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The Dragon and the Rose
Book by Gellis, Roberta
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 1979
14 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Roberta Gellis
57 books184 followersRoberta Gellis has been one of the most successful writers of historical fiction of the last few decades, having published about 25 meticulously researched historical novels since 1964. She was married to her husband Charles for over 50 years and they lived together in Lafayette, Indiana with a lively Lakeland terrier called Taffy. She has one child called Mark.
Her page at the Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase
Her page at the Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 25, 2017
Let's make one thing clear: Despite the cheesy romance novel cover (Seriously? Henry VII wishes), this is NOT a romance novel. It's historical fiction. But not good historical fiction. Historical fiction at its most mundane. Historical fiction that forces you to listen in on every conversation and read every document, no matter how trivial to the plot.
This book should have been called THE DRAGON has a lot of meetings and does some paperwork AND THE ROSE wanders in every once in a while, whines out another line, and gets a fever.
We hear over and over that Margaret Beaufort thinks Elizabeth of York is clever, but Henry never sees it and frankly, neither did I. Elizabeth Woodville is played as an absolute shrew, and Margaret Beaufort is prideful but otherwise good. Authors seem to consistently struggle with the fact that behind this marriage there were two, count em two, mothers who were incredibly clever, incredibly scheming, and incredibly power-hungry.
On top of that, I absolutely cannot imagine how you would be able to keep up with all the characters if you don't already have EXTENSIVE knowledge of Plantagenet and Tudor history. Hell, she doesn't even make it clear that Gloucester = Richard III. Maybe if you don't know anything about this time period, you just go with it, but I think I would have found it paralyzingly confusing.
*sigh* I'm never going to find a good Elizabeth of York book, am I? I keep hoping Sharon Kay Penman will write a sequel of sorts to the Sunne in Splendour, following Elizabeth and Henry VII, but I don't think it will happen. :(
P.S. Points to whoever picked up on a subtle MST3K reference (or I guess quote) buried in the review.
This book should have been called THE DRAGON has a lot of meetings and does some paperwork AND THE ROSE wanders in every once in a while, whines out another line, and gets a fever.
We hear over and over that Margaret Beaufort thinks Elizabeth of York is clever, but Henry never sees it and frankly, neither did I. Elizabeth Woodville is played as an absolute shrew, and Margaret Beaufort is prideful but otherwise good. Authors seem to consistently struggle with the fact that behind this marriage there were two, count em two, mothers who were incredibly clever, incredibly scheming, and incredibly power-hungry.
On top of that, I absolutely cannot imagine how you would be able to keep up with all the characters if you don't already have EXTENSIVE knowledge of Plantagenet and Tudor history. Hell, she doesn't even make it clear that Gloucester = Richard III. Maybe if you don't know anything about this time period, you just go with it, but I think I would have found it paralyzingly confusing.
*sigh* I'm never going to find a good Elizabeth of York book, am I? I keep hoping Sharon Kay Penman will write a sequel of sorts to the Sunne in Splendour, following Elizabeth and Henry VII, but I don't think it will happen. :(
P.S. Points to whoever picked up on a subtle MST3K reference (or I guess quote) buried in the review.
May 13, 2012
The Dragon and the Rose is supposedly the story of Henry VII (the dragon) and Elizabeth of York (the rose), but don't go getting yourself fired up by the romancy looking cover and jacket blurb. The first half of The Dragon and the Rose is more about Henry's younger years, his mother Margaret Beaufort and events leading up to becoming king after the battle at Bosworth field. That latter half revolves around the Henry's early years as king as he faces challenges of plots against the crown, stabilizing the countryside, along with his marriage to Elizabeth and the MIL from hell (those evil Woodvilles you know).
If you are familiar with this period, you know the drill, and if you are new to the Wars of the Roses this isn't the book to start reading about it. Gellis really doesn't bring anything new or fresh to Henry's early life and the years he spent in exile so just skip through the first half as you'll be bored to tears. But then there's the second half when he's king and newly married and you would think things are going to get interesting, right?
Wrong. Dull, dull, dull. Henry is a good and kind king and forgave everyone who fought against him at Bosworth. Margaret Beaufort was pretty much in the front running for Mother of the Year, leaving all the dirty plotting and evil doing .
