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Wars of the Roses Quartet #2
White Rose, Dark Summer
Dublin, Ireland, 1449
Sent to virtual exile in Ireland, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York and his beautiful Duchess, Cecily Neville, remain loyal to their pious Lancastrian King Henry VI. Yet it is Henry’s Queen, the passionate Margaret of Anjou, who makes an enemy of the House of York, stirring the animosity into an explosive York vs Lancaster.
In this much-anticipated sequel to The Rose in Spring, Cecily Neville – matriarch of the House of York – remains at the heart of the conflict, as she fights to protect her children and for her family’s rightful England’s throne…
Sent to virtual exile in Ireland, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York and his beautiful Duchess, Cecily Neville, remain loyal to their pious Lancastrian King Henry VI. Yet it is Henry’s Queen, the passionate Margaret of Anjou, who makes an enemy of the House of York, stirring the animosity into an explosive York vs Lancaster.
In this much-anticipated sequel to The Rose in Spring, Cecily Neville – matriarch of the House of York – remains at the heart of the conflict, as she fights to protect her children and for her family’s rightful England’s throne…
268 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
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107 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Fairburn
19 books7 followersAKA Catherine Carfax and Emma Gayle.
'Eleanor Fairburn was born in the west of Ireland. She was educated at St Louis Convent and studied Art in Dublin. After a period of time spent near the Welsh Marches, reading Welsh literature and meeting Welsh people, she settled in Yorkshire, where she lives with her husband, Brian, and her daughter, Anne.'
'Eleanor Fairburn was born in the west of Ireland. She was educated at St Louis Convent and studied Art in Dublin. After a period of time spent near the Welsh Marches, reading Welsh literature and meeting Welsh people, she settled in Yorkshire, where she lives with her husband, Brian, and her daughter, Anne.'
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June 9, 2022
White Rose, Dark Summer – 50th Anniversary Edition
Book 2 in the Roses Quartet
By Eleanor Fairburn
Reviewed June 8, 2022
This is my third reading of this second book in Eleanor Fairburn’s Roses Quartet. The first time I read it was back in the early 1970s. I’d picked up the book in paperback at a local drug store and still have that copy to this day. Yeah, I guess I liked it that much! The second time I read it was ten years ago, back in 2012. I know this because I wrote some notes comparing this book to Queen By Right by Anne Easter Smith as both books are fictional accounts of Cecily Neville. Now I’m reading it for a third time. Thanks to the reissuing of all four books in Ms. Fairburn’s series, I am now re-reading all of them in order.
Each time I’ve read these books, I’ve had more understanding of the historical background of the characters and their times. This has, in turn, helped me to have a better appreciation of the author’s books.
This second book covers the year 1449-1461. Again, Cecily Neville, wife of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, is the main character. Whereas in book one, The Rose in Spring, we had a youthful Cecily, looking forward to marriage and taking her place among the high ranking ladies of the land, in book two Cecily is more mature and beginning to understand the darker forces that are operating against her husband.
Richard has grown into a more than capable leader of men, whether in times of war against the French, or back home when called upon to help govern the land ruled by a weak and ineffectual king. His ideas of reform put him in direct conflict with Queen Margaret’s favorites, the Beauforts. The fact that Richard is the highest ranking royal duke, next in line to the throne should the king fail to produce an heir, creates conflicts between York and the queen, who rules her weak-willed husband. Though Richard has never been anything but loyal to the king, he is constantly being shunted aside and for a while sent into exile in Ireland. Yet when the king suffers multiple breakdowns, it is Richard that Parliament names Lord Protector, much to Queen Margaret’s fury.
Meanwhile, Cecily refuses to be a stay at home wife. Wherever Richard goes, she goes, even if she is heavily pregnant, because for Cecily her husband will always come first, even before her children. She is there at her husband’s side during the good times as well as the bad. She is able to offer advice, and be a sounding board when Richard needs to vent. And as the enmity between the queen and her husband grows, she sees the effect it is having on him. Once an idealistic young man who only ever wanted to prove his loyalty, the queen’s constant scheming drives Richard to the point where he sees only one option left to him – to take up arms against his king.
White Rose, Dark Summer picks up shortly after the Yorks’ return from exile in Ireland, through the machinations of the different factions supporting either York and Lancaster and the beginnings of the Wars of the Roses. From there, we follow the ups and downs of the family’s fortunes, and finally end with the bloody battles of Wakefield, where Richard and their second eldest son Edmund are slain, and Towton, in which Richard’s eldest son Edward crushes the Lancastrian forces and claims the crown that should have been his father’s.
