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Beaufort Chronicles #1
The Beaufort Bride: The Life of Margaret Beaufort, Mother of the Tudor Dynasty
As King Henry VI slips into insanity and the realm of England teeters on the brink of civil war, a child is married to the mad king’s brother. Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, takes his child bride into Wales where she discovers a land of strife and strangers.
At Caldicot Castle and Lamphey Palace Margaret must put aside childhood, acquire the dignity of a Countess and, despite her tender years, produce Richmond with a son and heir.
While Edmund battles to restore the king’s peace, Margaret quietly supports his quest; but it is a quest fraught with danger.
As the friction between York and Lancaster intensifies 14-year-old Margaret, now widowed, turns for protection to her brother-in-law, Jasper Tudor. At his stronghold in Pembroke, two months after her husband’s death, Margaret gives birth to a son whom she names Henry, after her cousin the king.
Margaret is small of stature but her tiny frame conceals a fierce and loyal heart and a determination that will not falter until her son’s destiny as the king of England is secured.
The Beaufort Bride traces Margaret’s early years from her nursery days at Bletsoe Castle to the birth of her only son in 1457 at Pembroke Castle. Her story continues in Book Two: The Beaufort Woman.
At Caldicot Castle and Lamphey Palace Margaret must put aside childhood, acquire the dignity of a Countess and, despite her tender years, produce Richmond with a son and heir.
While Edmund battles to restore the king’s peace, Margaret quietly supports his quest; but it is a quest fraught with danger.
As the friction between York and Lancaster intensifies 14-year-old Margaret, now widowed, turns for protection to her brother-in-law, Jasper Tudor. At his stronghold in Pembroke, two months after her husband’s death, Margaret gives birth to a son whom she names Henry, after her cousin the king.
Margaret is small of stature but her tiny frame conceals a fierce and loyal heart and a determination that will not falter until her son’s destiny as the king of England is secured.
The Beaufort Bride traces Margaret’s early years from her nursery days at Bletsoe Castle to the birth of her only son in 1457 at Pembroke Castle. Her story continues in Book Two: The Beaufort Woman.
187 pages, Paperback
Published October 11, 2019
718 people are currently reading
693 people want to read
About the author
Judith Arnopp
49 books227 followers.A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith holds a BA in English/Creative writing and an MA in Medieval Studies.
She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction based in the Medieval and Tudor period. Her main focus is on the perspective of historical women but she is currently writing a novel from a male perspective, that of Henry VIII himself.
Her novels include:
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Beaufort Bride: Book one of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Beaufort Woman: Book two of The Beaufort Chronicle
The King’s Mother: Book three of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Winchester Goose: at the Court of Henry VIII
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Song of Heledd
The Forest Dwellers
Peaceweaver
Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria, and makes historical garments both for the group and others. She is not professionally trained but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly HA, clothing.
Her non-fiction book, How to Dress Like a Tudor will be published by Pen and Sword in 2023,
You can find her group Tudor Handmaid on Facebook. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram.
Webpage: www.judithmarnopp.com
Author page: author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Blog: http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot....
For more information please visit my website: www.judithmarnopp.com
author.to/juditharnoppbooks
She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction based in the Medieval and Tudor period. Her main focus is on the perspective of historical women but she is currently writing a novel from a male perspective, that of Henry VIII himself.
Her novels include:
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Beaufort Bride: Book one of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Beaufort Woman: Book two of The Beaufort Chronicle
The King’s Mother: Book three of The Beaufort Chronicle
The Winchester Goose: at the Court of Henry VIII
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Song of Heledd
The Forest Dwellers
Peaceweaver
Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria, and makes historical garments both for the group and others. She is not professionally trained but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly HA, clothing.
Her non-fiction book, How to Dress Like a Tudor will be published by Pen and Sword in 2023,
You can find her group Tudor Handmaid on Facebook. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram.
Webpage: www.judithmarnopp.com
Author page: author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Blog: http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot....
For more information please visit my website: www.judithmarnopp.com
author.to/juditharnoppbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
September 27, 2017
*Historic facts not treated as spoilers.*
Margaret Beaufort is known for being the formidable mother of Henry Tudor, but what was she before war and hardship turned her into the cold, angular woman we picture when we think of her? Arnopp does an excellent job of answering that question with this story covering Margaret's earliest years. Though the story ends when Margaret is only thirteen, she has already become a widowed mother with an unknown future lurking before of her.
Young Margaret is a girl we can each sympathize with, whether we understand her feelings of never being as beautiful as her sister or knowing she is not truly loved by her mother. When she is married off at a painfully early age, I cringed at what I knew was coming for her.
Yet, the author also creates an Edmund Tudor we can understand. How can we admire a man who claimed his marriage privileges with his twelve year old wife? Well, just read it. You, too, might surprise yourself by shedding a tear when Edmund meets his tragic end.
Part of the secret is the skillful way Arnopp slowly builds a relationship between Margaret and Edmund. This is so sensitively and realistically done that theirs becomes an unlikely love story. However, the seeds for Margaret's future sternness are also planted. No one goes through what she did without starting to form a crusty shell, and her devotion to her only child is well established.
I look forward to reading the rest of this series and was happy to find it available through Kindle Unlimited.
Margaret Beaufort is known for being the formidable mother of Henry Tudor, but what was she before war and hardship turned her into the cold, angular woman we picture when we think of her? Arnopp does an excellent job of answering that question with this story covering Margaret's earliest years. Though the story ends when Margaret is only thirteen, she has already become a widowed mother with an unknown future lurking before of her.
Young Margaret is a girl we can each sympathize with, whether we understand her feelings of never being as beautiful as her sister or knowing she is not truly loved by her mother. When she is married off at a painfully early age, I cringed at what I knew was coming for her.
Yet, the author also creates an Edmund Tudor we can understand. How can we admire a man who claimed his marriage privileges with his twelve year old wife? Well, just read it. You, too, might surprise yourself by shedding a tear when Edmund meets his tragic end.
Part of the secret is the skillful way Arnopp slowly builds a relationship between Margaret and Edmund. This is so sensitively and realistically done that theirs becomes an unlikely love story. However, the seeds for Margaret's future sternness are also planted. No one goes through what she did without starting to form a crusty shell, and her devotion to her only child is well established.
I look forward to reading the rest of this series and was happy to find it available through Kindle Unlimited.
July 21, 2018
This gets an immediate ding for being too short. I know it’s part of a trilogy but I think it was ended at an odd time. That being said? I will still give it sparkling stars for readability without compromising or sacrificing good historical information for the sake of a better story
I hadn’t read anything by Judith Arnopp and the cover art fell flat for me, but as this is the genre and era I prefer, and, having snuck a peek into the book to be certain it would be to my taste I launched in.
