The Last White Rose: The Secret Wars of the Tudors

by Desmond Seward

The Wars of the Roses didn't end at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Despite the death of Richard III and Henry VII's victory, it continued underground into the following century with plots, pretenders and subterfuge by the ousted white rose faction. Here, Desmond Seward reviews the story of the Tudors' seizure of the throne.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Tudor Period, British Literature, Medieval, Historical, 15th Century

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Desmond Seward was an Anglo-Irish popular historian and the author of over two dozen books. He was educated at Ampleforth and St, Catherine's College, Cambridge. He was a specialist in England and France in the Middle Ages and the author of some thirty books, including biographies of Eleanor of Aquitane, Henry V, Richard III, Marie Antoinette and Metternich.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Putting to rest the idea that Yorkist resistance ended at Stoke Field, Seward reveals the decades of animosity between the Tudors and the Plantagenet remnant. Both Henry VII and VIII lived in almost constant suspicion of those with any trace of royal blood, leading to the "legal murders" of dozens of members of England's nobility. Last White Rose is a comprehensive analysis of the final death throes of the Plantagenet dynasty.

I enjoyed this chronological study of the plots, real and imagined, to put a White Rose back on England's throne. The beginning of this book covers the fairly well known story of Perkin Warbeck and the efforts of Margaret of Burgundy to displace the usurper Henry Tudor, despite the fact that he was married to her niece, Elizabeth of York. While these events are covered with great skill, it was the lesser known efforts against the Tudors that I got completely caught up in.

It is difficult to read about Richard de la Pole and not wonder how England would have benefited had he become king rather than the volatile Henry VIII. Portrayed as the ideal medieval man, Richard IV seems a title that would come naturally to him. If not Richard, then Reginald Pole as consort to Princess Mary seems an ideal Yorkist solution. Unfortunately, neither of these possibilities comes to pass, and the reasons they fail are explained in captivating detail.

Other reviewers seem to have expressed two main concerns: assumption of knowledge and anti-Tudor narrative. I will agree with the first of these, though I did not see it as a negative. The fact that this book delved into some lesser known historic detail was exactly what I loved about it. As for the second, I will agree that Henry VIII is described as a tyrant who arranged the execution of any who spoke against him, but facts are certainly presented to support this characterization. Having little interest in romanticized pictures of the past, I had no issue with this.

I found this book to be a valuable resource for research and a captivating read, if one that does require some previous knowledge of the Plantagenet family to fully appreciate.

[John Bellamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blame it on Shakespeare’s immortal history plays and Thomas B. Costain’s now forgotten tetralogy on the Plantagenet kings . Thanks to an obsessive adolescent reading of these two beguiling misleaders I have long cherished the conviction that the War of the Roses ended at Bosworth field on an August day in 1485. Boy, was I wrong! As Desmond Seward’s minutely chronicled Last White Rose reveals, Henry of Richmond’s defeat and killing of Richard III only opened a new and even more protracted phase in the struggle between the Lancastrian and Yorkist branches of English royalty. Over the next half-century, first Henry VII and then his son Henry VIII waged an unceasing and ultimately successful crusade to eliminate—usually with extreme prejudice—any and all surviving Yorkist remnants, however remote or even imaginary their pedigree claims to the English throne. It was an impressive body count: John de la Pole (Richard III’s nephew), killed in battle championing the cause of false pretender Lambert Simnel (1487); the Earl of Warwick (Richard III’s nephew), judicially murdered (1499); Edmund de la Pole (Richard III’s nephew), executed (1513); Edward, Duke of Buckingham (father-in-law of Richard’s grand-niece (1513); and, finally, even the aged Margaret of Salisbury, daughter of the Duke of Clarence (allegedly drowned in a butt of Malmsey back in 1478), judicially murdered in 1541. Nor was that the full butcher’s bill demanded by the two Henrys, but it gives you an idea of how thoroughly they pruned their extended family tree in pursuit of dynastic security. It’s a gory and well-told tale by veteran British historian Seward, whose summary account of the Hundred Years War is recommended. Moreover, his handling of the two parties is so even-handed that he makes it impossible for the reader to retain any sympathy for the partisans of either the Red or White Rose. It’s clear from his methodical retelling that both sides were committed to the kind of absolute triumph that could only come when all adversaries were dead.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Seward very wisely does not go into the mystery of the princes in the Tower, probably because there wasn't violence begun on their behalf until Perkin Warbeck and that he does deal with. He also does not deal with the peculiar attitude of Edward's queen toward sanctuary. Once past that point and Henry safely married to Edward's daughter to unite the roses, hence the Tudor two toned rose, things should have settled down and they probably would have if Henry hadn't been so paranoid. All through his reign he imprisoned and/or executed any plantagenet still alive. Any that Henry VII didn't get, his son Henry VIII did. There were one or two still alive in Elizabeth's reign and she saw to them. Arbella Stuart doesn't get a mention but I think she really was the last one. The fear during the Tudor times on the part of the monarchs is quite remarkable. Henry was careful to claim England by right of conquest, not by right of birth, and by dating his reign from the day before the battle he could accuse those who fought on Richard's side of treason, a nasty trick by someone who wanted a weapon to use against anyone about whom he was unsure. Mr. Seward does not bring that into it, either, but he does draw very clear pictures of those two fearful kings. Young Edward was ruled by his uncles so there wasn't as much fear there and Mary had a few other things on her mind, but Elizabeth bought into the "keep down anyone who might have a claim to the throne" attitude. This was a good read to bring up the details of the Pole, de la Pole and Courtney families and then place them in their proper places.

