First of the Tudors

by Joanna Hickson

Jasper Tudor, son of Queen Catherine and her second husband, Owen Tudor, has grown up far from the intrigue of the royal court. But after he and his brother Edmund are summoned to London, their half-brother, King Henry VI, takes a keen interest in their future.
Bestowing Earldoms on them both, Henry also gives them the wardship of the young heiress Margaret Beaufort. Although she is still a child, Jasper becomes devoted to her and is devastated when Henry arranges her betrothal to Edmund.
He seeks solace in his estates and in the arms of Jane Hywel, a young Welsh woman who offers him something more meaningful than a dynastic marriage. But passion turns to jeopardy for them both as the Wars of the Roses wreak havoc on the realm. Loyal brother to a fragile king and his domineering queen, Marguerite of Anjou, Jasper must draw on all his guile and courage to preserve their throne − and the Tudor destiny…

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Tudor Period, British Literature, Royalty, Audiobook

528 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2016

About the author

Joanna Hickson became fascinated with history when she studied Shakespeare's history plays at school. However, having taken a degree in Politics and English she took up a career in broadcast journalism with the BBC, presenting and producing news, current affairs and arts programmes on both television and radio. Now she writes full time and has a contract with Harper Collins for three historical novels. The Agincourt Bride is the first. She lives in Scotland in a 200 year old farmhouse and is married with a large extended family and a wayward Irish terrier.
Joanna likes people to join her on Twitter (@joannahickson) or Facebook (Joanna Hickson)and says if you can't find her she'll be in the fifteenth century!

Reviews

[Bookread2day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then I like a change from my normal crime fiction and I will read a book from the historical genre. Joanna Hickson has a brilliant new novel flowing with characters who have passion and betrayal within the Tudor family. I enjoyed reading First of the Tudors so much that I will be reading about Harri Tudors story in Joanna's next novel The Crimson Crown, which will pick up from where First of the Tudors finishes. I do hope that readers will join me we will discover more about the characters Jasper, Jane, Sian, Davvy and Margaret Beaufort as well as many new historical characters. First of the Tudors is perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Anne O'Brien and C.W. Gortner.

[Natasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of the well-known history of the War of the Roses but still provides a refreshing take on the tale. You can find full review on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic! I adored every page - this book made my weekend.

[Mollie Ballinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah well one year later I finished the book in a matter of days. My obession with wars of the roses is defo some autistic trait but whatever I love it. Jasper Tudor 😍

[Angela Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy reading about the Tudors then what better place to start than more or less at the beginning. It tells the story of Jasper Tudor, brother to Edmund Tudor and Uncle to Henry (the future Henry VII)

It was a very uncertain time in the monarchy when the crown was being passed back and forth like pass the parcel. Jasper Tudor mostly has guardianship of his nephew Henry except for the times he is exiled. He has a mistress with whom he has two daughters. This is his story as much as it is his mistress's story. (Jane)

You have to remember when reading this how marriages were conducted in a very different way and the fact that Jasper's brother Edmund married a thirteen year old girl and impregnated her before he died smacks of child abuse in this day and age, but was fairly normal back then, however, it is still disturbing to read.

I read The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon K. Penman back in 2016 which is the other side of the coin. First of the Tudors mentions many of the events of that period but from a Lancastrian POV. There is obviously some artistic license with the relationship between Jasper and Jane, but he did reportedly have a mistress and at least three daughters (illegitimately) during his life.

The book has an author's note and a Glossary with words more unusual to todays reader as well as Welsh names and words and a variety of maps of the Tudor family tree and other areas.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Happercollins and Netgalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Following Jasper Tudor, uncle to the future Henry VII, this book tells the sweeping tale of how the Tudor dynasty came to be.

I loved the prose, the characters and the unique pov it was told from.

[Liz Fenwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved and it was bliss to escape into history so vividly portrayed with characters who held my heart

[Annelies - In Another Era · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasper and Edmund Tudor are half brothers to king Henry IV, their parents being queen Catherine Of Valois and the Welsh squire Owen Tudor. But Henry is in need of people he can trust and he brings his brothers to court and bestows an earldom on them both. Edmund is also given the wardship of the young heiress Margaret Beaufort and Jasper is tasked with keeping the Welsh border safe. When Edmund marries Margaret, Jasper falls for his Welsh niece Jane (Sian) Hywel. But the death of his brother grants him a lifelong task: keeping his young nephew Henry, with a taint of royal blood, safe. And during the Wars of the Roses that proves quite a challenge.