Detailing the years of Margaret Beaufort ‘s marriage AT 12 and her first pregnancy AT 12 it certainly gives us a lot of insight into the woman who would become the mother (and power behind the throne) to Henry VII.
Looking forward to her other work.
I hadn’t read anything by Judith Arnopp and the cover art fell flat for me, but as this is the genre and era I prefer, and, having snuck a peek into the book to be certain it would be to my taste I launched in.
Detailing the years of Margaret Beaufort ‘s marriage AT 12 and her first pregnancy AT 12 it certainly gives us a lot of insight into the woman who would become the mother (and power behind the throne) to Henry VII.
Looking forward to her other work.
October 20, 2020
Popular history has not been kind to Margaret Beaufort. It’s hard to get past that pinched face beneath her horrid steeple-shaped headdress. And stories about Henry VII abound with the overbearing mother who just won’t disappear. It can be difficult to remember that Margaret started out as a helpless young girl who gave birth at age thirteen with nearly fatal consequences. She was lucky to live, but her childbearing years were over. Judith Arnopp has given us a sympathetic introduction to a child bride, bartered for her wealth and pedigree. After all, her father was John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset and her grandfather was the great John of Gaunt himself. Margaret was the sole heiress, which made her quite a catch.
Henry VI’s half-brother Edmund Tudor won the prize, though already he was her second husband (the first was annulled). Off to Wales she went, away from family and everything she knew. Margaret was only twelve and expected her new husband to wait before bedding her, but he had other ideas:
He laughs at my tight lips, and sits up to lean toward me, his forearms resting on his knees, but he does not look at me direct. He swirls the wine in the bottom of his cup and when he speaks, his voice is earnest.
“I am not a brute, my lady. I would things were different, but I cannot change fate. I cannot make you older, and neither can I wait for you to grow up. I must get myself a son.”
My face burns. He should not speak of these things. I duck my head, chin to my chest, and wonder what Mother would have me say.
Margaret did her best and submitted to her husband, and of course the inevitable pregnancy occurred. All might have gone well except for the confusion surrounding events in London. No one knew whose side they were supposed to be on, and while Edmund did his duty in Wales, the Duke of York proved the aggressor. Margaret and all of Wales was caught in the middle. What a time to give birth! This is a very well-rounded story with no obvious villain (I like that) and a protagonist who is appealing but flawed, as a good heroine should be. Thanks to Judith Arnopp, I will be much more open-minded as I follow Margaret into womanhood.
Henry VI’s half-brother Edmund Tudor won the prize, though already he was her second husband (the first was annulled). Off to Wales she went, away from family and everything she knew. Margaret was only twelve and expected her new husband to wait before bedding her, but he had other ideas:
He laughs at my tight lips, and sits up to lean toward me, his forearms resting on his knees, but he does not look at me direct. He swirls the wine in the bottom of his cup and when he speaks, his voice is earnest.
“I am not a brute, my lady. I would things were different, but I cannot change fate. I cannot make you older, and neither can I wait for you to grow up. I must get myself a son.”
My face burns. He should not speak of these things. I duck my head, chin to my chest, and wonder what Mother would have me say.
Margaret did her best and submitted to her husband, and of course the inevitable pregnancy occurred. All might have gone well except for the confusion surrounding events in London. No one knew whose side they were supposed to be on, and while Edmund did his duty in Wales, the Duke of York proved the aggressor. Margaret and all of Wales was caught in the middle. What a time to give birth! This is a very well-rounded story with no obvious villain (I like that) and a protagonist who is appealing but flawed, as a good heroine should be. Thanks to Judith Arnopp, I will be much more open-minded as I follow Margaret into womanhood.
October 20, 2018
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me…”
1 Corinthians 13:11
The bells ring out in celebration, but Lady Margaret can only think of all the things that she is losing. At twelve years old she is no longer a child, but a wife to King Henry’s half-brother — Edmund, Earl of Richmond. Marriage to Edmund has secured Margaret’s future, but Margaret cannot help but fear that their marriage will not be a happy one, for he is formidable and so much older than she is.
Forced to put her childish ways behind her, Margaret is determined to make the most of her position as the Countess of Richmond. However, her husband is eager for an heir. Margaret, despite her young years, has no choice but to obey Edmund in everything. In a strange foreign land, far away from her family, Margaret turns to God for reassurance and comfort.
From the comforting nursery at Bletsoe Castle to the cold and formidable fortress of Jasper Tudor’s stronghold in Pembrokeshire, The Beaufort Bride: The Life of Margaret Beaufort (Beaufort Chronicles #1) by Judith Arnopp is a beautifully presented and wonderfully compelling story of Lady Margaret Beaufort’s early years.
Margaret is portrayed as a conscientious student who has a vivid, if somewhat frightening, imagination. She also has all the makings of a powerful and determined young woman. The stage is set for the story of one woman’s resolve to see her son crowned King.
To write in the first person from the perspective of a young child is notoriously difficult to do well. However, Ms Arnopp has cleverly crafted a character whose innocence and lack of understanding as to why she has to marry when she is still in the nursery, shines from the pages as elegantly as the illumination in the Book of Hours.
Margaret is often painted as a rather cold and God-fearing woman, whose cunning and manipulation made way for her son to take the throne. Yet, in Mrs Arnopp’s portrayal, Margaret is very much an innocent who inspires a great deal of sympathy, but also admiration. My heart went out to her on many occasions, and although there are hints of the God-fearing woman, Margaret was later to become, there was also a tender and vulnerable side to her. Nevertheless, even as a young child, Margaret knows who she is. She is a Lancastrian, and will always be loyal to her House.
Ms Arnopp has kept close to the documented history of the time. If you already know Margaret’s story, then you will find no glaring inaccuracies in this book. What Ms Arnopp has done is breathe fresh life into the world that Margaret lived and the people who shared it with her. The Beaufort Bride: The Life of Margaret Beaufort is a story I would willingly get lost in time and again.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club
1 Corinthians 13:11
The bells ring out in celebration, but Lady Margaret can only think of all the things that she is losing. At twelve years old she is no longer a child, but a wife to King Henry’s half-brother — Edmund, Earl of Richmond. Marriage to Edmund has secured Margaret’s future, but Margaret cannot help but fear that their marriage will not be a happy one, for he is formidable and so much older than she is.
Forced to put her childish ways behind her, Margaret is determined to make the most of her position as the Countess of Richmond. However, her husband is eager for an heir. Margaret, despite her young years, has no choice but to obey Edmund in everything. In a strange foreign land, far away from her family, Margaret turns to God for reassurance and comfort.
