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Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, Rebel, Kingmaker
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26Survivor. Rebel. Conspirator. Mother and grandmother of kings. Margaret Beaufort was one of the most remarkable and influential women of the Middle Ages.
Born the daughter of the Duke of Somerset into a century of conflict, and a descendant of Edward III, she was married at twelve; a mother, orphan and widow at thirteen; and rode the vicissitudes of the Wars of the Roses, and two further marriages, to see her only son Henry ascend the throne of England as the first monarch of the Tudor dynasty. She helped to bring about the marriage of Henry VII to Elizabeth of York, a union that helped heal the wounds of a bitterly divided nation.
During Henry's reign, she exerted considerable influence at court, and played a part in the upbringing of her grandson, the future Henry VIII.She was a lifelong artistic patron and supporter of academia. In old age she founded a professorship of divinity and two colleges at Cambridge University. By the time of her death in June 1509, she had outlived by two months the son whose birth fifty-two years previously had so nearly killed her.
Lauren Johnson's life of Margaret Beaufort brings its subject vividly and memorably to life. She delineates the decades of political upheaval that were the backdrop to her long and resilient career, and highlights the shrewdness that kept her afloat amid the churning waters of a brutal civil war, but she also tells Margaret's story with a profound and touching humanity. This was a woman whose body had to endure the trauma of childbirth when she was little more than a child; who saw her baby boy on only a handful of occasions before he reached manhood; who braved decades of danger and uncertainty, but succeeded in guiding her son – through courage, political astuteness and sheer persistence – to the greatest prize of the crown of England.
Born the daughter of the Duke of Somerset into a century of conflict, and a descendant of Edward III, she was married at twelve; a mother, orphan and widow at thirteen; and rode the vicissitudes of the Wars of the Roses, and two further marriages, to see her only son Henry ascend the throne of England as the first monarch of the Tudor dynasty. She helped to bring about the marriage of Henry VII to Elizabeth of York, a union that helped heal the wounds of a bitterly divided nation.
During Henry's reign, she exerted considerable influence at court, and played a part in the upbringing of her grandson, the future Henry VIII.She was a lifelong artistic patron and supporter of academia. In old age she founded a professorship of divinity and two colleges at Cambridge University. By the time of her death in June 1509, she had outlived by two months the son whose birth fifty-two years previously had so nearly killed her.
Lauren Johnson's life of Margaret Beaufort brings its subject vividly and memorably to life. She delineates the decades of political upheaval that were the backdrop to her long and resilient career, and highlights the shrewdness that kept her afloat amid the churning waters of a brutal civil war, but she also tells Margaret's story with a profound and touching humanity. This was a woman whose body had to endure the trauma of childbirth when she was little more than a child; who saw her baby boy on only a handful of occasions before he reached manhood; who braved decades of danger and uncertainty, but succeeded in guiding her son – through courage, political astuteness and sheer persistence – to the greatest prize of the crown of England.
480 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 3, 2026
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228 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Johnson
55 books16 followersLibrarian note:
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There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 23, 2025
A highly accessible biography of one of history's true survivors.
Further thoughts to follow - but very impressed.
Read more here @ Melisende'sLibrary
Further thoughts to follow - but very impressed.
Read more here @ Melisende'sLibrary
October 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
With thanks to NetGalley, Head of Zeus and Apollo for the ARC.
Lauren Johnson’s Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, Rebel, Kingmaker might honestly be the best book I’ve read on Margaret. I had read Alison Weir’s story involving Margaret, which is a good narrative, but this one just felt so much richer.
It’s got the depth and proper research, but it never feels too heavy or hard to get through.
What I really liked was how much focus there is on Margaret’s early life. Married at twelve, widowed and orphaned by thirteen… it sounds almost surreal, but it really shows how those experiences shaped the way she moved through the world later on. Margaret had an incredibly difficult and depressing life.
Instead of the usual narrative of a cold, pious woman, you get someone who endured endless trauma and instability but still managed to think long term and position herself right at the centre of Tudor history. This made her come across as more human and gave us a good understanding of the background as to her future decisions.
The parts about her patronage really stood out too. Cambridge/professorship of divinity, i mean she was almost untouchably ambitious.
This is the kind of history book that works whether you’re already deep into Tudor history or just casually interested. Although, there were some sections that pulled me into the politics and court intrigue so much it felt like walking through a labyrinth with names, titles and land ownership. This is great if you like that, but less so if you want something lighter.