Joanna Hickson guarantees a solid historical novel with respect for the historical facts. She always intertwines a real historical figure with a fictional perspective. In this book we meet Jasper Tudor and his fictional Welsh niece Jane Hywel. I could immediately relate to Jane, as was the case with Mette in her Catherine of Valois books. I was happily surprised to meet Mette and her family again at the beginning of this book.

This book is about the Wars and the Roses as much as any other set in this time period but it was the first time I read about Jasper Tudor’s involvement. Also, we get a fair insight into the Welsh customs and politics at the time, which I didn’t know a lot about beforehand. It’s weird to think of the Tudors as ‘the winning dynasty’ if you look where they started at the beginning of the conflict.

I in particular liked Jasper’s relationship with his brother the king. The Henry IV in this book felt real. Jasper might be a bit too soft represented at times. He’s the perfect brother, lover, friend…. Betrayed at the battlefield a few times. But he also needed to make hard choices, his allegiance with Warwick is a perfect example of that.

I found the representation of Margaret Beaufort interesting. Compared with other books, were she’s portrayed as a bad and too pious woman, she was more balanced and mysterious in First of the Tudors. I’m curious to see how her character will develop as Hickson’s next novel ‘The Tudor Crown’ will feature Margaret and her son Henry as main characters. But luckily Hickson has promised that we will also see more of Jasper, Jane and their daughters.

The ending might come a bit sudden, but I think it was no bad choice to stop at this particular point during the Wars of The Roses. There will be a lot more trouble ahead for Lancaster and Tudor, and I’m looking forward to read about these events in The Tudor crown. Highly recommended!

Dutch review:
Jasper Tudor en zijn broer Edmund zijn halfbroers van koning Henry IV Plantagenet. Die heeft nood aan vertrouwelingen nu de hertog van York zijn beleid in twijfel in trekt. Edmund wordt zo Earl of Richmond en mag trouwen met Margaret Beaufort, de enige erfgenaam van de Beaufort landgoederen. Jasper krijgt de titel van Earl of Pembroke en de opdracht om de grens met Wales, het land van zijn vader Owen, te beschermen. Maar de Rozenoorlogen staan voor de deur en de loyaliteit van Jasper zal zwaar op de proef gesteld worden. Zeker wanneer hij het hoederecht krijgt over zijn neefje Henry Tudor.

Joanna Hickson weet heerlijke historische verhalen te schrijven. Met veel respect voor de echte geschiedenis en feiten, maar ook met veel talent om een mooi verhaal te schrijven. Zo verweeft ze telkens een historisch en fictief perspectief met elkaar.

In First of the Tudors lezen we vanuit Jasper Tudor en zijn fictieve nicht en geliefde Jane (Sian) Hywel. Ik had inmiddellijk een klik met Jane en vond het leuk om wat meer te lezen over de gebruiken in Wales.

Het boek start ook met een leuke reünie met sommige personages uit Hickson's vorige boeken. Ik vind het fijn hoe ze de generaties met elkaar in contact weet te brengen.

Er zijn zoveel boeken over de Rozenoorlogen, maar het perspectief van Jasper dat lees je zelden. Net als over de politieke onrust in Wales. Ik vond dit dus een vernieuwde blik op de gekende feiten. En hoewel wij natuurlijk naar Tudor kijken als het winnende huis, is dat zo goed als zeker een utopie aan het begin van het conflict.

Ik vond Jasper's relatie met zijn halfbroer de koning mooi geschreven. De Henry IV uit dit boek is exact zoals ik me hem voorstel. Ook Margaret Beaufort wordt eens niet neergezet als de feeks en ik ben benieuwd om te lezen hoe ze zal evolueren. Het volgende boek, The Tudor Crown, geeft haar en haar zoon Henry Tudor, de hoofdrol. Maar de schrijfster beloofde dat we ook meer Jasper en Jane krijgen, gelukkig!

