**** - I knew very little about Elizabeth of York before reading this book - I knew that the Wars of the Roses ended through an intermarriage of the houses of York (white rose) and Lancaster (red rose), but I wasn't even sure which house contributed which spouse... so this was a real eye-opener for me.Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing a review copy!
The Tudor Rose is the story of Elizabeth of York - the woman who would found the Tudor dynasty, the mother of Henry VIII, and the sister of the Princes in the Tower. The novel opens with Elizabeth trying on her wedding dress - and hearing that her betrothal is being broken off. It's a lovely beginning that brings home both to the reader and to Bess how much she (and her marriage) is being used as a political tool. The novel deals with several hot-button issues from The Wars of the Roses: the Princes in the Tower, the pretenders to the throne after Henry VII comes to power, and Richard III in general. And I was well-satisfied with all of them.
I first encountered Margaret Campbell Barnes when I read her book about Henry VIII The King's Fool, which offered an intriguing and multi-faceted portrayal of the king notorious for his temper and his many wives. In The Tudor Rose, Barnes offers the same interesting portrayal of Elizabeth of York, but also of her oft-reviled uncle Richard III.
I thoroughly enjoyed Barnes' version of Richard. He's charming, witty, and intelligent, but he is also thoroughly dangerous and capable of ruthlessness. Richard truly comes alive through the pages, and I found his depiction wonderfully complex (though by no means a positive one). Despite his actions, Richard is quite admirable in his own way, particularly when contrasted with the eminently practical and dispassionate Henry VII - who is easily his equal in ruthlessness.
I was charmed by intelligent and passionate Bess, who loved so fiercely, grieved so deeply for her lost brothers, and who nonetheless straightened her shoulders and did what she thought best for her realm. Given how strong she was, and how deeply she was prepared to love, I found much of her story very sad. She is betrayed on all sides and she can never quite shake her yearning to find her brothers again - I actually loved her interaction at the end with Perkin Warbeck - it was a beautifully slippery exchange!
I enjoyed The Tudor Rose a great deal, though I was a bit confused as to what was happening outside the palace during the Wars of the Roses - not surprising as the entire situation was pretty confusing. Elizabeth of York is shown as a lovely, strong and passionate woman, and her story is well worth reading. Just keep a hot cup of tea (or your comforting thing of choice) handy.
Interested in other opinions?
Hmmm...A Fool's Tale was definitely on my list to read and I like that this new book explores someone other than Henry VIII/Anne Boleyn and that whole time period thereafter. Thanks for the great review! I'll have to explore Elizabeth of York now more through this book.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a winner. Great review, thanks! I'll add it to my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on my review.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Margaret Campbell Barnes really makes the people she's writing about seem so real. Well, I guess 'current' in a better word.
PolishOutlander - I was really pleased to see a book that delved into the craziness of the Wars of the Roses rather than focusing solely on Henry VIII and his many wives. It was a nice change!
ReplyDeletekbookreviews - I hope you enjoy it!
Kylee - I think she does make the people seem 'current' but without making them too 'modern' - I never got the feeling that they were anachronistic, which is nice.