Book Description
The Wars of the Roses featured sixteen invasions--four succeeded, and six times kings lost their thrones. This book by Michael Hicks explores why those invasions occurred and kept occurring. Destruction and devastation were minimal, barely affecting the day-to-day routine of the civilian population, yet the Wars were lethal for their noble leaders and, as firsthand accounts reveal, blighted the lives of their women and children. That the Wars ended so abruptly, Hicks concludes, was not so much because Henry VII won at Bosworth and went on to rule effectively, but rather because a feel-good factor removed popular discontent as continental rivals turned elsewhere at the same time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Cliff Notes of military history
The "Essential Histories" series from Osprey could easily be compared to the Cliff Notes series.They'll give you a nice introduction to a topic you are not familiar with, but no real depth.Most volumns are under 100 pages; therefore, don't expect many "man in the trenches" stories.

This is one of the more difficult reads in this series.It does tend to jump around too much.

Thin, not well organised.
As a civil war fought in quick campaigns, Hicks explains that far less documentation survives from the Wars of the Roses than from other period conflicts, such as the Hundred Years War.Even given this lack of historical information on the combatants, their numbers, their equipment, and the exact sites of the battles, Hicks's volume still feels thin.It's also poorly organised, out of chronological order.One chapter lists the outbreak for each of the three phases of the war, even though these phases were ten to fifteen years apart.Then a later chapter lists the other details of each campaign.Overall, it's far less complete a general reference than some of the other Osprey Essential Histories, such as Anne Curry's _The Hundred Years War_.

A Decent Summary of a Tough Subject
Despite Shakespeare's play Richard III, the Wars of the Roses is one of the tougher subjects in military history to write about.Nevertheless, English scholar Michael Hicks makes a valiant effort to summarize the wars in Osprey Essential Histories volume #54.It is a daunting task.American readers in particular, will find this subject obscure and confusing.Unlike our own Civil War or the English Civil War in the 17th Century, the Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic struggles where there was little to distinguish the two sides from each other.The opposing Yorkist and Lancastrian factions fought a series of mini-wars over thirty years to determine who would legitimately rule England, but the warring sides were never marked by ideological, geographical, economic or social distinctions.Opposing leaders even switched sides and loyalties seemingly at will, making it difficult to determine who was fighting for whom or what.Frankly, this book is rather difficult to absorb but the author has done his best, and that appears to be enough.

The Wars of the Roses 1455-1485 begins with 23 pages of background material to the wars, and then plunges into the main campaign narrative, of 31 pages.The volume includes nine strategic maps of the main campaigns, as well as an excellent bibliography.Throughout this volume, the author is hindered by the paucity of surviving details about these conflicts; as he notes, there are no surviving muster lists from any of the campaigns, which makes it estimation of the size and composition of the opposing armies guesswork.Nor is there are any detailed information on casualties, economic costs and even the locations of the major battles are debatable.Furthermore, the subject is hardly compelling to modern readers.As Professor Hicks notes, the wars had little impact on the English population at large, society or the economy.Unlike the Hundred Years War, there was no "scorched earth" tactics or pillaging by marauding armies to ravage the land and people.Instead, the Wars of the Roses were a series of extremely brief campaigns, fought by less than 1% of the population and affecting primarily the noble classes.

Militarily, the Wars of the Roses stands out since at a time when methodical siege warfare was popular, the warring English factions consistently sought to settle their political differences with short maneuver campaigns leading to a decisive battle.Indeed, virtually all of the battles ended in "winner-take-all" circumstances, with the losers forced to disperse and flee or face execution.Nor were there any serious attempts at negotiations between the warring factions, since the long period of political debate that had preceded the conflict had proved so fruitless.However the armies in the Wars of the Roses were second-rate by continental standards, poorly armed and virtually untrained, and the author notes that these wars held no lessons for military theory or practice.

