The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Ok so I love Philippa Gregory's War of the Roses series. Deception, betrayal, love affairs, who doesn't want to read about that? The second book in the series The Red Queen, doesn't disappoint. It is narrated by Margaret Beaufort, grandmother of Henry VIII.

The story starts when Margaret is nine years old and all she wants is be a nun. She has visions of being the next Joan of Arc. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a story if that is what happened. Margaret was a cousin to the King of England and therefore she had to make a good match. Which her mother makes sure of, of course. In fact, Margaret was married three times throughout her life.

The theme of this novel is destiny, and whether God has created our destiny or do we create our own destiny? After her son is born (the child who would become King Henry VII) Margaret knows that her son was born to be king. In her mind, it is God's plan for her son to be king. Throughout the novel, Margaret fights for Henry's right to be king. Of course, everyone else tell her it is her plan, not God's.

This theme definitely made me think and question,  do the events that happen to me happen because they were planned by a higher power or is it truly my choices that create events? Gregory doesn't really answer the question, but nor should she. It is an author's place to ask the questions, not answer them.

So was Margaret right? Did God get King Henry VII to the throne or was it Margaret's scheming?

Go and pick up a copy, it will be worth your time.

Till next time,
R.F.F.

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

Right now I am in the middle of re-reading Philippa Gregory's Cousins War series. The first book in the series is entitled The Lady of the Rivers. I love Philappa Gregory's work and was so excited when she decided to create another series (her earlier works revolve around the Tudors). These novels are about the years leading up to, and about, the Cousins War, also known as the War of the Roses.

The first novel in the series is told through the eyes of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, who would later become Jacquetta Woodville, great-grandmother of Henry the VIII (though she died long before he ever came into existence). While historians may not know much about her, she was an important part of English history. Jacquetta started off her life as French royalty, married an English Duke, and wound up marrying her deceased husband's squire for love. She rose to great heights, was thrown down to great lows, and ended her life as a leading lady of the English court.

Now it has been said that Jacquetta's family, the House of Luxembourg was founded by a water goddess named Melusina. Melusina's decedents are said to have the powers to See. Jacquetta was actually accused of witchcraft (but that happens later on in the series) when her daughter was Queen of England. Gregory uses the story of Luxembourg's ancestry to create a strong willed female character.

Gregory makes it very clear in the text that during this time period women were regarded as objects, pawn on a chessboard if you will. They were used to make bargains and negotiate relationships. What they were not allowed, were opinions and a say in what happened in their own life.  Jacquetta tries her upmost to be a typical courtly beauty, but still be true to her beliefs. Throughout the novel she continually comments on the fact that men are frightened by powerful woman, which is why they have to turn them into something evil, like a witch. And sometimes power doesn't mean strength, it just means having knowledge of the world around you. I love the fact that Gregory pushed the theme as knowledge as power. It's so true and I just don't feel that authors really write on that theme enough.

So while Jacquetta was a real person, it is important to remember that this is a work of historical fiction. Gregory admitted herself that there was not a lot out there on Jacquetta, even though she was a key eye-witness throughout  the War of the Roses. So many events are embellished and probably not very accurate, but still. The prose itself is great, there's a reason why the call Gregory the Queen of Royal Fiction.  If you're looking for something that doesn't have romance and is all about the historical accuracy, I suggest something else. However, if you're just looking for a good read, thumbs up all around!

Now, next post will be about Henry VIII's grandmother. Know who that is? Hint: this is not Jacquetta's daughter.

Till next time,
R.F.F.