These books are by their nature pro-Yorkist in their view of the Wars of the Roses, but in spite of that are very well researched and provide an excellent overview of events from a very personal, feminine point of view.
Book 2 in the Roses Quartet
By Eleanor Fairburn
Reviewed June 8, 2022
This is my third reading of this second book in Eleanor Fairburn’s Roses Quartet. The first time I read it was back in the early 1970s. I’d picked up the book in paperback at a local drug store and still have that copy to this day. Yeah, I guess I liked it that much! The second time I read it was ten years ago, back in 2012. I know this because I wrote some notes comparing this book to Queen By Right by Anne Easter Smith as both books are fictional accounts of Cecily Neville. Now I’m reading it for a third time. Thanks to the reissuing of all four books in Ms. Fairburn’s series, I am now re-reading all of them in order.
Each time I’ve read these books, I’ve had more understanding of the historical background of the characters and their times. This has, in turn, helped me to have a better appreciation of the author’s books.
This second book covers the year 1449-1461. Again, Cecily Neville, wife of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, is the main character. Whereas in book one, The Rose in Spring, we had a youthful Cecily, looking forward to marriage and taking her place among the high ranking ladies of the land, in book two Cecily is more mature and beginning to understand the darker forces that are operating against her husband.
Richard has grown into a more than capable leader of men, whether in times of war against the French, or back home when called upon to help govern the land ruled by a weak and ineffectual king. His ideas of reform put him in direct conflict with Queen Margaret’s favorites, the Beauforts. The fact that Richard is the highest ranking royal duke, next in line to the throne should the king fail to produce an heir, creates conflicts between York and the queen, who rules her weak-willed husband. Though Richard has never been anything but loyal to the king, he is constantly being shunted aside and for a while sent into exile in Ireland. Yet when the king suffers multiple breakdowns, it is Richard that Parliament names Lord Protector, much to Queen Margaret’s fury.
Meanwhile, Cecily refuses to be a stay at home wife. Wherever Richard goes, she goes, even if she is heavily pregnant, because for Cecily her husband will always come first, even before her children. She is there at her husband’s side during the good times as well as the bad. She is able to offer advice, and be a sounding board when Richard needs to vent. And as the enmity between the queen and her husband grows, she sees the effect it is having on him. Once an idealistic young man who only ever wanted to prove his loyalty, the queen’s constant scheming drives Richard to the point where he sees only one option left to him – to take up arms against his king.
White Rose, Dark Summer picks up shortly after the Yorks’ return from exile in Ireland, through the machinations of the different factions supporting either York and Lancaster and the beginnings of the Wars of the Roses. From there, we follow the ups and downs of the family’s fortunes, and finally end with the bloody battles of Wakefield, where Richard and their second eldest son Edmund are slain, and Towton, in which Richard’s eldest son Edward crushes the Lancastrian forces and claims the crown that should have been his father’s.
These books are by their nature pro-Yorkist in their view of the Wars of the Roses, but in spite of that are very well researched and provide an excellent overview of events from a very personal, feminine point of view.
April 19, 2023
This second book picks up the story from where it was left. Richard of York and Cecily are going to Ireland, where the Duke is able to show his good qualities in governing a troubled land. Then back in England the fight for power resumes worse than ever, and the Duke is obliged to take drastic steps in order to ensure the survival of his family.
The writing is stunning as the previous book, but I liked this one less. I didn't understand some plot choices and some charachterizations, mostly females. Too much forebonding, too much events spoiled in advance. I had already wrinkled my nose in the first book at the anticipation of the Blaybourne rumor (which in reality started when Edward was already King) and at the credence lent to it, as well as jacquetta Woodville openly practising witchcraft, but then I thought the quality of the book, of the plot and writing, overcame these flaws. Here, not so much.
I didn't understand why, at a certain point, Margaret and even Elizabeth of York (who was already married at this stage, and living with her husband, indeed it was with him that she returned at Baynard in October '60 for the family reunion) are not included in the narration anymore, and sent somewhere North, wandering with their nanny. I hated the depiction of Margaret, whose only notewhorty trait is that she's a kind of nymphomaniac. There's much more to Margaret of York, future Duchess of Burgundy, a learned, intelligent, pious and skilled woman, who ever displayed more inclination for intellectual than flesh activities. If the author thinks with that to give credit in the next book to the rumor spread by Louis of France that Margaret had a son out of wedlock I will throw the book against the wall.
