I absolutely LOVED this book! As you can see, it has been added to my favorite book list! Philippa Gregory is
definitely one of my favorite authors, if not my MOST favorite! The stories that she tells combine with
her writing style are always amazing, and this book definitely was as well.
Title: The White Queen
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Touchstone
Publication Date: August 18, 2009
Pages: 445
Out in Paperback?: Yes; April 6, 2010
My Rating: 5/5
Goodreads Summary:
Philippa Gregory
presents the first of a new series set amid the deadly feuds of England known
as the Wars of the Roses.
Brother turns on brother to win the
ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of
the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the
Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and
intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with
Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.
The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and
ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in
secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her
exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become
central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the
missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her
uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous
unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed
by her inimitable storytelling skills.
With The White Queen,
Philippa Gregory brings the artistry and intellect of a master writer and
storyteller to a new era in history and begins what is sure to be another
bestselling classic series from this beloved author.
Characters:
As with my previous review of a Philippa Gregory novel, The Other Boleyn Girl, the
character section is a little difficult as this novel revolves around
historical figures. Let me just
say though … that I absolutely fell IN LOVE with Elizabeth Woodville! Known as the White Queen and the mother
of the Princes in the Tower, this story focuses on Elizabeth Woodville
and her determination during this time period. As women are not valued for their opinions during this time,
it was fascinating to see the power and strength that come from her. Despite the hard times that she faces
with her second husband, King Edward IV, and without him, she creates allies,
raises an army, and most importantly, does her best to protect and teach her
children. Aside from Elizabeth, I
truly enjoyed reading about Edward IV; Gregory created an amazing character, as
Edward is strong in his fight for the throne, loyal in his love for Elizabeth,
and protective and loving with his children (they have 10 total!), even to his
many girls. Aside from the two
main characters, Elizabeth’s mother, Jacquetta, plays a large role in
supporting her daughter regardless of the woman stereotypes from this time
period. Her brother, Anthony, also
supports his sister, although he is skeptical in the beginning, his support
grows throughout the novel.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the characters in the
novel (aside from Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and George, Duke of
Clarence, who are Edward IV’s brothers that continuously changed sides, from
York to Lancaster and back again and then back again!). Most of the characters were extremely
likable and interesting to read about!
Plot:
As with many of Philippa Gregory’s novels, I am so
interested in and so enjoyed the plot!
The White Queen begins in 1464
and covers the events leading into 1485.
Beginning with the meeting of Elizabeth Woodville and King Edward IV,
the plot covers their relationship, their children, the Princes in the Tower,
and the ever-changing rule of the throne from the House of York to the hands of
Lancaster and back again. The
scenes leading up to the battles were filled with tension and were a nice
contrast to the romantic storyline of the king and queen. The battle scenes were described
excellently, creating an exciting visual for the reader. Overall, any reader would be easily
entertained with the ups and downs, the loves and battles of the story.
Writing Style:
I think it is pretty obvious that I love this book and
Gregory’s writing style overall. The
setup of the story is laid out nicely, as each chapter is titled with the
season and year (often the actual date!).
I love how her writing flows smoothly between each chapter of the book,
and large jumps in the date are covered seamlessly. Her writing is absolutely beautiful, creating tension and
action in the battle scenes as well as describing the love story between the
king and queen. Overall, I loved
this book, mostly because the writing was perfect! It was a sophisticated style and made reading so
enjoyable. I definitely felt like
I was in this time period while reading!
Have you heard of the
new show, The White Queen,
coming to Starz? It is to premiere
on August 10, 2013! I am
definitely looking forward to this, especially after reading the book!
FTC Disclaimer:
All items mentioned were purchased by me. This is not
a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. No affiliate links were
used.
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