The White Princess is the fifth book in the “Cousins’ War” series of books based on the historical events of the royals in England during the late 1400s written by Philippa Gregory.
This is the story of Elizabeth of York, the daughter of the “White Queen” who is forced to marry Henry Tudor to end the civil war that had been going on for almost two decades. Elizabeth forms an uneasy truce with Henry that will lead, eventually and after the birth of more children (including future king Henry VIII), to genuine affection. However, her mother and she remain York sympathizers at heart, particularly after their young cousin Edward Warwick is placed under house arrest in the Tower. This is an looming reminder of the imprisonment of King Edward and Queen Elizabeth’s two sons, Edward and Richard, in the Tower, from which they later disappeared. Rumors abound: Prince Richard may still be alive and may be coming to England to assert his entitlement to kingship, far superior to Henry’s. Years before, they had substituted a pageboy for Richard when the two princes went into captivity. A ruthless monarch who rules by intimidation, Henry can never escape the nagging fear that a Yorkist heir will unthrone him.
One of my favorite parts of The White Princess dealt with Elizabeth’s mother and her determination and loyalty to the York family. There’s no doubt that her mother is one of my favorite characters in this entire series.
Book Blog by Byron Library Staff 