I found ridiculous and unnecessary Cecily's escape from Penshurst and her bounding alone for London with two children. Why on Earth? They were freed after the Yorkists' return, and Edward lent Sir John Falstoff's house for his mother and siblings, not Cecily doing all alone, wandering the streets of London, asking random help. And of course who gives her help? "Jane" Shore's father in law, an example of what I call inserting charachters only because they will become important later for the plot.
In general I found this all over the book, forcing charachters before they become really important, as for Elizabeth Woodville - who Edward even dreams for a lifetime before actually meeting her! - or Eleanor Talbot, whose entire plot is spoiled ridiculously in the latest part of the book. Eleanor Talbot having a son, besides, when the fact that Edward chose to make public the Woodville marriage rather than the Talbot one, was likely the great fertility of the first opposed to the barrennes of the latter. The author chooses to present us also with the invented Elizabeth Lucy a couple of pages later, because wll yes, why not. So in an handful of pages we have all the real and alleged women in Edward's life. Anticipating, again anticipating... like Cecily informing us on the very day of Edward's coronation that Warwick wants to govern and won't stay loyal for long. Why don't allow the plot to unravel, and the facts show themselves rather than be served like this to the reader? Especially because there's no cause to presume what Cecily can presume magically...
The female charachters are the ones who suffered most; besides Margaret, all of Cecily's daughter are either overlooked, or treated rather harshly, even by their mother. I was particularly appalled by poor Anne of York, with Cecily who has simpathy for his hideous son in law and despises his daughter who makes him suffer. The Anne leaves him and seeks an annullment years before it actually happened in History and even marrying Thomas St.Leger when she's still married with Exeter (how could this happen is still obscure to me); I guess that, once again, the author wanted to anticipate events so not to have to deal with them later and just sweep them out of her way.
As much as I liked the first book I was disappointed with this one, but I can't deny the beautiful writing and I liked very much the first part in Ireland, so it can't be less than 3 stars.
Ah and Cecily henceforth to be known as Her Highness the Princess of York. No need to say this title and style has no sense whatsoever, and Cecily was rather Her Grace the King's Mother of Queen by Right, or simply HG The Dowager Duchess of York... pick one, but not that absurdity, for Heaven sake, dear author.
The writing is stunning as the previous book, but I liked this one less. I didn't understand some plot choices and some charachterizations, mostly females. Too much forebonding, too much events spoiled in advance. I had already wrinkled my nose in the first book at the anticipation of the Blaybourne rumor (which in reality started when Edward was already King) and at the credence lent to it, as well as jacquetta Woodville openly practising witchcraft, but then I thought the quality of the book, of the plot and writing, overcame these flaws. Here, not so much.
I didn't understand why, at a certain point, Margaret and even Elizabeth of York (who was already married at this stage, and living with her husband, indeed it was with him that she returned at Baynard in October '60 for the family reunion) are not included in the narration anymore, and sent somewhere North, wandering with their nanny. I hated the depiction of Margaret, whose only notewhorty trait is that she's a kind of nymphomaniac. There's much more to Margaret of York, future Duchess of Burgundy, a learned, intelligent, pious and skilled woman, who ever displayed more inclination for intellectual than flesh activities. If the author thinks with that to give credit in the next book to the rumor spread by Louis of France that Margaret had a son out of wedlock I will throw the book against the wall.
I found ridiculous and unnecessary Cecily's escape from Penshurst and her bounding alone for London with two children. Why on Earth? They were freed after the Yorkists' return, and Edward lent Sir John Falstoff's house for his mother and siblings, not Cecily doing all alone, wandering the streets of London, asking random help. And of course who gives her help? "Jane" Shore's father in law, an example of what I call inserting charachters only because they will become important later for the plot.
In general I found this all over the book, forcing charachters before they become really important, as for Elizabeth Woodville - who Edward even dreams for a lifetime before actually meeting her! - or Eleanor Talbot, whose entire plot is spoiled ridiculously in the latest part of the book. Eleanor Talbot having a son, besides, when the fact that Edward chose to make public the Woodville marriage rather than the Talbot one, was likely the great fertility of the first opposed to the barrennes of the latter. The author chooses to present us also with the invented Elizabeth Lucy a couple of pages later, because wll yes, why not. So in an handful of pages we have all the real and alleged women in Edward's life. Anticipating, again anticipating... like Cecily informing us on the very day of Edward's coronation that Warwick wants to govern and won't stay loyal for long. Why don't allow the plot to unravel, and the facts show themselves rather than be served like this to the reader? Especially because there's no cause to presume what Cecily can presume magically...
