A Daughter of Warwick: Queen to Richard III

by Judith Arnopp

Previously published under the pseudonym J M Ruddock.Daughter of the ambitious Earl of Warwick, Anne Neville is drawn into the ferocious war between Lancaster and York; a series of battles we now know as the Wars of the Roses. When Anne's father falls foul of Edward IV she is married without royal sanction to the Lancastrian heir, a man she has been taught to loathe.Her childhood friend, Richard of Gloucester is powerless as she is exiled, married, widowed, kidnapped and finally held captive in the stews of London. Finally wed to Richard, Anne discovers fleeting happiness but her contentment is shattered when King Edward dies and names his brother Richard as Lord Protector.The historical record provides just a few glimpses of the real Queen Anne Neville and the little we know of her is gleaned from accounts of the men who controlled her world. A Daughter of Warwick adds flesh to the bones of Anne’s story and considers the impact of medieval war on a defenceless girl.

Genres: Historical Fiction, British Literature, Historical, 15th Century, Medieval, Fiction

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

.A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith holds a BA in English/Creative writing and an MA in Medieval Studies.
She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction based in the Medieval and Tudor period. Her main focus is on the perspective of historical women but she is currently writing a novel from a male perspective, that of Henry VIII himself.
Her novels include:
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Beaufort Bride: Book one of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Beaufort Woman: Book two of The Beaufort Chronicle
The King’s Mother: Book three of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Winchester Goose: at the Court of Henry VIII
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Song of Heledd
The Forest Dwellers
Peaceweaver

Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria, and makes historical garments both for the group and others. She is not professionally trained but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly HA, clothing.

Her non-fiction book, How to Dress Like a Tudor will be published by Pen and Sword in 2023,

You can find her group Tudor Handmaid on Facebook. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram.
Webpage: www.judithmarnopp.com
Author page: author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Blog: http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot....


For more information please visit my website: www.judithmarnopp.com

author.to/juditharnoppbooks

Reviews

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this look into the life of Anne Neville. I have always enjoyed anything with her and Richard in it, starting when I read "The Sunne in Splendor" by Sharon Kay Penman. I was engrossed in this read as it expanded upon her life and the turmoil that she lived through. This was a time of change for England as Henry and Marguerite de Anjou were removed from power and Edward assumed the throne. With his unpopular marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, the country was again thrust into to turmoil as people voiced their displeasure of the news, not least of all was Anne's father, the Earl of Warwick, one of the most powerful men in the country.

In the midst of all of this, Edwards younger brothers, George and Richard, come to live at Middleham, the childhood home of Anne, and learn from her powerful father. The two immediately strike up a friendship, which turns to love for both of them, unbeknownst to the other. When George and Isabel hide Anne away where Richard cannot find her, he scours the countryside until he finds her, and makes his intentions of marrying her known. The love story between these two is one of magic and happiness in a time where there wasnt much to be happy about. After the death of Edward and the discovery of his dubious marriage status, Richard assumes the throne, and he and Anne are thrust deeper into the politics of the time, and away from their precious son.

The unfolding of this story and the life that Anne Neville lived was truly amazing, and almost a real Cinderella story. There were a few parts in the book that I was not thrilled with, but overall I loved the book!

[Deyanira C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good enough to recommend.

In this book we have the fictional story of Queen Anne Neville since her childhood until her death pointing the most important events in her life , her two marriages , her lost, she being a maid her life as duchess and as a Queen .

I can truly say that I like this book which is fast reading and enjoyable, there are few and small historical mistakes or freedoms but very small and doesn't change the true facts so not a big defect.

Anne here is a sweet girl who is basically her father's pawn, but it doesn't mean she is a silly girl, she is very young when her life becomes complicated and she stays alone in the middle of enemies before her 15 years old she is marry to a guy who she learned to hate, so yes she is a victim but she also knows how to be strong and she is clever without be illogical, she gets to be a smart wife for Richard and she gives him good advices , and I can't be more happy about seeing Anne like this , she is a medieval wife but also a good listener and good advisor what is truly very possible if we consider who was her father .