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helps to understand why Henry VIII was such a prick.

[Sud666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent history book. Well written and never dry or boring. It sheds an interesting light on the troubles that Henry VII and Henry VIII had with removing the threat of the house of York (White Rose symbol) completely from threatening the Tudor dynasty. While quite familiar with Henry VIII and his reign-this book added much needed information on the variety of threats encountered and just how insecure the Tudor line almost was. If you are interested in the Tudor period or the War of the Roses aftermath-this book is for you.

[MeriBeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

An extremely in-depth, and thus overwhelmingly full of names and dates, history of the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII, The Last White Rose attempts to explain the extremes to which both Tudor kings went to in order to maintain their hold on the throne. While the history in question is quite interesting, the authorial bias toward the Yorkists, the White Rose, of the period was so readily apparent that as a reader I was ready to give up long before I finished the first third of the book. I continued to slog on for another few chapters before the constant names, dates, and references to men who were 'great friends to King Richard III' became so repetitive and dull that I gave up on the book. Instead of reading in depth, I skimmed a chapter here and there in hopes that things would change but gave up completely when the author started to refer to Mary Tudor as being a warmhearted and fair ruler. Considering her reactionary tendencies when she herself came to the throne, events well documented by other historians, I could no longer accept the authorial bias in favor of Catholic rulers and the Yorkist supporters. So, while a book in this vein is needed as the rebellions against the Tudors seem to be rarely investigated in depth, this book needs to be read with an understanding of the authorial bias and prejudices.

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 4 out of 5]

Denna bok är en beskrivning av hovintriger och diplomati under de två första tudorkungarna, med avseende på de arvingar som fanns till huset Yorks tronsanspråk. Den är lika mycket nöjesläsning som fakta - det finns vissa intressanta detaljer, men det mesta är sådant som andra böcker om rosornas krig och dess efterspel tar upp.

De saker jag särskilt minns:
- utforskandet av kontakten mellan husen Foix och York, och hur den alliansen spelade roll för senare york-pretendenters tronchanser.
- biskopen av Liege roll som passförmedlare och nyckel till kejsardömets stöd.
- fokuset på Surreys karriär.
- Prinsessans Maria roll i sammansvärjningar mot sin far, framförallt i ljuset av kontakten med husen de la Pole och Courtenay.
- Reginald de la Poles tvekan och skrifter.

På det hela taget en välskriven och underhållande bok. Jag rekommenderar den lika mycket till fantasynördar som till statsvetare och historienördar.

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting subject matter and quite a few things I didn't know before, just a shame the author's pro-Catholic, anti-Tudor bias was so evident on every page!

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A close study of the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII, and their nearly continuous struggle with descendants of the Plantagenets (the White Rose) for throne of England. A compelling narrative of the ruthless and often tyrannical Tudor dynasty.