Overall, I came away feeling like I actually understood Margaret as a person, and I would recommend this to anyone interested in Tudor history!
With thanks to NetGalley, Head of Zeus and Apollo for the ARC.
Lauren Johnson’s Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, Rebel, Kingmaker might honestly be the best book I’ve read on Margaret. I had read Alison Weir’s story involving Margaret, which is a good narrative, but this one just felt so much richer.
It’s got the depth and proper research, but it never feels too heavy or hard to get through.
What I really liked was how much focus there is on Margaret’s early life. Married at twelve, widowed and orphaned by thirteen… it sounds almost surreal, but it really shows how those experiences shaped the way she moved through the world later on. Margaret had an incredibly difficult and depressing life.
Instead of the usual narrative of a cold, pious woman, you get someone who endured endless trauma and instability but still managed to think long term and position herself right at the centre of Tudor history. This made her come across as more human and gave us a good understanding of the background as to her future decisions.
The parts about her patronage really stood out too. Cambridge/professorship of divinity, i mean she was almost untouchably ambitious.
This is the kind of history book that works whether you’re already deep into Tudor history or just casually interested. Although, there were some sections that pulled me into the politics and court intrigue so much it felt like walking through a labyrinth with names, titles and land ownership. This is great if you like that, but less so if you want something lighter.
Overall, I came away feeling like I actually understood Margaret as a person, and I would recommend this to anyone interested in Tudor history!
November 18, 2025
In fiction, Lady Margaret Beaufort is often shown as a pious and somewhat obscure figure, yet one driven by ambition. Even today, some still see her as manipulative or fanatical. But what is the truth?
Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, Rebel, Kingmaker tells the real story of a girl who, from far too young an age, was caught in the ambitions of men. Out of this, a strong and determined woman emerged, someone who understood the world around her and learned how to make her way through it. She was not perfect, but she was also nothing like the harsh fictional version some imagine. Instead, she outsmarted a most difficult fate and proved her intelligence very early on.
Lauren Johnson presents Margaret’s life with a level of objectivity I haven’t encountered very often. The book is accessible and even the more complicated parts of the conflict are explained clearly and in a way that is easy to follow.
Because I already liked her a lot, I sometimes felt that the background information was a bit much and I was eager to return to Margaret as a central figure, especially in the first half. I usually prefer biographies that mostly focus more on the person and their character rather than on the events, although I know this is difficult when writing about the Wars of the Roses. I’m someone who loves interpretations, analysis of the character and actions rather than the retelling of the events.
If you are not familiar with this period, the background information will probably feel very useful and not heavy at all. If I had read this book at the beginning of my research, I think I would have appreciated those parts even more.
Whenever I read something about Margaret, two things matter the most to me: the early years that shaped her and her later role in the war. The author highlights both very well, showing Margaret’s importance not only in politics but also in education at the time. Her pain, the wrong that was done to her at such an early age, her struggles, her determination, her mistakes and the way she later corrected them. A girl navigating the world she was thrown into, taking her power back and making her own decisions. Those parts matter a lot to me because of how important they are in understanding Margaret’s story, and the way the author explained them was a big part of why I liked this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Margaret, the Tudors or the war. It works very well as a starting point and gives a clear, grounded picture of who Margaret really was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read this eARC!
Margaret Beaufort: Survivor, Rebel, Kingmaker tells the real story of a girl who, from far too young an age, was caught in the ambitions of men. Out of this, a strong and determined woman emerged, someone who understood the world around her and learned how to make her way through it. She was not perfect, but she was also nothing like the harsh fictional version some imagine. Instead, she outsmarted a most difficult fate and proved her intelligence very early on.
Lauren Johnson presents Margaret’s life with a level of objectivity I haven’t encountered very often. The book is accessible and even the more complicated parts of the conflict are explained clearly and in a way that is easy to follow.
Because I already liked her a lot, I sometimes felt that the background information was a bit much and I was eager to return to Margaret as a central figure, especially in the first half. I usually prefer biographies that mostly focus more on the person and their character rather than on the events, although I know this is difficult when writing about the Wars of the Roses. I’m someone who loves interpretations, analysis of the character and actions rather than the retelling of the events.
If you are not familiar with this period, the background information will probably feel very useful and not heavy at all. If I had read this book at the beginning of my research, I think I would have appreciated those parts even more.
