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Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville: A True Romance
When the tall, athletic Edward of York seized the English throne in 1461, he could have chosen any bride he wanted. With his dazzling looks and royal descent, the nineteen-year-old quickly got a reputation for womanising, with few able to resist his charm and promises. For three years he had a succession of mistresses, mostly among the married women and widows of his court, while foreign princesses were lined up to be considered as his queen. Then he fell in love. The woman who captured the king was a widow, five years his elder. While her contemporaries and later historians have been divided over her character, none have denied the extent of her blonde beauty. Elizabeth Wydeville had previously been married to a Lancastrian knight, who had lost his life fighting against the Yorkists. When she tried to petition the king to help restore her son's inheritance, reputedly waiting for him under an oak tree, the young Edward was immediately spellbound. But this did not prove to be just another fling. Conscious of her honour and her future, Elizabeth repelled his advances. His answer was to make her his wife. It was to prove an unpopular decision. Since then Edward's queen has attracted extreme reactions, her story and connections reported by hostile chroniclers, her actions interpreted in the bleakest of lights. It is time for a reassessment of the tumultuous life of the real White Queen and her husband.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2016
31 people are currently reading
1034 people want to read
About the author
Amy Licence
41 books321 followersMedieval and Tudor historian, with a particular interest in women's lives and experiences, also dabble in Modernism. I write fiction and non-fiction, also journalism for The Guardian, BBC History website, The New Statesman, The Huffington Post, The English Review and The London Magazine. I appeared in TV documentaries "The Real White Queen and her Rivals" and "The Private Lives of the Tudors." Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 10, 2018
”Having striven for years against the Lancastrian threat, the triumvirate of Edward, George and Richard, the three suns in the sky, the three sons of York, should have been unstoppable. With these three highly competent and charismatic men in charge---Edward in London and the South, Richard in the North and George in the West---England should have been prosperous and secure. Threats from the outside could be successful in uniting the three, but the coming years would prove that the York dynasty could also be its own worst enemy.”
Edward IV
Really the trouble all began with Henry VI, who was a very ineffectual king. He simply did not have the right temperament to be king. His father, Henry V, winner of the battle of Agincourt, had extended the empire and was a man intellectually capable of managing the nobles and the affairs of the kingdom. Unfortunately, he died at age 36, and that put his son Henry VI on the throne at the tender age of nine months old. He was a pawn from that moment forward. As he became older, there was a decided etherealness about him, as if part of his mind was always trying to escape the rigors of his responsibilities.
Henry was a bit addled in the brain.
He lost all that his father had won in France. He just wasn’t the type of man who was capable of donning the armour of his father and keeping what was his, but Richard of York was that kind of man. He had as royal a pedigree as Henry VI, and certainly England would not have been as easy for France to push around with Richard on the throne. The Earl of Warwick, or the man who most referred to as the kingmaker, was one of the most wealthy and powerful men in the country. He decided a change was in order. In all the kerfuffle, Richard of York and his son Edmund died. Henry VI was in the Tower, and Edward of York, oldest son of Richard, was on the throne of England as Edward IV.
Henry VI
Edward provided a stark contrast to Henry. By the age of 18, he had won three major battles and, in the process, had usurped the crown of England. He looked the part. He was tall and strong. When his skeleton was exhumed many centuries later, he was measured at 6’3 ½” in height. He was broad of chest, exuded vigorous masculinity, was considered handsome, and he was one of the most eligible men in the world .
Lock up your daughters, your wives, your mothers, and maybe even your comely grandmothers, so they don’t fall in the line of sight of the extravagantly horny Edward IV. ”Edward pursued the ‘married and unmarried, the noble and lowly’, and Vergil, writing retrospectively, stated that Edward would ‘readily cast an eye upon young ladies.‘ Even Thomas More described the king’s ‘greedy appetite’ for women. This was hardly a new vice for a king, nor for a young man of such good looks following a meteoric rise to power.”
It was agreed by all that what was best for the kingdom was to get this young man a wife. All of this seed being spilled was best spilled insuring the future of the York dynasty by producing legitimate heirs. Until that time, his brother George was the spare, and his other brother Richard was the spare of the spare.
Now think about Richard (III) being the spare of the spare. That hunchback, little bastard was plotting and scheming, or maybe he was maligned by history, but that is the subject of a future review.
Edward’s hasty marriage might have been spurred by this portrait of Bona, who looks like she might have made a good prospect as a line(wo)man for the NFL if she had lived in the 21st century.
So the Earl of Warwick was across the water trying to make arrangements for an alliance through marriage with Bona of Savoy when word reached him that Edward had impetuously already married. This left Warwick embarrassed and vengeful. ”By all accounts, Elizabeth Woodville was a remarkable beauty, even called the ‘most beautiful woman in the island of Britain’, with her ’heavy lidded eyes like those of a dragon,’ high forehead and fair hair, some of which is conveyed in surviving contemporary portraits….”
Elizabeth Woodville
She was a widow with two sons and a pedigree that had been weighed and measured and found wanting. She was not the type of woman whom Edward’s mother, Cecily Neville, or his followers had in mind to be his queen, his Guinevere. This drove a wedge between him and his most important supporter Warwick, and also between him and his family. Needless to say, things got nasty.
The subtitle of this book is True Romance, which reminds me of the 1993 Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette movie where two disturbed outcasts find love in the middle of absolute chaos. The synopsis of that movie has a few parallels with the tribulations of Edward and Elizabeth. If truth be told, she was mistress material. We can only speculate, but it seems she resisted his attempts to part her thighs until he agreed to marry him. An Anne Boleyn move long before Anne Boleyn was smirking her way to power in Tudor England.
Chivalry by Frank Dicksee (what a name!). Doesn’t this make you want to swoon?
The idea of true romance is all tied up with chivalry, poetry, dancing, palpitating hearts, frolicing through the garden paths, heavy panting, shivering white handkerchiefs, sighing, and absolute devotion to one another. That was not exactly what true romance looked like in the 15th century. Edward and Elizabeth’s marriage was certainly closer than most previous relationships between kings and their queens, but it was still more of an alliance based on a pattern, all too familiar, of men in power. Her womb was sacred, but his seed was to be sown in many fields. Exclusivity was one sided. His mistress, made most famous by William Shakespeare, was Elizabeth “Jane” Shore. One of three whom Edward described as ’the merriest, the wiliest, and the holiest harlots’ in his realm.”
I will say, though, that he seemed to always feel passion for Elizabeth Woodville for the extent of their marriage because she was expecting as soon as nature would let her get pregnant again. In those times, a wife was kept in confinement for two months around the time of the birth of her child. That is an eternity for an oversexed beast, such as our man Edward. Women, like Jane Shore, kept the royal balls from turning blue.
Edward was well read and spent money on books his entire life. More so than most men of his time period, he did seem to have a romantic vision that stretched back to the legends of King Arthur. In fact, there is every probability that Thomas Malory fashioned his Arthur after Edward IV. Certainly, Edward wanted to bring back the pageantry of Camelot, and like President John F. Kennedy, he had a good looking family to help portray an image of a king who was larger than life.
The Earl of Warwick, Kingmaker
Warwick wasn’t buying it. What he could make, he could unmake. He decided he was better off with a weak Henry VI on the throne than he was with this fool and his peasant whore on the throne. Warwick rebelled and, at least briefly, displaced Edward. He brushed the prison mold and pigeon feathers off of Henry and velcroed a crown back on his head. Even his brother George abandoned Edward, but quickly discovered that the grass was not greener with Warwick.
Needless to say, Henry VI became the President Grover Cleveland of English history.
When Edward won his throne back through blood and many tears for his enemies, he decided to clear the decks so that rebellion would have to find another man other than Henry VI or Henry’s son Edward to rally around.
Unfortunately, Edward IV died too young, at the tender age of 40. If Edward had even lived five more years, his son would have been 18 and hopefully old enough to handle the near chaos that always occurs with a transfer of power. Richard III would have remained Richard of Gloucester, and we would have lost a very good Shakespeare play. Edward IV has been forgotten by history, probably to some degree because there is no existing Shakespeare play with his name, but he does figure prominently in the three parts of Henry VI.
Edward was a brilliant tactician from a very young age and never lost a battle that he participated in. Amy Licence may not convince modern readers that he was a true romantic in the sense that we perceive it to be by today’s standards, but he certainly had a very close relationship with his queen, and maybe that has to do with chosing her instead of having a haughty, culturally distant girl from France, Spain, or Italy to contend with.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Edward IV
Really the trouble all began with Henry VI, who was a very ineffectual king. He simply did not have the right temperament to be king. His father, Henry V, winner of the battle of Agincourt, had extended the empire and was a man intellectually capable of managing the nobles and the affairs of the kingdom. Unfortunately, he died at age 36, and that put his son Henry VI on the throne at the tender age of nine months old. He was a pawn from that moment forward. As he became older, there was a decided etherealness about him, as if part of his mind was always trying to escape the rigors of his responsibilities.