The author notes that the Tudors, who were the eventual victors in these wars, learned four main strategic lessons that were taken to heart.These lessons were (1) invasions must be prevented at all costs, (2) keep internal and external foes divided, (3) prevent regular English troops from being used against the regime and (4) prevent domestic dissent from escalating by "a mixture of conciliation, deterrent and propaganda, so that Englishmen learn to regard resistance and rebellion as wrong."Overall, this volume is a tough read, but it gives good insight into how nasty medieval dynastic struggles could become and how protracted struggles evolve over time. ... Read more

Book Description
Which People's War? examines how national belonging, or British national identity, was envisaged in the public culture of the World War II home front. Using materials from newspapers, magazines, films, novels, diaries, letters, and all sorts of public documents, it explores such questions as: who was included as 'British' and what did it mean to be British? How did the British describe themselves as a singular people, and what were the consequences of those depictions? It also examines the several meanings of citizenship elaborated in various discussions concerning the British nation at war. This investigation of the powerful constructions of national identity and understandings of citizenship circulating in Britain during the Second World War exposes their multiple and contradictory consequences at the time. It reveals the fragility of any singular conception of 'Britishness' even during a war that involved the total mobilization of the country's citizenry and cost 400,000 British civilian lives. ... Read more

Book Description
In this sweeping history, Trevor Royle details one of the bloodiest episodes in British history. The prize was the crown of England, and the players were the rival houses of Lancaster and York. The dynastic quarrel threatened the collapse of the monarchy as a succession of weak rulers failed to deal with an overzealous aristocracy, plunging England into a series of violent encounters. The bloody battles and political intrigue between the rival heirs of King Edward III brought forth one of the most dynamic ruling families of England--the Tudors. ... Read more

Book Description
This book is also available as part of the Men-at-Arms series as no. 145: `Wars of the Roses'. Much myth and fantasy surrounds the events of the Wars of the Roses: a bloody and prolonged dynastic struggle between the houses of York and Lancaster. Terence Wise's fascinating text lays bare the real story, and examines the armies, liveries and badges of the conflict. The author's readable account provides a comprehensive guide as to who fought whom, where, when, why and for what, from the origins of the Wars to such famous battles as Tewkesbury and Bosworth. The accompanying photographs, illustrations and colour plates by Gerry Embleton clearly detail the arms, armour and standards of the time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent general reference on battles and equipment.
This volume in Osprey's limitless Men at Arms series offers an excellent overall reference on the battles and the arms and armor of this late 15th-century civil war.The breakdown of law that resulted from the existing system of hiring soldiers is explained, as well as its repercussions on the conflict.Small maps are included for all the major battles, including Towton, Tewkesbury, Hexham, Barnet, and Bosworth.The discussion of equipment includes several subtleties, such as the correct origin of the term "pole axe" and the dubious historical value of medieval harnesses of plate assembled by later collectors.

" Now is the winter of our discontent...."
The copy I have is the Osprey Men at Arms title written in 1983, but the pages are identical to the ones shown here. Let's face it...there are scores of books on the War of the Roses. This one gives a good visual grasp of the conflict, and impresses the reader with the sheer slaughter perpetrated...twenty-five percent losses to the cream of English nobility. There are some decent descriptions of battles and the armor and weapons used. Especially of interest is the section on the systems of recruitment and organization of the armies.A long period of chaos and dynastic struggle in English history, finally brought to an end with the House of Tudor. My first Men at Arms title purchased, years ago, so I am somewhat fond of this one. They still need help in the map department. History books without decent maps should be a punishable offense. S'wounds! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Helpful Primer
With all the books available offering a comprehensive examination of the Wars of the Roses, it was only a matter of time before a helpful primer was written.This "Brief History" is just that, a sort of "Wars of the Roses for Dummies."

Fortunately, it is lively and well-written, with a pace more like a novel than a history text.By hitting the high points of the period, Seward is able to keep the story moving, without the hundreds of details that would bog down the narrative. This primer achieves its goal of providing the reader with a concise exposition of the main characters, the "whats and the why's".

Those who know the period in detail know that the period makes for a good yarn, and Seward tells it as well as any.Of course, those hundreds of details left out of this book are readily available in lengthier histories of the period. The "Brief History" is just that -- an intelligent and highly readable survey, perfect for those who want to just hit the high points, and an excellent "first book" for those just beginning to learn the period in depth.

