The Women of the Cousins' War

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The Women of the Cousins' War
Women of the Cousins' War (2011).jpg
First UK edition cover
Author Philippa Gregory
David Baldwin
Michael K Jones
Audio read by Bianca Amato
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Genre Biography
Publisher Simon & Schuster
Publication date
13 September 2011
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages352
ISBN 978-0857201775

The Women of the Cousins' War: The Duchess, the Queen and the King's Mother is a 2011 book by historical novelist Philippa Gregory and historians David Baldwin and Michael K. Jones. [1] [2] [3] It is a non-fiction work that explores the lives of three prominent women of the historical Wars of the Roses, all of whom Gregory has featured in her Cousins' War series of novels. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Contents

The book consists of an introduction by Gregory and three biographical essays: the first is about Jacquetta of Luxembourg, written by Gregory; the second is about Jacquetta's daughter Elizabeth Woodville, queen consort of Edward IV of England, written by Baldwin; and the third is about Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII of England, written by Jones. [1] [2] [3] [4] These coincide with three of Gregory's Cousins' War novels, The Lady of the Rivers (2011), The White Queen (2009) and The Red Queen (2010), respectively. [1] The book also contains illustrations, family trees, maps and timelines. [2] [3] Each woman is affiliated to a belligerent house : Jacquetta to the Lancasters, Elizabeth to the Yorks and Margaret to the Tudors.

Critical reception

Publishers Weekly called The Women of the Cousins' War "an engrossing introduction to three courageous matriarchs who shaped English history," but also noted that it is "often repetitious and lacks a consistent voice and cohesive overview on the origins of the Wars of the Roses." [2]

AudioFile magazine, reviewing the audiobook recording of the book, called Gregory's essay on Jacquetta of Luxembourg "fascinating" and Baldwin's piece on Elizabeth Woodville "equally informative, but less colorful." The review also praised the narrator, noting that "Bianca Amato’s rich tones turn this book’s three essays into the best kind of nonfiction listening: engaging, informative, and entertaining." [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Woodville</span> 15th-century Queen consort of England

Elizabeth Woodville, later known as Dame Elizabeth Grey, was Queen of England from her marriage to King Edward IV on 1 May 1464 until Edward was deposed on 3 October 1470, and again from Edward's resumption of the throne on 11 April 1471 until his death on 9 April 1483.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecily Neville, Duchess of York</span> 15th-century English duchess

Cecily Neville was an English noblewoman, the wife of Richard, Duke of York (1411–1460), and the mother of two kings of England—Edward IV and Richard III. Cecily Neville was known as "the Rose of Raby", because she was born at Raby Castle in Durham, and "Proud Cis", because of her pride and a temper that went with it, although she was also known for her piety. She herself signed her name "Cecylle".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippa Gregory</span> English historical novelist

Philippa Gregory is an English historical novelist who has been publishing since 1987. The best known of her works is The Other Boleyn Girl (2001), which in 2002 won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists' Association and has been adapted into two films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford</span> 15th-century English prince and nobleman

John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford KG was a medieval English prince, general and statesman who commanded England's armies in France during a critical phase of the Hundred Years' War. Bedford was the third son of King Henry IV of England, brother to Henry V, and acted as regent of France for his nephew Henry VI. Despite his military and administrative talent, the situation in France had severely deteriorated by the time of his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacquetta of Luxembourg</span> 15th-century noble

Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Dowager Duchess of Bedford and Countess Rivers was a prominent, though often overlooked, figure in the Wars of the Roses. Through her short-lived first marriage to the Duke of Bedford, brother of King Henry V, she was firmly allied to the House of Lancaster. However, following the emphatic Lancastrian defeat at the Battle of Towton, she and her second husband Richard Woodville sided closely with the House of York. Three years after the battle and the accession of Edward IV of England, Jacquetta's eldest daughter Elizabeth Woodville married him and became Queen consort of England. Jacquetta bore Woodville 14 children and stood trial on charges of witchcraft, of which she was exonerated.

Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers, also Wydeville, was the father of Elizabeth Woodville and father-in-law of Edward IV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Woodville, Duchess of Buckingham</span> English noblewoman

Catherine Woodville was the Duchess of Buckingham and a medieval English noblewoman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis, Count of Saint-Pol</span>

Louis de Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol, of Brienne, de Ligny, and Conversano belonged to the Ligny branch of the House of Luxemburg and was Constable of France.

