The Rose in Spring

Wars of the Roses Quartet #1

by Eleanor Fairburn

The Fascinating Story of Cecily Neville.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, British Literature, 15th Century, Medieval

175 pages

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

AKA Catherine Carfax and Emma Gayle.

'Eleanor Fairburn was born in the west of Ireland. She was educated at St Louis Convent and studied Art in Dublin. After a period of time spent near the Welsh Marches, reading Welsh literature and meeting Welsh people, she settled in Yorkshire, where she lives with her husband, Brian, and her daughter, Anne.'

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have given this book three stars were it not for the very silly scene in which Jacquetta Woodville holds a party for the English nobility in France in which she openly flaunts her witchcraft. Leaving aside the fact that there's no proof that Jacquetta was a witch, a noble lady would hardly be open about being a witch just a short time after Joan of Arc had been burned at the stake on charges of witchcraft.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for the 50th anniversary edition.

The Rose in Spring
Book I: 1425-1449
By Eleanor Fairburn
Reviewed June 2, 2022

I was first introduced to Eleanor Fairburn’s books back in the early 1970s, about the time they were originally published and when I was still in the first throes of my love affair with a certain medieval king. During the ensuing years, I had no idea there were a total of four books in this series. All I knew of were the first two books – The Rose in Spring and it’s follow up, White Rose, Dark Summer.

It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I learned there were two more books, covering the life of Cecily Neville and her family from 1425 until 1490. After having finally read the third and fourth in the quartet (thanks to borrowing them from the fiction library of the Richard III Society, American Branch) I knew I wanted the complete set but wasn’t sure as that would ever be possible as the books were long out of print and the last volume in particular was hard to find and very expensive. So I was absolutely thrilled when I recently learned that the Roses quartet had been reissued by the Fairburn Estate to commemorate their 50th anniversary.

The books, especially the first two volumes, focus on history as seen through the eyes of their main protagonist, Cecily Neville, who married Richard Duke of York and was the mother of two kings – Edward IV and Richard III. Up until this time, most historical novels set during the time of the Wars of the Roses were often told from the perspectives of the men involved. But Eleanor Fairburn changed all that by tackling the story from the point of view of one of the era’s most important matriarchs and helping pave the way for later authors like Philippa Gregory and Annie Garthwaite who began telling us the stories of these tumultuous times from the distaff side.

In The Rose in Spring we meet 10-year-old Cecily on her way to Raby Castle where she will officially be betrothed to 14-year-old Richard Plantagenet. Cecily is an engaging young girl, the youngest of her siblings and half-siblings, and the apple of her aging father’s eye. Nothing will please him more than his daughter betrothed, and eventually married, to young Richard, who when he comes of age will inherit great wealth and titles. During the trip to Raby, she spies a young archer named Blaeburn among the retinue escorting her and her family, but the man means nothing to her. Later, however, their paths will cross again.

Richard Plantagenet has been a member of the Neville household ever since the old Earl purchased his wardship when he was an orphaned son of another Richard, the Earl of Cambridge, who was executed as a traitor. In spite of his background, Richard has never been treated as anything but a member of the large Neville clan and thinks of his foster-brothers as if they were brothers by blood. He and Cecily have been good friends throughout their young lives, and nothing pleases him more than that they should eventually marry.

Richard also longs to go to France and aid in the fight to regain English lands, but hates the idea of being separated from Cecily when they are wed. No problem, says Cecily, making her feelings on the subject quite plain. “Either I go everywhere with you, or you remain with me, or we don’t marry at all.” She will not be a stay-at-home wife.

The actual marriage between Cecily and Richard doesn’t take place for another four years, until the fall of 1429 during one of Richard’s several times in France. By this time, her father has died, and now married, they set up their household in France.

Their first child, however, isn’t born until 10 years later, when Cecily, age 24, gives birth to a daughter, Anne. During this time, Richard has been doing his best to prove himself a loyal subject, wishing to wipe out the dark stain of his father’s treason, and for a while this works. He becomes the king’s lieutenant and governor general of France in 1441, he and Cecily move to Rouen. There their first son, Henry, who they name for the king, is born prematurely and dies.