A good thing in this book is that her first marriage is well explored not just as an awful thing but as a political young union and in my opinion this gives a good description of it.
Her relationship with her sister is not good or bad as we usually read, here it can be both and I love how is presented Isabel and George marriage as a love match and I was so glad of reading about George not just as an ambitious crazy and mean person but as a loving and loyal husband, after all what we know in history about his personal life is that he was faithful to Isabel and her death really hit him so kudos for this , in this book he is ambitious yes and he make mistakes for it , but is not a super big villain so that was refreshing.

Anne and Richard was also very well represented here , they met very young and they like each other as 2 kids would do , Richard seemed be very interested on her since always but without be dramatic or an idiot in love, he was a practical man who wants Anne and will get her ,Anne is not desperate for him , she has doubts as is normal and she takes the union in the good way , so yes we can say their story is a love match but in a measured way , not as a fairytale but is lovely and they truly have good feelings for each other .
What I loved the most of this couple in this book is the passion and how is present between them what is also something that very weirdly we find in this type of books I mean considering their ages makes a lot of sense to think of them as a passionate couple , so yes I love the descriptions of their union and passionate moments .

Richard here is a very good man specially a good husband but since we are seeing him trough the eyes of Anne who loves him we see him with good eyes . But in my opinion is not ridiculous is not balanced but is well done so I take it.
The princes of the tower are solved according how Richard behaves and in my opinion the solution presented here is extremely positive and it is improbable but not impossible so ok .

Now what I dislike from this book is that few episodes are incomplete I mean we have just the introduction and are not explored what is frustrating because those episodes are extremely interesting for example the two illegitimate children of Richard are mentioned but the situation is not explained, as it could be, the situation with elizabeth of York and Richard is also something that has a very short part and not good explanation, other things are omitted like the dispensation issue that is used very often, but since was not questioned in that moment I think that it is ok to dont make of it a big thing.

So in general for me was a good one about Anne not the best but is good enough, it is not boring or silly.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, the charachters are well painted and well developed. The major historical facts are finely nestled into the plot and very well researched - it's obvious the author did many researches about the period. The love story between Anne and Richard is sweet and beautiful, and not over - romanticized. Though it doesn't reach the peak of The Sunne in Splendour or Some Touch of Pity is one of the best recent books about Richard III. There are some minor historical mistakes, like Anne's mother sometimes referred as "dowager duchess" instead of countess, Cecily Neville termed as sister of the Kingmaker (she was his aunt), the almost complete disappearance for 3/4 of the books of Anne's mother (where did she go?), Richard's statement that he would name his illegitimate son as his heir (what?!), and the final revelation about Richard murdering Edward of Lancaster, which historically is one of the later slanders thrown at Richard's feet to label him a murderer, and in my opinion shouldn't have found its way in a book that shows a more historically accurate Richard III.
Anyway is a must read for those who like Richard III and his relationship with his wife.

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this brilliant book and enjoyed it from
Beginning to end As a massive fan of Richard III this book bought him and Anne Neville back to life #KindleUnlimitef

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, the charachters are well painted and well developed. The major historical facts are finely nestled into the plot and very well researched - it's obvious the author did many researches about the period. The love story between Anne and Richard is sweet and beautiful, and not over - romanticized. Though it doesn't reach the peak of The Sunne in Splendour or Some Touch of Pity is one of the best recent books about Richard III. There are some minor historical mistakes, like Anne's mother sometimes referred as "dowager duchess" instead of countess, Cecily Neville termed as sister of the Kingmaker (she was his aunt), the almost complete disappearance for 3/4 of the books of Anne's mother (where did she go?), Richard's statement that he would name his illegitimate son as his heir (what?!), and the final revelation about Richard murdering Edward of Lancaster, which historically is one of the later slanders thrown at Richard's feet to label him a murderer, and in my opinion shouldn't have found its way in a book that shows a more historically accurate Richard III.
Anyway is a must read for those who like Richard III and his relationship with his wife.

