Even just casual followers of my blog and my twitter have probably figured out by now I'm a feminist. What isn't so obvious is my equally passionate identity as a history nerd. Probably because it's easier to relate feminism to virginity than it is to somehow connect history to virginity. That is, without having to do extra research.
Anyway. I double-majored in history & French, with a concentration in women's and gender studies. My academic interests often overlap with my leisure activities, like my choice of literature. For this week's Book Club Friday, I'm reviewing a book by my all-time favorite author, Philippa Gregory. She's arguably best-known for The Other Boelyn Girl, but what I finished last weekend was The White Queen, the first book in a new series called The Cousins' War.
The Tudor Dynasty is my favorite time period, hands down. Queen Elizabeth I is my idol. She's like a rock star to me. Excuse me while I fangirl for a moment over England's most notable monarch and one of the world's greatest politicians of all time. *le sigh*
Anyway. I've read all of Gregory's novels that take place in the Tudor Court, but now she's started a series that predates the Tudors, during the Wars of the Roses.
From her website:
Elizabeth Woodville, of the House of Lancaster, is widowed when her
husband is killed in battle. Aided and abetted by the raw ambition and
witchcraft skills of her mother Jacquetta, Elizabeth seduces and
marries, in secret, reigning king Edward IV, of the family of the white
rose, the House of York. As long as there are other claimants to
Edward’s throne, the profound rivalries between the two families will
never be laid to rest. Violent conflict, shocking betrayal and murder
dominate Elizabeth’s life as Queen of England, passionate wife of Edward
and devoted mother of their children.
Gregory explores the historical mystery of the two lost princes in the Tower. This is what I love best about historical fiction. We have so many gaps in history, especially in regards to people on the margins (the poor, the diseased, women, religious minorities, etc.). Writers like Gregory use their imaginations to fill in the gaps, and we're left with vivid descriptions of secret plots and witchcraft and ambition. At the end of The White Queen, Gregory answers some questions about her work, including the research process. She mentions that while we know the key events during the Wars of the Roses, often the events happened so quickly that we don't know the motivation behind them.
If you enjoy historical fiction, strong female protagonists, and vivid descriptions, then I highly recommend The White Queen.
she does have some wonderful books! long but good :) i loved the other boylen girl!
ReplyDeleteThey are long, but so engrossing that I can't put them down. :)
DeleteI have also posted about Phillipa Gregory books. Since you like to read, I wondered if you might be interested in finding out more about cryptic crosswords. This is a link to a post I did recently which looked particularly at clues that involved anagrams. Cryptic Crosswords - Anagrams
ReplyDeleteI enjoy puzzles, and I read your post, but those aren't really my kind of puzzle. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteI love her books!
ReplyDeleteI love finding other people who love her books as much as I do. :)
DeleteI enjoyed The White Queen, but I think of liked The Red Queen better. And I still need to pick up and read The Lady of the Rivers.
ReplyDeleteI still need to buy The Red Queen. Philippa Gregory's novels are among the few I always purchase (I own sooooo many books), but I still wait til they're in paperback AND on sale.
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