Henry was a bit addled in the brain.
He lost all that his father had won in France. He just wasn’t the type of man who was capable of donning the armour of his father and keeping what was his, but Richard of York was that kind of man. He had as royal a pedigree as Henry VI, and certainly England would not have been as easy for France to push around with Richard on the throne. The Earl of Warwick, or the man who most referred to as the kingmaker, was one of the most wealthy and powerful men in the country. He decided a change was in order. In all the kerfuffle, Richard of York and his son Edmund died. Henry VI was in the Tower, and Edward of York, oldest son of Richard, was on the throne of England as Edward IV.
Henry VI
Edward provided a stark contrast to Henry. By the age of 18, he had won three major battles and, in the process, had usurped the crown of England. He looked the part. He was tall and strong. When his skeleton was exhumed many centuries later, he was measured at 6’3 ½” in height. He was broad of chest, exuded vigorous masculinity, was considered handsome, and he was one of the most eligible men in the world .
Lock up your daughters, your wives, your mothers, and maybe even your comely grandmothers, so they don’t fall in the line of sight of the extravagantly horny Edward IV. ”Edward pursued the ‘married and unmarried, the noble and lowly’, and Vergil, writing retrospectively, stated that Edward would ‘readily cast an eye upon young ladies.‘ Even Thomas More described the king’s ‘greedy appetite’ for women. This was hardly a new vice for a king, nor for a young man of such good looks following a meteoric rise to power.”
It was agreed by all that what was best for the kingdom was to get this young man a wife. All of this seed being spilled was best spilled insuring the future of the York dynasty by producing legitimate heirs. Until that time, his brother George was the spare, and his other brother Richard was the spare of the spare.
Now think about Richard (III) being the spare of the spare. That hunchback, little bastard was plotting and scheming, or maybe he was maligned by history, but that is the subject of a future review.
Edward’s hasty marriage might have been spurred by this portrait of Bona, who looks like she might have made a good prospect as a line(wo)man for the NFL if she had lived in the 21st century.
So the Earl of Warwick was across the water trying to make arrangements for an alliance through marriage with Bona of Savoy when word reached him that Edward had impetuously already married. This left Warwick embarrassed and vengeful. ”By all accounts, Elizabeth Woodville was a remarkable beauty, even called the ‘most beautiful woman in the island of Britain’, with her ’heavy lidded eyes like those of a dragon,’ high forehead and fair hair, some of which is conveyed in surviving contemporary portraits….”
Elizabeth Woodville
She was a widow with two sons and a pedigree that had been weighed and measured and found wanting. She was not the type of woman whom Edward’s mother, Cecily Neville, or his followers had in mind to be his queen, his Guinevere. This drove a wedge between him and his most important supporter Warwick, and also between him and his family. Needless to say, things got nasty.
The subtitle of this book is True Romance, which reminds me of the 1993 Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette movie where two disturbed outcasts find love in the middle of absolute chaos. The synopsis of that movie has a few parallels with the tribulations of Edward and Elizabeth. If truth be told, she was mistress material. We can only speculate, but it seems she resisted his attempts to part her thighs until he agreed to marry him. An Anne Boleyn move long before Anne Boleyn was smirking her way to power in Tudor England.
Chivalry by Frank Dicksee (what a name!). Doesn’t this make you want to swoon?
The idea of true romance is all tied up with chivalry, poetry, dancing, palpitating hearts, frolicing through the garden paths, heavy panting, shivering white handkerchiefs, sighing, and absolute devotion to one another. That was not exactly what true romance looked like in the 15th century. Edward and Elizabeth’s marriage was certainly closer than most previous relationships between kings and their queens, but it was still more of an alliance based on a pattern, all too familiar, of men in power. Her womb was sacred, but his seed was to be sown in many fields. Exclusivity was one sided. His mistress, made most famous by William Shakespeare, was Elizabeth “Jane” Shore. One of three whom Edward described as ’the merriest, the wiliest, and the holiest harlots’ in his realm.”
I will say, though, that he seemed to always feel passion for Elizabeth Woodville for the extent of their marriage because she was expecting as soon as nature would let her get pregnant again. In those times, a wife was kept in confinement for two months around the time of the birth of her child. That is an eternity for an oversexed beast, such as our man Edward. Women, like Jane Shore, kept the royal balls from turning blue.
Edward was well read and spent money on books his entire life. More so than most men of his time period, he did seem to have a romantic vision that stretched back to the legends of King Arthur. In fact, there is every probability that Thomas Malory fashioned his Arthur after Edward IV. Certainly, Edward wanted to bring back the pageantry of Camelot, and like President John F. Kennedy, he had a good looking family to help portray an image of a king who was larger than life.
The Earl of Warwick, Kingmaker
Warwick wasn’t buying it. What he could make, he could unmake. He decided he was better off with a weak Henry VI on the throne than he was with this fool and his peasant whore on the throne. Warwick rebelled and, at least briefly, displaced Edward. He brushed the prison mold and pigeon feathers off of Henry and velcroed a crown back on his head. Even his brother George abandoned Edward, but quickly discovered that the grass was not greener with Warwick.
Needless to say, Henry VI became the President Grover Cleveland of English history.
When Edward won his throne back through blood and many tears for his enemies, he decided to clear the decks so that rebellion would have to find another man other than Henry VI or Henry’s son Edward to rally around.
Unfortunately, Edward IV died too young, at the tender age of 40. If Edward had even lived five more years, his son would have been 18 and hopefully old enough to handle the near chaos that always occurs with a transfer of power. Richard III would have remained Richard of Gloucester, and we would have lost a very good Shakespeare play. Edward IV has been forgotten by history, probably to some degree because there is no existing Shakespeare play with his name, but he does figure prominently in the three parts of Henry VI.
Edward was a brilliant tactician from a very young age and never lost a battle that he participated in. Amy Licence may not convince modern readers that he was a true romantic in the sense that we perceive it to be by today’s standards, but he certainly had a very close relationship with his queen, and maybe that has to do with chosing her instead of having a haughty, culturally distant girl from France, Spain, or Italy to contend with.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
February 23, 2022
3.5 stars. On one level this is an extraordinary story about two larger-than-life people - a beautiful golden couple of late medieval England. But it is also quite a challenging book, at times difficult to read, hence the 3.5 stars.
Edward and Elizabeth were the grandparents of King Henry VIII through his mother, and therefore great-grandparents of Elizabeth I. (It seems as if Henry took after his grandfather too, physically at least). Edward and Elizabeth were also the parents of the 'Princes in the Tower' who were taken to the Tower of London in 1483 (aged 12 and 9) and tragically never seen again. Presumed murdered. They had several daughters who lived however (the eldest, Elizabeth, becoming Henry VIII's mother). Edward's younger brother Richard was also the king whose crooked skeleton was disinterred a few years ago in an English car park.
Not only is this a fascinating history, but Edward and Elizabeth themselves were extraordinary people. At times since the 1400s, their names have been blackened. But this book is sympathetic to both of them, and suggests their actions were perfectly understandable, even expected, in the context of the times, and that their reputations were destroyed for various propaganda reasons, or through misinformation and misinterpretation.
Edward was 6'3 & 1/4" tall, as was proven when his skeleton was once disinterred. Unusually tall for the times, he was apparently built to match - broad-shouldered, athletic, handsome, golden-haired, intelligent, politically savvy, charismatic, a brave soldier, loved women and sex. This guy had it all, in spades. This has been reported from multiple reliable sources - not just empty praise or exaggeration cos he was the king.
Elizabeth was a few years older than Edward, and she was also a widow with two young sons when she married Edward. She had a decent lineage but was no princess, and at the time their marriage was controversial, as she was seen to be the wrong match for their gorgeous young king. But, again from multiple sources, Elizabeth was reputed to be incredibly beautiful - some said she was the most beautiful woman in England. And it was a love match. These two beautiful people fell deeply in love and stayed together till Edward's death (in his early forties). They had (I think?) 10 children together during the nineteen years of their marriage.