No harm ever came from her mother's plotting, she reminded herself. It had always been easy for cleverer plotters to circumvent her, and surely Henry was the cleverest man alive.
Bah! Give this one a pass, wish I had.
If you are familiar with this period, you know the drill, and if you are new to the Wars of the Roses this isn't the book to start reading about it. Gellis really doesn't bring anything new or fresh to Henry's early life and the years he spent in exile so just skip through the first half as you'll be bored to tears. But then there's the second half when he's king and newly married and you would think things are going to get interesting, right?
Wrong. Dull, dull, dull. Henry is a good and kind king and forgave everyone who fought against him at Bosworth. Margaret Beaufort was pretty much in the front running for Mother of the Year, leaving all the dirty plotting and evil doing .
No harm ever came from her mother's plotting, she reminded herself. It had always been easy for cleverer plotters to circumvent her, and surely Henry was the cleverest man alive.
Bah! Give this one a pass, wish I had.
April 6, 2012
A Classic Historical Romance Worth the Read
This is one of Gellis’ early classics. It tells the story of Henry Tudor who seized the throne of England in 1485, and the bride he took as king, Elizabeth, daughter of King Edward IV. Henry was the heir to the House of Lancaster; Elizabeth was the heir to the House of York. He was the dragon; she was the rose. Though politically expedient, and begun with great distrust, their marriage would become so much more. Though Elizabeth was quite neurotic (as Gellis portrays her) she was loyal to Henry though he was ever suspicious of her being the daughter of his enemy.
The novel is historically rich, capturing the life and angst of Henry who would be king and his brilliant mother, Margaret, who was wise and gracious and never forgot the one child she bore could rule all of England. We also see Elizabeth as a young woman, but she doesn’t actually get together with Henry until nearly half way through the book. So, it’s a bit different that the typical romance you might read with a slower pace. Still, it is very well written. I recommend it.
This is one of Gellis’ early classics. It tells the story of Henry Tudor who seized the throne of England in 1485, and the bride he took as king, Elizabeth, daughter of King Edward IV. Henry was the heir to the House of Lancaster; Elizabeth was the heir to the House of York. He was the dragon; she was the rose. Though politically expedient, and begun with great distrust, their marriage would become so much more. Though Elizabeth was quite neurotic (as Gellis portrays her) she was loyal to Henry though he was ever suspicious of her being the daughter of his enemy.
The novel is historically rich, capturing the life and angst of Henry who would be king and his brilliant mother, Margaret, who was wise and gracious and never forgot the one child she bore could rule all of England. We also see Elizabeth as a young woman, but she doesn’t actually get together with Henry until nearly half way through the book. So, it’s a bit different that the typical romance you might read with a slower pace. Still, it is very well written. I recommend it.
September 28, 2011
Probably more a 2.5 star read for me. I found the 1970's style a little dry. A good historical account of the early reign of Henry 7th and Elizabeth of York.
October 13, 2013
I’m glad whenever positive initial impression that I’ve got from reading the first 20-30 pages of book is sustained throughout its length onto the last pages, such as the case with this book.
I know what I want and I know what I seek when I’ve come across a mention about this book amongst the Tumblr community of “The War of the Roses” enthusiasts, and then spent a considerable amount of time, effort, and my (googling *ahem*) research skill in scourging the net freebies zone for its digital version (seeing that it was out of prints everywhere since yesteryear, being that it was published in the 1980s and apparently not very popular). What I want and what I tirelessly seek was a properly written and properly detailed historical fiction concerning the subject of 2 interesting and colorful individuals of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York who each represents the 2 warring sides of House Lancaster and House York and also who ended the decades of bloodied feud for the throne of England with their union and their coronation as the King and Queen of England after the end of The War of the Roses.
What makes them so interesting to me and what makes them to be such an interesting subject to write for was that their political marriage (between two people that are taught to suspect and resent their each opposing House, nonetheless) eventually transforms into a love match and a loving and great marriage (not to mention faithful, which was considerably a rarity in those days) throughout the 17 years they were together as the ruler of 15th century England (also apparently a great one in that aspect, seeing that they manages to bring back England towards its former glory, return political stability to the nation, restore the royal coffer, improve trades and mend its losses which caused by the wars).