From the comforting nursery at Bletsoe Castle to the cold and formidable fortress of Jasper Tudor’s stronghold in Pembrokeshire, The Beaufort Bride: The Life of Margaret Beaufort (Beaufort Chronicles #1) by Judith Arnopp is a beautifully presented and wonderfully compelling story of Lady Margaret Beaufort’s early years.
Margaret is portrayed as a conscientious student who has a vivid, if somewhat frightening, imagination. She also has all the makings of a powerful and determined young woman. The stage is set for the story of one woman’s resolve to see her son crowned King.
To write in the first person from the perspective of a young child is notoriously difficult to do well. However, Ms Arnopp has cleverly crafted a character whose innocence and lack of understanding as to why she has to marry when she is still in the nursery, shines from the pages as elegantly as the illumination in the Book of Hours.
Margaret is often painted as a rather cold and God-fearing woman, whose cunning and manipulation made way for her son to take the throne. Yet, in Mrs Arnopp’s portrayal, Margaret is very much an innocent who inspires a great deal of sympathy, but also admiration. My heart went out to her on many occasions, and although there are hints of the God-fearing woman, Margaret was later to become, there was also a tender and vulnerable side to her. Nevertheless, even as a young child, Margaret knows who she is. She is a Lancastrian, and will always be loyal to her House.
Ms Arnopp has kept close to the documented history of the time. If you already know Margaret’s story, then you will find no glaring inaccuracies in this book. What Ms Arnopp has done is breathe fresh life into the world that Margaret lived and the people who shared it with her. The Beaufort Bride: The Life of Margaret Beaufort is a story I would willingly get lost in time and again.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club
April 28, 2016
Really interesting and well written story about young Margaret Beaufort and her first and second marriages; the first when she was six and quickly annulled, the second to the king's brother, Edmund Tudor. Arnopp develops her characters with realism and depth, and the historical novel depicts their power marriage and the budding relationship between the two.
Margaret is a serious girl who understand her weighty position in regard to the English throne, as well as the responsibly of being a wife. She is married to Henry IV brother in the hope to provide a spare heir should the Kings marriage turn out to be unfruitful. In order to gain her enormous inheritance, Edmund needs an heir, and although Margaret is little more than a child, he goes against conventions of the day and they conceive.
Arnop takes two reluctant lovers and builds a slow romance. While the first part devoted to her youth felt hurried and superficial, she more than made up for it with the latter part. Margaret's arc of growing from child to wife was tender, her relationship with Edmund just as sweet. Edmund's change from taciturn spouse to tenderhearted husband was equally endearing. Then reality intrudes and Margaret must face harsh situations, Edmund's premature death and the brutal birth of her son. Arnop captures the flavor of the times, making historical figures come to life and giving us a rare walk in their shoes. Can't wait for the next one.
Margaret is a serious girl who understand her weighty position in regard to the English throne, as well as the responsibly of being a wife. She is married to Henry IV brother in the hope to provide a spare heir should the Kings marriage turn out to be unfruitful. In order to gain her enormous inheritance, Edmund needs an heir, and although Margaret is little more than a child, he goes against conventions of the day and they conceive.
Arnop takes two reluctant lovers and builds a slow romance. While the first part devoted to her youth felt hurried and superficial, she more than made up for it with the latter part. Margaret's arc of growing from child to wife was tender, her relationship with Edmund just as sweet. Edmund's change from taciturn spouse to tenderhearted husband was equally endearing. Then reality intrudes and Margaret must face harsh situations, Edmund's premature death and the brutal birth of her son. Arnop captures the flavor of the times, making historical figures come to life and giving us a rare walk in their shoes. Can't wait for the next one.
September 29, 2018
Lady Margaret Beaufort, an heiress of the house of Lancaster, was the mother of Henry VII, the first Tudor king of England. She is now generally seen in the popular imagination as an austere scheming woman, politically ruthless and a religious fanatic. Margaret was the daughter and sole heiress of John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset. She was married at the age of twelve in 1455 to 24-year-old Edmund Tudor, half-brother to the king, Henry VI. At this time the civil wars later known as the Wars of the Roses began. Edmund, a supporter of the House of Lancaster, was imprisoned by Yorkist forces the year after their marriage and died of plague, leaving thirteen-year-old Margaret widowed and seven months pregnant.
In The Beaufort Bride, Judith Arnopp imagines Margaret’s life from the age of six ,when she was living with her mother and half-siblings at Bletsoe Castle Bedfordshire, through to the birth of her son, Henry Tudor and the early period of her widowhood. Arnopp skilfully weaves the political history of the period into Margaret’s day to day life and the repercussions that had for her. The novel is also a psychological study which traces the development of a child to a young woman with responsibilities beyond her years, with glimpses too of the woman Margaret will become. Arnopp’s portrait of Lady Margaret Beaufort is plausible and touching. She brings the period to life, vividly imagining the sights, sounds and senses of Margaret’s world. The Beaufort Bride is also a good depiction of the position of women, particularly wealth women, in this period with young women treated as pawns in the power play of men. And while most, like Margaret, did as they were told, they still had the human yearning to have some say in the ordering of their lives. I particularly appreciated the depiction of religion of the period. Religion was a constant presence in the fifteenth century providing the pattern of the days, weeks and seasons and was a strong element in the life of this woman who was noted for her piety.
The story is beautifully written. Told in the first person, Margaret’s voice is consistent and believable. This gives the reader an immediate sense of the limitations of Margaret’s life and her very real fears and hopes. Lady Margaret Beaufort left no writings which tell us of what she thought or felt so there is wide scope for an historical novelist’s imagination. I thoroughly enjoyed this plausible and delicate imagining of Margaret’s life, far better than Philippa Gregory’s bitter caricature inThe Red Queen. The Beaufort Bride is the first in The Beaufort Chronicles trilogy which covers the whole of Margaret’s life. I am not fond of series and rarely read beyond the first book as I find most not compelling enough; however, this is one series I will definitely be reading to the end.
In The Beaufort Bride, Judith Arnopp imagines Margaret’s life from the age of six ,when she was living with her mother and half-siblings at Bletsoe Castle Bedfordshire, through to the birth of her son, Henry Tudor and the early period of her widowhood. Arnopp skilfully weaves the political history of the period into Margaret’s day to day life and the repercussions that had for her. The novel is also a psychological study which traces the development of a child to a young woman with responsibilities beyond her years, with glimpses too of the woman Margaret will become. Arnopp’s portrait of Lady Margaret Beaufort is plausible and touching. She brings the period to life, vividly imagining the sights, sounds and senses of Margaret’s world. The Beaufort Bride is also a good depiction of the position of women, particularly wealth women, in this period with young women treated as pawns in the power play of men. And while most, like Margaret, did as they were told, they still had the human yearning to have some say in the ordering of their lives. I particularly appreciated the depiction of religion of the period. Religion was a constant presence in the fifteenth century providing the pattern of the days, weeks and seasons and was a strong element in the life of this woman who was noted for her piety.