Intriguing account of several lesser known people during the Wars of the Roses ...
While I enjoyed Seward's approach to this topic - he examines the civil strife as it affected the lives of William Hastings, Margaret Beaufort, John Morton, John de Vere and Jane Shore - it's not a book for those without some knowledge of the Wars of the Roses. The transition is often difficult to follow. It's as if the book were edited to reduce the size of the content so that a paragraph may contain a series of pronouns with no obvious name to attach to them.

I also found the citations to information stated as fact to be inconsistent. Some claims were cited; many were not. Although certainly by the sections on Richard III, it was obvious that the majority of his sources were the controversial early chroniclers, such as Sir Thomas More.

Despites these problems, I enjoyed the book. I don't necessarily swallow Seward's interpretation of events, but they do inform about the traditionalist viewpoint. He could have toned down his bias against the Yorkists, but that would have made for very dry reading.

If you have a basic handle on the time period, or if you're a student of Ricardian history, this book adds to the body of literature available because of its focus on the lives of lesser known players. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Literal War
The book The War of the Roses is a book about the conflict between the King, Lancastrians, and Yorkist. I like the book because it was an easy to read without huge words only University professors can understand. What I didn't like about the book was the fact thatit was really confusing at times, and it had too many people, some who are briefly in the book but it is easy to make the mistake of thinking he was a big player at the time. Overall, I would say that this book is for older students than middle schoolers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Land Sales, Acquisition, Title Disputes Galore
This book reads like the basis for the endless court case at the center of "Bleak House".The Paston Family left an impressive collection of letters, but a good number of them seem to be related to long, dragged out court proceedings.There are aspects that I found informative, but the narrative is most lively in the sections where the Paston holdings pass from one generation to the next.I found John and Margaret Paston especially tedious.The scope of the changes in government during this time is breathtaking, and it is hard to understand how England remained even quasi-stable as a nation.The Pastons and their personal struggles seem a bit pale against such a back drop, but it does give you a good idea of how the citizenry had to push through and make do in such uncertain circumstances.

15th Century Microcosm
I was pleasantly surprised, recently, by Helen Castor's "Blood and Roses".I had expected another urbane, boring, and dusty history for England's most turbulent civil war- the War of the Roses.Instead, Castor presents a 15th century English family's struggle for peerage, identity, and future during England's most tumultuous pre Commonwealth period.

This remarkable 426-page 2006 paperback is destined to become a War of the Roses classic.The story is well documented (with 23 pages of endnotes, an extensive select bibliography, and a dozen photos).Clearly saying that their papers have a "unique place in the history of medieval England", Castor narrates from the Paston family's letters, their realty and legal contracts, and other original documents.

In 1400, the lowborn Paston family begins to struggle for land ownership, for money, for gentry status, and for political presence.Their rise is plagued with other families' jealousies, aristocratic theft, familial betrayal, and royal expectation, all during various would-be governments' dash to power.Through the years the Pastons play on every side.By the middle 1700s the family has achieved viscount status, castles, manor houses, and positions in the king's personal staff.Theirs is a dramatic tale worthy of history's notice and analysis.

The Paston narrative seems a microcosm for the turbulent times in which they lived, worked, plotted, loved, fought, and died.What finally happens with the Pastons?Read "Blood and Roses" and find out.

Even though it seems long at first glance, I read Castor in a short time.Her novel-like writing style kept me in the story.I couldn't put it down!This book is a must read for York versus Lancaster buffs, medieval English history enthusiasts, and Middle Ages genealogists.Get your copy soon.

Real Estate- A Perilous Career in 15th Century England

This is a highly unusual book. I believe this is the sort of material that's usually buried in PhD theses and never reaches a general audience.

Castor's exhaustive research shows as she reconstructs the history of the Paston family and it's attempts to climb the social ladder of the landed gentry.In 15th century England, there is no title insurance.You can lose your land to claims of better connected people who may be the progeny of previous owners, or may be just better connected.You can also lose it in a seige and hope that your connections are good enough to have a hearing in a court where you hope to get connected people on your side.You can also lose this property, and be imprisoned as well, if an ancestor of yours was "unfree" and therefore not able to own property.