[Carole P. Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last White Rose is a book devoted to the ongoing struggle for Henry VII and Henry VIII to hold the crown for their line. Most people think that once the battle at Bosworth ended, the crown was plunked on Henry's head, he married Elizabeth of York and they united the red and white roses for everlasting peace. Henry VII was plagued with pretenders and plots. Never secure, he felt the bite of his many cousins who thought they had better entitlement to the throne.The constant threat of overthrow colored almost his entire reign. Henry VIII feared both his Buckingham and de Pole relatives to the degree that fueled his paranoia over a male offspring to continue the line. His mania for a son and the infamous results has immortalized his love life. The wholesale extermination of anyone with a drop of Plantagenet blood, or even suggested the Tudor line would die out was born from the insecure foundation of Henry's line. Even the simple act of vanity by putting the coat of arms of his Saxon forebearers earned Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey his execution. Desmond Seward has written a comprehensive backdrop to the Tudor succession, giving voices to the many players who were silenced by Henry Tudor and his son, merely for their proximity to them by blood.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book almost entirely focuses on the Yorkist legacy throughout the reigns of Henry vii and viii. While appropriate given the title, it covers a vast stretch of history with what I believe is an assumption that the reader already has all the background established. I found the first half on Henry vii a little hard to follow, as I wasn't as familiar with the names and events. I found the section on Henry viii more engaging, but then again, I am far more familiar with that time period. An interesting book and generally well written, however not as gripping as other history books that are more focused or on the other hand, more thoroughly sweeping from perspective.

[Susan Paxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written account of the Yorkist opposition to the Tudor crime family; Seward has assembled a gallery of characters, some curious, some dubious (Perkin Warbeck), and some noble (Reginald Pole), and has placed them into a narrative rife with plots, schemes, and miscalculations. The book assumes you have some working knowledge of the period and backstory of the Wars of the Roses, but Seward does a great job is clearly laying out a part of the story of the reigns of Henry VII and VIII that is often neglected or given short shrift.

[Phil Syphe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I'm intrigued by the de la Pole brothers - John, Edmund, and Richard - who each in turn made a bid to reclaim the English crown for the Yorkists and Plantagenets alike.

All three had more right to rule than the Tudors, as did all others who took up the White Rose banner, yet none succeeded in toppling the Tudor Dynasty.

This did not, however, mean Henrys VII and VIII weren't worried. In fact, they spent the whole reigns haunted by the White Rose.

[Lori Nemitz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subject is interesting, however it seemed a bit disjointed. I know that there were many plots and many people involved, but the writing style didn't seem to be one that made it easier to keep track of the different people and plots.

[David Allen Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of Desmond Seward's books on Medieval English history are interesting and well-written, and The Last White Rose is no exception. It focuses on how Henry Tudor--Henry VII-- and later his son the infamous King Henry VIII-- stabilized their monarch after its violent accession. Henry VIIth had among the most tenuous ancestral claims the throne of England, and basically seized the throne through killing King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Of course Richard himself had earlier seized the throne from the boy King Edward V, and even today is the prime suspect in Edward's disappearance and death. Just because he had killed Richard and seized the throne did not make Henry Tudor's throne secure, and for many years he had to spend much time and effort skillfully and brutally putting down political and violent threats to his throne. In fact, his paranoia over being deposed likely contributed to his premature aging, illnesses and death.

I have read a lot about the Tudors and yet I learned much about how Henry VII succeeded in reading this book. But the tale takes a downward dive in quality when it moves on to King Henry VIII. On display page after page is Seward's intense dislike of King Henry VIII, who he depicts negatively as much as possible, to the point it harms the credibility of the book. Yes, like his father, Henry VIIIth faced attacks on his throne, most seriously the "Pilgrimage of Grace" and yes, Henry VIII was a megalomaniacal tyrant. But the reality is Henry VIII steadily destroyed every last threat to the Tudor throne, and alone among England's rulers, every one of his surviving children later served as monarch. Henry VIII also took England away from the Pope, and that had one of the greatest impacts on English history, returning as much as 1/3 of all the land in the country back to English rule, ending ecclesiastical control of the populace, and in light of today's horrific scandals involving the Roman Catholic Church's toleration of the systemic sexual abuse of children, it is hard to say that England is not today blessed for Henry's efforts, even if initially he did it just to be able to divorce his wife and marry his mistress.