[Pauline Calkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of Anne Neville and Richard III told through Anne’s eyes. It is a run-of-the-mill effort. There are some interesting bits after Anne becomes Queen: her suspicions about Buckingham; some sharp exchanges with the bitter deposed boy king; and, her resentment of the beautiful Elizabeth of York. But at the last with Anne on her deathbed, Richard confesses to his mother his greatest sin, i.e. that he killed Anne’s first husband in “cold” blood at the battle of Tewskbury . This is disappointing, apparently a ploy to show how much Richard loved Anne.

I would have given it 3 ⭐️ but the author got some basic facts wrong, such as stating Richard’s mother was Warwick’s sister. No— she was his aunt. Also, Anne’s mother, the widow of the earl of Warwick is referred to several times as the Dowager Duchess. And the Duke of Hastings? Minor mistakes but annoying.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quite enjoyable read which gives a positive spin on the relationship between Anne Neville and Richard III. Explanations on the events of their life together are plausible and within historical possibilities.

Starting with their first meeting as children and ending with her death it is nice easy read. Recommended for fans of Richard III- there are lots of us!

[Pauline Calkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Anne Neville and Richard III told through Anne’s eyes. I initially rated it a run-of-the-mill effort, but I decided to re-read it after reading glowing reviews from people whose opinion I respect. I sometimes can be unduly harsh and nit-picking at times. Anyway, I always enjoy reading romantic version of Richard and Anne’s story. I think it is better than my original 2⭐️ rating. It is generally well written, and as I previously noted there are some interesting bits particularly after Anne becomes queen : her suspicions about Buckingham; some sharp exchanges with the bitter deposed boy king; and, her resentment of the beautiful Elizabeth of York. Even though the author takes a rather traditional view of Edward of Lancaster as a vicious, hate-filled young man, it is amusing to see him enthusiastically throwing himself into the job of siring an heir with Anne.
Also, I like how he responded with gentleness when Anne tried to seduce him. however, there are long tracts where Anne just muses and has little interaction with anyone, and she never examines her feelings for Richard. We never see any kind of reaction when someone tells her that he killed her father at Barnet, for example. At the last, with Anne on her deathbed, Richard confesses to his mother his greatest sin, i.e. that he killed Anne’s first husband in “cold” blood at the battle of Tewskbury . This is apparently a ploy to show how much Richard loved Anne, but it just comes out of the blue and seems strange.

I was still annoyed by some of the mistakes, minor though they were, such as describing Richard’s mother as Warwick’s sister. No— she was his aunt. And the Duke of Hastings? Edward IV’s daughter Margaret at Richard’s court with sisters Elizabeth and Cecily? She died in 1472. I cringed whenever the widow of the earl of Warwick is referred to several times as the Dowager Duchess.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of my favourite writers!!!! Even though the novel is short, Judith managed to convey a very realistic as well as a very well researched portrait of Anne! I just wish the novel was longer as I love immersing myself in a thick book! Written about 30 years ago, the novel already shows Judith's qualities of telling a story rendered extremely interesting and fascinating thanks to her extensive knowledge of English history. I can't wait to start reading her new novel about Marguerite of Anjou!

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Anne Neville and King Richard III was new to me.
I very much enjoyed their love story through their triumphs and tragedies.
I highly recommended this book and this author!

[Candace Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A GLIMPSE OF YESTERDAY....

This is such a beautiful love story that takes place many centuries ago amidst battles between brothers, heirs, and kings all bearing their titles and swords.
Judith Arnold has a proven gift of intimately connecting with her characters' hearts and thoughts. She is able to lay them bare before you, page by page, enabling you to share their tumultuous emotions as she paints their life stories.
Though this is written, colored with fiction, I learn so much true history which ignites my desire to learn more of those who walked, played and loved in so many days past.
This is another novel much worthy of bearing the true name of it's creator, Judith Arnopp.

