A non-fiction companion to The White Queen, The Red Queen, and The Lady of the Rivers. Philippa Gregory and two historians, leading experts in their field, tell the extraordinary 'true' stories of the lives of these women who until now have been largely forgotten by history, their background and times, highlighting questions which are raised in the fiction and illuminating the novels.
With a foreword by Philippa Gregory – in which Philippa writes revealingly about the differences between history and fiction and examines the gaps in the historical record – and beautifully illustrated with rare portraits, The Women of the Cousins' War is an exciting new addition to the Philippa Gregory bookshelf.
Foreword – By Philippa Gregory: What is the difference between writing history and historical fiction? How much of a role does speculation play in each? How much fiction should there be in a historical novel? How are female historians changing our view of women in this period?
Jacquetta – By Philippa Gregory: Jacquetta of Luxembourg was a royal duchess who married beneath her for love and became mother of a queen. In this unique presentation Philippa Gregory uses original documents, site visits and even archaeology to create the first biography ever written of the young duchess who survived two reigns and two wars to be the first lady at two rival courts. For Philippa's novel about her life, read The Lady of the Rivers.
Elizabeth – By David Baldwin: Elizabeth Woodville was a widowed mother when she married the young King Edward IV. Her two sons are infamous as ‘the Princes in the Tower’, but little is known of her own life. David Baldwin, established author on the Wars of the Roses, tells her story, that of the first commoner to marry a King of England for love. For Philippa's novel about her life, read The White Queen.
Margaret – By Michael Jones: Michael Jones, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, writes about Margaret Beaufort, whose official story is powerfully bland. Yet she committed treason against an ordained King of England and her son, Henry VII, became the first Tudor to take the throne. For Philippa's novel about her life, read The Red Queen.
This book has been published both as 'The Women of the Cousins' War: The Duchess, The Queen and the King's Mother' and as 'The Women of the Cousins' War: The Real White Queen and Her Rivals'.
Released in 2011
My first published history book. It was extraordinary to use the material that I had researched for a novel and write it as a "straight" history. I also wrote the foreword to this collection of three historical essays about the women that have come to fascinate me: Jacquetta the Duchess of Bedford, Elizabeth Woodville, the Queen, and Margaret Beaufort, the King's Mother.
Book opens in 1416
When this book opens in 1416, with the birth of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Henry V is on the throne and England is at war with France in a series of conflicts that would later become known as The Hundred Years' War. Henry VI takes the throne in 1422 and begins his long reign of England through some of its most turbulent times including Joan of Arc's mission and beginning of The Wars of the Roses - though at the time it was known as The Cousins' War as the feuding families of York and Lancaster fought for power and position.
Related Characters
Anne Neville
1456 - 1485
Cecily Neville
1415 - 1495
Edmund Tudor
1430 - 1456
Edward IV
1442 - 1483
Edward of Lancaster
1453 - 1471
Elizabeth Woodville
1437 - 1492
Elizabeth of York
1466 - 1503
George Duke of Clarence
1449 - 1478
Henry Tudor
1457 - 1509
Henry VIII
1491 - 1547
Jasper Tudor
1431 - 1495
Jacquetta of Luxembourg
1416 - 1472
Katherine of Aragon
1485 - 1536
Margaret Beaufort
1443 - 1509
Margaret d'Anjou
1430 - 1482
Richard Ist Earl of Rivers
1405 - 1469
Richard Neville Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker
1428 - 1471
Sir John Grey
1432 - 1461
Richard Grey
1460 - 1483
Richard Duke of York
1411 - 1460
Richard III
1452 - 1485
Reviews
"An engrossing introduction to three courageous matriarchs who shaped English history. "
Publishers Weekly Full Review
"An engaging and interesting read... Fans of Gregory’s novels should enjoy this glimpse into both her creative process and... essays on the three women who served as inspiration for her ‘Wars of the Roses’ novels."
The Post and Courier (Charleston) Full Review
"The publication of two books this season by Philippa Gregory gives us not only two more fascinating portraits of the English Wars of the Roses, it also opens a window onto the way the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl plies her craft."
Los Angeles Times Full Review
"This collection of essays is a gift to those who love historical fiction. It not only functions as a history book for readers of novels set in the 15th century, it also contains valuable discussions of the relationship between history and fiction... highly recommended."
Historical Novel Society Full Review
"Lavishly illustrated and beautifully written, this is an enjoyable book. "
Desmond Seward, History Extra Full Review
"If you love Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction you should not miss this fascinating companion volume "
Lovereading (September 2011 Non-Fiction Book of the Month) Full Review