Seward's obvious dislike even hatred of Henry VIIIth comes through too strongly, and as a result this book is not as even as it might be. The account of Henry VII is balanced and excellent; the second half of the book on Henry VIII reeks of bias even though the account is detailed and informative on every challenge Henry VIIIth faced and overcame.

Despite the obvious bias against Henry VIII, this book still is an important and enjoyable read that provides a wealth of information on the political challenges Kings Henry VII and VIII faced and overcame over many years to solidify the Tudor control of the English throne.

[Anna Tolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usurpers Always Live in Fear

This book offers remarkable insight into the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. The Golden Age of Elizabeth I overshadows and obscures her grandfather’s usurpation of the crown, but clearly he and his son never lost sight of the fragility of their monarchies.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given it four stars since it was such a well-researched and informative book, even though I needed to take frequent breaks in order to absorb all of the information, which was overwhelming at times. I'll settle for 3.5 stars though since a few of Mr. Seward's opinions dominated the tone of the book and began to irritate me.

I'd definitely recommend a background book on the Wars of the Roses before delving into this even more complicated sequel, as the names often carry over from the Yorks to the Tudors. The first chapters were captivating and I was able to fly through them; anything relating to Margaret of York or Francis Lovell immediately caught my attention as they were a few of the major players left over from Richard's reign. A warning to Ricardians though: Seward is extremely anti-Ricardian, almost to the point of distraction. There are a few of his opinions that he tries to disguise as "facts," although they glaringly lack citations. According to Seward, Richard III murdered his nephews. Full stop. No citation. Seward claims it as fact, although most historians would wisely leave it as "debatable." Francis Lovell was sinister. Full stop. No citation or example, except for the fact that he was Richard's closest friend and ally during his lifetime. These declarations veer dangerously close to the stereotypical Shakespearean Richard that most of us grew up on (and some of us grew out of).

A few other reviews hinted at too much of a pro-Yorkist tone, which admittedly, as a huge Yorkist I was probably more oblivious to this. That being said, I found it devastating every time there was a "near uprising" or "close call" for the Tudors. Just thinking that if more men had turned out for the Battle of Stoke or even the Pilgrimage of Grace, history would be very different.

Do I like the Tudors? No, not really. Do they fascinate me? Absolutely. One of my favorite things to imagine is Richard being able to see his beloved North country, years later under the destructive rule of Henry VIII and to see what would eventually become of it. It is gutting, actually when one realises just how ruinous it really was, not only from a political perspective, but a humanitarian one, as well.

"In particular, there was real anger in the North Country at the closure of the smaller monasteries, which had been popular because they had supplied not only careers for younger sons and unmarriageable daughters but rudimentary social services: some basic education, a certain amount of accommodation for the elderly, hospitality to travellers, and above all food and clothing for the destitute." (p. 244)

Cardinal Pole's vivid description of Henry's destructive practices on pp. 240-241is unflinchingly honest in a time when even to voice one's own opinion was considered treasonous.

There are two examples of Katherine Howard's altruistic spirit which is not usually remarked upon: her delivering clean and new clothes to the imprisoned Margaret Pole, and the pardoning of Sir Thomas Wyatt and Sir John Wallop at her intercession. Then suddenly the tone changes and she is declared as "stupid" and "over-sexed" in the next chapter. Over sexed? No thanks, Mr. Seward. Just how many mistresses did Henry VIII have again?

These are just a few random thoughts that struck me while I was reading. Give it a read if you enjoy lamenting over the Yorks like me, and just remember that the House of York lives on from the blood of Elizabeth of York and her father and his father, and so on.

[tuhseen · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the Oxford Peerage case in 1626, Ranulph Crewe said “ time hath his revolutions; there must be a period and an end to all temporal things—finis rerum—an end of names and dignities, and whatsoever is terrene…For where is Bohun? Where is Mowbray? Where is Mortimer? Nay, which is more, and most of all, where is Plantagenet? They are entombed in the urns and sepulchres of mortality!”

