sometimes frustrated me. The White Queen has an interesting hook and some killer foreshadowing that make the first hundred pages an addictive read, but much of that is lost in the repetition of Woodville's life. That she had child upon child while her husband engaged in war upon war might be historically accurate, but it doesn't always make for riveting reading. There were a solid hundred and fifty pages that could have been excised here without damage to the narrative. And, because I was quite eager to see how Gregory worked the legend of the Princes in the Tower into the story, many of the more mundane plot lines failed to pique my interest.

Still, though, even during the book's saggy middle there were some moments of beautiful writing: the scene describing the death of Woodville's mother and daughter is executed in a particularly artful and tender way. I have high hopes for this new series--perhaps The White Queen represents a new stage in Gregory's writing, one filled with gorgeous writing, nuanced characters and (let's hope) enough new material to sustain the interest of her readers.(less)

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Jan 14, 2010

RNOCEAN rated it

Philippa Gregory, "the queen of royal fiction" (USA Today) Presents the first of a new series set amid the deadly feuds of England known as the Wars of the Roses.
Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indom...more

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Oct 31, 2011

Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction

This book is a great introduction to the so-called Cousins' War of English history. Two families, the Lancasters and the Yorks, are pitted against each other in a war for the crown of England. This book is the first in a trilogy and focuses on the York family and specifically on Elizabeth Woodville, a noblewoman, who becomes queen after a chance meeting with the King of England.

I liked this book a lot. Not only did I think it was a good introduction to this period in English history...more

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Oct 27, 2009

Cathie rated it

From the Book Cover:

Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantegenets.... The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secreat and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth [Woodville:] rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons became central figure...more

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Oct 04, 2009

Nancy (Hrdcovers) rated it

Let The Wars Rage On!!!!

If you've read my last few reviews, you'll already know that I am on a quest to read only great books for the rest of this year. I'm not looking for mediocre; I'm not looking for good; I'm looking for flat out great books. I've been right on target with many of my recent reads....Cutting For Stone, The Help, That Old Cape Magic...and now it was time for Philippa Gregory's newest, The White Queen. Before I start reading a book, I usually come to Amazon and glan...moreLet The Wars Rage On!!!!

If you've read my last few reviews, you'll already know that I am on a quest to read only great books for the rest of this year. I'm not looking for mediocre; I'm not looking for good; I'm looking for flat out great books. I've been right on target with many of my recent reads....Cutting For Stone, The Help, That Old Cape Magic...and now it was time for Philippa Gregory's newest, The White Queen. Before I start reading a book, I usually come to Amazon and glance at the reviews. And I do mean "glance" when I say it because many of the reviews here give too much away. Needless to say, when I saw all of the three and four star ratings, I thought that perhaps I should pass on this one for fear of ruining my "great book run." But I had loved so many of Gregory's other books in the past that I decided to go for it.

Her Boleyn series gave us a look at the Tudor dynasty courtesy of King Henry VIII. This newest book is apparently part of a trilogy which will take us through the Plantagenet reign. The "Plantagenet" reign?? This was one I knew nothing about although, once I started reading and found out it was about the War of the Roses and the Lancasters versus the Yorks, some old history classes started coming back to me. The best part of reading a historical fiction book, about a time in history of which you are ignorant, is that some of it reads like a thriller. Since this book covers the kingdoms of Henry VI, Edward IV and Richard III, I had no idea when one would end and another would begin. Each time Edward IV went off to war, I waited with bated breath to see if he would return. I read many of these pages as if I was a graduate of the Evelyn Woods' School of Speedreading making my way through them as quickly as I could because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen. As I already mentioned, since I had no recollection of this time in history, I was not sure if Edward was King for a long time or if his reign was short-lived. I didn't know if he died in battle, died of some illness or lived until old age. His death came as a shock to me and what ensued thereafter was even more shocking.

Since this book is mostly about King Edward IV of the York dynasty, it details the battles he fought with cousins and even his own brothers to attain power and then keep it. It is also a story of a King and Queen who actually loved each other and struggled to maintain power and peace so as to pass the reign on to their son Edward V. Unfortunately, it is also a story of a family with a curse and that is the curse of ambition. While Edward's family is fighting amongst themselves as to which brother should really be on the throne, it is his wife Elizabeth Woodville's family who is causing most of the problems. When King Edward IV married Elizabeth Woodville (in secret), she was a commoner. So her family's rise to prominence is not taken too kindly by England's nobility. In the end, this is the story of how the great Plantagenet family finally destroyed themselves in a bloody struggle known as the War of the Roses.

Midway through the book, I was still wondering what all of these reviewers were complaining about because I really thought this book was so darn good. It has everything I'm looking for in historical fiction....intrigue, betrayal, adventure, deceit, death and, of course, love, And while Edward and Elizabeth were hoping to continue a dynasty with their son Edward V, it is their daughter Elizabeth who will create her own dynasty when she marries Henry VII of the Tudor family. She will become the mother of Henry VIII and will also be the subject of the third book in this trilogy called The White Princess. But first we'll get to see the real power behind Henry VII in Gregory's next book, The Red Queen, which covers Henry's mother, Margaret Beaufort.