[Berita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not of the best books from Arnopp. I get that this was written at an earlier stage, but it felt like the characters was kind of flat, the conversation stilted and it wasn't always easy to keep characters with similar names apart, or even know who were talking and to whom.

A good start, but with what I've read from Arnopp at a later period, it was not as good as I expected from her. (I love her Henrician Cronicles) I wanted to learn a bit more about Anne Neville, but the author seems very biased against certain personae (Edward 4th and his Queen Elizabeth Woodwille) - so it wasn't a good as read for me as I had hoped.

[Christina Rochester · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a debut novel about a historical figure we don't know much about this is freaking amazing!!! I wss so nervous going into this because I never dnf books, and I didn't want to be stuck reading something I didn't enjoy, but this was brilliant.

For the first time in forever not only have I been able to see Anne Neville as a living breathing person, but I've even seen a new humanity in Richard III. I actually like Richard. And I love that there is a new twist on the Princes in the Tower.

This is such a beautiful book I honestly want you all to go read it and support a new author.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different telling

I liked the book but couldn't love it. A large part of the story jumps the timeline so if you don't know their story it's really hard to know them. Without giving any spoilers there is a new theory that the author introduces at least in all the books I have read it was a new one. The author hits the main points but the ending was lovely.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reign little written of in historical novels

This is the first time I've read a novel about Anne Neville and her life. It fits easily with what I know already. The love between Anne and Richard is easy to imagine given their time together as children. And there is evidence to suggest the fate of the Princes explored in this book.

[Tabby · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

got like half way through and that was a legitimate struggle

[Heather Mims · Rating 3 out of 5]

This belongs to a genre I've started thinking of as "Ricardian fluff." Not necessarily a bad thing, but if you're looking for deep/complex characterization and a strong focus on the historical events of the time, you might want to look elsewhere. This is a love story; it doesn't pretend to be anything else.

That said, while this was a decent read overall, the book could use some serious editing. The sometimes strange punctuation and predictably frequent comma splices were making me cringe. Beyond that, I could've done without so many modern idioms, which really decreased the authenticity of the medieval setting. I hope the author watches out for these things and does a bit more research if she plans to write more historical fiction in the future.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed aspects of this book, I feel it was poorly written and only cursorily researched. This is the first fictionalization of Anne Neville I have read that is not written in first person. I've thought a lot about it a lot and I think first person is really the best way to tell this story.
I liked Anne's relationship to Isabel, I think in terms of that this is the best version I've read. Her relationship with Richard was interesting at first but quickly became tedious. I have yet to see anyone really write a good story concerning Anne's childhood at Middleham with or without Richard's involvement.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book as it kept my interest level very high. This poor woman went through very difficult times, Anne of Warwick, and died a reluctant Queen. She was married to Richard, who became King of England, but soon got killed at the battle of Boswell. Very interesting times and then Henry VII became King, part of the Tudor line.

This book seems to be very partial to Anne and made the Woodvilles look terrible. I know there are two sides to this story and I thought that more of the King Edward side should also have been told.

I enjoyed the book for what is was, and it is a short, fast read.

[Jes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was nicely written - rather better than the average quality of historical fiction. It is strongly in favour of Richard III but then to be written as the love story between he and Anne Neville it would have to be. Perhaps not the most historically accurate - The Sunne in Splendour is my bar there - but a very enjoyable read.

[Beate Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well reading about times of Queens and Kings

Awesome from beginning to end,the story was not hard to follow and made easy reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history.

[Christi Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read !

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad of a story...but fairly vague and more of a "romance" novel than anything historical.

[Lianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice read, a quick ride through the Wars of the Roses... not exactly historically accurate but I can forgive that. Don't expect high literature, just a nice royal romance...