Ik heb dit boek gisteren uitgelezen en moet nog steeds terugdenken aan bepaalde delen van het verhaal. Daarom geef ik het 5-sterren. Hickson heeft een meer drogere stijl soms, maar in dit boek kwamen de personages toch wat meer levensecht over.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I’ve been reading yet another Wars of the Roses novel! One of the things I’m enjoying about reading so many books set in the same time period is seeing the variety of ways in which different authors choose to approach the same subject as they search for a new angle and some fresh insights. In First of the Tudors, Joanna Hickson takes us right back to the early days of the conflict and the beginnings, more or less, of the Tudor dynasty to tell the story of Jasper Tudor, uncle of the future Henry VII.

As the sons of Welshman Owen Tudor and Henry V’s widow, Catherine of Valois, Jasper and Edmund Tudor are half-brothers to Henry VI, who is King of England as the novel opens in 1451. Being closely related to royalty but with no real claim to the throne for themselves, Edmund and Jasper are welcomed to court by Henry who rewards them with lands and titles, making Edmund Earl of Richmond and Jasper Earl of Pembroke. Edmund also wins the hand in marriage of Margaret Beaufort, which is seen as a great accomplishment as Margaret, despite being little more than a child, has royal blood and is one of England’s richest heiresses.

When Edmund dies at Carmarthen Castle in 1456, possibly of bubonic plague, he leaves Margaret pregnant with his child. The baby, when it is born, is named Henry and is taken into Jasper’s care (before later being placed in the custody of the Yorkist William Herbert). As the years go by and Henry grows into a man, Jasper is occupied with looking after his estates, trying to keep the peace in Wales and supporting his brother the king as unrest grows and the country heads towards civil war. Based closely on historical fact, we see all of this through Jasper’s eyes, as he narrates his own story in his own words.

But there’s also a fictional story, built around the idea that Jasper had a cousin, Sian (or Jane) Hywel, who became his mistress. There is no historical basis for this, but it is known that Jasper did have illegitimate children, so I have no problem with Joanna Hickson inventing the character of Jane, especially as she makes clear in her author’s note which parts of the novel were factual and which weren’t. However, I felt that too much time was devoted to Jane – she narrates around half of the book – and I would have preferred to concentrate more on Jasper and the other historical figures. This is just my personal opinion, though, and I’m sure other readers will like the domestic scenes and the love story more than I did.

I’ve always found Jasper Tudor intriguing, maybe partly because he tends to be overshadowed in historical fiction by other, more well-known characters. I had been looking forward to seeing him take centre stage for once, but I didn’t really find his portrayal in this novel entirely convincing. I can’t quite explain why, other than to say that his narrative voice was almost identical to Jane’s and that I could never fully believe in him as a 15th century man. I did like the portrayal of Margaret Beaufort, however, which made her seem slightly more endearing than in other fictional portrayals I’ve read! I also enjoyed the focus on Wales, the descriptions of the Welsh castles and the Welsh people who played a part in this fascinating period of history – one secondary character whom I found particularly interesting was the poet Lewys Glyn Cothi.

First of the Tudors ends abruptly, leaving the feeling that there is much more of this story still to come, and the author’s note confirmed what I had already expected: there will be a sequel and Henry Tudor will take more of a central role in that one. If you’ve never read Joanna Hickson before you may also be interested in The Agincourt Bride and The Tudor Bride, which tell the story of Catherine of Valois, or Red Rose, White Rose, the Wars of the Roses from Cicely Neville’s perspective.

[Helen Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy a good historical fiction, especially if it is about a time I am only somewhat familiar with. I have read extensively about the Tudors, primarily Henry VIII and his wives and his children, especially Queen Elizabeth I. I knew there was a War of the Roses but I did not as much about the people involved. I certainly was not familiar with Jasper Tudor and the role he played as King Henry VI's half brother and a loyal member of the House of Lancaster.

This story was told from the point of view of Jasper Tudor and his fictional mistress Jane (Sian) Hywel, a Welsh cousin. Each told their own story of this precarious time and the life they shared together. I especially enjoyed reading about Henry (Harry) Tudor, Jasper Tudor's nephew who later became Henry VII. In this story he is taken from his mother at a very young age to be the ward of Jasper Tudor by order of King Henry VI. Mistress Jane in essence becomes his foster mother and raises him from his early years to his teens in this story.