Edward came to the throne in controversial circumstances, and he was very conscious of maintaining his regal image as part of keeping the throne. He modelled his court on the chivalrous court of the legendary King Arthur, from whom he claimed to be descended. All ceremonies (e.g. coronation) were costly and extravagant. He always dressed in lavish and luxurious clothes - furs, velvets, cloth-of-gold etc. It was kind of like a Renaissance court, very modern for the times, and led by the 'it' couple everyone admired and wanted to be. It must have been an extraordinary time.
But it wasn't a time of peace. They lived in a complex world, and faced many tragedies throughout their lives. Edward had died before his sons disappeared, but the mysterious loss of her sons after her husband's death must have been so devastating for Elizabeth. To not ever know what had happened to them.......
So, I loved reading about all of that. I knew the loose outline of some of the history, but to have to the gaps filled in was fascinating.
But.... it was also a problem to read. Because this non-fiction book was full of SO MUCH detail and SO MANY characters that it was, at times, a little tedious to read. Yes, the times were complex, but it was really difficult to keep straight in my head who all of these people were, and how they were connected to each other.
The writer also employed many 'could haves' and 'may haves' as she referred to various historical sources, some of which conflicted with each other. Although I appreciated her efforts towards historical accuracy, it was frustrating at times, for example, not knowing exactly when and where Edward and Elizabeth married. I suppose I could go to a fictional version, such as Philippa Gregory's The White Queen, but in the past I haven't enjoyed her books that much.
So, overall a very, very interesting read, but a challenging one to read due to all of the historical detail.
I read this book for the GR Romance Across The Ages Challenge with the Historical Romance Book Club. It was my 'medieval' read, for March LOL. (Finished it in June!) Oh well. Better late than never! Despite its title, this book wasn't really a 'romance' though - more of a 'history'.
Edward and Elizabeth were the grandparents of King Henry VIII through his mother, and therefore great-grandparents of Elizabeth I. (It seems as if Henry took after his grandfather too, physically at least). Edward and Elizabeth were also the parents of the 'Princes in the Tower' who were taken to the Tower of London in 1483 (aged 12 and 9) and tragically never seen again. Presumed murdered. They had several daughters who lived however (the eldest, Elizabeth, becoming Henry VIII's mother). Edward's younger brother Richard was also the king whose crooked skeleton was disinterred a few years ago in an English car park.
Not only is this a fascinating history, but Edward and Elizabeth themselves were extraordinary people. At times since the 1400s, their names have been blackened. But this book is sympathetic to both of them, and suggests their actions were perfectly understandable, even expected, in the context of the times, and that their reputations were destroyed for various propaganda reasons, or through misinformation and misinterpretation.
Edward was 6'3 & 1/4" tall, as was proven when his skeleton was once disinterred. Unusually tall for the times, he was apparently built to match - broad-shouldered, athletic, handsome, golden-haired, intelligent, politically savvy, charismatic, a brave soldier, loved women and sex. This guy had it all, in spades. This has been reported from multiple reliable sources - not just empty praise or exaggeration cos he was the king.
Elizabeth was a few years older than Edward, and she was also a widow with two young sons when she married Edward. She had a decent lineage but was no princess, and at the time their marriage was controversial, as she was seen to be the wrong match for their gorgeous young king. But, again from multiple sources, Elizabeth was reputed to be incredibly beautiful - some said she was the most beautiful woman in England. And it was a love match. These two beautiful people fell deeply in love and stayed together till Edward's death (in his early forties). They had (I think?) 10 children together during the nineteen years of their marriage.
Edward came to the throne in controversial circumstances, and he was very conscious of maintaining his regal image as part of keeping the throne. He modelled his court on the chivalrous court of the legendary King Arthur, from whom he claimed to be descended. All ceremonies (e.g. coronation) were costly and extravagant. He always dressed in lavish and luxurious clothes - furs, velvets, cloth-of-gold etc. It was kind of like a Renaissance court, very modern for the times, and led by the 'it' couple everyone admired and wanted to be. It must have been an extraordinary time.
But it wasn't a time of peace. They lived in a complex world, and faced many tragedies throughout their lives. Edward had died before his sons disappeared, but the mysterious loss of her sons after her husband's death must have been so devastating for Elizabeth. To not ever know what had happened to them.......
So, I loved reading about all of that. I knew the loose outline of some of the history, but to have to the gaps filled in was fascinating.
But.... it was also a problem to read. Because this non-fiction book was full of SO MUCH detail and SO MANY characters that it was, at times, a little tedious to read. Yes, the times were complex, but it was really difficult to keep straight in my head who all of these people were, and how they were connected to each other.
The writer also employed many 'could haves' and 'may haves' as she referred to various historical sources, some of which conflicted with each other. Although I appreciated her efforts towards historical accuracy, it was frustrating at times, for example, not knowing exactly when and where Edward and Elizabeth married. I suppose I could go to a fictional version, such as Philippa Gregory's The White Queen, but in the past I haven't enjoyed her books that much.
So, overall a very, very interesting read, but a challenging one to read due to all of the historical detail.
I read this book for the GR Romance Across The Ages Challenge with the Historical Romance Book Club. It was my 'medieval' read, for March LOL. (Finished it in June!) Oh well. Better late than never! Despite its title, this book wasn't really a 'romance' though - more of a 'history'.
December 16, 2021
The book tells the facts about this historical couple, exploring their marriage as a love match, Edward IV (from the house of York) took the crown in a controversial way basically he usurped the throne from Henry VI ( from the house of Lancaster) during the war of two roses, but that was not the end of the story Edward fought to keep the crown again and again basically for years, and suddenly he married Elizabeth Woodville she had a good linage but not as good as was expected she was not princess and was mother of two sons , widower of a Lancaster, 5 years older than Edward and had many members in her family that were poor, so yes the marriage was atypical and caused a lot of issues between Edward and his allies specially his cousin the kingmaker who even abandoned Edward, so many politics and issues involved not just a couple story, at the end the marriage that by the was stayed secret for months , lasted until Edward's death at the age of 39, after that, was said that Edward IV married ( in legal terms) another woman previous his marriage to Elizabeth so this was null, but then restored, for those who know about this period of history the book doesn't really tell something new, is basically the story explained with contemporary sources.
Unfortunately I don't think this book deserves more than 1 star, and I have several reasons to give just that rate.
Despite that they were very interesting people living in a very interesting time seriously for me there isn't nothing more interesting to read about than the war of two roses, but this book becomes very tedious and boring since the beginning , even difficult to read specially for those not familiarized with the topic, for me was just too slow and plain, doesn't make an effort to keep you interested enough and I was seriously interested but at the end I had to force myself to keep reading and I didn't really enjoyed my time with this book, another thing that I disliked is the many times I found suppositions "perhaps they thought this or that" " they probably knew " " they feel this or that", If I'm reading a no fiction book I prefer to read the facts and then get to the conclusion by myself, I mean how the author can know what those people feel or think ? In every case there were several options to explain their actions and to be reading the author's conclusions again and again spoiled the information to me , another thing: in this period of time is impossible to explore the history if you expect to tell a definitive version because there is not, and definitely you can't believe that someone or something was black or white, many things of those years are in the shadows, we don't really know Elizabeth's motivations or actions even her last years are mysterious, so here I agree with Amy when she said that Elizabeth and Edward IV could be victims of the political propaganda, but I disagree the idea that discreetly Amy wants to send of they were very good people, look I like them both as historical characters but they did so many mistakes that even if can be justified can't be refuted the same with their bad actions, in this sense I will add that the book doesn't explored well enough the negative aspects of them as a couple.
Lately the books that are supposed to be non-fiction have disappointed me, I feel that certain characters have become popular ideals of: beauty or romance, and the authors indulge the popular interest by labeling them that way and romanticizing or exaggerating things so readers are interested in their books, I do not blame them, it is part of the business, the problem is that their work is no longer objective, as modern people we want to see romance everywhere and we forget that love was a completely different concept, I do not interpret the marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodwille as one for "love", my opinion may not be popular, but it is my logical and cold deduction f, would Elizabeth have been interested in Edward if he was not a King? of course not, if Edward had been so in love with her, would he have been unfaithful to her so many times and so blatantly? Of course not, I think it was an atypical marriage, but it had much more than love involved, such as: lust, ambition and need, which is not a bad thing in fact I think that if we go a colder path we can even see that EW was a much more exceptional woman than we think, this I can understand since you read in the cover " the true romance ", this sentence, I'm sorry but in my opinion is exaggerate the situation, for the way Edward IV behaved before and after getting married, I do believe he married Elizabeth for lust and of course he wanted to be independent , not in vain he made Elizabeth's family a faction dependent of him in the court, I'm not saying he wasn't in love perhaps he was, but indeed a true love story doesn't include an unfaithful husband as Edward IV was, not just having casual affairs but official mistresses that he took to court and showed them with not shame, and even illegitimate children, this was of course a normal behavior in those times but there were faithful kings before and after him, so loyalty in a husband wasn't impossible to expect specially if you chose your wife who by the way was apparently very beautiful, and I'm not saying that I don't want to believe in romance yes I like love stories and more if they involve historical characters, but this couple did not have the pink story that we wanted, and sell it as such to please an audience I did not like it, I would suggest creating a novel for it, Elizabeth's parents' marriage on the other hand is an example of a love match.