The female charachters are the ones who suffered most; besides Margaret, all of Cecily's daughter are either overlooked, or treated rather harshly, even by their mother. I was particularly appalled by poor Anne of York, with Cecily who has simpathy for his hideous son in law and despises his daughter who makes him suffer. The Anne leaves him and seeks an annullment years before it actually happened in History and even marrying Thomas St.Leger when she's still married with Exeter (how could this happen is still obscure to me); I guess that, once again, the author wanted to anticipate events so not to have to deal with them later and just sweep them out of her way.
As much as I liked the first book I was disappointed with this one, but I can't deny the beautiful writing and I liked very much the first part in Ireland, so it can't be less than 3 stars.
Ah and Cecily henceforth to be known as Her Highness the Princess of York. No need to say this title and style has no sense whatsoever, and Cecily was rather Her Grace the King's Mother of Queen by Right, or simply HG The Dowager Duchess of York... pick one, but not that absurdity, for Heaven sake, dear author.
October 16, 2016
A thirty-eight-year-old Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, his wife Duchess Cecily Neville (notoriously known throughout the kingdom as The White Rose) and their young children arrive in the Bay of Dublin to take up the post of Lord Lieutenant. The green island of Ireland, though part of England by conquest, three hundred years earlier, has been sorely neglected. Wars and turmoil in the east with England’s French possessions (Normandy and other coastal regions) has kept all eyes focused in the opposite direction. Now, is the time to make this wayward island once again part of the English fold; even if he expected little or no help from the king. As the first order of business, Richard heads first to the north and negotiates with the clans and tribes for peace, men at arms, back taxes, and loyalty to the king, and accomplishing this all without the need for violence. King Henry VI was a weak monarch and has little time or interest in strengthening his position.
This is an “old school” historical novel. It doesn’t have the petty intrigues and romances of most novels in that genre today. Although I enjoyed the book, I feel it misses the emotion it could and probably should have. It is what it is and I think it could appeal to the pure historical novel buffs; romantics beware.
This is an “old school” historical novel. It doesn’t have the petty intrigues and romances of most novels in that genre today. Although I enjoyed the book, I feel it misses the emotion it could and probably should have. It is what it is and I think it could appeal to the pure historical novel buffs; romantics beware.
December 17, 2019
I originally read this book back in the 1970s. In fact, my copy is that old paperback I bought way back when.
The book tells the story of Richard, Duke of York and his wife, Cecily Neville. It is the second in a series (the other volumes of which I don't have) and begins with Richard and his family heading to Ireland, being directed to go there by the king, the ineffectual Henry VI. Once in Ireland, Richard gets things under control.
The book then follows Richard of York’s becoming Lord Protector when Henry VI has a mental breakdown, his difficulties in dealing with Queen Margaret (who constantly sees Richard as a threat, and ultimately forces him to become one), and ends with Richard's death at Wakefield, and his son Edward's victory in the Battle of Mortimer's Cross and assumption of the throne as King Edward IV.
The history is for the most part accurate, the characters ring true to life, and there's plenty of scheming and plotting (mostly on the part of Margaret of Anjou, Henry's vindictive queen). A good read for those who enjoy historical fiction, especially if you like to read about the Wars of the Roses.
The book tells the story of Richard, Duke of York and his wife, Cecily Neville. It is the second in a series (the other volumes of which I don't have) and begins with Richard and his family heading to Ireland, being directed to go there by the king, the ineffectual Henry VI. Once in Ireland, Richard gets things under control.
The book then follows Richard of York’s becoming Lord Protector when Henry VI has a mental breakdown, his difficulties in dealing with Queen Margaret (who constantly sees Richard as a threat, and ultimately forces him to become one), and ends with Richard's death at Wakefield, and his son Edward's victory in the Battle of Mortimer's Cross and assumption of the throne as King Edward IV.
The history is for the most part accurate, the characters ring true to life, and there's plenty of scheming and plotting (mostly on the part of Margaret of Anjou, Henry's vindictive queen). A good read for those who enjoy historical fiction, especially if you like to read about the Wars of the Roses.