There are so many interesting historical figures in this story. The style of story telling made this very complicated time in history a lot easier to understand! I certainly look forward to reading the next book in this series! I will also go back and read the previous novels written by Joanna Hickson.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be quite a struggle, which may be obvious by the length of time it took me to read. It struck me as strange because I love this time period and the people that are the focus of such novels, but for whatever reason, I just couldn't get into it and it was very easy to just put the book down and forget about it.
I don't know whether it was because the main character was male, and every novel I've read of this period has been from a female POV - maybe I didn't like all the talk of armour and battles? One thing that did frustrate me with the style of writing, was that important key events were usually relayed through a secondary or sometimes even tertiary character. It lessened the moment's impact greatly.
I can't really quantify exactly why it is that I didn't love this book, but it just wasn't for me. 2.5 stars.

[Helen Hollick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs

"...captures a sense of place, time, intrigue, romance and the lust for power – and the trouble all these things bring – in a very talented written and enjoyable novel."

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at a side of history less well-known to me - the beginning of the House of Tudor. Joanna Hickson has clearly researched her subject very well and it makes a change to read a story woven around one of the lesser-known characters of the time.

[Maartje Volder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, let me start with what I did not like about this book. IT ENDED 20 YEARS TOO SOON!
I wanted it to end at the end of Jasper Tudors life, I expected it would be so until i realised that I was 400 pages in and a whole lot of history was to take place before his nephew would take the throne.
I loved the historically accurate tale, given a hint of romance by Jane her presence. The way the story is told (a common girl and a lord) by two people makes you give a very good view of the world at that time. Loved it from start to finish. The fact that the story starts and ends with Jasper his sister is also a lovely way to close.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently I've been watching a lot of documentary type videos about the Tudors on YouTube, so when I saw this fictionalized account of the beginning of the rise of the Tudor dynasty, I decided to give it a try and I was very happy I did. I enjoyed this fictionalized account of the childhood of Henry VII as told from the points of view of his uncle Jasper and the fictional character, Jane Hywel. It has inspired me to read both more fiction based in this period, as well as a few non-fiction books to get the real story.

[Heidi Malagisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction has always been a genre that I have had a love/hate relationship with. I was a big fan of the genre for a while and I would read every book I could get my hands on about the Tudors, but then I realized that what the authors were writing was not always true to the historical facts. As I moved away from the fictional genre into the historically academic genre, I found myself looking at historical fiction with a more critical lens. Historical fiction became less entertaining for me the more I learned about the people behind the stories. I told myself that I was not going to read another historical fiction book because they were not historically accurate. That was until I read “ First of the Tudors” by Joanna Hickson.

Now when I read the title of this book, my first thought was that it was either going to be about Owen Tudor and how he met Catherine of Valois or Henry Tudor and about how he came to the throne. While both were mentioned in this book, the true hero of “The First of the Tudors” is Jasper Tudor, the son of Owen Tudor and the uncle of Henry Tudor. To me, Jasper Tudor was always the unsung hero of the Tudor dynasty. I mean he kept Henry safe for all those years in exile while his mother Margaret Beaufort was working on a political solution to keep her son safe. He was an outlaw and in a sense a kingmaker.

However, Joanna Hickson decided to add her own twist to the story. In records of the nursery of Henry VIII, Margaret Beaufort brought in a woman named Jane Hywel to take care of the royal children. It would seem very odd that Margaret Beaufort would bring a woman of unknown origins into her son’s household to take care of his children, so how did Margaret know about Jane? In this book, Hickson puts out the idea that Jane was a cousin of Jasper and that he was the one who brought Jane into Margaret’s household to help with the birth of Henry Tudor and to help raise him. Of course being historical fiction, there is an element of romance between Jasper and Jane that stretches throughout the entire first half of the Wars of the Roses (1455-1470).

Even though Jasper Tudor did marry Catherine Woodville in 1485, I found that the idea of Jasper having a wife or at least a mistress before this marriage a possibility. The idea of Jane adds a different level of intrigue to Jasper’s life, one that many might not expect; that while he was in exile and was fighting for his king and his nephew that he fell in love.

Hickson does an excellent job to navigate the intriguing details of Jasper’s life, both real and fictional. I found myself not caring about the historical facts as much with this book. I couldn’t put this book down. Hickson literally transported me into the world of Jasper and Jane with how she wrote this book. There was a lot of drama and romance mixed with historical facts that kept me wanting more. This was a page turner for sure. It made me re-evaluate reading more historical fiction in the future. If you want a good historical fiction book about Jasper Tudor and his role in the Wars of the Roses, I highly recommend “ First of the Tudors” by Joanna Hickson.