Finally I this is the second book I read by this author and it will definitely be the last, the first book was full of BOLD historical errors, and this one lacks objectivity, good writing and rhythm.
Unfortunately I don't think this book deserves more than 1 star, and I have several reasons to give just that rate.
Despite that they were very interesting people living in a very interesting time seriously for me there isn't nothing more interesting to read about than the war of two roses, but this book becomes very tedious and boring since the beginning , even difficult to read specially for those not familiarized with the topic, for me was just too slow and plain, doesn't make an effort to keep you interested enough and I was seriously interested but at the end I had to force myself to keep reading and I didn't really enjoyed my time with this book, another thing that I disliked is the many times I found suppositions "perhaps they thought this or that" " they probably knew " " they feel this or that", If I'm reading a no fiction book I prefer to read the facts and then get to the conclusion by myself, I mean how the author can know what those people feel or think ? In every case there were several options to explain their actions and to be reading the author's conclusions again and again spoiled the information to me , another thing: in this period of time is impossible to explore the history if you expect to tell a definitive version because there is not, and definitely you can't believe that someone or something was black or white, many things of those years are in the shadows, we don't really know Elizabeth's motivations or actions even her last years are mysterious, so here I agree with Amy when she said that Elizabeth and Edward IV could be victims of the political propaganda, but I disagree the idea that discreetly Amy wants to send of they were very good people, look I like them both as historical characters but they did so many mistakes that even if can be justified can't be refuted the same with their bad actions, in this sense I will add that the book doesn't explored well enough the negative aspects of them as a couple.
Lately the books that are supposed to be non-fiction have disappointed me, I feel that certain characters have become popular ideals of: beauty or romance, and the authors indulge the popular interest by labeling them that way and romanticizing or exaggerating things so readers are interested in their books, I do not blame them, it is part of the business, the problem is that their work is no longer objective, as modern people we want to see romance everywhere and we forget that love was a completely different concept, I do not interpret the marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodwille as one for "love", my opinion may not be popular, but it is my logical and cold deduction f, would Elizabeth have been interested in Edward if he was not a King? of course not, if Edward had been so in love with her, would he have been unfaithful to her so many times and so blatantly? Of course not, I think it was an atypical marriage, but it had much more than love involved, such as: lust, ambition and need, which is not a bad thing in fact I think that if we go a colder path we can even see that EW was a much more exceptional woman than we think, this I can understand since you read in the cover " the true romance ", this sentence, I'm sorry but in my opinion is exaggerate the situation, for the way Edward IV behaved before and after getting married, I do believe he married Elizabeth for lust and of course he wanted to be independent , not in vain he made Elizabeth's family a faction dependent of him in the court, I'm not saying he wasn't in love perhaps he was, but indeed a true love story doesn't include an unfaithful husband as Edward IV was, not just having casual affairs but official mistresses that he took to court and showed them with not shame, and even illegitimate children, this was of course a normal behavior in those times but there were faithful kings before and after him, so loyalty in a husband wasn't impossible to expect specially if you chose your wife who by the way was apparently very beautiful, and I'm not saying that I don't want to believe in romance yes I like love stories and more if they involve historical characters, but this couple did not have the pink story that we wanted, and sell it as such to please an audience I did not like it, I would suggest creating a novel for it, Elizabeth's parents' marriage on the other hand is an example of a love match.
Finally I this is the second book I read by this author and it will definitely be the last, the first book was full of BOLD historical errors, and this one lacks objectivity, good writing and rhythm.
February 10, 2016
It is the stuff legends are made of – and fairy tales. The story of how a penniless widow rose to become the Queen of England. After examining the lives of many of the characters of the Wars of the Roses and the Tudor period, author and historian Amy Licence has turned her attention to the greatest love story of Medieval England; Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, a true Cinderella story if ever there was one.
Amy Licence’s latest book, Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville: A True Romance, is remarkable in that it is not a fairy tale, it’s not a historical fiction novel. It is the true story of how Edward IV came to be married to a mere ‘commoner’. In a wonderfully lively retelling of the lives of Edward IV and his queen, Ms Licence leaves no stone unturned. She tells the story from the beginning in a fascinating and engaging narrative of the lives of her main characters, and the lives of those around them.
“Edward has become the ghost of a king, a historical filler before Richard III assumed the throne, a bit-player in Shakespeare’s trilogy about Henry VI, the father of the Princes in the Tower, the husband of the White Queen. Edward has become one of our many ‘missing kings’.”
Amy Licence goes into great detail about Edward’s love life and relationships, examining all the accusations ever levelled against him. Her love of her subjects shines through. The book provides a thorough analysis, whilst being lively and enthralling.
“A True Romance” is a marvelous piece of research presented in such a manner that will have the novice and the expert glued to every page. The controversies surrounding the couple are discussed in detail: their secret marriage, Edward’s reputation, Elizabeth’s social status.
This romance is presented in the context of the period in which it happened. The author gives a comprehensive overview of the Wars of the Roses, and the characters involved, detailing the lives of the individuals close to Edward and Elizabeth, and the separate lives of the couple themselves before they come together. Their relationship is not only presented as a love story, but also in the context of the period in which they were living, demonstrating how big an upset it caused on the international stage.
“… Elizabeth Wydeville, an unlikely queen, whom he had chosen in spite of tradition, in spite of advice, perhaps even in spite of himself. Her beauty was legendary but on almost every other level, she was an unacceptable choice for an English queen.”
In this book Ms Licence demonstrates not only her extensive knowledge of the events of the era, but of all aspects of the period; from May Day traditions to the Sumptuary Laws, to the people themselves.
Amy Licence’s writing style is so easy to read and free-flowing, it is as if she is in the room talking to you. She brings the past to life in a vivid and entertaining way. Crammed full of facts and information taken from primary sources, the book tells the story not only of Edward and Elizabeth, but also of their wider family and affinity, demonstrating how the lives of their friends and family are interlinked and how it influences the couple, their decisions and the world around them.
The book discusses all aspects of the evidence available. This is presented in an objective and fair way; from the chronicles of the time, to literary representations and even rumours and archaeological evidence. The reliability and veracity of the evidence is explained and thoroughly analysed in detail, leaving the reader nodding in agreement at the author’s conclusions; her arguments are thorough and persuasive.
A major strength in Ms Licence’s work is that she shows respect when discussing the theories of fellow historians; whether she agrees with them or not.
This biography of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville leaves no stone unturned. Amy Licence discusses every legend related to the couple, explores the development of their relationship and its effects on the lives of the couple, their families and the nation at large. Every aspect of their lives is discussed, leaving no situation unexamined and no rumour ignored.
Amy Licence presents a marriage and relationship that is as human and complex as any celebrity marriage of today. This is a wonderful study of one of the most famous love affairs in history in a book which is at once sympathetic, vivid and lively.
In short, this book is a fabulous biography of a romance that changed English history a forever. Thoroughly researched and stunningly presented, it is a must-read for all lovers of history, romance and the Wars of the Roses, themselves.
Amy Licence’s latest book, Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville: A True Romance, is remarkable in that it is not a fairy tale, it’s not a historical fiction novel. It is the true story of how Edward IV came to be married to a mere ‘commoner’. In a wonderfully lively retelling of the lives of Edward IV and his queen, Ms Licence leaves no stone unturned. She tells the story from the beginning in a fascinating and engaging narrative of the lives of her main characters, and the lives of those around them.
“Edward has become the ghost of a king, a historical filler before Richard III assumed the throne, a bit-player in Shakespeare’s trilogy about Henry VI, the father of the Princes in the Tower, the husband of the White Queen. Edward has become one of our many ‘missing kings’.”
Amy Licence goes into great detail about Edward’s love life and relationships, examining all the accusations ever levelled against him. Her love of her subjects shines through. The book provides a thorough analysis, whilst being lively and enthralling.
“A True Romance” is a marvelous piece of research presented in such a manner that will have the novice and the expert glued to every page. The controversies surrounding the couple are discussed in detail: their secret marriage, Edward’s reputation, Elizabeth’s social status.