December 16, 2022
3.5 stars
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first as there was too much narrative and not enough dialogue. This series does seem to be very in depth into Cecily's life and I appreciate that. The author certainly did her research.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first as there was too much narrative and not enough dialogue. This series does seem to be very in depth into Cecily's life and I appreciate that. The author certainly did her research.
February 8, 2020
This is the second volume of a series recounting the life of Cecily Neville, the mother of Edward IV and Richard III. It covers the years 1449 to 1461--from the time Cecily's husband the Duke of York began his "exile" as Lieutenant Governor of Ireland to his death and the coronation of his oldest son as King Edward IV. In the beginning, there is not much "action" per se, but we see through Cecily's eyes the ill treatment and hatred the Duke receives at the hands of the Lancastrians which sparks war between them. Cecily's observations about her children and their different personalties is absorbing. Her favorite is Edward, but she marvels at the seriousness and intelligence of her youngest son, Richard.
Interestingly, Edward has heard rumors that he is actually the bastard son of an archer. From book one, we know that Cecily and the archer resisted temptation to consummate their attraction. Before he accepts the crown, Cecily silently reassures him that he is entitled to the crown as the true son of the Duke of York. Also, Cecily learns about his secret marriage to Eleanor Talbot and when she confronts him with this knowledge he responds with anger and obstinacy, refusing to consider going public to obtain an annulment.
While these are interesting plot elements that lend richness to the tale, there is at least one section that gave me pause. A fourteen year old Edward reveals to Cecily that his ideal woman is a gilt haired beauty he saw at a gathering in Rouen in a room with black candles burning. Cecily realizes that the only such gathering occurred at a tarot reading at the residence of Jacquetta Woodville, and the gilt haired girl was her daughter Elizabeth. At the time, Cecily was pregnant with Edward! Oh boy! Eyes roll! Overall, absorbing reading, with one false note.
Interestingly, Edward has heard rumors that he is actually the bastard son of an archer. From book one, we know that Cecily and the archer resisted temptation to consummate their attraction. Before he accepts the crown, Cecily silently reassures him that he is entitled to the crown as the true son of the Duke of York. Also, Cecily learns about his secret marriage to Eleanor Talbot and when she confronts him with this knowledge he responds with anger and obstinacy, refusing to consider going public to obtain an annulment.
While these are interesting plot elements that lend richness to the tale, there is at least one section that gave me pause. A fourteen year old Edward reveals to Cecily that his ideal woman is a gilt haired beauty he saw at a gathering in Rouen in a room with black candles burning. Cecily realizes that the only such gathering occurred at a tarot reading at the residence of Jacquetta Woodville, and the gilt haired girl was her daughter Elizabeth. At the time, Cecily was pregnant with Edward! Oh boy! Eyes roll! Overall, absorbing reading, with one false note.
March 2, 2025
The second of four books about Cecily Neville starts when Duke of York comes to govern Ireland and ends with the coronation of Edward, Earl of March and already Duke of York.
The events unfold from good governance to bitter feud with king’s court and start of civil war massacre.
The precipitation of later events woven into Cecily’s thoughts and opinions. Here is introduced the base of the later stories of Elizabeth Talbots marriage and child, Elizabeth Lucy’s child, Edward’s promiscuities, Richard’s solemness, George’s instability, Shore’s wife, etc.
Enormously entertaining reading, rich with history.
The events unfold from good governance to bitter feud with king’s court and start of civil war massacre.
The precipitation of later events woven into Cecily’s thoughts and opinions. Here is introduced the base of the later stories of Elizabeth Talbots marriage and child, Elizabeth Lucy’s child, Edward’s promiscuities, Richard’s solemness, George’s instability, Shore’s wife, etc.
Enormously entertaining reading, rich with history.
November 6, 2022
Cecily Neville still fighting for her family and there right to the English throne…….fabulous read
August 30, 2020
In Book 2 of Fairburn's War of the Roses quartet, the story covers a little over ten years of Cecily Neville's, Duchess of York, busy life, the wheel of fortune constantly spinning her up and down. She sees beloved allies and hated enemies, almost all close family members, die, while she notes the birth and rise of newer generations.
The story doesn't go too overboard with foreshadowing, but there are plenty of 'watch this space' moments as Cecily makes note of babies being born, like Henry Tudor, or sees young people running about London, like young Jane Shore, and even Cecily can tell she hasn't heard the last of anyone, no matter how unimportant they might be calculated at the moment.
Excellent use of detail and zoom in on parts of the time period that usually get glossed over in an effort to cover everything in one book.
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