It is during their stay in Rouen that Richard begins to notice a friendship between his wife and a captain of his archers, John Blaeburn. Yes, the same Blaeburn who was part of the retinue to Raby Castle back on that betrothal trip. During this time, an estrangement has grown between Richard and Cecily largely because Richard’s reluctance to engage in intimate relations with his wife. She is pregnant again and following the death of baby Henry, her husband fears that by doing so he could inadvertently cause injury or distress to the unborn child. Of course, he doesn’t bother to explain this to Cecily, who is hurt by her husband’s apparent loss of affection.

Cecily and Blaeburn have crossed paths several times over the years but there has been nothing but the most casual of acquaintances between them. Feeling neglected by her husband, she turns to the archer for friendship, although there is never anything of an intimate nature to their relationship. Richard, however, sees things through the eyes of a jealous husband and fears the worst. Calmer heads eventually prevail, because Cecily loves only Richard.

Throughout the rest of the book, we follow Cecily and Richard as they navigate their way through the increasingly divided political situation surrounding young Henry VI which is made even more difficult by the king’s French queen, who will do anything to protect her husband’s position even if it means making enemies where there were none to start with. The book ends with Richard’s unofficial exile to Ireland in 1449.

The Rose in Spring is very good at telling us Cecily Neville’s story without resorting to the bodice-ripping “historical” novel style that were popular when it was originally published. Instead, we get an author who does a great job of bringing Cecily, Richard, and the other historical persons populating this story to life in a way that feels authentic, and we are able to watch as Cecily develops from a child to a woman of poise and elegance who others will one day call Proud Cis.

I have only one minor quibble. The text was obviously scanned using OCR software, and occasionally a textual error can be spotted such as “bell” when a sentence later it is “Belle”, or “and” instead of “an.” These errors are not all over the place, and certainly should not be enough to keep anyone from reading these wonderful books. The fact that the quartet has been out of print for the better part of 50 years makes these little gremlins a small price to pay for having them available again.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fellow reviewers, whom opinion I incredibly value, have written about his book before me, so my own review won't be really detailed.
The Rose in Spring, first of a quartet covering the life of Cecily Neville, is a compelling tale, incredibly written and finely researched. It's not really new, but aged like fine wine, and make one wonder... why nowadays historical books can be written like this? Anyway I enjoyed it immensely, and my sole criticism (and the reason that made give 4 stars) is the handling of the Blaeburn affair. Mind it, Cecily doesn't betray Richard here, but Blaeburn in love with her and she with him? I would have rather pointed out that no such rumor existed before Edward IV became King, so probably no archer ever existed, or if he did he had nothing to do with Cecily and her son. Also I found strange the part in which Jacquetta Woodville is practicising withcraft openly. I don't think such behavour would be acceptable for the times.
Anyway, a great historical novel, one lovers of this genre can't miss.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of Cis

This first book begins with Cis as a very young girl until roughly her early thirties. It explores her childhood and her relationship and early marital years with Richard. It has a nice balance between dialogue and narrative which is always pleasing to me.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rose in Spring, book 1 in the Cecily Neville quartet
By Eleanor Fairburn
February 18, 2021

The Rose in Spring is the first in a four part series telling the story of Cecily Neville. The series titles are:

The Rose in Spring (1971)
White Rose, Dark Summer (1972)
The Rose at Harvest End (1974)
Winter’s Rose (1976)

The Rose in Spring covers Cecily’s early years starting with a 10-year-old girl preparing for her betrothal to her best friend and foster brother, 14-year-old Richard Plantagenet. Richard has grown up as a ward of Earl Ralph Neville, Cecily’s father, since his own father was executed for treason when he was four. Growing up with the Neville clan, young Richard has always felt like a member of the family.

Being her aging father’s youngest and favorite daughter, Ralph Neville is more than pleased to have arranged the betrothal between Cecily and Richard who, in spite of his father’s treason, is a royal duke and heir to many titles and estates. That the two have been friends throughout their young lives is a bonus that both appreciate.

The actual marriage doesn’t take place for several more years, however, during which time Earl Ralph has died. Because of his being a cousin to the boy-king, Henry VI, Richard is often at court and separated from Cecily, who as she grows up and matures looks forward to the day when she and her betrothed are husband and wife. Not wanting to be a stay-at-home wife, Cecily informs Richard that once they’re married, if he is forced to be away from home for long stretches of time, even if that means assignments that take him to France, she intends to accompany him.