The Paston Family seems ill equipped to play this game.While the book does not deal with domestic problems, there are some unmistakable facts.William's other sons, who have better and firmer inheritances are in deep background (until one comes around to lay claim) leaving John, the semi-disinherited older son, to fend for himself. He's in this situation because his mother renounced his father's written will in favor of an alleged death bed testimony.This testimony works to the favor of the younger sons which essentially sets John up for failure.This is a mother who beats a daughter, whom she keeps in spinsterhood (withheld dowry), such that her head cracks.

John's wife Margaret raises children and runs the contested manor, which becomes a war zone (she actually fights skirmishs and battles) while her husband networks in London. There is little detail what he does with his time, and he must have a lot of it on his hands. No wonder Margaret becomes cranky in the end.Unfortunately she takes it out on her two sons, both of whom, also set up for failure by parental decisions, risk their lives for this family enterprise.

The tale is interesting for what it reveals of life at this time, but it is overly long in detail.Descriptions of battles, tangential players and some quotes from letters (some so convoluted they produce more confusion than enhancement) could well be eliminated in favor of a smoother analytical treatement.It isn't until p. 200+ that the author reveals what you seem to think, (but wonder if you've missed) that these people might be creating their own problems.

Also hard to understand is the true fiscal plight of the family.They are always in financial straights, but are ordering clothing (lots of detail on items the modern reader cannot identify), shopping, entertaining and hiring soldiers and servants.They seem to be not only living beyond their means, but reaching it well beyond it as well.

I like that the author describes the provenence of the letters at the end, and not the beginning. This is the time the reader can really appreciate their value.

Excellent but sometimes complicated story of landownership in early modern England
I enjoyed this book very much. It is specifically about the family's history during the period of the War of the Roses, and this time really comes alive with all of its uncertainties and political instability. The book occasionaly gets mired in extensive detail about the property problems faced by the family - but certainly shows how much has changed in terms of security of land tenure and property rights since this period. It probably helps to have some initial knowledge of Plantagenet vs. York issues to get into the book, but as a layman myself, I was able to follow the bigger story, of deposed kings and usurpers fairly easily, and was thoroughly engrossed as well in the personality profiles of the kings, princes, peers, and queens depicted.

Wheel of fortune
Now I understand the Mediaeval belief in a wheel of fortune. This book really does portray middle class life in the fifteenth century with a realism rarely encountered. It is not easy reading but there is plenty of meat! I had never really understood before how the ups & downs of the nobility during a tumultous period affected the ordinary middle class. Now it is much clearer. One mystery remained for me. How could a son who apparently spent most of his life in the law courts suddenly be asked to join Edward 1V in a jousting tournament at Eltham? I can not imagine many of our current lawyers accepting such a challenge. An excellent book. ... Read more

Book Description
The dynastic struggles of the Wars of the Roses have traditionally been portrayed as belonging to one of the most dramatic periods in the history of England, an age of murder and melodrama. In this classic history of the wars, charting their origins, progress, conclusion and effects, Professor Lander sets the record straight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A rose is a rose is a rose
A quick search of books will show a list of dozens with the title `The Wars of the Roses' or some derivative thereof; in the past generation, much scholarship has been devoted to this particular and peculiar event in English history, and that has had the somewhat unfortunate outcome of making it out to be a far more dramatic episode than perhaps a raw interpretation of empirical data might warrant.Add to this the undoubted dramatic flair of the Shakespearean revisionism for the benefit of the Tudors and later dynastic houses, and one gets the sense that this was an occurrence in English history of truly epic proportions.

While the events that collectively now fall under the classification `The Wars of the Roses' were certainly pivotal in the overall dynastic stream of English (and, ultimately, British) history, J.R. Lander puts forward the case that in fact the Wars of the Roses is a misnomer - compared with contintental European warfare, the events constituting the multi-generational Wars of the Roses (and attendant prelude) seem no more than mere skirmishes.`During the Wars of the Roses the total period of active campaigning between the first battle of St Albans (1455) and the battle of Stoke (1487) amounted to little more than one year - one year out of thirty-two years.Henry VII's progress from his landing in Milford Haven to his victory at Bosworth Field lasted only fourteen days.'Indeed, even the symbolic nature of the term, the Wars of the Roses, is not entirely accurate, as the rose on each side was but one of many symbols used.