[kathleen r. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book. I managed the entire read on my fire tablet, even going so far as to continue reading whilst firmly gripping the slightly loopy charging cord in place.
I love this style of historical fiction. Joanna has seamlessly melded together accurate historical references, biographical tidbits, and well-documented research of her characters, mostly told by the two protagonists, Jane and Jasper. Whether they were actually common-law man and wife is not easily determined but they have a sweetly told story of love in the age of medieval liegeman, domestic upset and the stain of bastardy notwithstanding. For the custom of the times, and because Jane is common-born, marriage and legitimacy are not possible, for Jasper is brother to the somewhat mentally disordered King Henry VI (6) of England. Henry VI, Edmund, and Jasper are the children of Catherine De Valois, the widow of the soldierly Henry V (5), the hero of the battle of Agincourt. As a side note, Sir Kenneth Brannagh stars with his then-real-life-wife, the fabulous Emma Thompson, in a stirring film of the same title, Henry V. (It's a great film, dated about 1989. It's one you will watch again to savor the excitement of William Shakespeare's marvelous play of the same name.)

Given into the custody and care of Jasper is the infant son of Margaret Beaufort, the beautiful child bride of his brother Edmund, who unfortunately is killed before the birth of the child. Margaret also has royal heritage, which gives her infant son Henry, known affectionately as Harri, later known as Henry VII (7) who is the first of the royal line of the Tudor dynasty. Not unbelievably, Margaret gives birth to Henry possibly before her own 14th birthday, imbuing the child with a claim to the English throne. The story deftly takes the characters, most of whom were real-life personages throughout the chaotic final years of the Wars of the Roses, a time period when bloodlines meant everything, but the real way to power was by force and horrific combat.
In telling the story, Jane and Jasper come together as youthful acquaintances but never make any sort of true connection or romantic liaisons for many intervening years. Most of the instances of battles hard-fought and dearly paid for can be researched independently if you have an interest. I confess I did check out a few of the references to solidify my understanding of the dynastic families and their role in English history. I generally find Wiki a great source of instant accreditation.
Ms. Hickson takes the two young people through their everyday lives as history spins out around them. Poor Henry VI (6) passes in and out of his disturbed melancholy battened up by religious fervor and increasing confusion, as his wife, the fiery Marquerite, rules in his stead. The power of the crown is passed from Lancaster to York, despoiled for a time by the vicious hand of Edward of York, who has usurped the crown, the power and, by imprisoning the weak and ailing Henry, he claims the throne of England by brute force until he is finally defeated and flees. There is also the side story of the York family, remembered mostly for the perfidy of Richard III, whose remains have recently been found beneath a modern-day parking lot in Leicester, UK-a sad ending for a strange self-appointed king, known for his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. That is an entirely different story that is pertinent in this tale only for the hint of how the War of the Roses was finally brought to a bloody end, ushering in the Tudor era.
Writing in the first-person voices, Jane and Jasper tell of how through the years they have managed to stave off political, personal, environmental, financial, and familial distress to finally be reunited as dedicated lovers whom fate did not especially treat very well. Jasper is often called to be the guardian of his weak and woeful brother, while Jane is installed in one well-connected family after another, bringing up the young prince Harri and parenting her own (possibly fictional) daughters, working tirelessly to organize, support, feed, clothe and shelter her growing family during incredibly difficult times when the country was always at war, death and disease were everyday threats, and never far away was the threat of losing the custody of the young prince.
I found the storytelling to be delightful. It's fresh and lively, poignant and even a bit lusty, given the social climate and the fierce restrictions on the female social status. Jane and Jasper never quite lose their attraction and love, and overcoming odds that would deter many others, they tell their story with grace and honest assessment of how their patriarchal society has made them almost outlaws according to our modern standards.