This romance is presented in the context of the period in which it happened. The author gives a comprehensive overview of the Wars of the Roses, and the characters involved, detailing the lives of the individuals close to Edward and Elizabeth, and the separate lives of the couple themselves before they come together. Their relationship is not only presented as a love story, but also in the context of the period in which they were living, demonstrating how big an upset it caused on the international stage.
“… Elizabeth Wydeville, an unlikely queen, whom he had chosen in spite of tradition, in spite of advice, perhaps even in spite of himself. Her beauty was legendary but on almost every other level, she was an unacceptable choice for an English queen.”
In this book Ms Licence demonstrates not only her extensive knowledge of the events of the era, but of all aspects of the period; from May Day traditions to the Sumptuary Laws, to the people themselves.
Amy Licence’s writing style is so easy to read and free-flowing, it is as if she is in the room talking to you. She brings the past to life in a vivid and entertaining way. Crammed full of facts and information taken from primary sources, the book tells the story not only of Edward and Elizabeth, but also of their wider family and affinity, demonstrating how the lives of their friends and family are interlinked and how it influences the couple, their decisions and the world around them.
The book discusses all aspects of the evidence available. This is presented in an objective and fair way; from the chronicles of the time, to literary representations and even rumours and archaeological evidence. The reliability and veracity of the evidence is explained and thoroughly analysed in detail, leaving the reader nodding in agreement at the author’s conclusions; her arguments are thorough and persuasive.
A major strength in Ms Licence’s work is that she shows respect when discussing the theories of fellow historians; whether she agrees with them or not.
This biography of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville leaves no stone unturned. Amy Licence discusses every legend related to the couple, explores the development of their relationship and its effects on the lives of the couple, their families and the nation at large. Every aspect of their lives is discussed, leaving no situation unexamined and no rumour ignored.
Amy Licence presents a marriage and relationship that is as human and complex as any celebrity marriage of today. This is a wonderful study of one of the most famous love affairs in history in a book which is at once sympathetic, vivid and lively.
In short, this book is a fabulous biography of a romance that changed English history a forever. Thoroughly researched and stunningly presented, it is a must-read for all lovers of history, romance and the Wars of the Roses, themselves.
March 24, 2016
Amy Licence writes readable as well as relatable history. This is a big time period to tackle, filled with controversial mine-fields beginning with the story of Elizabeth's and Edward's chance meeting, to tackling the king's questionable birth, as well as his own children's legitimacy due to the possible pre-contract with Eleanor Butler. Licence's book covers a vast array of topics. She explains the connection of Edward's court to Arthurian legends. She deals extensively with each of their backgrounds and the tumultuous times they both lived. She is able to explain each of their tangled lineages, detailing the importance of Edward's place in the succession. Elizabeth's background is given equal attention, giving a three dimensional picture of their expectations and positions in late medieval society. No subject is glossed over. I loved the way she described Edward's court from clothing to food, giving an insiders picture to what life was like. Licence gives the facts, drawing as detailed a
picture as she can, without imposing her own opinion. She makes sure to include other historians theories, enabling the reader to come to their own conclusion. Her Elizabeth seems real, not the siren or witch with magical powers of persuasion, but a concerned mother, who acts swiftly to protect her brood. Edward gave up the possibility of an extensive dowry and alliances he would have gotten with a foreign princess. He lost the trust and friendship of Warwick, his cousin and "Kingmaker." He took a leap angering the nobility class and his advisors, all for the
chance to marry a poor widow a few years his senior. I don't need any more proof that this must have been a love match. Perhaps he saw in his wife, a woman equal to keeping up with the shining splendor of his Camelot.
picture as she can, without imposing her own opinion. She makes sure to include other historians theories, enabling the reader to come to their own conclusion. Her Elizabeth seems real, not the siren or witch with magical powers of persuasion, but a concerned mother, who acts swiftly to protect her brood. Edward gave up the possibility of an extensive dowry and alliances he would have gotten with a foreign princess. He lost the trust and friendship of Warwick, his cousin and "Kingmaker." He took a leap angering the nobility class and his advisors, all for the
chance to marry a poor widow a few years his senior. I don't need any more proof that this must have been a love match. Perhaps he saw in his wife, a woman equal to keeping up with the shining splendor of his Camelot.
May 15, 2017
As a writer long obsessed with the magnificent yet hardly-known English King Edward IV, I was hooked on this from the opening pages, with their gripping account of the public burning of Jean d'Arc by the English in Rouen in 1431, a decade before Edward's birth there. Amy Licence certainly sets the scene. I was less interested in the romance and more concerned with any further detail she could bring to my existing knowledge of these two pivotal characters in English history and she doesn't disappoint. This is a very good book; full of detail and analysis but also so beautifully written.
EW was quite a woman; most beautiful in England at the time it was reputed. The Earl of March was 6' 3", blond-haired, blue-eyed and already a serious womaniser when he became King Edward IV at just 18. So what made him fall for a commoner, a five years older and near-destitute widow who already had two children, when he could have had any beautiful, rich princess he wanted (and frequently had)? Especially when he was already, probably, secretly married? Whatever it was (witchcraft?), it helped destroy the Plantagenets and made Ed and his hunchbacked brother Richard of Gloucester the last English kings. Spooky. (The Tudors who followed were Welsh, the Stuarts Scots, William of Orange Dutch and the numerous Georges Hanoverian.)
If you're a Game Of Thrones fan, this book will help you understand why George R R Martin was so inspired by this period of English history. A True Romance? Well they had ten children in their near two decades together, but their legacy surely is that their daughter Elizabeth of York married usurper Henry Tudor, united the warring Houses of York and Lancaster to end the Wars of the Roses, and became the mother of Henry VIII - another monarch whose womanising cost the country dearly. It was obviously in the genes. Will they never learn, these randy kings? Clearly not, but heck it makes for a page-turning read. Stuff the Nazis and the Russian Revolution, this is the kind of history they should be teaching in our schools.
EW was quite a woman; most beautiful in England at the time it was reputed. The Earl of March was 6' 3", blond-haired, blue-eyed and already a serious womaniser when he became King Edward IV at just 18. So what made him fall for a commoner, a five years older and near-destitute widow who already had two children, when he could have had any beautiful, rich princess he wanted (and frequently had)? Especially when he was already, probably, secretly married? Whatever it was (witchcraft?), it helped destroy the Plantagenets and made Ed and his hunchbacked brother Richard of Gloucester the last English kings. Spooky. (The Tudors who followed were Welsh, the Stuarts Scots, William of Orange Dutch and the numerous Georges Hanoverian.)
If you're a Game Of Thrones fan, this book will help you understand why George R R Martin was so inspired by this period of English history. A True Romance? Well they had ten children in their near two decades together, but their legacy surely is that their daughter Elizabeth of York married usurper Henry Tudor, united the warring Houses of York and Lancaster to end the Wars of the Roses, and became the mother of Henry VIII - another monarch whose womanising cost the country dearly. It was obviously in the genes. Will they never learn, these randy kings? Clearly not, but heck it makes for a page-turning read. Stuff the Nazis and the Russian Revolution, this is the kind of history they should be teaching in our schools.
November 27, 2016
I could have used a family tree to consult to keep track of the staggering amount of siblings and children involved. Also, it wasn't my preferred to style to have the author cover five years or so of one person, then back track and cover the same period in regards to what someone else was doing – I really like to keep my history chronological.
However, balanced against those quibbles, is the AMAZING job Licence does to shine a bright spotlight on the cultural as well as military achievements of Edward IV, loudly complaining that he is very unfairly overlooked by historians and artists alike. And, at the same time, gives Elizabeth Woodville credit where credit is due for actually being everything a 15th century queen was supposed to be, and all that gold digger, cold dragon rubbish is just the stupid male gaze condemning her for doing what many would be only too quick for praising a man for doing.
The book starts a full generation before Edward and Elizabeth were born, delving into the richly detailed fabric of the time and the high and low dramas that lead to Edward being in position to take the crown.
Then, once Edward and Elizabeth come to the forefront of history, she keeps the rest of the book laser focused on them, not getting too much into the other major players from then on, except in how they directly relate to their own actions. So, we don't see a lot of behind the scene events of the War of the Roses unless Edwards and/ or Elizabeth were involved, but it was worth it since this book just on the, rather than the bigger picture.
Licence digs up manuals, letters, poems, inventories, pantry orders, tomb commissions, and every other primary source she can think of it flesh out what happened throughout their busy lives. When she stumbles onto blank spots, she both admits to unknowns, and then explains what her guesses are based on, but more than happy to repeat that what was happening in some people's heads and hearts can never be known. She also does a the good service of reminding the reader so many parts of history are just one side's account, and even if we don't know the other side, we should remember its there.