Time has been good for the Tudor dynasty. The shortest-lived dynasty in England, they are the most notorious of England’s royal houses, the flimsiness of their claim and insecure grip on the throne forgotten. Through the drama of Henry VIII’s marriages and the glory of Elizabeth I’s reign, they appear to us to have always been destined to rule. How deceiving appearances can be.

Filled with little known information and forgotten figures, this book reveals the truth of England’s most famous dynasty, and the slow murder of England’s longest dynasty. The number of rebellions, plots, and various threats the fledgling Tudor dynasty faced while establishing itself is a long list indeed. If any one of the plots had succeeded, how different history would’ve been!

This book contains many tidbits of information that even history lovers know little of. I began this book knowing many of Henry VIII’s maternal relatives were killed by his father or himself, but the sheer number on that list is enormous. I knew of Margaret Pole’s staunch support for Catherine of Aragon and Mary I, but knew nothing of how widespread this support was in the larger White Rose faction. Neither did I know how close Mary I came to marrying a Plantagenet descendant from this faction.

Watching such a large family be slowly killed off was not an easy task. The earl of Warwick, the son of Isabelle Neville and George, Duke of Clarence was a particular tragic figure. A prisoner from the age of ten, neglected in a tower, and executed at the age of 24, Edward Plantagenet lived and died tragically. Even Henry VII felt guilt for his death, and on his deathbed asked his son to restore Warwick’s sister’s lands to her. Henry VIII cooperated to some degree and at one point claimed to love Margaret Pole nee Plantagenet like his own grandmother. We all know how fast Henry VIII’s love changes to hate, and indeed he went on to send an elderly Margaret Pole to her death. Hacked to death by an inexperienced youth, the last Plantagenet died on the scaffold under a bloody axe.

Devastating, informative, and gripping, this book is a must read for anyone interested in the War of the Roses.

(I must say, The Last White Rose significantly improved my history notes, but significantly worsened my mood! Someone needs to admit it, so I’ll go ahead and do it: it’s a sad read, and I recommend you either not care for Yorkists & Plantagenets or be prepared for a good dose of sadness.)

[J.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

Shakespeare’s comment is a fitting description of this study by Desmond Seward. Though it might seem the victory of the Tudor usurper over Richard III at Bosworth assured the reign of Henry VII and his heirs, but it was not so.

Henry’s avarice and unpopularity contributed to aid conspiracies by both supporters of the rightful Yorkist heirs as well as a variety of pretenders for the 24 years leading to his death and were a contributing factor in the paranoia of his son, Henry VIII.

Though Henry VII had married a daughter of Richard’s brother Edward to strengthen his claim on the throne, the legitimacy of his own Welsh parentage was questioned by many who saw little evidence of the “old blood royal.” There were a number with a better claim to the crown, particularly Richard’s own recognized heir, John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln. Henry moved quickly to confine him in the Tower of London. Edward, the 10-year-old Earl of Warwick, was also confined in the tower.

These moves failed to rein in dissent. Lord Lovell and the Stafford brothers initiated the first rebellion in 1486 on behalf of Warwick. It was the first of many, too many to enumerate in a review, and they continued on a regular basis right up to Henry’s death in 1509. After the ascension of his son, threats and rumors of threat resumed and fed a murderous rage in Henry VIII that had him obliterating foes and friends in a combination of fears for his life and a scramble to produce a male heir.

Seward details these various conspiracies in a fascinating narrative, the plots being abetted at times by the Irish and the Scots as well as France and other royals seeking their own advantages. This assistance went not just to legitimate claimants but also to a number of pretenders including Perkin Warbeck who convinced Margaret, a sister of Richard; James IV of Scotland and others he was one of the twins alleged to have been murdered in the tower. Whether he was actually who he claimed to be or a deluded madman, he came as close to achieving a successful rebellion as any and must have caused Henry VII nightmares.

I have two minor complaints with the book. First, one that is not Seward’s fault. The similarity of names and titles (the latter complicated by the fact both Henrys were in the habit of awarding a title, then taking it back only to bestow it on another person) can be confusing. The index is a help in resolving this issue. Second, Seward seems to take the word of Polydore Vergil and Thomas More as gospel when both are known to have been defamers of Richard and the Yorkists. Some quotes from the like of George Buck or John Rous might have provided a little more balance.

