So, yesterday was the official kick-off of the Keep Portland Weird festival here in Paris, which meant that I had a reading/screening in the...
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As the beautiful and all important eldest daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth of York is a dynastic pawn. She's just a teenager when her beloved father's death tears apart her world. Before her younger brother can be crowned, her parents' marriage is discovered to be bigamous, and all its offspring are declared illegitimate by Parliament. Her mother's obsession to overthrow Richard III and regain power leads her to plot with Henry Tudor, exiled in France. Elizabeth is the bridal bait, Henry's claim to the crown of England. To protect his two young nephews, Richard sends them away from London. But after Richard is betrayed and defeated at Bosworth, Henry Tudor becomes Henry VII. Despite her mother's insistence, Elizabeth refuses to claim the throne in her own right. Despite loving Richard and being revolted by Henry's avarice and paranoid bloodthirstiness, she marries the Tudor to promote peace. Much to her mother's disgust, Elizabeth is powerless and refuses to scheme or to wheedle favors from her husband. Henry's mother, Margaret Beaufort, spies on her, insists on dressing and acting like a queen, and controls everything about the court. Choosing her battles, Elizabeth manages to arrange love matches for her younger sisters. She pours all her love into Arthur, her firstborn, raising him to care for his people and for honor. She often thinks of Richard and how he promoted laws to benefit the common man. She is torn when pretenders to the throne come forth, for she believes her younger brother may still be alive. She is shattered when Arthur dies, a loving teen with noble plans. Her younger son, Henry, who will now be the next king, may look like her father, but is a selfish, greedy child who enjoys seeing others in pain.
Elizabeth of York was so much more than Henry VIII's mother. A Plantagenet princess, she cared more for her family and for her countrymen than for riches and power. She made a success of her marriage with a man she did not love or respect. She protected her sisters and their families. She gave away most of her money to the poor and sick, and continually prayed to God for strength. She was loved by her family and her countrymen, respected by the Spanish ambassador, and even appreciated by her husband. Hers is at once a sad and a triumphant story. It's sad because she gives up so much for others. It's triumphant, because despite her lack of political power, she retained her humanity and loved and was loved.
Margaret Campbell Barnes wrote first rate historical novels, and this is one of her best. Her Anne of Cleves is vibrant, attractive, and compassionate, putting the lie to Henry VIII's dismissive comment, "Flanders Mare". She is also wiser and lonelier. In fact, I always felt this depiction matched Holbein's lovely portrait. The secondary characters - Mary Tudor, Catherine Howard, Thomas Culpepper, Thomas Cranmer, Charles Brandon, and Hans Holbein - come across as flesh and blood people. And Henry VIII is shown as the complex, many faceted man he undoubtedly was. And in this book, Anne of Cleves is one of the few who learn how to handle him.
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Shane is one of those books that I return to time and again. The language is simple, but evokes a changing frontier and Shane's bittersweet struggle to leave behind a life of violence. No polemics or self-conscious internalizing here - the characters' actions say more then their words. And this withholding draws in the reader to try to understand their past and present. This story is more than just a Western. Like all great tales, it goes beyond mere genre.
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Anyone who wants to understand the Wars of the Roses must read Costain's The Last Plantagenets. The family ties are clearly stated, and all the relatives are distinct personalities, and not just shadows of the reigning kings. And again, the women and queens consorts come to the fore.
This is the book that made me a die-hard supporter of Richard III.
Anyone who wants to read the blood and sweat of history instead of dry facts must read Costain's The Three Edwards. You are swept into the intrigues, battles, diplomacy, and strong personalities of Edward I, Edward II, and Edward III. A big plus is that Costain takes the time to delve into the extended families. The women of the period are formidable in different ways.
Costain's Plantagent books prompted my continuing love of British history.
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Anglophile has commented on (7) products.
