A new Philippa Gregory Novel Not About The Tudors (The White Queen - Philippa Gregory)

Member Name: Vixstar

Product:	The White Queen - Philippa Gregory
Date:	20/09/09 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well written; Well researched

Disadvantages: None

Philippa Gregory is probably best known, presently anyway, for her series of books about the Tudors including The Other Boleyn Girl and The Other Queen. I'm a big fan of this series of books and of Gregory's way of sympathetically fictionalising historical characters and events so when I spotted this book whilst out shopping it didn't take long for me to persuade myself to buy the hardback edition.

This book, the first in The Cousins' War series, is set during the final years of the Wars of the Roses and the White Queen of the title is Elizabeth Woodville - Edward IV's queen.

It's Spring 1464 the Yorkists are in the ascendancy, Edward IV is on the throne and Henry VI is in the Tower. The recently widowed and beautiful Elizabeth Woodville is at the home of her formerly Lancastrian family with her two young sons and without any money. Whilst petitioning the King for the return of her husband's lands, Elizabeth's beauty gains his attention. With the assistance of her mother's witchcraft Elizabeth seduce and marries the King. But with King Henry still alive, several Lancastrians with claims to the throne and Edward's own family desiring power greater than that which he has granted them is their reign destined to be a long and peaceful one?

The story is mostly written from Elizabeth's perspective, except for the battles within the book when it would be inappropriate. The book starts quickly and introduces the key players and it keeps on moving with a pace that keeps you reading rather dwelling on episodes. As it is from Elizabeth's perspective we get more detail and information about her family, life and problems, but this does not adversely affect the story. Gregory's focus on Elizabeth makes it easy to follow and she quickly gains your sympathy, in some stories she has been portrayed as evil in this book she is a much more complex character, emotional and ambitious.

The tale of the White Queen is intertwined with the myth of Melusina, a water goddess who Elizabeth Woodville's mother, Jacquetta, believed she was descended from and whose story was seen by Gregory as being similar to that of Elizabeth Woodville. It isn't essential to read these sections but Melusina is mentioned in places within the main story so it does help you understand who they are talking about and Gregory has added an extra explanation at the end of the book.

This book covers a period of history that I have only a sketchy knowledge of based on other fiction books I have read. I found it a little difficult to sympathise with the characters initially probably because I didn't know them as well as I do the Tudors though Gregory's style of writing brought them alive. As a historian she keeps the detail in the books factual, even the regular references to witchcraft within the Woodville female line is based in fact although I still can't believe that women really wore conical headdresses.

The book is easy to get into and read, and is an excellent introduction to what could be seen as a lesser known period of history. I am looking forward to the sequel "The Red Queen" to see how Gregory will develop the tale further. This is recommended for all fans of historical fiction, this story is interesting for itself and as a precursor to the Tudor tale.

Summary: An excellent introduction to the Tudors predecessors