The story is beautifully written. Told in the first person, Margaret’s voice is consistent and believable. This gives the reader an immediate sense of the limitations of Margaret’s life and her very real fears and hopes. Lady Margaret Beaufort left no writings which tell us of what she thought or felt so there is wide scope for an historical novelist’s imagination. I thoroughly enjoyed this plausible and delicate imagining of Margaret’s life, far better than Philippa Gregory’s bitter caricature inThe Red Queen. The Beaufort Bride is the first in The Beaufort Chronicles trilogy which covers the whole of Margaret’s life. I am not fond of series and rarely read beyond the first book as I find most not compelling enough; however, this is one series I will definitely be reading to the end.
December 4, 2019
"As King Henry VI slips into insanity and the realm of England teeters on the brink of civil war, a child is married to the mad king’s brother. Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, takes his child bride into Wales where she discovers a land of strife and strangers."
What an incredibly interesting book about the early life of Margaret Beaufort, a novel of course, as not much is known about her early years. I had to tear myself away from it to do anything else besides read. Now I must wait for the next book in the chronicles to continue with this tale.
To date I had not thought Margaret was very likeable, having had sympathies with her daughter in law Elizabeth, but this representation changed how I perceived her. She did not have much of a childhood, and her twice widowed mother seems to have used her for personal gain.
Apparently she loved her St. John siblings, especially her sisters.. wondering when they got together over the years?? I think she did see her younger brother John Welles when her son was king. Hoping to discover that in the next volume which definitely indicates a huge interest in this complicated family group.
As I read I was struck anew by how very hard life could be for girls and women with nothing to look forward to except an arranged marriage and children. I do hope that the day to day activities of the rest of her life made up for this difficult beginning. She did have her beloved Henry to love although probably mostly from afar.
Definitely recommend this supposed glimpse of Margaret Beaufort's younger years to all who relish these times and this family. Just out so get your copy at once! Extraordinary!
What an incredibly interesting book about the early life of Margaret Beaufort, a novel of course, as not much is known about her early years. I had to tear myself away from it to do anything else besides read. Now I must wait for the next book in the chronicles to continue with this tale.
To date I had not thought Margaret was very likeable, having had sympathies with her daughter in law Elizabeth, but this representation changed how I perceived her. She did not have much of a childhood, and her twice widowed mother seems to have used her for personal gain.
Apparently she loved her St. John siblings, especially her sisters.. wondering when they got together over the years?? I think she did see her younger brother John Welles when her son was king. Hoping to discover that in the next volume which definitely indicates a huge interest in this complicated family group.
As I read I was struck anew by how very hard life could be for girls and women with nothing to look forward to except an arranged marriage and children. I do hope that the day to day activities of the rest of her life made up for this difficult beginning. She did have her beloved Henry to love although probably mostly from afar.
Definitely recommend this supposed glimpse of Margaret Beaufort's younger years to all who relish these times and this family. Just out so get your copy at once! Extraordinary!
May 9, 2019
Excellent, highly recommended. the way Margaret is portrayed fits with what is known about her in history, but is done in such a way that a character who might easily come across as cold and stringent becomes likeable, warm, and endearing. The reserve of her character is shown as a front which masks a deeply emotional being, a person of great sensitivity and intelligence. This book made me think again about Margaret Beaufort. Great work. Beautiful period detail also, and excellent storytelling.
October 6, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’ve had an interest in Margaret for years and there is relatively little known about her so I love historical fiction that gives her a voice. What a life she had.
This book is compelling and kept me interested from the start. The writer knows how to keep you engaged with an easy flow and intriguing character narrative. Although this is a short book, it certainly does not suffer one bit. Definitely recommend to Tudor lovers and historical fiction addicts.
Looking forward to continuing this series.
This book is compelling and kept me interested from the start. The writer knows how to keep you engaged with an easy flow and intriguing character narrative. Although this is a short book, it certainly does not suffer one bit. Definitely recommend to Tudor lovers and historical fiction addicts.
Looking forward to continuing this series.
January 7, 2018
Thought this a very successful contribution to the very full world of fiction handling this group of royally connected characters.
My first book by this author and will continue reading.
Available through Kindle Unlimited subscription
My first book by this author and will continue reading.
Available through Kindle Unlimited subscription
December 5, 2020
The Beaufort Bride was absolutely amazing!! I loved the characters, the plot, and especially the historical aspects!! I look forward to reading MANY more books by this fantastic author!
February 28, 2021
Great historical detail, and it intrigued me enough to move onto the second book right away.
October 15, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this short historical novel. In my previous reading and viewing of historical works, I'd only encountered Margaret Beaufort as an adult woman supporting her son's fight for the throne. In this book we see Margaret's childhood and family and the difficulties of being a child bride.
The narrator, Tessa Peterson is good.
The narrator, Tessa Peterson is good.
August 6, 2022
Gripping and realistic.
It could benefit from a family tree, bibliography and map, but the writing itself is superb and the author expertly captures Margaret's emerging determination and steeliness.
It could benefit from a family tree, bibliography and map, but the writing itself is superb and the author expertly captures Margaret's emerging determination and steeliness.
January 17, 2021
The Beaufort Bride is book 1 in a trilogy about Margaret Beaufort, whose son would become Henry VII. At about 200 pages, Book 1 is short and covers the first part of her life. The book ends in a way that makes you want to pick up book 2 right away, which I did.
February 10, 2017
4.5 stars
How I discovered this book: I'd heard of the author via various historical blogs, and Twitter, and a writer/editor friend told me she was good. Margaret Beaufort is one of my favourite historical characters, so I thought I'd give this a go. Kindle version is £2.99, or free on Kindle Unlimited.
This is a short novel, about Margaret's childhood, her marriage to Edmund Tudor and the birth of her son, Henry (later to become Henry VII). It takes us to the point in her life when she meets Henry Stafford, her second husband. The Kindle version ends at 90%, after which there is a brief history of Margaret's life and the beginning of the next book, The Beaufort Bride.
I enjoyed this book, the style is clear and readable; at first I thought it too simply written, but then realised that, of course, I was reading through the eyes of a twelve year old. The pictures painted of the castles and travels through the countryside of 15th century Wales brought the book to life for me. Not very much detail is known of the subject's early life, but the fiction in this novel is convincingly imagined. Once or twice, in dialogue and actions, I felt that the author had forgotten that her subject was only thirteen, but on the whole I found the book quite absorbing.