Whenever I read something about Margaret, two things matter the most to me: the early years that shaped her and her later role in the war. The author highlights both very well, showing Margaret’s importance not only in politics but also in education at the time. Her pain, the wrong that was done to her at such an early age, her struggles, her determination, her mistakes and the way she later corrected them. A girl navigating the world she was thrown into, taking her power back and making her own decisions. Those parts matter a lot to me because of how important they are in understanding Margaret’s story, and the way the author explained them was a big part of why I liked this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Margaret, the Tudors or the war. It works very well as a starting point and gives a clear, grounded picture of who Margaret really was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read this eARC!
December 26, 2025
Thanks to Head of Zeus via Netgalley for the ARC.
Lauren Johnson's biography of Margaret Beaufort is a masterful exploration of one of medieval England's most remarkable women. Johnson presents a nuanced, well-rounded portrait that doesn't shy away from Margaret's flaws alongside her undeniable strengths, making for a far more interesting and human subject than the one-dimensional saint or schemer often depicted in popular history.
Having enjoyed Johnson's previous works, I found her writing style engaging and accessible without sacrificing scholarly rigor. The pacing is excellent throughout, and one of this biography's particular strengths is its equal attention to Margaret's life after Bosworth. Too often, biographies of medieval women lose momentum once their subject's main "story" concludes, but Johnson demonstrates that Margaret's influence, patronage, and political maneuvering during her son's reign are just as fascinating as her earlier struggles.
Johnson doesn't pull punches when examining the political landscape of the Wars of the Roses. Richard III partisans should be prepared for uncomfortable details about his treatment of the elderly Countess of Oxford and his acquisitive approach to properties and titles—Johnson lets the historical record speak for itself. The book offers valuable insight into Margaret's political acumen and her complex relationships with family members, positioning her as an active agent in the tumultuous politics of her age rather than merely a fortunate survivor.
Those familiar with Nicola Tallis's biography of Margaret will find Johnson's approach complementary rather than redundant. While Tallis delves more deeply into Margaret's personal and devotional life, Johnson emphasizes her political involvement and family dynamics, providing a fuller picture when read alongside other works.
This is an excellent choice for general readers seeking an introduction to Margaret Beaufort, Tudor enthusiasts wanting a fresh perspective on the dynasty's origins, and those interested in medieval women's agency and power. Johnson has given us a Margaret Beaufort who is shrewd, resilient, flawed, and utterly compelling—a woman whose story deserves to be told with exactly this level of nuance and care.
Lauren Johnson's biography of Margaret Beaufort is a masterful exploration of one of medieval England's most remarkable women. Johnson presents a nuanced, well-rounded portrait that doesn't shy away from Margaret's flaws alongside her undeniable strengths, making for a far more interesting and human subject than the one-dimensional saint or schemer often depicted in popular history.
Having enjoyed Johnson's previous works, I found her writing style engaging and accessible without sacrificing scholarly rigor. The pacing is excellent throughout, and one of this biography's particular strengths is its equal attention to Margaret's life after Bosworth. Too often, biographies of medieval women lose momentum once their subject's main "story" concludes, but Johnson demonstrates that Margaret's influence, patronage, and political maneuvering during her son's reign are just as fascinating as her earlier struggles.
Johnson doesn't pull punches when examining the political landscape of the Wars of the Roses. Richard III partisans should be prepared for uncomfortable details about his treatment of the elderly Countess of Oxford and his acquisitive approach to properties and titles—Johnson lets the historical record speak for itself. The book offers valuable insight into Margaret's political acumen and her complex relationships with family members, positioning her as an active agent in the tumultuous politics of her age rather than merely a fortunate survivor.
Those familiar with Nicola Tallis's biography of Margaret will find Johnson's approach complementary rather than redundant. While Tallis delves more deeply into Margaret's personal and devotional life, Johnson emphasizes her political involvement and family dynamics, providing a fuller picture when read alongside other works.
This is an excellent choice for general readers seeking an introduction to Margaret Beaufort, Tudor enthusiasts wanting a fresh perspective on the dynasty's origins, and those interested in medieval women's agency and power. Johnson has given us a Margaret Beaufort who is shrewd, resilient, flawed, and utterly compelling—a woman whose story deserves to be told with exactly this level of nuance and care.