Lander describes situations in terms of strategies military and political, tactics and ambitions that all pale by comparison to European counterparts.Most English cities were not fortified; most castles and great houses did not suffer siege; the idea of burning crops and laying waste to cities and villages was far from commonplace practice.Lander conjectures that the prominence of the Wars of the Roses in the stream of English history may be due to the lack of foreign invasion and involvement; even the French campaigning of the English up to this period was far more intense and far more destructive, and yet the prominence of that cycle of warfare in English history is much smaller.

Perhaps it is because of the fascination and sometimes automatic identification of English history general with English royal history particular that the Wars of the Roses took their pride of place.After the general introduction in which Lander puts forward his caveats and reservations, he proceeds to explore the history of the House of Lancaster, the House of York, periods of peace and stability as well as particularly intense periods of struggle, and Lander devotes individual chapters each to Richard III and Henry VII.Lander also addresses the strange case of Perkin Warbeck, and presents in good fashion the various arguments pro and con in controversies such as Richard's possible murder of the princes in the tower versus the claims of someone like Warbeck.

Lander uses extensive sections of previous material - rather than paraphrasing or re-interpreting earlier chronicles, he inserts large sections of the material to allow the reader to make her or his own evaluation of the material.This book was first published in 1965, but most of the material quoted is not out-of-date even forty years later, as it comes from chronicles and documents contemporary with the events they describe, or histories written shortly thereafter.It remains an important contribution in the scholarship of the time.

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Book Description
Richard III has come to be the most famous figure to emerge from Britain's War of the Roses, largely due to the play by WilliamShakespeare, but this 30-year conflict (1455-1485) had a large cast of heroes and villains, and saw the biggest and fiercest battles ever fought on English soil.This new book in the format of the popular Battleground Europe series concentrates on two major battles fought during the pivotal years of 1460 and 1461. As 1460 drew to a close, Edward, Duke of York (white roses) was in open revolt against the Lancastrian (red roses) king, Henry VI. A superior Lancastrian force ambushed Edward and killed him and many of his men; Edward's head was subsequently displayed over the main gate of his own city of York.

Thirsting for revenge, the Duke's son, also named Edward (who later reigned as Edward IV), gathered a force and sought out the Lancastrian host. On March 29, 1461 the two armies collided in a blinding snowstorm near the town of Wakefield in what was to be the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil. The prevailing wind blew in the faces of the Lancastrian archers and the Yorkists were triumphant after a six-hour battle. As was often the case during the War of the Roses, the defeated army was mercilessly pursued and prominent leaders were executed when captured. This heavily illustrated account uses the Battleground Europe format to describe in detail these historic parts of Britain both then and now, an approach particularly important for medieval battles which must be more painstakingly reconstructed than more modern ones. Those seeking background material on Shakespeare's four plays on Henry VI and Richard III will also find this book useful. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

got to love those driving tours
an expert on the Wars of the Roses,Haigh has,severely condensed the 1460 campaign yet delivered an acurrate picture that makes a great driving tour of the campaign.I however preferred to do the tour from an armchair,thus avoiding getting lost and being "hustled" by a local as I stop for directions.Even worse having an accident trying to read the maps which are great,but you know even the best of maps can leave one confused perhaps by road construction or another accident caused by someone trying to read a tourmap.Or as you stop for directions someone with a gambling problem, might hope they've seen your face on a poster and be pressed to call the police for a reward.
Anyways with the pictures,artists renditions and maps this is a great book .Margaret of Anjou(Shakespeare's witch),wife of Henry VI,comes off as the one wearing the pants for the house of Lancaster in this tourguide,much like a Queen Boudica.She apparently is not hesitant to send her rival house of Yorkers to the block.The wars of the Roses is a difficult period to study because the main actor Lords and nobles keep changing sides sometimes so suddenly that you have to reread the paragraph a dozen times,but Haigh has reduced some of the confusion by keeping to the most important facts.
Fortunately too the English haven't lost their sense of humour in trying to be politically correct.There is a good picture of Richard the seconds?' head at Micklegate Bar complete with paper crown.It's purely wax and remember that no actual wax figures were injured in this production,please don't call the publisher. ... Read more

Book Description
During her short time as a ward in Queen Marguerite's Lancastrian court, fifteen-year-old Isobel has had many suitors ask for her hand, but the spirited beauty is blind to all but Yorkist Sir John Neville. It is nothing short of a miracle when the Queen allows Isobel's marriage to the enemy, albeit at a hefty price.