An excellent biography of Edward and Elizabeth, power couple, love story, parents, politicians, cultural trendsetters, and a man and woman who made their own decisions, for better or worse.
March 1, 2018
Surprisingly disapointing. There are some interesting fragments (some of them in my highlights if you wish to check) but they are in minority. Certainly I have been reading much better books about said epoch. Not sure what went wrong but I have abandoned it after 3/4.
November 14, 2025
When we think of a fairy tale romance, we think about stories like Cinderella. A girl of lower status captures the heart of the handsome prince. They overcome the odds and live happily ever after. But that kind of romance only exists in books. The closest story we have to that in medieval English history might be the story of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. A widow who begged the handsome and younger King of England for help, but ended up becoming his wife. It’s a story that any romance-loving history lover will swoon over, but how accurate is that story? What is the real story of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville? Amy Licence explores the nature of their relationship in her book, “Edward IV & Elizabeth Woodville: A True Romance.”
I have been reading books by Amy Licence for a few years now, so when I saw this title, I knew I wanted to read it. The Wars of the Roses is one of my favorite areas of history to study, but I have not read a joint biography of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. When I saw this title, I knew that this was a must-read for me.
We begin in 1431 in Rouen, France, where the Maid of Orleans, who we know as Joan of Arc, is about to die on the pyre. In the same town, eleven years later, the future King Edward IV would be born to Cecily Neville and Richard, Duke of York. Edward’s future bride, Elizabeth Woodville, was born around six years after the death of Joan of Arc. Her mother, Jacquetta of Luxembourg, had married below her station after the death of her first husband, John Duke of Bedford passed away; Jacquetta would marry a knight, Sir Richard Woodville, Elizabeth’s father. Jacquetta was close to King Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou, the Lancastrian rulers of England, and Edward IV’s father, Richard, Duke of York, would fight against the Lancastrians for the right to rule England during the conflict that we know today as the Wars of the Roses. To top it all off, Elizabeth was married to Sir John Grey of Groby Old Hall, a man who fought and died for King Henry VI.
In other words, Edward and Elizabeth were on different sides of the Wars of the Roses, but somehow these two found each other after Edward IV became king. The obvious choice for Edward’s bride should have been a foreign princess to create an alliance, but there was something about Elizabeth that convinced Edward to forgo the wisdom of Warwick and marry her. Their court was based on the Burgundian court. They had a large family, but the fight for the crown with the Lancastrian cause and Edward’s own family continued. Just when the throne is secure, Edward passes away. Elizabeth had to fight for her children, fight against her brother-in-law, and join forces with her enemy Margaret Beaufort to help usher in the Tudor dynasty.
Licence was able to present the information not only about this period, but also about Edward and Elizabeth in such a comprehensive way that both novices and experts can understand. She can present theories that she either agrees with or disagrees with respectfully. I thoroughly enjoyed this joint biography as it gave me a better appreciation for the reign of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. If you want to learn more about the Wars of the Roses, the first Yorkist king, and his wife, I highly recommend you read “Edward & Elizabeth Woodville: A True Romance” by Amy Licence.
December 9, 2024
I decided to pivot back to nonfiction and picked up Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville: A True Romance by Amy License, which I had started several months ago after finishing Lauren Johnson’s work on Henry VI. I somehow got lost in the Stuart era for most of the year, but have once more returned to the War of the Roses. When Edward of York seized the English throne, he had a slew of mistresses and was expected to marry a foreign princess, such is the life of a monarch during the Middle Ages. No one imagined he would marry a widow, five years his elder, but that’s exactly what he did when he pledged himself to Elizabeth Woodwville.
The preface to the text looks at Joan of Arc and emphasizes themes such as women in power, witchcraft, and gender relations — all issues that tie back to the story of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. This also ties back to the principle players since Elizabeth’s mother, Jacquetta, was married to the Duke of Bedford who was responsible for Joan’s trial. I appreciated this, because it framed the book nicely and showed me how License would be treating her subject matter. Elizabeth Woodville has always been one of those figures that has sort of captured my imagination, marrying a king, all the fleeing into sanctuary, but she certainly wasn’t romanticized by her contemporaries and License does a terrific job of unpacking the treatment she both during and after her lifetime.
A perk of this book is that I felt I got a more intimate look at Edward IV. Most of my reading about the War of the Roses has prioritized other subjects, so it was nice to finally explore a work where he mostly took center stage. He’s certainly one of those historical figures that I wish I could get an actual glimpse at. As License points out, he must have been a fairly attractive man. He would have cut quite the figure in comparison to the pious Henry IV. Although I’m not sure this book is a great entry point for someone desiring to learn more about the War of the Roses, I really think it’s a great supplement that gives a sympathetic understanding of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. License also approaches the subject matter with caution, never making any specific claims about disputed topics - such as the princes in the tower - instead offering different theories presented by other historians which I really appreciated.
The preface to the text looks at Joan of Arc and emphasizes themes such as women in power, witchcraft, and gender relations — all issues that tie back to the story of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. This also ties back to the principle players since Elizabeth’s mother, Jacquetta, was married to the Duke of Bedford who was responsible for Joan’s trial. I appreciated this, because it framed the book nicely and showed me how License would be treating her subject matter. Elizabeth Woodville has always been one of those figures that has sort of captured my imagination, marrying a king, all the fleeing into sanctuary, but she certainly wasn’t romanticized by her contemporaries and License does a terrific job of unpacking the treatment she both during and after her lifetime.
A perk of this book is that I felt I got a more intimate look at Edward IV. Most of my reading about the War of the Roses has prioritized other subjects, so it was nice to finally explore a work where he mostly took center stage. He’s certainly one of those historical figures that I wish I could get an actual glimpse at. As License points out, he must have been a fairly attractive man. He would have cut quite the figure in comparison to the pious Henry IV. Although I’m not sure this book is a great entry point for someone desiring to learn more about the War of the Roses, I really think it’s a great supplement that gives a sympathetic understanding of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. License also approaches the subject matter with caution, never making any specific claims about disputed topics - such as the princes in the tower - instead offering different theories presented by other historians which I really appreciated.
July 23, 2018
I really, really wanted to like this book, but... I just couldn't. The author is clearly an excellent historian with a thorough knowledge of her subject(s). However, I think the packaging is a bit misleading, which is probably what led to my disappointment. I have been fascinated with Edward IV and yearning for a deeper exploration of his famed "love" for Elizabeth Woodville for several years now, so I was delighted (and surprised) to see a book specifically on this topic. However, despite reading the entire thing, I never discovered any sense of the "true love" promised in the book's title. (If anything, I walked away from this book half-convinced he used the secret marriage to get laid and was planning on abandoning her...) Instead, it was a fairly dry biography of Edward IV with some information about Elizabeth thrown in. I have an MA in medieval art history, so I have read (and even enjoyed) my fair share of super dry history books -- but I still found myself zoning out under the deluge of inventory lists and nobility titles. I was hoping for something new, a different reading of their relationship, maybe a different interpretation of the historical facts. But to me, it just felt like other history books I've read on the subject, with maybe less humanity shining through.
As a matter of personal preference, I actually enjoy when nonfiction authors speculate on possible feelings and motives of historical people (assuming they make it clear it's speculation, of course). To me, this humanizes what would otherwise be a random assembly of facts. I enjoyed the parts of the book when the author allowed herself to do this, and I personally wish she had done more. The parts of the book where the author deviated into more narrative work, such as her description of the burning of Joan d'Arc, were really excellent, and I hope she continues to write more in that vein.
At the end of the day, I feel like it is a great work of scholarship. But if it was meant to be popular history/a romantic tale, I don't feel like it quite hit the mark.
As a matter of personal preference, I actually enjoy when nonfiction authors speculate on possible feelings and motives of historical people (assuming they make it clear it's speculation, of course). To me, this humanizes what would otherwise be a random assembly of facts. I enjoyed the parts of the book when the author allowed herself to do this, and I personally wish she had done more. The parts of the book where the author deviated into more narrative work, such as her description of the burning of Joan d'Arc, were really excellent, and I hope she continues to write more in that vein.
At the end of the day, I feel like it is a great work of scholarship. But if it was meant to be popular history/a romantic tale, I don't feel like it quite hit the mark.
