Book Review: The White Queen: A Novel by Philippa Gregory (155)

The White Queen: A Novel by Philippa Gregory

LOVED IT

Book Description
THE COUSINS’ WAR
Book One
Philippa Gregory, “the queen of royal fiction,”*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.

Product Details
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Touchstone (August 18, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416563687
ISBN-13: 978-1416563686

I really enjoyed this one. It helps if you have a little background on Elizabeth before starting this one. I searched around and found a concise history on Wikipedia. I also went back and reread parts of The Princes in the Tower by Alison Weir. Gregory never fails to entertain me and this latest book is an interesting change of pace, introducing a paranormal element to the story that Elizabeth was the descendant of the mermaid, Melusine. I can’t wait for the next one in this series.