Ms. Hickson writes with an easy to follow timeline in mind that gives readers a glimpse into some of the more outrageous behavior, customs, and restrictions for lovers born on different ends of the societal structures. A common-born woman and a royally-related man take on the times with a penchant for having their own ways, no matter what. Aside from all the royal snits and fits, the story is easy to read and I was lost for a day until I reached the conclusion. I am now going to find the next book in what I hope will be a fully-developed series. I very much enjoyed this story, and even though I know how it all comes together from a historical point of view, I want to read how she takes on this period of history in a no-holds-barred recounting of the 13t-century men and women who gave England the beginning of the Tudor reign, in all its glory, guts and glitter. It's well worth my time. Ms. Hickson has a beautiful way of handling this material, making it easy for a 21st-century woman to grasp how simple but still complex life had to have been for everyone. The Tudors gave England the power and longevity of Elizabeth I, later on in history. This is a wonderful beginning.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would much rather give this a 3.5 because although it was dry in some parts, I did enjoy it overall. It was a different perspective on Margaret Beaufort and Jasper Tudor ; one that I haven't yet considered. In previous books I've read, Margaret was enamored with Jasper, in this book it is the exact opposite. I also never considered how close Jasper could have possibly been to Henry VI and that in all actuality, he was probably one of the kings only true, unwavering supporters in a time where almost all nobles swayed back and forth from Lancaster to York.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable account of a familiar period of history from a slightly different perspective.

I also noted with interest how much I prefer a historical novel with family trees and maps etc - the copy I have just read is a proof copy without a family tree, and I did flounder a few times initially (thank goodness for Wikipedia!). It is clear in the proof, however, that the properly published version will have several family trees and maps.

[Kelly Obernuefemann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed her previous books much more. I think the problem with the narrative is the time jumps. There are several key moments, like the death of Edmund, that are just mentioned after the fact and not given a scene in the story. And why doesn't her editor use commas!?

[Tracey- Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting read , I enjoyed that it was from Jasper Tudor's point of view .
2/10 -still a great read . The female characters stood out for me more this time.

[Morgan Dhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joanna Hickson, author of The Agincourt Bride and The Tudor Bride - novels dealing with the life of Catherine Valois, ancestress of the Tudors - continues to follow the early days of the Tudor dynasty with First of the Tudors, a novel featuring Catherine's second son, Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke.

In First of the Tudors, we see the early years of the Wars of the Roses through the eyes of a semi-outsider. Half-brother to Henry VI, son of a former queen of England and commoner and a Welshman, ennobled by his royal brother's wish but holding lands in rebellious Wales, Jasper is a Lancastrian by blood, and during the early years of the wars, fiercely loyal to his brother Henry.

Though it was Catherine's oldest son Edmund, Earl of Richmond, who would marry Margaret Beaufort and father the first Tudor monarch, it was Jasper's lifelong devotion to Margaret that ensured the survival of the young Henry VII and his ultimate rise to the throne. After Edmund's death - an early victim of the political and military maneuvering that preceded the civil war between Lancaster and York - Jasper took charge of Margaret, a pregnant widow only 13 years old. As Margaret was under the age of majority, Jasper was awarded guardianship of the infant Henry, and served as the young boy's protector and advisor for most of his life, despite a long separation during his nephew's youth, when his guardianship was granted elsewhere during the first portion of Edward IV's reign. Though Margaret maintained contact with Henry, and sought to advance his claim once he became, in essence, the last Lancastrian heir, her fate as a wealthy heiress under royal wardship meant that she was a valuable marriage prize, and was never in a position to raise her son herself.

Jasper's initial period of guardianship lasted for five years, from Henry's birth to the beginning of Edward IV's reign in 1461, when he was forced to flee the country, and the young Henry Tudor's guardianship granted to one of Edward's supporters.

Jasper spent the early years of the York reign either in exile, separated from both Margaret and the young Henry, or fighting against the Yorkists whenever he managed to secure financial backing from his royal French cousins. The novel follows his story up to the brief restoration of Henry VI to the throne in 1470.

Interspersed with his story is the fictional story of Sian - Jane in English - a Welsh woman who is Henry's governess for most of his early life, and also Jasper's lover and mother of two illegitimate daughters. (There is some indication - but little actual proof - that Jasper fathered one or more illegitimate children; their mother is usually identified as Myfanwy ferch Dafydd. Myfanwy who appear in the novel, but as the lover of Jasper's father Owen and mother of his youngest child Daffyd - who was real enough, but the name of his actual mother is unknown.)

The intimate details of Jasper's imagined family life, and Jane'e efforts to keep the Tudor children - young Daffyd and her own two daughters - safe through the turmoil of the civil war and the York reign help to flesh out and humanise the events in the young Henry Tudor's life during the period of Jasper's exile. Jane is loyal, brave, loving, resourceful and devoted to a man she can never marry, and is as much the protagonist of this tale as Jasper is.

