The White Queen

I am a big fan of Philippa Gregory's historical novels, and this one did not disappoint. In The White Queen Gregory tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner who became Queen of England when she married Edward Plantagenet. Elizabeth is an intriguing character - smart, strong-willed, ambitious, and possibly a witch.

This is Gregory's first book in a series about the Wars of the Roses, the period that pre-dates the Tudors. There is plenty of intrigue and excitement to spare, with courtiers switching sides as often as they take a bath (smile). Elizabeth plays a central role in many of these intrigues, as Edward is seemingly always leading an army somewhere.

Gregory notes at the end of the novel that she fictionalized very little of it, though obviously records were not as readily available for events in the 15th century, and because winners could (and did) quickly become losers, many records were likely lost. But she does include one of the greatest British mysteries of all time, that of the princes in the Tower. The boys were Edward's and Elizabeth's legitimate heirs to the throne, who mysteriously disappeared but whose bodies were never recovered. Whether one of those boys was a changeling is entirely Gregory's imagination, but she presents a compelling argument for it.

This was a really good book, and I'm looking forward to reading more of the series. But I'm thinking I'm going to leave ancient history for a bit and come into the present (or possibly future) for at least one book. I just need a little palate cleanser.

The White Queen: A Novel (Hardcover)