The King's Daughter by Sandra Worth
Anglophile, November 19, 2010
As the beautiful and all important eldest daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth of York is a dynastic pawn. She's just a teenager when her beloved father's death tears apart her world. Before her younger brother can be crowned, her parents' marriage is discovered to be bigamous, and all its offspring are declared illegitimate by Parliament. Her mother's obsession to overthrow Richard III and regain power leads her to plot with Henry Tudor, exiled in France. Elizabeth is the bridal bait, Henry's claim to the crown of England. To protect his two young nephews, Richard sends them away from London. But after Richard is betrayed and defeated at Bosworth, Henry Tudor becomes Henry VII. Despite her mother's insistence, Elizabeth refuses to claim the throne in her own right. Despite loving Richard and being revolted by Henry's avarice and paranoid bloodthirstiness, she marries the Tudor to promote peace. Much to her mother's disgust, Elizabeth is powerless and refuses to scheme or to wheedle favors from her husband. Henry's mother, Margaret Beaufort, spies on her, insists on dressing and acting like a queen, and controls everything about the court. Choosing her battles, Elizabeth manages to arrange love matches for her younger sisters. She pours all her love into Arthur, her firstborn, raising him to care for his people and for honor. She often thinks of Richard and how he promoted laws to benefit the common man. She is torn when pretenders to the throne come forth, for she believes her younger brother may still be alive. She is shattered when Arthur dies, a loving teen with noble plans. Her younger son, Henry, who will now be the next king, may look like her father, but is a selfish, greedy child who enjoys seeing others in pain.Elizabeth of York was so much more than Henry VIII's mother. A Plantagenet princess, she cared more for her family and for her countrymen than for riches and power. She made a success of her marriage with a man she did not love or respect. She protected her sisters and their families. She gave away most of her money to the poor and sick, and continually prayed to God for strength. She was loved by her family and her countrymen, respected by the Spanish ambassador, and even appreciated by her husband. Hers is at once a sad and a triumphant story. It's sad because she gives up so much for others. It's triumphant, because despite her lack of political power, she retained her humanity and loved and was loved.
My Lady of Cleves: A Novel of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves by Margaret Cam Barnes
Anglophile, January 2, 2010
Margaret Campbell Barnes wrote first rate historical novels, and this is one of her best. Her Anne of Cleves is vibrant, attractive, and compassionate, putting the lie to Henry VIII's dismissive comment, "Flanders Mare". She is also wiser and lonelier. In fact, I always felt this depiction matched Holbein's lovely portrait. The secondary characters - Mary Tudor, Catherine Howard, Thomas Culpepper, Thomas Cranmer, Charles Brandon, and Hans Holbein - come across as flesh and blood people. And Henry VIII is shown as the complex, many faceted man he undoubtedly was. And in this book, Anne of Cleves is one of the few who learn how to handle him.(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
Shane by Jack Schaefer
Anglophile, January 2, 2010
Shane is one of those books that I return to time and again. The language is simple, but evokes a changing frontier and Shane's bittersweet struggle to leave behind a life of violence. No polemics or self-conscious internalizing here - the characters' actions say more then their words. And this withholding draws in the reader to try to understand their past and present. This story is more than just a Western. Like all great tales, it goes beyond mere genre.(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
Anglophile, September 14, 2009
Anyone who wants to understand the Wars of the Roses must read Costain's The Last Plantagenets. The family ties are clearly stated, and all the relatives are distinct personalities, and not just shadows of the reigning kings. And again, the women and queens consorts come to the fore.This is the book that made me a die-hard supporter of Richard III.
The Three Edwards by Thomas B. Costain
Anglophile, September 14, 2009
Anyone who wants to read the blood and sweat of history instead of dry facts must read Costain's The Three Edwards. You are swept into the intrigues, battles, diplomacy, and strong personalities of Edward I, Edward II, and Edward III. A big plus is that Costain takes the time to delve into the extended families. The women of the period are formidable in different ways.Costain's Plantagent books prompted my continuing love of British history.
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
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