Here’s an excerpt of their marriage from “Henry VII : The Winter King” by Thomas Penn:
"(In 1503) the royal household moved to the Tower, where Elizabeth was to give birth. She went into confinement, surrounded by her ladies and gentlewomen. But it was a traumatic and premature labor. With a raging temperature, she slipped in and out of consciousness. Henry was beside himself. Messengers rode through the night to summon specialists, but nothing worked.
The 11th of February 1503, her 37th birthday, Elizabeth died.
Their marriage had been one of genuine love, and Henry was shattered by her loss (…) Without his wife, the very foundations of his reign were shaken.
Usually so inscrutable, Henry’s reaction to Elizabeth’s death was one of complete physical collapse. Retreating into the depths of Richmond, he came close to death. But when he emerged six weeks later, the mask was back in place, and his drive for control was even more remorseless. The cornerstones of his reign - his wife and heir - were gone, and Henry’s crown was more at risk than ever.
(…) Increasingly ill, suspicious and unable to trust people, Henry saw conspiracy at every turn. But his resolve was unshakeable. He would hang on to the crown, whatever the cost."
Also this :
“The news of Arthur’s death caused Henry VII to break down in grief, as much in fear for his dynasty as mourning for his son. It is a testament to his love for Elizabeth – and her love for him – in the fact that she comforted him, telling him that he was the only child of his mother but had survived to become King, that God had left him with a son and two daughters and that they were both young enough to have more children” - Arlene Okerlund: Elizabeth of York, (2009).
Now you see why they are giving me the FEELSSSSS!??? Their entire history was built like an epic love story ala Han – Leia, Jack – Rose, Pinky and the Brain etc etc. CMON PEOPLE!! THEY NEED A BOOK! A MINISERIES! SIX SEASONS AND A MOVIE!
Okay, back to this book: Yeah, I really, really LIKE it! It’s well written and well worth reading if you are particularly interested in the subject. It basically covered the childhood of Henry VII where he was consistently living in the shadow of danger inside the Plantagenet’s rule, his escape for safety towards the duchy of Brittany with his uncle Jasper Tudor, his return to England and his victory in the battle of Bosworth which ended with the death of current ruler, Richard III, His introduction and courting and marriage to Elizabeth and it (unfortunately) ended shortly after the birth of their first son Prince Arthur and the coronation of Elizabeth of York as His Queen.
The writing is sharp, the characterizations are as canon as they get to known historical accounts, there are surprisingly a lot of subtly yet cleverly inserted humors found scattered alongside the story and never failed in making me chuckles (seriously, it’s great), and what I really dig was that Henry VII and Elizabeth’s romance is really built up well and always keeping up with both established characters. Pity it’s only 300 something pages long though and not as much of Elizabeth of York as I would like.
I would love if somewhere in the future Roberta Gellis would release 900 pages of the “Author Cut” version of this book. A girl could dream, right!
I know what I want and I know what I seek when I’ve come across a mention about this book amongst the Tumblr community of “The War of the Roses” enthusiasts, and then spent a considerable amount of time, effort, and my (googling *ahem*) research skill in scourging the net freebies zone for its digital version (seeing that it was out of prints everywhere since yesteryear, being that it was published in the 1980s and apparently not very popular). What I want and what I tirelessly seek was a properly written and properly detailed historical fiction concerning the subject of 2 interesting and colorful individuals of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York who each represents the 2 warring sides of House Lancaster and House York and also who ended the decades of bloodied feud for the throne of England with their union and their coronation as the King and Queen of England after the end of The War of the Roses.
What makes them so interesting to me and what makes them to be such an interesting subject to write for was that their political marriage (between two people that are taught to suspect and resent their each opposing House, nonetheless) eventually transforms into a love match and a loving and great marriage (not to mention faithful, which was considerably a rarity in those days) throughout the 17 years they were together as the ruler of 15th century England (also apparently a great one in that aspect, seeing that they manages to bring back England towards its former glory, return political stability to the nation, restore the royal coffer, improve trades and mend its losses which caused by the wars).
Here’s an excerpt of their marriage from “Henry VII : The Winter King” by Thomas Penn:
"(In 1503) the royal household moved to the Tower, where Elizabeth was to give birth. She went into confinement, surrounded by her ladies and gentlewomen. But it was a traumatic and premature labor. With a raging temperature, she slipped in and out of consciousness. Henry was beside himself. Messengers rode through the night to summon specialists, but nothing worked.