All around Isobel and John rages a lawless war. It is only their passion that can see them through the bloody siege of London by the Duke of York, the violent madness of Queen Marguerite, and the devolution of Isobel's meek uncle into the Butcher of England. For theirs is an everlasting love that fears not the scratch of thorns, from either the Red Rose or the White. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Fascinating Historical Fiction
Lady of the Roses is the story of Isobel Ingoldesthorpe who falls in love with the `enemy' during the War of the Roses.At fifteen, she's lived in a convent for some time and knows little of the matters of court.She manages to become close to the queen and win her hearts desire.

I started reading this novel with little knowledge of the War of the Roses beyond having heard mention of it; and with very little knowledge of the time period.Within ten pages I was wrapped up in it.I honestly had trouble putting it down.

Written from a first person point of view you are drawn into Isobel's world instantly.You are drawn to, or repelled by, the people around her as easily as she.Despite knowing, thanks to the back cover blurb, that she would end up marrying the man she loved - I still was brought to panic with Isobel when another roadblock emerged in their path. After the wedding there is still so much story left, and you realize that the marriage did little to dispel the every day fears and joys of her life...and my need to keep reading didn't let up at all through the last page.

I haven't been this drawn into a historical fiction about an unfamiliar time period since I read The Other Boleyn Girl. Philippa Gregory should watch her back...Sandra Worth is coming on strong with her stories from the War of the Roses. I'm eyeing her other York Series on Amazon at this very moment.

Sandra Worth has woven an engaging tale that not only is an intriguing love story, but holds a hidden history lesson within.Without realizing it we see the War of the Roses and learn facts about it that are hidden within the tale.If only all of my history books had been so engaging I might have gotten better grades!

I reccommend this book to anyone. It was a wonderful tale, and an easy read - I managed to finish it in a mere three days - and considering I only have about an hour of reading time every day, I think that's pretty good.

From J. Kaye's Book Blog
THE LADY OF ROSES is a true love story of the medieval ancestors of both Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill. What makes the book even more fascinating this love story is based on actual facts. It centers around 15th-century England, on the brink of civil war. In the middle of this political turmoil, Isobel Ingoldesthorpe, a Lancastrian, and John Neville, a Yorkist fall in love and against all odds, marry.

King Henry is mentally and physically ill. Queen Marguerite is left to rule, but the Yorkist are unsettled under her leadership.John Neville's brother is the Earl of Warwick is rich, powerful, and mistrusts the French queen. Warwick unseats Henry with Yorkist Edward of March.

Not too long after Edward takes the crown, he marries Elizabeth Woodville in secret, against Warwick's wishes. Woodville demands land and titles for her relatives. She proves more vicious than the previous queen and war breaks out again.

Throughout, John and Isobel strive for peace. This isn't possible as the War of the Roses rages around them. Sandra Worth threads together the most bittersweet love story since Romeo and Juliet. Her love for this time period shines through with her carefully sketched characters.

Fascinating Historical Novel with Contemporary Feel
Set amidst the War of the Roses in 1400s Britain, this historical novel focuses on the story of one Lady Isobel Ingoldesthorpe, an orphan raised in a nunnery and given over to the British court (which will benefit from the price of her marriage). The country is under the leadership of Henry VI, but the country's beloved king is beset by madness and, instead, court and country are ruled by his French wife, Marguerite d'Anjou, whose motives and ambitions are less pure. Isobel and the ruling court are of the House of Lancaster (the Red Rose), while the competing House of York (the White Rose) vies for power.