April 14, 2019
I haven't given this book 3 stars because I didn't enjoy the content! I love the stories of these years - the strong tall king, the beautiful queen and her numerous children, the beautiful court and of course, their two son, Richard and Edward, the infamous princes in the tower. It's a story that brought England from the medieval to the modern, from a backward nothing-island to the end of a raging war with France and the leader in style, diplomacy and the power of personality over Majesty. Simply, it was Edward's personality which made him king, made him a good king, and showed the people he cared about them - similar to a young Henry VIII! All this aside, and considering the title of the book, I found the content interesting, but not a 'True Romance' or even the mention of Elizabeth during the majority of the pages - A biography of Edward and the little we actually know about Elizabeth it may be, but there's little mention of them together, aside from a little at the beginning, and a lot of chapters only fleetingly mention 'what would Elizabeth have thought of this', so this was more a biography of Edward IV than a 'true romance' really, which is why I felt it didn't deserve any more stars. With a different title, reflecting this, this was a good biography, with much detail of his life, and it does try to dispel the myths of the 'grasping' queen, who, had she been a man, would simply have been called 'ambitious', and it does show that it would have been hard for anyone, even his wife, to have forced decisions about advancing family on Edward, a big personality and a popular king, so that was the one bright spell considering the poor lady's rep, but this is less about their relationship and more about him and his achievements and deeds, a biography, but a good one.
July 6, 2017
If you're looking for a book purely based on the relationship of Edward and Elizabeth, I'm afraid you might be disappointed. There are sections of this book where the focus is on the Wars instead, and whilst this is crucial for context and understanding, I don't quite see how Edward's French expeditions and Picquigny fit into a book about the 'romance' between Edward and Elizabeth. There are whole swathes of this book where Elizabeth is barely mentioned, and whilst sometimes this is understandable due to lack of evidence, it seems that sometimes she is absent in a book that claims to be about her.
That being said, this book is extremely readable and accessible and doesn't necessarily require an extensive knowledge of the period in order to understand. Licence's points on Elizabeth's reputation are bang on and I would applaud her if I could - that Elizabeth is seen as haughty and greedy when her male contemporaries acting in the same way are simply driven and ambitious is a horrendously sexist double standard that seems to plague all women from most periods. Licence does redeem Elizabeth and is far more forgiving towards her than other authors have been in the past. She is also more forgiving for Edward as well, not subscribing to the usual interpretation that in his later years he was a tyrannical playboy. These interpretations are, I think, far more realistic.
She has a tendency to be slightly too romantic at some points, but admits that it is all speculation. Overall this is a book not about the 'true romance' of Edward and Elizabeth but about the wars of the roses themselves, how the pair fit into the narrative and how history has treated them since their deaths.
That being said, this book is extremely readable and accessible and doesn't necessarily require an extensive knowledge of the period in order to understand. Licence's points on Elizabeth's reputation are bang on and I would applaud her if I could - that Elizabeth is seen as haughty and greedy when her male contemporaries acting in the same way are simply driven and ambitious is a horrendously sexist double standard that seems to plague all women from most periods. Licence does redeem Elizabeth and is far more forgiving towards her than other authors have been in the past. She is also more forgiving for Edward as well, not subscribing to the usual interpretation that in his later years he was a tyrannical playboy. These interpretations are, I think, far more realistic.
She has a tendency to be slightly too romantic at some points, but admits that it is all speculation. Overall this is a book not about the 'true romance' of Edward and Elizabeth but about the wars of the roses themselves, how the pair fit into the narrative and how history has treated them since their deaths.
September 3, 2021
I hate to admit it but I did not finish this one. I wanted so much to love this book, Edward IV is my favourite king , talk about trying i really did but to be honest the constant “ old world speak, “ just got me in the end. Enjoying the prose then all of a sudden the author felt the need to drop into medieval speak,, to me it stopped the flow of the event and just made me stop and think,,, what lol…..maybe it’s my failing but “”alas”” it ‘‘twas not meant to be….One one final footnote I felt the king and queen didn’t get the main character feel… I wanted to read about them,like the title suggests,, felt like they got lost too…oh well onward and upwards..
April 1, 2018
This book was good - very all encompassing of the cultural and social issues facing England at this time. It focused less on the relationship and Elizabeth then I would have wanted going into the reign of Edward and what he was going through instead of the two of them as a couple. Some of the quotes and poems seemed unnecessary especially as the language was hard to follow. But it was still a good, quick read on a part of history that is overshadowed by the larger then life figures that followed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2019
This was a bit of a struggle for me to finish as it proved to be more of a history textbook than the non-fiction detailing of the relationship between King Edward IV and his queen, Elizabeth Woodville Grey.
Perhaps I owe my disillusionment to the fact that I binge-watched The White Queen just prior to buying this book, and was hoping for more intrigue and passionate romance. That is not this book, which focused far less on Edward and Elizabeth than on the historical context and circumstances of their marriage and respective families.
Perhaps I owe my disillusionment to the fact that I binge-watched The White Queen just prior to buying this book, and was hoping for more intrigue and passionate romance. That is not this book, which focused far less on Edward and Elizabeth than on the historical context and circumstances of their marriage and respective families.
July 17, 2019
This is a highly readable account of the lives of Edward and Elizabeth. However, it tended to concentrate too much on the politics and wars of Edward's reign and at times overlooked the relationship between Edward and Elizabeth. It was almost like reading two biographies merged into a single book. Events concerning Elizabeth after Edward's death do not seem to have been covered in as great a depth as the period when Elizabeth was queen.
November 22, 2017
Great insight into the lives of Edward IV & Elizabeth Woodville, great to get a side of her life and what it was like being a widowed mother and then the Queen of England and then to have her marriage and children declare illegal
December 3, 2017
Very well written and a balanced account of the lives of Edmund and Elizabeth, with no assumptions or prejudices.
May 20, 2020
I really think she should take the words “A True Romance,” out of the title, there is barely anything on their romance, it is mainly what went on around the two more than actually the two themselves.
June 10, 2020
This rating would of been higher if some of the content hadn’t been so hard to take in; found myself having to tackle a chapter at a time to fully take in the amount of information.
October 4, 2024
A few thoughts...
Not sure about the title of this book. As AL explains, their marriage may well have been a sham. Ed had used the tactic before to get his leg over. This read more like two separate biographies which occasionally intersect. Much less is known about EW than about Edward but AL did a great job at fleshing her out as much as possible. I found her mother, Jacquetta, a much more interesting character.
Edward was well described from his physical attractiveness (?) to his notions about replicating the court of King Arthur's Camelot. Like Arthur he was certainly betrayed by his nearest and dearest.
It always amazes me how power hungry men are willing to risk their lives to try and become king, or install their choice of King. There are a few such numpties in here. Perhaps they should have read more history books.
Not sure about the title of this book. As AL explains, their marriage may well have been a sham. Ed had used the tactic before to get his leg over. This read more like two separate biographies which occasionally intersect. Much less is known about EW than about Edward but AL did a great job at fleshing her out as much as possible. I found her mother, Jacquetta, a much more interesting character.
Edward was well described from his physical attractiveness (?) to his notions about replicating the court of King Arthur's Camelot. Like Arthur he was certainly betrayed by his nearest and dearest.
It always amazes me how power hungry men are willing to risk their lives to try and become king, or install their choice of King. There are a few such numpties in here. Perhaps they should have read more history books.
April 13, 2016
For those that love history this book is a treasure. Amy Licence's new book: Edward IV & Elizabeth Woodville - A True Romance, is skillfully written; it is stirring and a joy to read. As she has done with all her other work, it is brilliantly researched and presents her readers with renewed insight on historical realities occasionally overlooked. Ms. Licence brings Edward and Elizabeth to life in a way few ever have. She gives an in-depth look at things like the educational plan that was laid out for their son and heir, Prince Edward. Who was to guide him, the quality of time, a balance of lessons and leisure. She shows that they were two loving parents committed to shape him into a true Renaissance Prince.
Amy Licence opens a vast window into Edward IV's interest in the arts. Edward's desire for knowledge in these areas surpassed that of any English monarch before him. Ms. Licence guides you through his pursuits in the arts; music, the humanists, painting, and incorporating new ideas into his court. She shows us Edward's interest in illuminated manuscripts, which led to a large collection that can still be seen today.
This book gives the reader detail and narration into parts of Edward and Elizabeth's day to day life with documentation and actual accounts. She recounts Margaret of Burgundy's return to England in 1480 in its entire stunning array, not just who was there and how they were dressed; it is followed up with the actual wardrobe accounts. You can see what this family reunion actually cost.
She also gives a delightful view into a chapter of Edward's reign that is very rarely seen; Edward and the Alchemists. Ms. Licence has included Edward's association with the alchemist George Ripley who dedicated The Compound of Alchymy to Edward IV in 1471. Yet of more curiosity she has included another lesser known, far more interesting alchemist who discovered the 'Elixir of Gold', Thomas Norton.