So while historically this period in history is mostly remembered for its wars, Gregory brings to light what went on beyond the battles and I found this family every bit as fascinating as the Tudors. Let the wars rage on until the next book comes out. (less)

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Sep 20, 2009

Steven Peterson rated it

Elizabeth Woodville and her family are probably little known to most readers. However, she assumed a major role when she became queen to Edward IV in the middle 1460s. This period of time in England was tumultuous. Wars over the kingship were waged, only really ending with the death of Richard III. Edward's rise to king was one part of this "war of cousins" in the country.

Also, a part of the context, Elizabeth's first husband died and the land she had been given as dowry w...moreElizabeth Woodville and her family are probably little known to most readers. However, she assumed a major role when she became queen to Edward IV in the middle 1460s. This period of time in England was tumultuous. Wars over the kingship were waged, only really ending with the death of Richard III. Edward's rise to king was one part of this "war of cousins" in the country.

Also, a part of the context, Elizabeth's first husband died and the land she had been given as dowry was stripped from her. Knowing that Edward was riding, she conspired to meet him and ask for restoration of her lands. As the book has it, they immediately felt attracted to one another. A "secret" wedding took place in short order before he had to move on for a time.

Then, the conflict with one of his major supporters over Edward's marriage. His choice of Elizabeth was at odds with Warwick's desire to have a grand marriage with a major figure. Warfare once more broke out, ending with execution of Elizabeth's father and brother. The tone of the novel changes--perhaps too much. Up until this point, the first person narrative shows Elizabeth to be warm, caring, and sweet. After the executions, she becomes much harder, desirous of material wealth, and vengeful. Despite then trauma of her family deaths, the wrenching change in her tone is not fully believable as a "before-after" sequence.

The novel chronicles the ups and downs of Edward, more family deaths, his flight (and return) after treachery, her many children's birth, battles, her relationship with the future Richard III and George (Edward's two brothers). There is speculation about the fate of the Prince of Wales and who might have been responsible for his death--and a charming but not very compelling deus ex machine where her other son survives.

The book ends with Edward's premature death, Richard taking the crown, Elizabeth's shifting alliances as she tries to preserve the succession, and--finally--the state of her and her family's life before Richard's defeat and the accession of the Tudors to the throne.

A good read with much historical context provided. There are some points that are not convincing to me, as noted above. Still, I enjoyed reading this book a great deal.
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Sep 18, 2009

Caitlin rated it

Shelves: 2009

I love good historical fiction & the War of the Roses has been one of my favorite time periods since I was a little girl & read a kid's book about them. I have searched & searched & can't find this book & don't remember the name, but the subject matter made an impression.

My next exposure to the War of the Roses was through Sharon Kay Penman's wonderful The Sunne in Splendour which I read as teenager & have read & re-read throughout the years because it (like all of her books) is jus...moreI love good historical fiction & the War of the Roses has been one of my favorite time periods since I was a little girl & read a kid's book about them. I have searched & searched & can't find this book & don't remember the name, but the subject matter made an impression.

My next exposure to the War of the Roses was through Sharon Kay Penman's wonderful The Sunne in Splendour which I read as teenager & have read & re-read throughout the years because it (like all of her books) is just that wonderful. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey is another fun Richard III book.

I am a big fan of Richard III, whether in his hunchbacked evil Shakespearian incarnation or the more nuanced incarnation one finds when reading history of him that isn't filtered through the Tudor propaganda bias. For the record, I agree wholeheartedly with Ms. Penman's assertion that the boys in the tower were killed by the Duke of Buckingham.

The White Queen is the first in Philippa Gregory's new books on the Plantagenets. What a great family they are - founded by Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, their history is a fascinating one. In this novel, Gregory focuses on Elizabeth Woodville, the Lancastrian widow who married the Yorkist king, Edward IV. She was considered one of the greatest beauties of her time & the story of her life before, during & after Edward (for whom she bore 10 children) is a fascinating & tragic one.

This isn't Philippa Gregory at her best, but she's not at her worst, either. The story she has chosen is an engrossing one, but she appears to slip over the surface of it, rarely diving deep into any one event or person. I felt that her portrayal of Elizabeth was both the most flattering of her that I have seen yet & the most shallow. This was a woman who was ruled by ambition & Ms. Gregory does little to explore her character beyond trading upon her purported ancestry to Melusine.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series - I'll be curious to see how much deeper into the history of this time Ms. Gregory is able to take us. This is a good beginning & a decent read, but not as good as I'd hoped nor as good as Ms. Gregory is capable of producing.(less)

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Did anyone else have a hard time getting through this? And any thoughts on her other books?	104	252	Jan 31, 2012 01:37pm
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The White Queen (The Cousins' War #1)

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