They are finally wed in October 1429, during one of Richard’s several times in France, but their first child isn’t born until 10 years later, when 24-year-old Cecily gives birth to a daughter, Anne. When Richard becomes the king’s lieutenant and governor general of France in 1441, he and Cecily move to Rouen. There their first son, Henry (named for the king) is born prematurely and dies.

While in Rouen, Richard notices the friendship that has blossomed between his wife and a captain of his archers, John Blaeburn. Because of the loss of infant Henry, Richard is reluctant to engage in intimate relations with his wife, not wanting to inadvertently injure the unborn child, but he doesn’t bother to tell this to Cecily, who is hurt by her husband’s apparent loss of interest.

Cecily’s and Blaeburn’s paths have crossed several times over the years, though there was never anything more than the briefest of casual acquaintances. With Cecily feeling neglected by her husband, she develops friendship and affection for the man. Though the two never cross the line between friendship and something more intimate, that doesn’t stop Richard from nursing his own concerns that something took place between his wife and the captain, and wonders if the child she carries – the future King Edward IV – might actually be Blaeburn’s. (Spoiler alert—he isn’t.)

The rest of the book chronicles Cecily and Richard as they navigate their lives through the increasingly bitter political divisions that surround young Henry VI, and ends in 1449 when Richard is unofficially exiled to Ireland.

The Rose in Spring is a very good story, and not one of those bodice-ripping “historical” novels that were popular during the 70s. Instead, we get an author who does a great job of bringing Cecily, Richard, and the other historical persons populating this story to life in a way that feels very authentic, and we are able to watch as Cecily develops from a child to a woman of poise and elegance who others will call Proud Cis.

[Pauline Calkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a 4 book series of the life of Cecily Neville, mother of Edward IV and Richard III. She was called the Rose of Raby (her childhood home) for her great beauty and “Proud Cis” for her bearing. This book opens as Cecily, aged 10, is traveling to Raby where her betrothal to Richard, Duke of York is to take place. She and Richard, a ward of her father’s, are childhood friends and she is excited. In the retinue of one of her sisters, is a tall handsome archer, John Blayburn, who will later play a role in her life.
After her marriage to Richard, Cecily is installed in Rouen and develops great affection for the king’s uncle, John Duke of Bedford and especially his wife, Anne.

Later Upon her return to Rouen, she encounters the spiteful Jacquetta Woodville, and John Blayburn, her husband’s captain of archers. Cecily is pregnant with Richard’s child (who will become Edward IV) but during her husband’s absence is drawn to Blayburn and is indiscrete in spending much time in his company. Although she and John love each other, they resist temptation and realize they must be separated. Cecily arranges to send Blayburn away and he is eventually killed.

At a dinner party, Jacquetta conducts a tarot reading in hopes of exposing what she assumes is Cecily’s adultery. When she is unable to do so, Jacquetta has a private word with Richard and makes the accusation. Although Richard seems to accept Cecily’s denial, she notices his favoritism of their next son, Edmund, born a year after Edward. As the book ends, she accompanies Richard to his new post—some would say, exile to Ireland. In subsequent volumes, perhaps it will become clear whether Richard accepts Edward as his son.
Like another reviewer, I’m not sure that a tarot reading in public would have been countenanced. Wasn’t it part of witchcraft? However, overall the novel is very readable and entertaining.

[HalKid2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

After 50+ years of reading historical fiction I thought I knew most of the better known authors. So when I stumbled across English author Eleanor Fairburn's (1928-2015) novels about the Wars of the Roses, someone I knew nothing about, I was genuinely excited. This book looked like a good place to begin.

THE ROSE IN SPRING (the first book in Fairburn's THE WARS OF THE ROSES QUARTET was first published in 1971 and begins the story of Cecily Neville, wife of Richard Plantagenet, aka 3rd Duke of York, and mother to both King Edward IV and King Richard III.  Awarded three stars on Goodreads.

The novel sets up Cecily as the protagonist of the entire four volume series. She was a prominent figure in the Wars of the Roses and privy to much of the posturing and politicking of the era. Telling the story of this period from a woman's perspective wasn't all that common when this book was first published. 