The 11th of February 1503, her 37th birthday, Elizabeth died.
Their marriage had been one of genuine love, and Henry was shattered by her loss (…) Without his wife, the very foundations of his reign were shaken.
Usually so inscrutable, Henry’s reaction to Elizabeth’s death was one of complete physical collapse. Retreating into the depths of Richmond, he came close to death. But when he emerged six weeks later, the mask was back in place, and his drive for control was even more remorseless. The cornerstones of his reign - his wife and heir - were gone, and Henry’s crown was more at risk than ever.
(…) Increasingly ill, suspicious and unable to trust people, Henry saw conspiracy at every turn. But his resolve was unshakeable. He would hang on to the crown, whatever the cost."
Also this :
“The news of Arthur’s death caused Henry VII to break down in grief, as much in fear for his dynasty as mourning for his son. It is a testament to his love for Elizabeth – and her love for him – in the fact that she comforted him, telling him that he was the only child of his mother but had survived to become King, that God had left him with a son and two daughters and that they were both young enough to have more children” - Arlene Okerlund: Elizabeth of York, (2009).
Now you see why they are giving me the FEELSSSSS!??? Their entire history was built like an epic love story ala Han – Leia, Jack – Rose, Pinky and the Brain etc etc. CMON PEOPLE!! THEY NEED A BOOK! A MINISERIES! SIX SEASONS AND A MOVIE!
Okay, back to this book: Yeah, I really, really LIKE it! It’s well written and well worth reading if you are particularly interested in the subject. It basically covered the childhood of Henry VII where he was consistently living in the shadow of danger inside the Plantagenet’s rule, his escape for safety towards the duchy of Brittany with his uncle Jasper Tudor, his return to England and his victory in the battle of Bosworth which ended with the death of current ruler, Richard III, His introduction and courting and marriage to Elizabeth and it (unfortunately) ended shortly after the birth of their first son Prince Arthur and the coronation of Elizabeth of York as His Queen.
The writing is sharp, the characterizations are as canon as they get to known historical accounts, there are surprisingly a lot of subtly yet cleverly inserted humors found scattered alongside the story and never failed in making me chuckles (seriously, it’s great), and what I really dig was that Henry VII and Elizabeth’s romance is really built up well and always keeping up with both established characters. Pity it’s only 300 something pages long though and not as much of Elizabeth of York as I would like.
I would love if somewhere in the future Roberta Gellis would release 900 pages of the “Author Cut” version of this book. A girl could dream, right!
January 20, 2013
Personally, I thought that this was a sweet, and refreshing, tale of Henry VII's love for his wife, Elizabeth of York. It was not dripping in romance; richly detailed various plots against Henry (both before and after he took the crown), and brought to light the reasoning behind many of his actions - that often look cold and callous to the 21st Century observer. My main disappointments: the awful characterisation of Elizabeth Woodville, and the fact that the story ended when Henry's reign had barely begun. Overall, it was a nice, light, read to while away a Sunday.
June 15, 2020
While this is a very good historical novel about Henry VII, its a mistake to market it as a romance between Henry and Elizabeth. Elizabeth gets very little stage time, and when she and Henry are together, it is clear this is a thorny political marriage with some emotional issues thrown in, not some grand passion of two equals that great romance novels are made of.
Great to see Henry VII get the spotlight for a change instead of his larger than life (pun intended) son, but, despite the front cover illustration and back cover summary, this is not a romance.