When I first became fascinated by Plantagenet history, I thought Margaret Beaufort might be too straight-laced and pious for me to have much interest in her, but as I read more I saw possible hidden depths, and Judith Arnopp has brought these to light well. It occurred to me that perhaps Elizabeth I did not only take her many sterling traits from her parents, Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, but also from her great-grandmother.
I liked that it was short; I prefer to read biographies like this, in shorter sections, rather than embarking upon a daunting, long book. I downloaded this on Kindle Unlimited and will definitely be returning it in exchange for the next instalment.
How I discovered this book: I'd heard of the author via various historical blogs, and Twitter, and a writer/editor friend told me she was good. Margaret Beaufort is one of my favourite historical characters, so I thought I'd give this a go. Kindle version is £2.99, or free on Kindle Unlimited.
This is a short novel, about Margaret's childhood, her marriage to Edmund Tudor and the birth of her son, Henry (later to become Henry VII). It takes us to the point in her life when she meets Henry Stafford, her second husband. The Kindle version ends at 90%, after which there is a brief history of Margaret's life and the beginning of the next book, The Beaufort Bride.
I enjoyed this book, the style is clear and readable; at first I thought it too simply written, but then realised that, of course, I was reading through the eyes of a twelve year old. The pictures painted of the castles and travels through the countryside of 15th century Wales brought the book to life for me. Not very much detail is known of the subject's early life, but the fiction in this novel is convincingly imagined. Once or twice, in dialogue and actions, I felt that the author had forgotten that her subject was only thirteen, but on the whole I found the book quite absorbing.
When I first became fascinated by Plantagenet history, I thought Margaret Beaufort might be too straight-laced and pious for me to have much interest in her, but as I read more I saw possible hidden depths, and Judith Arnopp has brought these to light well. It occurred to me that perhaps Elizabeth I did not only take her many sterling traits from her parents, Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, but also from her great-grandmother.
I liked that it was short; I prefer to read biographies like this, in shorter sections, rather than embarking upon a daunting, long book. I downloaded this on Kindle Unlimited and will definitely be returning it in exchange for the next instalment.
October 7, 2017
A beautiful tale woven by a talented writer with a clear passion for the late medieval and early renaissance period. I have always maintained that a good novel and history book is a like a trip back through time. Margaret Beaufort has become everyone’s go-to-bogeyman as of late. She is either the villain who should be pitied but still condemned or just condemned. Judith Arnopp decides to depart from this narrative and instead give us a woman who was much a victim of circumstance as a product of her times. Her faith, pride, loyalty to her house, and love of her son are what keep her going.
This is not to say that the novel takes the other route and turns her into a martyr. Far from it. She is a woman who is hardened by loss and grief but never loses sight of what matters. Her loyalty for her house remains, but she sheds her idealism in favor of survival, believing that something of the Lancaster pride can remain through her and her offspring.
The story of Margaret Beaufort has not been told enough. It has been popularized as a dark fairy tale -and to some extent it was- but more than a tale of tragedy, it is a tale of endurance and perseverance.
There were some parts where I thought that Margaret was portrayed a little too cold but given what she has lived through, I could see how she could have taken on those aspects.
An entertaining and refreshing read about a young heroine in a place and time that seems almost too surreal to us.
This is not to say that the novel takes the other route and turns her into a martyr. Far from it. She is a woman who is hardened by loss and grief but never loses sight of what matters. Her loyalty for her house remains, but she sheds her idealism in favor of survival, believing that something of the Lancaster pride can remain through her and her offspring.
The story of Margaret Beaufort has not been told enough. It has been popularized as a dark fairy tale -and to some extent it was- but more than a tale of tragedy, it is a tale of endurance and perseverance.
There were some parts where I thought that Margaret was portrayed a little too cold but given what she has lived through, I could see how she could have taken on those aspects.
An entertaining and refreshing read about a young heroine in a place and time that seems almost too surreal to us.
January 30, 2021
Spoilers:
Anyone who knows me knows that I love Margaret Beaufort, and so I'll read any and everything with her name on it.
.
This book is exceptionally readable, and I appreciate how Margaret isn't shown as the villain, the overbearing woman, or a bunch of other nonsense born out of misogyny and writers needing to find Elizabeth of York a villain.
.
But, um, the romanticised idea of a 12 year old being married to a grown man, getting pregnant, and having a baby before she's 13? That was really looked down on then, as well. It was probably a terrible, nightmarish experience for Margaret in real life. Her being in love with him in the book just had gross vibes.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love Margaret Beaufort, and so I'll read any and everything with her name on it.
.
This book is exceptionally readable, and I appreciate how Margaret isn't shown as the villain, the overbearing woman, or a bunch of other nonsense born out of misogyny and writers needing to find Elizabeth of York a villain.
.
But, um, the romanticised idea of a 12 year old being married to a grown man, getting pregnant, and having a baby before she's 13? That was really looked down on then, as well. It was probably a terrible, nightmarish experience for Margaret in real life. Her being in love with him in the book just had gross vibes.
April 27, 2016
Excellent book. Fantastic research, the author managed to create a very authentic personality and has impressive knowledge of the time, the background and the intrinsic politics of the period. Keeps the narrative flowing although in fact not too much is happening....
I read the book during a long flight and was disappointed when it was finished.
really impressed!
I read the book during a long flight and was disappointed when it was finished.
really impressed!
August 15, 2016
I've read several books on the Tudors in the post Henry VIII years, but not much set during the Wars of the Roses. I liked this book about Margaret Beaufort, Henry VIII's grandmother, but was a bit surprised to find it was the first in a series. Well written, good character development. Will read the next!!
June 11, 2017
Really enjoyed this book!
May 19, 2020
A weak king caught in the middle of court drama, each side fighting for the control of the crown and the right to have their opinions heard. England is on the brink of civil war with a young heiress struggling to find where she belongs and to survive. The young heiress is Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry Tudor (the future of Henry VII) and a survivor of the Wars of the Roses. Her story has been told in many different ways, but the story of her early years has rarely been told, until now. Judith Arnopp has decided to tell Margaret’s story from her perspective in her novel, “The Beaufort Bride: Book One of The Beaufort Chronicle”.