Still, overall, an engaging account.

[Temashana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I concede. Rarely do I like to quit a book before the end, but the frustration this book causes makes it the only thing to do.
Mr Seward clearly is unfamiliar with writing a history book based on research and facts. One wonders who would publish this AS a history book? It's more like a one man tirade against the Tudors. His little digs here and there make him sound like a teenager with a grudge.
Perhaps he is a descendent is the Yorkists and feels like he must take revenge for what he thinks the Tudors did to them?
Whatever the reason, he should not be writing books like this. Facts don't seem to matter in his world. Seward also seems to like to use every title a person had within a few pages, and leaves it to you to suss out that it's only one person he's been talking about. Possibly fair enough for those of us with some knowledge of this era, but I do feel bad for a newcomer.
I pray you, please, if you have any interest in this time period, there are hundreds of better written and more accurate books out there. Spare yourself the torture of trying to get through this one.

[Andrew Bullock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although Seward deserves some credit for tackling the complexities of the English political situation in the reign of Henry VII, I found it impossible to take this book seriously as a work of history - it is entirely partisan in its presentation of the Yorkists(and Catholics) as victims of an unlawful Tudor (and Protestant) regime, does not make any allowances for the possibility that any considerations other than naked self-interest may have underpinned Tudor policy (or indeed that the Catholic and Yorkist faction may have been themselves capable of cruelty and venality - I am not sure that many contemporary English Protestants would have agreed that Mary I was "warm hearted")and, perhaps most significantly relies heavily on conjecture in support of its arguments. However, it's an easy enough read and quite entertaining in its own way. Fans of Mantell, Sansom, Gregory et al wanting some basic insight into the historical underpinnings of those novels will probably enjoy it, however those looking for a serious insight into the politics of early modern England should give it a miss.

[Sara G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me some great insights into the world of the Tudors. We often criticize Henry VIII for his obsession with having a son - well, look at what happened to his grandfather Edward IV when he died while his sons were still young! I'm not making excuses for Henry by any means, just trying to put his acts into perspective. I've read about all of these subjects before - the de la Pole family, the young Earl of Warwick, Perkin Warbeck, etc. but this book does go into great detail about what happened and why, and presents it nicely and chronologically. I disagree with previous reviewers who state that the author is extremely biased towards the "White Roses" and Catholics. The quote regarding Mary I as warm-hearted referred to perception of her before she became queen, and at the end of the book, the author does a nice job of wrapping things up and comparing the Yorkists to the later Jacobites in terms of lost causes.

[Nelina Kapetsoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is interesting and well written. But as others here have already noted the author is certainly biased. Although his attitude towards Henry VII borders objectivity, when the story comes to Henry VIII all hell breaks loose. The writer totally hates him and I don't remember how many times he talked about the king's monstrous obesity using this exact same phrase. Unfortunately, things like this weaken the book's arguments which are otherwise strong and intriguing. Insulting a dead man is not really the best way to write history, even if that man is Henry VIII.

[Helene Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review - A very interesting discussion of the effect of the remaining Yorkist (white rose) heirs, descending from the siblings of Edward IV in general, on the Tudor monarchy. The main problems occurred during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. Henry VII had real problems to contend with, whereas Henry VIII believed that the problem was in their blood, not their actions. However, I do think that more detail could have been added in certain sections, like the Pilgrimage of Grace and Reginald Pole

General Subject/s? - Historical

Recommend? – Yes

Rating - 14/20

[Kathy Wainwright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew already quit a lot about this period but was informative if you didn't know anything about it. Henry V111 however I just knew the well known stuff about 'bluff' King Hall. Reading this you find he is an absolute tyrant. Paranoid and had more people killed than a Cole if the Kings before him. Richard111 was considered a tyrant but Henry systematically killed anyone with a drop of Plantagenet blood in them including children and old women.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book. I've always been convinced that Henry VIII was a bit of a tyrant. Someone mentioned that the author was pro-Catholic and anti Tudor, but I didn't get this impression when reading the book. What the book demonstrates is the constant fear that Henry VII and Henry VIII lived through for their crown and position of king. The book also shows the effects Henry VIII's policies had on ordinary people and why they were so unpopular and nearly resulted in his downfall.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took a while to read, not because I did not enjoy it but because each chapter lead me into further research - names, characters and incidents I wanted to explore further. I will certainly keep returning to this as a background reference as I continue to delve further into the paranoia of establishing the Tudor dynasty.