One assumes a sequels is in the works, which will cover the resumption of power by the Yorks, the long years of exile in Brittany and France for both Jasper and the young Henry, now the last living male Lancashire heir, though with a tentative claim to the throne at best, and the accession of Henry VII to the throne. I'm looking forward to its publication.

[Sherry Sharpnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of the Tudor dynasty for as long as I can remember, and am really surprised that I haven't read any of the novels about the dynasty written by Joanna Hickson. I have owned the book for years, and in the interest of cleaning the stacks of books off my pool table, I finally read it. I was really pleasantly surprised.

Jasper Tudor was one of the half-brothers of King Henry VI, the product of Henry V's queen, Catherine of Valois, and her lover, Owen Tudor, a minor Welsh gentleman retainer of Henry V. Jasper and his elder brother, Edmund, are invited to court by their simple-minded half-brother, Henry, b/c he realizes he needs help at court from those he can trust. Edmund ends up marrying the Lancastrian heiress, Margaret Beaufort while she is still a child, and impregnating her at twelve. Eewwww. Jasper feels very sorry for young Margaret, and keeps as much of an eye on her as he can, and then her young son, Henry, when he is born after a long, agonizing labor. He is a little in love w/ Margaret. The first battles of what becomes known as the Cousins' War (or better known as the Wars of the Roses) occur, and Edmund is murdered by the Tudors' rival in south Wales, Lord Herbert. The new King, Edward IV (Edward of York), awards the wardship of young Henry Tudor to Lord Herbert. Margaret is sent from Wales and married to Sir Henry Stafford. She won't see her son for a very long nine years.

In the meantime, Jasper becomes intimately involved w/ Jane Hywel, a Welsh farmer's daughter, who is therefore not of his class and he cannot marry her w/o the King's permission. They have two daughters together over the years, even though Jasper is mostly on the run as an outlaw, hunted by Edward IV. Jane is kept at Pembroke castle, ostensibly as baby Henry's governess, and is allowed to follow Henry to Raglan Castle when Henry is sent there as Herbert's ward. Her two girls are raised w/ Henry and the Herbert children. Jane accompanies Jasper to London when Henry VI is restored to his throne, and this particular story ends here, w/ Jasper and Jane's oldest child betrothed to a neighbor.

Historically, we know Jasper Tudor had two illegitimate daughters, and we know Jane Hywel was Henry's governess, but we don't know that Jasper and Jane were a pair. This was a plot invention by the author. Otherwise, the book is relatively historically accurate. I enjoyed the novel for what it was -- a novel w/ lots of lovely Welsh words, and didn't expect it to be historical. And... who is the "First Tudor" referred to in the title? I expected the novel to be about young Henry Tudor, but it was actually about his uncle, Jasper, who was the younger of the two Tudor brothers, so he surely isn't the first Tudor...?

[Pamela Mingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of the Tudors is an absorbing read about the early Tudors. Because it is told through dual points-of-view, we get a clearer understanding of the period. Jasper, one of the narrators, is half-brother to the unstable Henry VI and uncle to the future Henry VII. He spends most of the story caught up in the Wars of the Roses. A likable, moral man, he shows unswerving loyalty to his brother and nephew.

The other POV is that of Jane, a Welsh woman with whom Jasper has some family ties. Eventually, the two become lovers. Jane is a commoner, a woman who has always worked hard and continues to do so throughout the story. Just as she had cared for her family as a young maid, she now cares for her two girls with Jasper, plus the young Henry, among others. As the fighting erupts between the Lancastrians (Jasper, Henry VI, etc.) and the Yorkists (Edward IV, etc.), Jane is forced to take refuge with a Yorkist family. She must hide the identity of her children's father, and there's a very compelling scene in which she and her daughters, despite having worked for this family for several years, are thrown out when they find out that Jasper is the true father of Jane's children.

I look forward to reading the next book, The Tudor Crown.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As.a piece of fiction I really enjoyed this book. As a piece of historical fiction it was a little strange. The ending did kind of come out of nowhere and stops just before some of the most interesting (and perhaps most famous) years of Jasper's Life - raising Henry in exile and gradually pushing to take the throne.