Edward IV and Elizabeth sheds light on the death of Edward, son of Margaret of Anjou at the Battle of Tewkesbury in May of 1471. Ms. Licence points to Fabian's account of the event. She brings together so many contemporary accounts that one cannot fail to discover something new in her work. It is part of the brilliance of her composition; I have never finished one of her books without learning at least five new things. She has followed up all of her writing with references to the research she used to put together this work of art, for a work of art it is indeed. What an artist does with colours on a canvas, Amy Licence does with words on paper.
Amy Licence opens a vast window into Edward IV's interest in the arts. Edward's desire for knowledge in these areas surpassed that of any English monarch before him. Ms. Licence guides you through his pursuits in the arts; music, the humanists, painting, and incorporating new ideas into his court. She shows us Edward's interest in illuminated manuscripts, which led to a large collection that can still be seen today.
This book gives the reader detail and narration into parts of Edward and Elizabeth's day to day life with documentation and actual accounts. She recounts Margaret of Burgundy's return to England in 1480 in its entire stunning array, not just who was there and how they were dressed; it is followed up with the actual wardrobe accounts. You can see what this family reunion actually cost.
She also gives a delightful view into a chapter of Edward's reign that is very rarely seen; Edward and the Alchemists. Ms. Licence has included Edward's association with the alchemist George Ripley who dedicated The Compound of Alchymy to Edward IV in 1471. Yet of more curiosity she has included another lesser known, far more interesting alchemist who discovered the 'Elixir of Gold', Thomas Norton.
Edward IV and Elizabeth sheds light on the death of Edward, son of Margaret of Anjou at the Battle of Tewkesbury in May of 1471. Ms. Licence points to Fabian's account of the event. She brings together so many contemporary accounts that one cannot fail to discover something new in her work. It is part of the brilliance of her composition; I have never finished one of her books without learning at least five new things. She has followed up all of her writing with references to the research she used to put together this work of art, for a work of art it is indeed. What an artist does with colours on a canvas, Amy Licence does with words on paper.
April 4, 2017
I'm currently reading another book alongside this one, which might not be exactly the same subject matter (The other book is actually about the family of Richard III), both books touch on the same era and similar themes throughout. However for me, the difference between the two titles is extremely noticeable.
While the aforementioned book is written in a style that I can only describe as “standard history prose”, Ms. Licence's text is a more relaxed style, and therefore easier to follow – which is most helpful when trying to work out who is who during a time when everybody seemed to have the same name, and/or many different titles of nobility assigned to them.
The way the author describes England during the period before & during the War of the Roses, has a way of transporting the reader to that time period; making them feel as if they are indeed eyewitness to the events unfolding, rather than just reading a textbook with the key dates and facts.
Another positive is Ms Licence's research. You can tell that she has done her homework on the book's subjects [In comparison, the other book that I'm reading has a glaring mistake within the first few pages, when Richard of Conisburgh is listed as a son of his Uncle, John of Gaunt!] and her use of historical sources is refreshing. While many contemporary historians have formed the habit of picking and choosing sources that emphasise the own author's arguments, (without giving the reader any context of why the source is relevant, or in some cases – irrelevant), Ms. Licence opts to present any sources that she uses with a little bit of background information, so the reader can try to understand why other historians often try to use and make their own arguments with the,
I also felt that each source is given without any personal bias, and I was most appreciative of the author trying to explain why another historian may choose to argue one historical theory as compare to the hypothesis Ms. Licence was trying to convey.
In all, I'm most enjoying this book, and it has encouraged me to seek out other titles by the same author to read.
While the aforementioned book is written in a style that I can only describe as “standard history prose”, Ms. Licence's text is a more relaxed style, and therefore easier to follow – which is most helpful when trying to work out who is who during a time when everybody seemed to have the same name, and/or many different titles of nobility assigned to them.
The way the author describes England during the period before & during the War of the Roses, has a way of transporting the reader to that time period; making them feel as if they are indeed eyewitness to the events unfolding, rather than just reading a textbook with the key dates and facts.
Another positive is Ms Licence's research. You can tell that she has done her homework on the book's subjects [In comparison, the other book that I'm reading has a glaring mistake within the first few pages, when Richard of Conisburgh is listed as a son of his Uncle, John of Gaunt!] and her use of historical sources is refreshing. While many contemporary historians have formed the habit of picking and choosing sources that emphasise the own author's arguments, (without giving the reader any context of why the source is relevant, or in some cases – irrelevant), Ms. Licence opts to present any sources that she uses with a little bit of background information, so the reader can try to understand why other historians often try to use and make their own arguments with the,
I also felt that each source is given without any personal bias, and I was most appreciative of the author trying to explain why another historian may choose to argue one historical theory as compare to the hypothesis Ms. Licence was trying to convey.
In all, I'm most enjoying this book, and it has encouraged me to seek out other titles by the same author to read.
October 29, 2016
Summary:
Edward of York became king in 1461. He chose a bride who had been married before and had two sons. Her name was Elizabeth Woodville. Edward's marriage to Elizabeth was done in secret. The Earl of Warwick had hoped Edward would marry for political reasons. Edward made a defiant decision independent from Warwick.
The focus on Edward and Elizabeth's courtship and marriage has been portrayed in books and films. The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory is well-known.
Amy Licence's focus and intent is to filter away the myths of Edward and Elizabeth, and deliver to the reader the facts. In the process, a solid and intimate study of the couple is portrayed.
The book includes 37 illustrations, 24 are in color.
My Thoughts:
Several reasons led me to give Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville: A True Romance 5 stars for excellent.
Several stories of historical figures are added to the book. I consider these stories to be gems I'd not anticipated. For example: Joan of Arc; Elizabeth Cobham, the second wife of the Duke of Gloucester.
Edward IV and Elizabeth's reasons for marriage are analyzed.
Edward's leadership and battle prowess is shown.
The treatment of women to destroy their reputation is examined. Licence is especially knowledgeable about women's lives during the medieval period.
The letters written by Edward as a youth is fascinating.
Chapter twelve begins after Edward's death. Edward's two sons, Edward V, and Richard, are kept in the Tower and then they disappear entirely. The circumstances of their death is a mystery. The series of events taken by Richard, duke of Gloucester, later Richard III, is given. Licence points out the Croyland Chronicler, a letter Richard wrote, and letters of other witnesses during this period. I enjoyed reading the historical accounts in the documents.
Edward of York became king in 1461. He chose a bride who had been married before and had two sons. Her name was Elizabeth Woodville. Edward's marriage to Elizabeth was done in secret. The Earl of Warwick had hoped Edward would marry for political reasons. Edward made a defiant decision independent from Warwick.
The focus on Edward and Elizabeth's courtship and marriage has been portrayed in books and films. The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory is well-known.
Amy Licence's focus and intent is to filter away the myths of Edward and Elizabeth, and deliver to the reader the facts. In the process, a solid and intimate study of the couple is portrayed.
The book includes 37 illustrations, 24 are in color.
My Thoughts:
Several reasons led me to give Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville: A True Romance 5 stars for excellent.
Several stories of historical figures are added to the book. I consider these stories to be gems I'd not anticipated. For example: Joan of Arc; Elizabeth Cobham, the second wife of the Duke of Gloucester.
Edward IV and Elizabeth's reasons for marriage are analyzed.
Edward's leadership and battle prowess is shown.
The treatment of women to destroy their reputation is examined. Licence is especially knowledgeable about women's lives during the medieval period.
The letters written by Edward as a youth is fascinating.
Chapter twelve begins after Edward's death. Edward's two sons, Edward V, and Richard, are kept in the Tower and then they disappear entirely. The circumstances of their death is a mystery. The series of events taken by Richard, duke of Gloucester, later Richard III, is given. Licence points out the Croyland Chronicler, a letter Richard wrote, and letters of other witnesses during this period. I enjoyed reading the historical accounts in the documents.
June 21, 2016
This book started off a bit slower than some of the other books I have read by Amy Licence, but then things really got going. I never really knew that Edward's past was linked to Elizabeth's, but within the first three chapters, the connections were shown and the stage was set. Licence's writing always has a great flow, and this book was no exception. It was a fascinating account of Edward's reign. I enjoyed Licence's perspective on the relationship between Edward and Elizabeth in both a public and private context. I felt informed throughout, while her writing style was easy and entertaining to me in nature. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. I just placed an order for several more titles.
September 22, 2016
Very tedious unless you are a scholar of the royal family and/or that time period in English history.
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