Having enjoyed 'The White Queen' I chose The Red Queen
for a summers read in the park. I had hoped for further insights into the shadowy figures behind the story of the Wars of the Roses which is a part of English history I knew little about. I wanted to know about the life of Margaret and the mother to King Henry VII. Instead The Red Queen is the earlier novel from a slightly different angle. Some of the scenes are repeated. This would have been fine for anyone who hadn't read the first book of the trilogy but I felt I was being taught to suck eggs with the witch's wind and the water goddess.
I did not warm to Margaret as I did Elizabeth Neville but I am not sure whether I was supposed to. She emerges as a fascinating, dangerous woman, who put her ambitions for her son and House above all else, all in the name of God, of course. I did find her religious justification a little tedious and I would describe her in today's standards as a religious fanatic.
Wales
As time passes Margaret's desire to see the House of Lancaster restored to its position and her son claim the throne ofEngland
As the narrative progresses Margaret as the Red Queen and Elizabeth Neville as the White Queen take on an almost archetypal quality as if they are queens in a game of chess that will determine the future ofEngland
Even though the young Margaret in her girlish devotion to Joan of Arc was sympathetic, I found myself getting quite emotionally involved as the novel continued and my dislike of Margaret grew and grew, especially when she and Lord Thomas Stanley joined forces.
In the final chapters of the book, the perspective leaves Margaret to observe the unfolding of the fateful events of August 1485 . Again, as I found with The White Queen, Gregory handles battle scenes well, it's no Odyssey I'll have you know but it certainly sets a scene.
for a summers read in the park. I had hoped for further insights into the shadowy figures behind the story of the Wars of the Roses which is a part of English history I knew little about. I wanted to know about the life of Margaret and the mother to King Henry VII. Instead The Red Queen is the earlier novel from a slightly different angle. Some of the scenes are repeated. This would have been fine for anyone who hadn't read the first book of the trilogy but I felt I was being taught to suck eggs with the witch's wind and the water goddess.I did not warm to Margaret as I did Elizabeth Neville but I am not sure whether I was supposed to. She emerges as a fascinating, dangerous woman, who put her ambitions for her son and House above all else, all in the name of God, of course. I did find her religious justification a little tedious and I would describe her in today's standards as a religious fanatic.
Synopsis of The Red Queen:
Margaret tells her own story from the age of nine and emerges quickly as a deeply religious young woman who would have welcomed a life within the Church and who likened herself to Joan of Arc. Instead, due to her royal lineage, she is required to make an advantageous marriage with another family of the royal line. She is married at the age of twelve to Edmund Tudor, who was twice her age. This union resulted in her giving birth at the age of thirteen to her only child, Henry Tudor. Edmund died in captivity when Margaret was pregnant. When another marriage was arranged for her by her family a few years later she was required to leave Henry inAs time passes Margaret's desire to see the House of Lancaster restored to its position and her son claim the throne of
As the narrative progresses Margaret as the Red Queen and Elizabeth Neville as the White Queen take on an almost archetypal quality as if they are queens in a game of chess that will determine the future of
Even though the young Margaret in her girlish devotion to Joan of Arc was sympathetic, I found myself getting quite emotionally involved as the novel continued and my dislike of Margaret grew and grew, especially when she and Lord Thomas Stanley joined forces.
In the final chapters of the book, the perspective leaves Margaret to observe the unfolding of the fateful events of August 1485 . Again, as I found with The White Queen, Gregory handles battle scenes well, it's no Odyssey I'll have you know but it certainly sets a scene.