We also skip wholesale through Jaspers time in foreign courts with the exception of a few scenes in France. The focus is on his relationship with the entirely fictional Sian and making him a family man in a devoted romantic relationship fundamentally changes the historical figure it is based on. We know Jasper had an illegitimate daughter Helen but there is no evidence he had any real relationship with her as he never acknowledged her or left her anything in his will. We only know because her son was later a prior and used Jaspers heraldry.


The strength of this novel is in its exploration of 15th century Wales. It's characters and settings are vividly imagined - especially the Pembroke Castle. It's just a bit of an odd fish - torn between following historical events and a high stakes drama historical romance novel

[ErinAlise · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of the well known history of the War of the Roses but still manages to provide a refreshing take on the tale.

King Henry VI is the rightful King of England, although thought of as a well intentioned and devout King his rule is threatened. Various rumors spread throughout the land that the king suffers not only from mental illness but also that his Queen has been unfaithful. Thankfully Henry has the loyalty of his half brother Jasper Tudor. The true and honorable Earl of Pembroke who will stop at nothing to ensure that the Lancastrians hold the throne. Along with him is his lover Jane, who narrates her side of the story where she becomes the caretaker of Henry Tudor. Henry is Jasper’s nephew, the son of Margaret Beaufort and the late Edmond Tudor but more importantly he is the boy who will someday become King Henry VII and begin what is titled The Tudor Period.
I enjoyed this very much, the book was well written and the history is engaging. Highly recommend for any Tudor or history lovers!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable book, I quickly went back and found one that I had not read ( The Tudor Bride) and purchased that one right away. I had not read a lot about Jasper Tudor although he does seem to have had two daughters. It is a different way of looking at Margaret Beaufort also- sort of with narrowed eyes.

His life with Jane ( who surely existed in some fashion) was one of legend as was his birth to an anointed queen. His devotion to his nephew Henry VII was also legendary but possibly NOT how much he taught and protected him.

Reading about the intersection and egress between England and Wales was quite fascinating in this book. The clash of cultures helps us to understand this particular period. Recommendef for this reason, as well as explaining how the Tudor kings came to exist.

A 5th book, The Tudor Crown will be published next May and I cannot wait to receive that one.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So often historical fiction is constrained by historical fact, but in this book, written about the somewhat mysterious Jasper Tudor, half-brother to Henry VI and guardian to the future Henry VII during the Wars of the Roses. Not a lot appears to be known about him which gave the author license to turn this story into something wonderful, fascinating and romantic. Although his children are known, it is only speculation as to who the mother was so Hickson invented Jane, a welsh cousin who became the love of his life.

I wish more authors would do this, as I still learned a lot about the period but was immersed in a delightful story which was only based loosely on what is known. Perhaps my only criticism was that I would have liked a note by the author at the end outlining where she had stuck with history and where she had fictionalised it. I did my own research so I did work it out but I would have liked to hear about the author's own decisions.

[Fiona Warburton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The story of the origins of the Tudor line, principally about Jasper Tudor, who became the guardian of his nephew Hari, the son of his late brother Edmund Tudor and Margaret Beaufort, who later became Henry VII after the defeat of Richard III in the battle of Bosworth which brought the end of the Wars of the Roses.

It was a fairly light read, not too many characters to keep track of, but as far as I am a ware from reading Alison Weir, fairly close to the historical facts albeit from the point of view of rural Wales.

There are two narrators, Jasper himself and Jane, his lover who bears him two daughters. It is set early in the Wars of the Roses, and Jasper remains staunchly loyal to the House of Lancaster, meaning he lives long periods in exile away from Jane, who must keep the identity of her daughters' father secret.

I assume it is the first of a series but cannot find details of a second book

[Elisabeth Bibbings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly crafted, this book tells the story of the little-known and not-much-written-about Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke if you are a Lancastrian, half-brother to Henry VI on his mother's side. Jasper is a devoted and loyal follower, and he remains loyal to Henry through Henry's depression/madness/dementia and through all the machinations of the Wars of the Roses. His homely side is told by his mistress and governess of his family's children, Jane Hywel (a fictitious character, though it is known Jasper had two illegitimate children) and shows how terribly these wars split families and towns.
I thought Joanna Hickson was a little too kind to Henry's Queen Margaret, who was known as "the she-wolf of France". There is little to show her terrible temper, though the portrait of King Henry is a kind and sympathetic one. Surely this man should have been a monk or priest rather than a king!
I am looking forward to reading more of Joanna Hickson's Tudor novels.