The novel covers Cecily's privileged childhood, her early betrothal to her father's ward, Richard Plantagenet, who was one of the prominent heirs in line to inherit King Henry VI's throne. And it ends with Cecily and Richard arriving in Ireland, where Richard has in essence been exiled for the sin of arrogance and standing a bit too close to a disputed throne. 

Unfortunately I cannot say I found the novel particularly interesting. Rather than holding its own as complete historical fiction unto itself (which is what I expected), this seems much more like a "set-up" novel. It introduces SO MANY characters along with each one's complex familial relationships. (SO MUCH intermarriage among so few noble families!) But very little actually happens.

There's lots of description but it's of relatively unimportant ceremonies and interchanges. So you find yourself, after 250 pages, with Cecily in her mid-thirties, supervising a growing family, and living with her exiled husband, now the head of the House of York. I simply didn't feel there was enough substance for this to be a stand alone novel.

I do not plan to continue reading the series. I think if anyone if looking for a good novel about Cecily, who is indeed a fascinating historical figure, I'd suggest reading QUEEN BY RIGHT by Anne Easter Smith, which I awarded five stars on Goodreads. A much more compelling accounting of this woman's life. 

[Joanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed The Rose in Spring. I've read a number of both fictional and non-fictional books about the Wars of the Roses and the various figures in the warring factions, but in every case, Cecily ,"Proud Cis," has always been well in the background.

Although this was a fictional telling of the early life of Cecily, you can tell it is well researched and likely paints a fairly accurate picture in many ways of what her life was like beginning with her childhood through to her move with Richard, Duke of York, to Ireland. It also describes a number of folks close in her sphere, and in particular, it really brought Richard, Duke of York to life in a way that I feel is often overlooked for his more famous sons.

One other thing that I absolutely loved about this book was how it wove in other famous faces. With the focus often narrowed to just the prime subject of the book, famous contemporaries can be easily forgotten. Having portions dedicated to the story of Joan of Arc, a mention of Prince Henry the Navigator, etc. made this book all the more fascinating.

Lastly, I do love how Eleanor Fairburn addressed Blaeborn, aka "the archer," and his alleged relationship with Cecily and potential paternity of Edward IV. She clearly falls in with the majority of historians who believe that Edward IV was legitimately the son of Richard, Duke of York, but she expertly demonstrates where the doubt could have crept in that has some historians suggesting that he was the illegitimate son of Blaeborn.

To anyone that has an interest in this period of English history, I'd highly recommend this book. It's both informative and entertaining, and I cannot wait to read the sequel.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this book restrains from massive info dumps and "as you know, Bob" but still manages to impart a lot of information to the reader about battles, marriages, kinship and history to the reader in an organic way.

We follow young Cecily from her engagement to Richard, Duke of York, to one of the first crisis they face from the crown over a period of almost twenty years, and all of it is exciting and fascinating. I especially love how Fairburn tackles the "Blaybourne" legend and suggests an emotional affair, something readers today can relate to, given how one can spend more time with a co-worker then with a spouse.

Great opener to a series and I will look for the rest!

[Maya Ch · Rating 5 out of 5]

gripping story of Cecily and Richard of York beginnings

I came upon this book series thanks to one of Alison Weir’s interviews, where she referred to books from her childhood that sparkled and influenced her interest in medieval history.
The story is told from Cecily’s point of view, starting from her childhood and friendship with Richard of York till their appointment to Ireland.
This is a great introduction to many participants of the Wars of the Roses and preceding events.
There is no war yet, but seeds of discontent are already sawed, allegiances divided, opinions and disagreements strengthened.

[H. L. Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sympathetic view of Richard if York

Most of us are familiar with Shakespeare's harsh rendering of Richard as the man who murdered the heirs to the throne. This book examines his early life and wife Cecily Neville as political fortunes evolve. I'm looking forward to the next volume!

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in a series of four about the life and times of Cecily Neville the first books is about Cecily’s early childhood and her marriage to Richard Plantagenet Duke of York and excellent read

[Lori Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction. Many characters that are very intertwined and have similar names.

[Plarmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hx fict and a romance

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Such juvenile writing

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read. Starting with the early life of Cecily and Richard, following to the time of their departure for Ireland. Can't wait to get the rest of the series.