Margaret is one of my favorite people from the Wars of the Roses to study. I have read a few biographies about Margaret Beaufort and a few historical fiction novels that feature her as a minor character. However, I have never read a historical fiction series about her before, so this one caught my eye. This was the first book that I have read written by Judith Arnopp and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Arnopp begins her novel with Margaret finding out that her father committed suicide and that she is a wealthy heiress at a young age. She is living with her mother and her step-siblings. It is interesting to see the family interactions because Margaret’s step-siblings are rarely mentioned. To make sure Margaret is taken care of, her mother puts her on the marriage market at a very young age, which was not that unusual during this time. Margaret’s first husband was John de la Pole, a debatable issue that many historians view as merely an engagement and not a marriage, but it was quickly annulled when John’s father was declared a traitor and was massacred on a ship trying to escape England. I enjoyed seeing Margaret and John interacting with one another. They act more like friends than husband and wife, which makes you wonder what it might if they stayed married.
The bulk of this novel revolves around Margaret’s relationship with her second husband, Edmund Tudor, the step-brother of King Henry VI and a man who was twice her age. It is a relationship that we don’t know much about, but Arnopp shows how gradual and loving it might have been. Although Margaret was not thrilled with the arrangement at first, she did being to develop feelings for her new husband. It was during this time that Margaret finds her inner strength and she becomes pregnant with her only child, a son. Life, unfortunately, takes a turn for the worse for Margaret when Edmund tragically dies and she must face an excruciating labor experience to bring Henry into the world two months later. Margaret’s trauma during Henry’s birth means that she could never have any more children, making Henry the most precious person in her life.
I loved this novel. I honestly could not stop reading it. Arnopp makes Margaret’s early life so believable and heartbreaking. I love Margaret even more after reading this novel and I cannot wait to read the rest of this series. If you want a marvelous novel about Margaret Beaufort’s early life, I highly recommend you read, “The Beaufort Bride: Book One of The Beaufort Chronicle” by Judith Arnopp.
Margaret is one of my favorite people from the Wars of the Roses to study. I have read a few biographies about Margaret Beaufort and a few historical fiction novels that feature her as a minor character. However, I have never read a historical fiction series about her before, so this one caught my eye. This was the first book that I have read written by Judith Arnopp and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Arnopp begins her novel with Margaret finding out that her father committed suicide and that she is a wealthy heiress at a young age. She is living with her mother and her step-siblings. It is interesting to see the family interactions because Margaret’s step-siblings are rarely mentioned. To make sure Margaret is taken care of, her mother puts her on the marriage market at a very young age, which was not that unusual during this time. Margaret’s first husband was John de la Pole, a debatable issue that many historians view as merely an engagement and not a marriage, but it was quickly annulled when John’s father was declared a traitor and was massacred on a ship trying to escape England. I enjoyed seeing Margaret and John interacting with one another. They act more like friends than husband and wife, which makes you wonder what it might if they stayed married.
The bulk of this novel revolves around Margaret’s relationship with her second husband, Edmund Tudor, the step-brother of King Henry VI and a man who was twice her age. It is a relationship that we don’t know much about, but Arnopp shows how gradual and loving it might have been. Although Margaret was not thrilled with the arrangement at first, she did being to develop feelings for her new husband. It was during this time that Margaret finds her inner strength and she becomes pregnant with her only child, a son. Life, unfortunately, takes a turn for the worse for Margaret when Edmund tragically dies and she must face an excruciating labor experience to bring Henry into the world two months later. Margaret’s trauma during Henry’s birth means that she could never have any more children, making Henry the most precious person in her life.
I loved this novel. I honestly could not stop reading it. Arnopp makes Margaret’s early life so believable and heartbreaking. I love Margaret even more after reading this novel and I cannot wait to read the rest of this series. If you want a marvelous novel about Margaret Beaufort’s early life, I highly recommend you read, “The Beaufort Bride: Book One of The Beaufort Chronicle” by Judith Arnopp.
February 25, 2019
BLURB
As King Henry VI slips into insanity and the realm of England teeters on the brink of civil war, a child is married to the mad king’s brother. Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, takes his child bride into Wales where she discovers a land of strife and strangers.
At Caldicot Castle and Lamphey Palace Margaret must put aside childhood, acquire the dignity of a Countess and, despite her tender years, produce Richmond with a son and heir.
While Edmund battles to restore the king’s peace, Margaret quietly supports his quest; but it is a quest fraught with danger.
As the friction between York and Lancaster intensifies 14-year-old Margaret, now widowed, turns for protection to her brother-in-law, Jasper Tudor. At his stronghold in Pembroke, two months after her husband’s death, Margaret gives birth to a son whom she names Henry, after her cousin the king.
Margaret is small of stature but her tiny frame conceals a fierce and loyal heart and a determination that will not falter until her son’s destiny as the king of England is secured.
The Beaufort Bride traces Margaret’s early years from her nursery days at Bletsoe Castle to the birth of her only son in 1457 at Pembroke Castle. Her story continues in Book Two: The Beaufort Woman.
REVIEW
Growing up in America, my education did not include learning too much about British kings, the exception being George III, and perhaps Alfred. The Tudors were not common fare for our history books notwithstanding Henry VIII and his six wives, a failing that I have remedied the last few years through historical-fiction novels (and the subsequent research those tales inspire.) The story of Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, is poignantly told in The Beaufort Bride. She lived in an age when girls of the noble classes were often deprived of any control over their lives, subjected to an unknown future with a husband they may have never met. The author does a superb job rendering that fear, that uncertainty, that determination to survive in the character of a 13 year old girl, a pawn in the game of courtly politics. In an easy flowing narrative, we follow the life of Margaret as she comes to grips with her lot in life and the circumstances that place her and her child in the dangerous world of royal succession. I was captivated by this seemingly powerless, and fragile child as she struggled and succeeded to make the best of her situation, and the despair she felt when that situation was shattered.
I enjoy the heck out of books that keep me turning the pages long after the time I've allotted for reading, and this is one of those. Looking forward to continuing Margaret's story. 4 stars
As King Henry VI slips into insanity and the realm of England teeters on the brink of civil war, a child is married to the mad king’s brother. Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, takes his child bride into Wales where she discovers a land of strife and strangers.
At Caldicot Castle and Lamphey Palace Margaret must put aside childhood, acquire the dignity of a Countess and, despite her tender years, produce Richmond with a son and heir.
While Edmund battles to restore the king’s peace, Margaret quietly supports his quest; but it is a quest fraught with danger.
As the friction between York and Lancaster intensifies 14-year-old Margaret, now widowed, turns for protection to her brother-in-law, Jasper Tudor. At his stronghold in Pembroke, two months after her husband’s death, Margaret gives birth to a son whom she names Henry, after her cousin the king.
Margaret is small of stature but her tiny frame conceals a fierce and loyal heart and a determination that will not falter until her son’s destiny as the king of England is secured.
