The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory
Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.
Married to a man twice her age, quickly widowed, and a mother at only fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son on the throne of England regardless of the cost to herself, to England, and even to the little boy. Disregarding rival heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty, she names him Henry, like the king; sends him into exile; and pledges him in marriage to her enemy Elizabeth of York’s daughter. As the political tides constantly move and shift, Margaret charts her own way through another loveless marriage, treacherous alliances, and secret plots. She feigns loyalty to the usurper Richard III and even carries his wife’s train at her coronation.
Widowed a second time, Margaret marries the ruthless, deceitful Thomas, Lord Stanley, and her fate stands on the knife edge of his will. Gambling her life that he will support her, she then masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of the time—all the while knowing that her son has grown to manhood, recruited an army, and now waits for his opportunity to win the greatest prize.
In a novel of conspiracy, passion, and coldhearted ambition, number one bestselling author Philippa Gregory has brought to life the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history. (back cover)
Margaret Beaufort wants to devote her life to church but is instead maried off to Edmund Tudor when she is 12. He dies soon after that but manages to get her pregnant before that. After her son Henry is born, Margaret devotes her life to get him on the throne.
I don’t think I’ve ever hated any character so much as I hated Margaret! By page 60 I just wanted to stab her. She think she is England’s Joan of Arc ans is here to deliver England from the Yorkist. I got it, she’s pious person and loves to spend time in praying. I don’t need to be reminded of it on every page. And what up with Margaret and her “saint’s knees”? I read that way many times.
I think the book suffer from first person narrative. Margaret spends most of her time in the countryside and much of the happenings must be told in letters. I
All in all I enjoyed The White Queen more than this. I just couldn’t stand Margaret and it took a lot from the reading.
2.5/5
New-to-me author: No
Would I recommend this? Not really…
Would I read more from this author: Maybe
book was from the library
blodeuedd
I know what you mean, I like the book a lot, but hated Margaret! I just wanted to strangle her, and the way she treated that one husband of hers, who was so nice, arghhh
blodeuedd recently posted..Review- No Place to Run – Maya Banks
Elysium
He was being so kind and hated Margaret for being so mean! Poor guy!
misfit
I think PG is doing herself a disfavor with these first person narratives. They don’t work well for women stuck up in the country, do they?
Elysium
I know. Lot of big events left untold and the letters were so tedious…
PK Reeves
I have yet to read my copy of the White Queen and now I don’t think I’ll get the Red Queen… I’ll just wait until I do the first one before anything else. Thanks for the honest review .
Elysium
I think you should start with The White Queen and maybe get this one from library.
Mrs. Q: Book Addict
I want to reread “The White Queen” before I read this one. I’m really interested in reading this one now. I wonder what i’ll think of Margaret.
Elysium
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this! Maybe you would like it more but didn’t work for me.