[Christopher Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done. The best book out there on the aftermath of the War of the Roses and the slow demise of the Plantagenets.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been completely fascinated by the whole history of the de la Pole's since last February, when I had to give a presentation on a noble family that represented change. I was writing my dissertation chapter on Richard II at the time, and was already familiar with William de la Pole, duke of Suffolk so decided to pick the de la Poles. Not even my tutor knew much about the family, and there is so bloody little written about them that my presentation was based on snippets from a dozen books and the good old Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. That's how I first found this book, and let me tell you, it's pretty much the only damn thing written that includes the de la Pole family in any great detail. But it's not just the de la Poles - this book is also about the Poles (with whom the de la Poles are commonly confused with) and, to a lesser degree, the Courtenays. It is the story of the last rebellions of the Yorkists, the last efforts to stage a Yorkist restoration after the rise of the Tudors and it is entirely based on the insecurity of the first two Tudor kings.

It's an area which has been massively understudied. It begins, naturally, with Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel, but then extends beyond the reign of Henry VII, where history books usually stop - if any pretenders are mentioned in the reign of Henry VIII, its usually Richard de la Pole, and not much else. Seward here catalogues the entirety of Tudor insecurity - the de la Poles, Courtenays and the Poles, the last remnants of the White Rose, a continual thorn in the side of the early Tudor kings. He does an incredible job, and makes a complicated subject much easier to understand (even I got confused by the tangled lineages and was thanking god for the included family trees!). What I also found really interesting was that Seward connected the execution of Margaret Pole directly to her Plantagenet blood, and used the example of Lady Exeter to prove that Henry VIII's insecurity really did extend to a sixty-eight year old woman. Lady Exeter genuinely had plotted against Henry, and she was released. Seward argued that Margaret was essentially innocent - but was executed nonetheless for her Yorkist heritage. It's surprising that she made it so far under Tudor rule, but desperately sad that an old woman was sent to the block - woken up on the day she was executed and told, without warning, that she would die that very morning.

Seward sets the last efforts of the White Rose circle against the backdrop of paranoia, tyranny, and upheaval that we are all used to when it comes to books on Henry VIII's reign. What this does is add an extra layer that is too often downplayed, because histories of the pretenders tend to finish after Perkin Warbeck - but it didn't stop there. It was a constant undercurrent throughout, because there was always another waiting in the wings; if it wasn't Warbeck, it was de la Pole. If it wasn't Richard de la Pole then it was Reginald Pole, and even after Reginald there were still a few lingering. By telling us the story of these last bastions of the house of York, Seward sheds light on an undercurrent of Tudor politics that is usually either brushed off as something else other than Yorkist pretenders, or overshadowed by the other dramas of the reign. He highlights an incredibly interesting aspect of Tudor history, and has made me dislike Henry VIII even more than I did previously - which really is some feat.

[GBL · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last White Rose tracks the ongoing conflict between the Tudors and the remnants of the House of York from 1485 through to the death of the Countess of Salisbury in 1541.

With his victory at Bosworth in 1485, Henry VII appeared to have secured the crown of England for his Tudor dynasty but it became clear that there were enough members of the House of York to present a challenge to the new monarch, regarded by many as having a slender right to the throne of England. Henry’s reign and that of his son Henry VIII were beset by challenges from the house of the white rose, and neither monarch was ever free of the possibility of a challenge supporting the House of York. However, as time passed so many of the Yorkist line were killed or exiled that there was no real threat, but there was always the suspicion of a challenge.

Desmond Seward has provided a detailed historical narrative challenging the Tudor propaganda of a settled kingdom, showing how time and time again the Tudor establishment was challenged by those still attached to the previous monarchy. He shows how, at certain points, there was a real threat to the Tudors as both Henries came close to losing the kingdom won on the battlefield of Bosworth in 1485.