Read
November 16, 2024I feel like this book probably should've been longer to cover the ground Roberta Gellis wanted to cover. Also she assumes I know more about the Tudors than I actually do
June 5, 2014
Had it not been for the note at the end claiming that the book was accurate, I would have given it 4 stars. As far as writing is concerned, the story is great, progresses wonderfully and I literally could not put the book down until I finished it (8PM in the evening till 3 AM in the morning is what it took me). BUT this book is not accurate. Example of inaccuracies: the Gray that was executed by Richard III was not Elizabeth Woodville's brother, but her second son. Elizabeth of York was 19, not 22 when she married. Henry Stafford died in 1471, not 1482. Letters between him and Margaret show that their marriage was based on mutual affection (although I'll grant you that that could all be for show). If one of Margaret's marriages was a simple arrangement on both sides, that was Thomas Stanley, since she ended up taking a chastity vow while still married to him. Francis of Brittany's first wife died in 1469 and never met Henry Tudor. I could go on and on. Does this affect the story in any way? No, the basic story between Henry and Elizabeth is believable and based on historical evidence it is believable that their relationship evolved as in the book. But these little things mentioned will be annoying for someone who is very passionate about history, such as I. Also please note that some prior knowledge of what is happening in this period would help, since many times the author simply mentions a person without stating why that person is important (For example the earl of Lincoln was Elizabeth of York's cousin and was named as Richard III's heir - which was why it was shocking that Henry placed him in his council and not so shocking when he rebelled. None of this was clarified in the book, imo). If you can get passed all the above and just read it as a nice story, you will like it. If historical inaccuracies have you gritting your teeth, you might steer clear of it.
April 12, 2017
Features a very good example of how to execute a powerful climax to romantic conflict. Henry VII is understandably suspicious of everyone, including his wife, Elizabeth of York. Her letters to him merely fan his anxiety--when they are apart, his need for her increases, as the following scene demonstrates:
“Splattered with mud and streaked with sweat he went directly to Elizabeth’s apartments. He did not intend to waken her. He merely wanted to see how she looked with his own eyes….He wet his lips, suddenly dry with desire. 'Bess, may I come back?' "
“Splattered with mud and streaked with sweat he went directly to Elizabeth’s apartments. He did not intend to waken her. He merely wanted to see how she looked with his own eyes….He wet his lips, suddenly dry with desire. 'Bess, may I come back?' "
July 12, 2021
This was a pleasant telling of the story of Henry VII’s struggle for survival prior to reaching the throne of England, and his relationship with his enemy’s daughter and much beloved wife Elizabeth of York.
I enjoyed reading this. It gave a more favourable view of Henry, and his mother Margaret Beaufort, than many other authors choose to give. Despite the fact the cover of my copy is like some horrendous early 90s trashy romance novel, there wasn’t a whole lot of fluffy, flowery romance involved, which is also a nice change.
I really wish that the story didn’t end where it did though. It finished not long after Henry had secured his throne. There’s so much more to his reign which isn’t covered on the book. Other than that, I found it an enjoyable read.
I enjoyed reading this. It gave a more favourable view of Henry, and his mother Margaret Beaufort, than many other authors choose to give. Despite the fact the cover of my copy is like some horrendous early 90s trashy romance novel, there wasn’t a whole lot of fluffy, flowery romance involved, which is also a nice change.
I really wish that the story didn’t end where it did though. It finished not long after Henry had secured his throne. There’s so much more to his reign which isn’t covered on the book. Other than that, I found it an enjoyable read.
August 8, 2021
I read this a very long time ago. I loved all of the Roberta Gellis books that I bought and read. I remember the first one of hers, Bond of Blood, the author and her book Bond of Blood is what got me started reading Romance in the first place. The Dragon and the Rose is a very fine very well researched Medieval Historical Romance, that is quite wonderful. All of Roberta Gellis' Medieval Romances are great. And if you are inclined she has some fine Romances set in the Napoleonic Time that I recommend highly too.
February 12, 2025
Exquisite!
Roberta Gellis is an exceptional author, weaving historical facts and romance into her novels with ease. I read The Dragon and the Rose over twenty years ago, yet the story retains its power with this newest reading. This is the story of Elizabeth of Lancaster and Henry Tudor (Henry VII,) the final chapter in the War of the Roses. How Margaret Tudor conceived a son, sent him away to be raised amongst strangers, with the belief that someday that child would become king. Only Ms. Gellis could imagine such an epic tale....
Roberta Gellis is an exceptional author, weaving historical facts and romance into her novels with ease. I read The Dragon and the Rose over twenty years ago, yet the story retains its power with this newest reading. This is the story of Elizabeth of Lancaster and Henry Tudor (Henry VII,) the final chapter in the War of the Roses. How Margaret Tudor conceived a son, sent him away to be raised amongst strangers, with the belief that someday that child would become king. Only Ms. Gellis could imagine such an epic tale....