The Beaufort Bride traces Margaret’s early years from her nursery days at Bletsoe Castle to the birth of her only son in 1457 at Pembroke Castle. Her story continues in Book Two: The Beaufort Woman.
REVIEW
Growing up in America, my education did not include learning too much about British kings, the exception being George III, and perhaps Alfred. The Tudors were not common fare for our history books notwithstanding Henry VIII and his six wives, a failing that I have remedied the last few years through historical-fiction novels (and the subsequent research those tales inspire.) The story of Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, is poignantly told in The Beaufort Bride. She lived in an age when girls of the noble classes were often deprived of any control over their lives, subjected to an unknown future with a husband they may have never met. The author does a superb job rendering that fear, that uncertainty, that determination to survive in the character of a 13 year old girl, a pawn in the game of courtly politics. In an easy flowing narrative, we follow the life of Margaret as she comes to grips with her lot in life and the circumstances that place her and her child in the dangerous world of royal succession. I was captivated by this seemingly powerless, and fragile child as she struggled and succeeded to make the best of her situation, and the despair she felt when that situation was shattered.
I enjoy the heck out of books that keep me turning the pages long after the time I've allotted for reading, and this is one of those. Looking forward to continuing Margaret's story. 4 stars
April 28, 2020
What a wonderful read! Judith Arnopp tells the story of Lady Margaret Beaufort (great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt and Catherine Swynford) who is the mother of the first Tudor king, Henry. In Book One of a series, ‘The Beaufort Chronicles’, Arnopp describes events through the eyes of a fifteenth century child. It is beautifully written, with great attention to detail, and from the moment we meet six-year-old Margaret, being bullied by her unkind half-brother, Oliver, terrifying her by talk of an impending marriage, we are captivated. Arnopp’s Margaret is a tender sensitive child who is forced to understand from a very early age that being an extremely wealthy heiress effectively robs of her of any chance of an innocent childhood. She is indeed a poor little rich girl. Arnopp’s portrayal is so gripping that we feel compassion for Margaret at every step of her perilous journey.
Betrothed by her greedy, controlling mother, Margaret, to first one man and then the next, it is with a kind of depressing inevitability that we find a frightened Margaret, at twelve, extremely small for her age, in the marital bed with twenty-five-year-old Edmund Tudor. He desperately needs a son and heir…and soon. Arnopp describes the dilemma of a child bride with great poignancy, highlighting the fear and confusion. At one point, a nervous Margaret whispers to Edmund that her mother promised her that she wouldn’t have to fulfil any wifely duties until she was of age. In a moment of searing honesty, and a crushing blow for Margaret (and the reader), her new husband replies:
“She lied.”
It is to Arnopp’s great credit as a writer that her Margaret grows before our very eyes, not just her blossoming body in a pregnancy that has come far too early for her undeveloped body, but in herself. We see her developing skills as the mistress of the house and, in a very upbeat twist, there is a burgeoning relationship between herself and Edmund. By the last page, we have more than a glimpse of the woman that Margaret will become. Of course, it leaves you wanting to know what happens next. Luckily, there are two further books: ‘The Beaufort Woman’ and ‘The King’s Mother’. I can’t wait!
Betrothed by her greedy, controlling mother, Margaret, to first one man and then the next, it is with a kind of depressing inevitability that we find a frightened Margaret, at twelve, extremely small for her age, in the marital bed with twenty-five-year-old Edmund Tudor. He desperately needs a son and heir…and soon. Arnopp describes the dilemma of a child bride with great poignancy, highlighting the fear and confusion. At one point, a nervous Margaret whispers to Edmund that her mother promised her that she wouldn’t have to fulfil any wifely duties until she was of age. In a moment of searing honesty, and a crushing blow for Margaret (and the reader), her new husband replies:
“She lied.”
It is to Arnopp’s great credit as a writer that her Margaret grows before our very eyes, not just her blossoming body in a pregnancy that has come far too early for her undeveloped body, but in herself. We see her developing skills as the mistress of the house and, in a very upbeat twist, there is a burgeoning relationship between herself and Edmund. By the last page, we have more than a glimpse of the woman that Margaret will become. Of course, it leaves you wanting to know what happens next. Luckily, there are two further books: ‘The Beaufort Woman’ and ‘The King’s Mother’. I can’t wait!
June 25, 2019
Most people have an idea of who Henry VII was and that he was the first Tudor monarch and founded the Tudor dynasty. Lady Margaret Beaufort was Henry Tudors mother.
This book delves in to the life of Margaret Beaufort.
This installment begins in 1449 with Margaret as a 7 year old girl at Bletsoe. The young Margaret learns her father the Duke of Somerset had been deemed a traitor before he killed himself. Margaret is made a ward of the Duke of Suffolk leaving her hand in marriage to be a choice determined by him.
The Duke of Suffolk has chosen his son John de la Pole to be her husband and they are married.
Before Margaret is old enough for the marriage to be consummated it is annulled and Margaret finds herself as a bargaining chip on the marriage market.
The book follows her second marriage to Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, her move to Wales and the birth of her son. Margaret suffers some horrific periods of her life during this time including the death of Edmund Tudor.
The first instalment in this trilogy ends with Margaret meeting Sir Henry (Harry) Stafford. Will she marry him? Where will her loyalties lie in the battles between York and Lancaster? As a Lancaster will Margaret accept a Yorkist King to protect herself and her son?
Judith Arnopp gives insight in to a truly fascinating time period. The descriptions of the people are so good you can see them in your mind. She paints a vivid picture of the trauma and effects of the war of the roses.
I really enjoyed this book and am already on to the next instalment!
This book delves in to the life of Margaret Beaufort.
This installment begins in 1449 with Margaret as a 7 year old girl at Bletsoe. The young Margaret learns her father the Duke of Somerset had been deemed a traitor before he killed himself. Margaret is made a ward of the Duke of Suffolk leaving her hand in marriage to be a choice determined by him.
The Duke of Suffolk has chosen his son John de la Pole to be her husband and they are married.
Before Margaret is old enough for the marriage to be consummated it is annulled and Margaret finds herself as a bargaining chip on the marriage market.
The book follows her second marriage to Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, her move to Wales and the birth of her son. Margaret suffers some horrific periods of her life during this time including the death of Edmund Tudor.
The first instalment in this trilogy ends with Margaret meeting Sir Henry (Harry) Stafford. Will she marry him? Where will her loyalties lie in the battles between York and Lancaster? As a Lancaster will Margaret accept a Yorkist King to protect herself and her son?
Judith Arnopp gives insight in to a truly fascinating time period. The descriptions of the people are so good you can see them in your mind. She paints a vivid picture of the trauma and effects of the war of the roses.