Sir John Woodville was the third son and seventh child of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers, and Jacquetta of Luxembourg.

<i>The Other Queen</i>

The Other Queen is a 2008 historical novel by British author Philippa Gregory which chronicles the long imprisonment in England of Mary, Queen of Scots. The story is told from three points of view: Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots; Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, also known as Bess of Hardwick; and George Talbot, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury.

Margaret of Baux was a Countess of Saint-Pol, of Brienne, and of Conversano. She was a member of the noble House of Baux of the Kingdom of Naples, which had its origins in Provence dating back to the 11th century. Her husband was Peter of Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol, of Brienne, and of Conversano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeanne of Bar, Countess of Marle and Soissons</span>

Jeanne de Bar, suo jure Countess of Marle and Soissons, Dame d'Oisy, Viscountess of Meaux, and Countess of Saint-Pol, of Brienne, de Ligny, and Conversano was a noble French heiress and Sovereign Countess. She was the only child of Robert of Bar, Count of Marle and Soissons, Sire d'Oisy, who was killed at the Battle of Agincourt when she was a baby, leaving her the sole heiress to his titles and estates. In 1430, at the age of fifteen, Jeanne was one of the three women placed in charge of Joan of Arc when the latter was a prisoner in the castle of John II of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny, Jeanne's stepfather.

<i>The White Queen</i> (novel) 2009 novel by Philippa Gregory

The White Queen is a 2009 historical novel by Philippa Gregory, the first of her series The Cousins' War. It tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, queen consort of King Edward IV of England. The 2013 BBC One television series The White Queen is a 10-part adaptation of Gregory's novels The White Queen, The Red Queen (2010) and The Kingmaker's Daughter (2012), and features Rebecca Ferguson as Elizabeth Woodville.

<i>The White Queen</i> (TV series) British historical drama television series

The White Queen is a British historical drama television drama serial developed for BBC One. It is based on Philippa Gregory's historical novel series The Cousins' War. The first episode premiered on BBC One on 16 June 2013 in the United Kingdom. It was first broadcast in the United States on Starz on 9 August 2013.

<i>The Lady of the Rivers</i>

The Lady of the Rivers is a 2011 historical novel by Philippa Gregory, part of her series The Cousins' War. The story is narrated by Jacquetta of Luxembourg, mother of Elizabeth Woodville, and covers the reign of the Lancastrian King Henry VI. The novel serves as a prequel to Gregory's The White Queen (2009), the story of Elizabeth's reign as Queen consort of England.

David Baldwin was a British historian, author and former university lecturer, who lived near Leicester, England.

<i>The Kingmakers Daughter</i> 2012 novel by Philippa Gregory

The Kingmaker's Daughter is a 2012 historical novel by Philippa Gregory, part of her series The Cousins' War. It is the story of Anne Neville, wife of Richard III of England. The 2013 BBC One television series The White Queen is a 10-part adaptation of Gregory's novels The White Queen (2009), The Red Queen (2010) and The Kingmaker's Daughter, and features Faye Marsay as Anne Neville.

<i>The White Princess</i>

The White Princess is a 2013 historical novel by Philippa Gregory, part of her series The Cousins' War. It is the story of Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville, and later wife of Henry VII and mother of Henry VIII.

<i>The Kings Curse</i>

The King's Curse is a 2014 historical novel by Philippa Gregory, part of her series The Cousins' War. A direct sequel to The White Princess, it follows the adult life of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, the daughter of George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence and Isabel Neville.

<i>The White Princess</i> (miniseries) 2017 British-American television series

The White Princess is a historical drama television miniseries developed for Starz. It is based on Philippa Gregory's 2013 novel of the same name and, to a lesser extent, its 2014 sequel The King's Curse. It is a sequel to the 2013 miniseries The White Queen, which adapted three of Gregory's previous novels, and begins immediately where The White Queen finished.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "The Women of the Cousins' War (Official site)". PhilippaGregory.com. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Review: The Women of the Cousins' War: The Duchess, the Queen, and the King's Mother". Publishers Weekly . 11 July 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Melanie (6 October 2011). "Review: The Women of the Cousins' War: The Duchess, the Queen, and the King's Mother". The Book Report Network. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  4. "Review: The Women of the Cousins' War by Philippa Gregory". Burton Book Review. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  5. "Audiobook Review: The Women of the Cousins' War (2011)". AudioFile . Retrieved 8 December 2014.