February 11, 2018
This book presents as an historical romance, but it would much better fit the historical novel category. It is a well researched and novelized version of Henry VII's boyhood and early manhood, growing up in exile and taking the throne, marrying Richard III's niece, Elizabeth and their turbulent struggle with each other and with enemies in England. I found it quite good and certainly entertaining. I now know more about the period.
August 5, 2018
Liked this book because it shows how anyone would have interacted in that time, how they expressed their feelings.. But I would have liked more of Elizabeth's view on the whole thing because most of it is from Henry's POV.
May 6, 2022
history made real
I enjoyed learning some history while reading a great story. It made these historical figures real. I love Roberta Gellis writing and have read many of her books. This was one of the best.
I enjoyed learning some history while reading a great story. It made these historical figures real. I love Roberta Gellis writing and have read many of her books. This was one of the best.
April 13, 2020
This is a historical novel about Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, focusing primarily on Henry.
July 26, 2016
I struggled between giving this book 3 or 4 stars. I settled on three, but it's more like 3 1/2 in reality.
I'm actually not really sure how to describe my feelings for this book, but let me explain it like this: I was looking for a story with focus on Henry VII and Elizabeth of York for quite some time and kept stumbling about this. I kept not buying it, because look at the cover! It looks like a drippy love story where everyone just whispers "My darling!" for at least half a page while making googly eyes at each other! Everyone will be a caricature!
But after ages, I still hadn't found anything that seemed in any way better, so I ordered it. It took me a while to read it (or rather: I started to read it, put it aside in favor of another book and picked it up afterwards again), but I have to say that while some fears indeed came true, I was mostly surprised in a positive way. I actually had mostly fun reading it.
Okay, let's get the negative stuff out of the way:
- Obviously this book is from 1977, which is reflected in the language. This can take some time to get used to or simply needs to be ignored. Like how pregnant women are "breeding". Shudder.
- The Woodvilles are evil. Especially Elizabeth Woodville (Elizabeth of York is presented as an exception caused by her father's genes). She's a shrill, hateful, scheming and manipulative harpy in this book. If she's one of your favorite historical characters, this book is definitely not for you, unless you love Henry VII more.
Which already brings me to the good stuff. I really enjoyed Henry VII. He was not the perfect romantic lead character I feared he'd be. He was intelligent, witty and lovable. But also had severe trust issues and could be unfair and cruel at points. I also appreciated that he wasn't described as super handsome suddenly, as some other romance book might have done (him continually joking about how his face was unfortunate for a king made me chuckle).
Elizabeth, while still having some ugly stereotypes of the hysterical wife attached to her sometimes, was also a much better character than I feared she'd be in the beginning. I liked that Henry always thought that she was not only beautiful, but also clever. She was wary of her husband a lot, but she was not meek and had a great sense of humor. I genuinly believed that she fell in love with Henry over time (and he with her). I actually really liked their romance. While it had definitely not as much focus as the cover/summary suggested, it was a very important part of the second half of the book (it started with Henry's birth, then focused on his time abroad, with scenes from Margaret's and Elizabeth's POV occasionally sprinkled in there, and only after almost half the book was over Henry returned to England and met her).
There was no love at first sight. No sudden butterflies in the bellies at the thought of marrying each other. It was duty and patience and a few fights in between. I thought it was nicely written, even if I really wanted to bang their heads together sometimes, because they just wouldn't TALK to each other.
The one person who might have been too perfect was Margaret Beaufourt. She was beautiful forever, the voice of reason and the kindest woman on earth. However, after her portrayal in certain other books, I found I did not mind at all. I ejoyed her as well.
Same with Jasper Tudor and the other friends Henry gathered around himself (plus toddler Charles Brandon, who was adorable!). They all had personalities and I enjoyed their group scenes a great deal.
For those who are interested in how Richard III was portrayed: The story was definitely from the POV of his enemies who hated him, but I could felt that the author actually had some kind of respect for him (which was later confirmed in the author's notes). His "evil" just felt different than that of the Woodvilles. Not a substantial.
There was also much more history in this book than I expected. There were politics and battles when I expected love poems and sighing ladies 24/7.
The story did sort of jump from one conflict to the next, though which became a bit tiring at times, since some characters seemed to have the same conversations a few times.