I really enjoyed this book and am already on to the next instalment!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2023
I first read this several years ago and am not sure why I came back, other than it seemed like a good idea at the time. I guess I didn't have anything to say about this book the last time, but I believe it was the second book where I discovered that there were two different Margaret Beauforts who lived about the same time and the author got confused. (That was a head-twist!)
The only thing I've noticed so far is that in the wedding chapter, it first says Margaret caught her hair up in a hood, and then it says her hair was left down in token of her innocence. (Or maybe I conflated it with the morning before...I have a short memory.) Either way, it always confuses me when I read about so-and-so wearing a hood, despite being unmarried. The way I've understood it is that women left their hair uncovered as a sign that they were neither married nor betrothed, and then they'd cover it on their wedding day because it was only for their husbands to see thereafter. (The exception being queens, who would wear their hair down at their coronation.) While Margaret probably could've covered her hair on her wedding day and then taken it down for the ceremony, it just seems super weird.
=28 Jun=
When Myfanwy leaves for Monmouth, Margaret notes that it's too far away for weekly visits.
Except Monmouth and Caldicot are about nineteen miles apart, which would've been a day's ride—not a distance that would've been considered very long back then. Even if Edmund didn't want to let them visit weekly (imagining that he didn't allow Margaret to make Myfanwy a maid of honor), they still probably could've seen each other once or twice a month.
After Myfanwy's return, Margaret buys a bunch of clothes and shoes. She says she has the latter made with heels so she won't seem so short, but Caterina dei Medici is credited with inventing high heels some two hundred years later after joining the French court.
The only thing I've noticed so far is that in the wedding chapter, it first says Margaret caught her hair up in a hood, and then it says her hair was left down in token of her innocence. (Or maybe I conflated it with the morning before...I have a short memory.) Either way, it always confuses me when I read about so-and-so wearing a hood, despite being unmarried. The way I've understood it is that women left their hair uncovered as a sign that they were neither married nor betrothed, and then they'd cover it on their wedding day because it was only for their husbands to see thereafter. (The exception being queens, who would wear their hair down at their coronation.) While Margaret probably could've covered her hair on her wedding day and then taken it down for the ceremony, it just seems super weird.
=28 Jun=
When Myfanwy leaves for Monmouth, Margaret notes that it's too far away for weekly visits.
Except Monmouth and Caldicot are about nineteen miles apart, which would've been a day's ride—not a distance that would've been considered very long back then. Even if Edmund didn't want to let them visit weekly (imagining that he didn't allow Margaret to make Myfanwy a maid of honor), they still probably could've seen each other once or twice a month.
After Myfanwy's return, Margaret buys a bunch of clothes and shoes. She says she has the latter made with heels so she won't seem so short, but Caterina dei Medici is credited with inventing high heels some two hundred years later after joining the French court.
October 29, 2022
A well-written novel about the early years of Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of the first Tudor King, Henry VII. She’s often portrayed as a stern-faced, over-bearing, religiously-fanatical mother who is obsessed with putting her son on the throne because she believes that God wills it. But this novel really brings to life her younger years. I had no idea that she was only 12 years old when she was married off to Edmund Tudor, who was twice her age. Though it’s historical fiction, it did a good job keeping with actual facts and events, and Margaret’s limited knowledge of what was going on around her. I can only imagine what it truly must have been like for such a young girl to suddenly need to play the role of a countess, lacking both life experience and maturity, and, even more frightening, to have to bear a son at such a young age. This is the first book in the trilogy, and I’m excited to read the next one! As I said, she’s usually portrayed in such a negative light, that it’s good to see her as more human, her emotions more rounded out, how she may have been feeling or thinking. It breathes life into a woman who actually existed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2018
I actually listened to the audiobook but it was wonderful! I know a lot about Tudor history but the matriarch of the first Tudor is a mystery to me. I was immediately taken with the story of a young girl who is married off at the age of 12 to a much older man who gets her pregnant and makes her a widow by 13. Poor Margaret was not a major player in her own life but it seems as if she may have become one once she had her child. I was devastated at her fear and pain and grief. I felt like I knew her. She was so incredibly young but people turned a blind eye to such things when it meant an advantageous marriage. My only criticism is the narrator to the audiobook. Her voice was soothing and she was perfectly capable of doing various voices but she didn’t pause long enough and I found myself having to go back to get a feel for that part of the story. I am looking forward to reading more about Margaret and more by Judith Arnopp!
March 8, 2022
As many of you will know this book was recommended to me by Jamie over on The Whispering Bookworm, and I was really looking forward to reading it. Judith Arnopp has certainly written a compelling read, although be warned, some of the scenes are very upsetting.
The story is about Margaret Beaufort, who is so often portrayed as a power-grabbing madam, who has the soul as dark as any black hole, but who hides under a thin veil of Christianity. In this story, we are introduced to Margaret the child - the child bride. A child who is taken away from everything she knows and almost dies in childbirth as her husband was too impatient to wait for her to grow up. I thought this novel portrayed Margaret in a very human way, she suffers terribly and endures with a quiet sense of dignity.
I really did enjoy this novel, much more than I did The Red Queen. It is certainly a book that has captured the era superbly.
The story is about Margaret Beaufort, who is so often portrayed as a power-grabbing madam, who has the soul as dark as any black hole, but who hides under a thin veil of Christianity. In this story, we are introduced to Margaret the child - the child bride. A child who is taken away from everything she knows and almost dies in childbirth as her husband was too impatient to wait for her to grow up. I thought this novel portrayed Margaret in a very human way, she suffers terribly and endures with a quiet sense of dignity.
I really did enjoy this novel, much more than I did The Red Queen. It is certainly a book that has captured the era superbly.
Read
February 28, 2020I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which imagines what Margaret Beaufort might have been like, based on the scant descrptions and facts of her life we have from history. It's fiction, but solidly grounded in history. I enjoyed the author's version of Margaret and of her life.
This story and its sequel ("The Beaufort Woman") brought the War of the Roses alive in a very real way, though I was often nipping off to look up one or another of the players (I hesitate to call them "characters" because they were all real historical figures).
Very good read, indeed. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the War of the Roses, but also if you're interested in Margaret Beaufort. Just keep in mind that it is a fictional take on her and her life. Still, it does line up very well with the known facts of her life, nature, and character.
This story and its sequel ("The Beaufort Woman") brought the War of the Roses alive in a very real way, though I was often nipping off to look up one or another of the players (I hesitate to call them "characters" because they were all real historical figures).
Very good read, indeed. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the War of the Roses, but also if you're interested in Margaret Beaufort. Just keep in mind that it is a fictional take on her and her life. Still, it does line up very well with the known facts of her life, nature, and character.
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