November 8, 2025
I've read a lot of books about the Tudors, including some about Margaret, and this is one of the better ones. Her life is one of tragedy and splendour, of the fortune wheel. She lived at extremes, and ended her life on a a high. All too often her life is either just the canny survivor, or a mere footnote, when really she was so much more than that. This was a delight to read, the author has done her work well and clearly has a great respect for this historical figure.
Much more than just her life however, this book charts the War of the Roses from a perspective often overlooked, that of the women who weren't Queens or married to the major players but still very much caught up in war that lasted decades. It captures the fear and uncertainty of a civil war, of the deliberations and discussions that went into deciding who to back, and the cost that brought to those who picked wrong - as indeed, we see Margaret did, many times. There are moments within this retelling, that it seemed incredible she survived at all, which highlight another part of history that is not so well explored, the tangled loyalties and woven family links which this period was so ripe with.
Very well researched and entertaining, this book brings Margaret to life and back into the limelight after so many centuries of being relegated to the side-lines. A must read for anyone looking to learn more about Margaret or the War of the Roses/Early Tudor periods in general.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
Much more than just her life however, this book charts the War of the Roses from a perspective often overlooked, that of the women who weren't Queens or married to the major players but still very much caught up in war that lasted decades. It captures the fear and uncertainty of a civil war, of the deliberations and discussions that went into deciding who to back, and the cost that brought to those who picked wrong - as indeed, we see Margaret did, many times. There are moments within this retelling, that it seemed incredible she survived at all, which highlight another part of history that is not so well explored, the tangled loyalties and woven family links which this period was so ripe with.
Very well researched and entertaining, this book brings Margaret to life and back into the limelight after so many centuries of being relegated to the side-lines. A must read for anyone looking to learn more about Margaret or the War of the Roses/Early Tudor periods in general.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
Review of advance copy
This was interesting, because I have actively disliked every single interpretation of Margaret I have watched or read. They either come across as a meddling, person who is obsessed with power, is a cold fish, is quite cruel to everyone but Henry etc. So it was interesting to learn how warm, kind and generous she could be. The fact she supported a lot of people monetarily, even though she had no obligation to do so. It was fascinating and her story has a lot of highs and lots of lows. To me, it seems her main motivation was not the throne, but to bring her boy back home and for them to be safe. But yeah, really interesting and well researched. I was also amazed to learn that it was only proven that she wrote one royal protocol, even though many have been attributed to her. I kind of think Margaret got a crap deal with how she is portrayed these days. Also, It makes me hard to believe that the woman described in this book was behind Princes in The Tower situation. Just doesn't seem like something she could live with.
December 31, 2025
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. The panoply of characters feels immense, but there are helpful notes on the main ones which I did refer to quite a lot (everyone seems to be either Margaret, Anne or Elizabeth!).
It is salutory reading about the lives of people at this time in history, and even more so where women are concerned. Noble women had very little natural agency so those who fought for some and were successful in doing so, like Margaret Beaufort, are to be admired. I have to admit to knowing little about her character before reading this biography, and the fact I now like her is makes me wonder if it's just a tad hagiographic? I will need to read around the period more to gain further insights and opinions. However, I cannot imagine reading a more enjoyable book on the subject. I want to delve deeper!
It is salutory reading about the lives of people at this time in history, and even more so where women are concerned. Noble women had very little natural agency so those who fought for some and were successful in doing so, like Margaret Beaufort, are to be admired. I have to admit to knowing little about her character before reading this biography, and the fact I now like her is makes me wonder if it's just a tad hagiographic? I will need to read around the period more to gain further insights and opinions. However, I cannot imagine reading a more enjoyable book on the subject. I want to delve deeper!
December 11, 2025
I greatly enjoyed this biography of Margaret Beaufort who is best known for being the mother of King Henry VII and the grandmother of King Henry VIII. Johnson demonstrates that Beaufort's kinship network was much larger than her small immediate family, analyzing how she connected to various cousins, nieces, step grandchildren and godchildren. Johnson also discusses the evolution of her political instincts, which were not always effective earlier in her life, and how she cultivated contacts on all sides of the Wars of the Roses despite her reputation as a staunch Lancastrian. There is some summary of well known events from the Wars of the Roses in the early chapters but the book becomes difficult to put down once Margaret is at the centre of events.
November 4, 2025
Margaret Beaufort was an ambitious woman and a major power in the Wars of the Roses. An interesting and powerful read about a woman who was able to change the course of history. Well researched and good presentation.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews