The White Queen by Philippa Gregory is a historical novel set during the time of the War of the Roses, focusing on the life of Elizabeth Woodville, who becomes Queen of England after marrying King Edward IV. The book delves into the political intrigue, battles, and betrayals of the time, while also exploring Elizabeth's personal struggles, ambitions, and the mystery surrounding the fate of her two sons. Philippa Gregory's writing style weaves together historical facts with fictional elements, creating a captivating narrative that brings to life the complexities of court life and the power struggles of the era.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for The White Queen include themes of violence, death, familial betrayal, and discussions of witchcraft, which may be distressing for some readers.
Has Romance?
The novel features a medium level of romance as the relationship between Elizabeth and Edward is central to the plot, though it is interwoven with the political drama.
From The Publisher:
The inspiration for the critically acclaimed Starz miniseries The White Queen, #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings to life the extraordinary story of Elizabeth Woodville, a woman who rises from obscurity to become Queen of England, and changes the course of history forever.
Elizabeth Woodville is a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition. Her mother is Jacquetta, also known as the mystical lady of the rivers, and she is even more determined to bring power and wealth to the family line. While riding in the woods one day, Elizabeth captures the attentions of the newly crowned King Edward IV and, despite her common upbringing, marries him in secret.
When she is raised up to be his queen, the English court is outraged, but Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for her family's dominance. Yet despite her best efforts, and even with the help of her mother's powers, her two sons become pawns in a famous unsolved mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the lost princes in the Tower of London.
In this dazzling account of the deadly Wars of the Roses, brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize: the throne of England.
Ratings (16)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (13) | |
Liked It (1) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (26):
Read It (16) | |
Want To Read (7) | |
Not Interested (3) |
2 comment(s)
Brilliant book. The novel is narrated in first person and tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of Edward IV, in her prime years. The book also provides an intriguing glimpse into the bloody period of English dynastic rule that was marked by internecine power struggles between the House of York and the House of Lancaster in 15th century England, more commonly known as the “Wars of the Roses”. The period covered by the novel is from Spring 1464 to April 1485.
I was gripped and it just got better and better as I powered through it.
If you like books featuring ten different characters named Margaret and twelve more named Edward, this is the book for you!
In fairness, Gregory can’t be held accountable for the terrible naming practices of the Plantagenets but good grief, the names alone made this a slog. I felt like this was simply a detailed timeline of the Cousins’ War with a little bit of fiction thrown in to make the thing hang together. It was a tough book to finish for me. I really enjoyed the prequel, The Lady of the Rivers, and feel that that one is the superior storytelling effort.
What can you read after
The White Queen?
About the Author:
Philippa Gregory is the author of many New York Times bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl, and is a recognized authority on women's history. Many of her works have been adapted for the screen including The Other Boleyn Girl. She graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and was awarded the 2016 Harrogate Festival Award for Contribution to Historical Fiction. She is an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. She founded Gardens for the Gambia, a charity to dig wells in poor rural schools in The Gambia, and has provided nearly 200 wells. She welcomes visitors to her website PhilippaGregory.com.
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