The Women of the Cousins' War: The Duchess, the Queen, and the King's Mother

by Philippa Gregory, David Baldwin, Michael Jones

Overview

#1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory joins two eminent historians to explore the extraordinary true stories of three women largely forgotten by history: Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford; Elizabeth Woodville, queen of England; and Margaret Beaufort, the founder of the Tudor dynasty.

In her essay on Jacquetta, Philippa Gregory uses original documents, archaeology, and histories of myth and witchcraft to create the first-ever biography of the young duchess who survived two reigns and two wars to become the first lady at two rival courts. David Baldwin, established authority on the Wars of the Roses, tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the first commoner to marry a king of England for love. And Michael Jones, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, writes of Margaret Beaufort, the almost-unknown matriarch of the House of Tudor.

Beautifully illustrated throughout with rare portraits and source materials, The Women of the Cousins’ War offers fascinating insights into the inspirations behind Philippa Gregory’s fiction and will appeal to all with an interest in this epic period.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781451629552
Publisher:	Touchstone
Publication date:	01/08/2013
Series:	Plantagenet and Tudor Series
Pages:	342
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Philippa Gregory is the author of several bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl, and is a recognized authority on women’s history. She studied history at the University of Sussex and received a Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh. She welcomes visitors to her website, PhilippaGregory.com.
David Baldwin taught history at the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham for many years, and is the author of four books detailing the Wars of the Roses, including the acclaimed Elizabeth Woodville, Mother of the Princes in the Tower.
Michael Jones wrote his dissertation on the Beaufort family and taught at the University of South West England, the University of Glasgow, and Winchester College. He is the author of six books, including The King’s Mother, which was shortlisted for the Whitfield Prize.

Hometown:

Yorkshire, England

Date of Birth:

January 9, 1954

Place of Birth:

Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa

Education:

B.A. in history, Sussex University, 1982; Ph.D., 18th-century popular fiction, Edinburgh, 1984

Website:

http://www.PhilippaGregory.com

Table of Contents

Family Tree: The Duchess, the Queen, and the King's Mother viii

Battles in the Cousins' War: timeline and map xi

Introduction Philippa Gregory 1

Jacquetta of Luxembourg Philippa Gregory 47

Elizabeth Woodville David Baldwin 151

Margaret Beaufort Michael Jones 241

Index 323

Illustration acknowledgments 341

Editorial Reviews

An engaging and interesting read . . . Fans of Gregory’s novels should enjoy this glimpse into both her creative process and her essays on the three women who served as inspiration for her ‘Wars of the Roses’ novels.

The Post and Courier (Charleston)

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 applies her craft.

Los Angeles Times

This tripartite account treats three formidable women for their roles in the dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Bestselling historical novelist Gregory tells the story of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Henry VIII's great-grandmother. The staunch Lancastrian made her peace with Yorkist Edward IV when he seized power and saw her fortunes soar after he married her daughter Elizabeth Woodville. But later her second husband and their son were executed by the rebel leader earl of Warwick, who tried Jacquetta for witchcraft. University of Leicester historian Baldwin relates the life of Jacquetta's plucky daughter, Elizabeth Woodville, Henry VIII's grandmother, who did her utmost to secure the throne for her son Edward and may have been involved in a rebellion against son-in-law Henry. British historian Jones recounts the story of Margaret Beaufort, a formidable plotter whose personal piety never interfered with her ambition for her son—who became Henry VII despite a tenuous claim to the throne. Although this collection is often repetitious and lacks a consistent voice and cohesive overview on the origins of the Wars of the Roses, it's an engrossing introduction to three courageous matriarchs who shaped English history. Illus.; maps. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"[Gregory] again brings insight to English history, recreating the power struggle between two of the nation's most notable women in a tale fresh for modern readers. There's no question that she is the best at what she does." --Associated Press

From the Publisher