All in all it was way more entertaining than I expected, but I will probably never re-read the whole thing. Just check my favorite scenes (like when Margaret's letter to Henry starts with: "Even a mother dare not not call the king an ass...").
Which is perfectly fine by me.
I'm actually not really sure how to describe my feelings for this book, but let me explain it like this: I was looking for a story with focus on Henry VII and Elizabeth of York for quite some time and kept stumbling about this. I kept not buying it, because look at the cover! It looks like a drippy love story where everyone just whispers "My darling!" for at least half a page while making googly eyes at each other! Everyone will be a caricature!
But after ages, I still hadn't found anything that seemed in any way better, so I ordered it. It took me a while to read it (or rather: I started to read it, put it aside in favor of another book and picked it up afterwards again), but I have to say that while some fears indeed came true, I was mostly surprised in a positive way. I actually had mostly fun reading it.
Okay, let's get the negative stuff out of the way:
- Obviously this book is from 1977, which is reflected in the language. This can take some time to get used to or simply needs to be ignored. Like how pregnant women are "breeding". Shudder.
- The Woodvilles are evil. Especially Elizabeth Woodville (Elizabeth of York is presented as an exception caused by her father's genes). She's a shrill, hateful, scheming and manipulative harpy in this book. If she's one of your favorite historical characters, this book is definitely not for you, unless you love Henry VII more.
Which already brings me to the good stuff. I really enjoyed Henry VII. He was not the perfect romantic lead character I feared he'd be. He was intelligent, witty and lovable. But also had severe trust issues and could be unfair and cruel at points. I also appreciated that he wasn't described as super handsome suddenly, as some other romance book might have done (him continually joking about how his face was unfortunate for a king made me chuckle).
Elizabeth, while still having some ugly stereotypes of the hysterical wife attached to her sometimes, was also a much better character than I feared she'd be in the beginning. I liked that Henry always thought that she was not only beautiful, but also clever. She was wary of her husband a lot, but she was not meek and had a great sense of humor. I genuinly believed that she fell in love with Henry over time (and he with her). I actually really liked their romance. While it had definitely not as much focus as the cover/summary suggested, it was a very important part of the second half of the book (it started with Henry's birth, then focused on his time abroad, with scenes from Margaret's and Elizabeth's POV occasionally sprinkled in there, and only after almost half the book was over Henry returned to England and met her).
There was no love at first sight. No sudden butterflies in the bellies at the thought of marrying each other. It was duty and patience and a few fights in between. I thought it was nicely written, even if I really wanted to bang their heads together sometimes, because they just wouldn't TALK to each other.
The one person who might have been too perfect was Margaret Beaufourt. She was beautiful forever, the voice of reason and the kindest woman on earth. However, after her portrayal in certain other books, I found I did not mind at all. I ejoyed her as well.
Same with Jasper Tudor and the other friends Henry gathered around himself (plus toddler Charles Brandon, who was adorable!). They all had personalities and I enjoyed their group scenes a great deal.
For those who are interested in how Richard III was portrayed: The story was definitely from the POV of his enemies who hated him, but I could felt that the author actually had some kind of respect for him (which was later confirmed in the author's notes). His "evil" just felt different than that of the Woodvilles. Not a substantial.
There was also much more history in this book than I expected. There were politics and battles when I expected love poems and sighing ladies 24/7.
The story did sort of jump from one conflict to the next, though which became a bit tiring at times, since some characters seemed to have the same conversations a few times.
All in all it was way more entertaining than I expected, but I will probably never re-read the whole thing. Just check my favorite scenes (like when Margaret's letter to Henry starts with: "Even a mother dare not not call the king an ass...").
Which is perfectly fine by me.
July 29, 2007
I read this one several times, also. It's historical fiction based on the life and marriage of Henry VII of England to his wife, Elizabeth.
The marriage was arranged, and brought together the two entities fighting over the British throne, in what is referred to as The War of the Roses.
Unfortunately, it's been out of print for many years, but my parents had a copy of it I found one day. It can still be found on Amazon.com.
The marriage was arranged, and brought together the two entities fighting over the British throne, in what is referred to as The War of the Roses.
Unfortunately, it's been out of print for many years, but my parents had a copy of it I found one day. It can still be found on Amazon.com.
June 14, 2009
historical
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