The House of York and the Neville family are more strongly supported by the British people, presenting a challenge to Queen Marguerite and her grasp for power. Into this precarious political scene enters 15-year old Lady Isobel, who falls in love quite unexpectedly with a Yorkist knight, Sir John Neville. Although Isobel is desired by many, her heart has been stolen, and after much wrangling and an exorbitant price to the court, the Queen finally allows the two to marry.

Drawing from real historical characters and the true story of this marriage, author Sandra Worth has used this fascinating background to extrapolate and enhance upon what is known through historical documents to create this engrossing novel. Despite its reaches far into the British past, Worth has been able to create characters and stories that resonate today. Beset with political treachery and a defiant love story, the historical accuracy and well developed characterization lend much to the book, letting readers focus on the action and adventures of the characters, rather than bogging the plot down.

Readers will relate to the highs and lows of the relationship between John and Isobel, the forces beyond their control that act to determine their destinies, and their everyday struggles (including money problems and long periods of single parenthood) in a world divided between Lancaster and York. Readers are introduced to period detail subtly, enjoying and learning as they progress, instead ofbeing faced with immediate immersion into a heavy handed and unfamiliar culture upon opening the book. Worth has much to offer her readers: great storylines, fascinating characters, and just the right historical touch. "Lady of the Roses" may be set in the 1400s, but its story and telling are contemporary and easily enjoyed by the readers of 2008.

Christine Zibas, Book Pleasures

Maybe I'm not reading the same book
I wanted to like this book. I am fascinated by this period in English history, and eagerly snap up books on the subject. I was drawn to this novel as it was written from the POV of a lesser known figure.While there were a few good moments in the novel, I found the writing style treacly in its sentimentality-Way overblown. Isobel is so perfect, that it is hard to feel involved in the story, she just doesn't seem real. Also, Somerset's complete about face made no sense to me. I bought the first in her York trilogy, and didn't like it much either. Lesson learned.

Love Transforms History
"I went to bed early one night...tired and preoccupied with musings about love. then - was it a vision, a dream? - Love himself suddenly appeared before me, taking the heart from my breast and handing it to Desire..." An apt quote bespeaks the essence of a tale, in this case the story of the uniquely passionate, tender and forbearing love between Isobel Ingoldesthorpe and John Neville, the Yorkist. Their love endures through the thorny historical events of fifteen years commonly known as the War of the Roses.

Sandra Worth has once again captured the tornado-whirling shifts of loyalty as England watches two mad woman change the course of history, Marguerite d'Anjou - Henry VI's French queen - and later Elizabeth Woodville - Edward IV's beautiful wife. The former believes she is trying to bring peace to her simple, holy husband's land, the latter spouse flourishes by feeding years of imagined hurtful memories with unmitigated revenge. Their sheer, unadulterated terror will destroy England's aristocracy, including the famed kingmaker, Warwick, John Neville's brother. John himself will rise to the heights of power and lose almost all of it.

Isobel is a feisty, intelligent and compassionate character whose observations have the same effect on the reader that she experiences. When one thinks that cruelty, savagery and insanity have reached their limit, another betrayal with its accompanying horrors or unexpected deaths arises to leave Isobel and all of England reeling with shock.

When it seems that the common people are suffering the most from their leaders' cruelty and blood lust, it is Isobel who cares enough to help them survive and believe in something higher. Indeed Isobel will audaciously intervene in two hair-raising scenes to plead for mercy for two central characters. Isobel and John's intimate love is the glue holding together a world in which England's rulers precociously attempt to shape its history.

Ms. Worth's singular talent lies in the masterful way she crafts plot and deftly presents an in depth, diverse set of historical characters whom the reader comes to deeply care about. Congratulations, Sandra Worth! Lady of the Roses is an unparalleled, beautiful, dire and memorable keeper in the top ranks of historical novels! What a treat!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on January 23, 2008

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Book Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Helpful Introduction to the Civil War in Renaissance England
The War of the Roses is the name given the the struggles in the late 1400s between British nobles from the competing houses of York and Lancaster for control of the English throne.The figures involved in these struggles (Richard the Third, Henry the Fifth, etc.) are the subjects of some of Shakespeare's most famous plays and, indeed, their political affairs are dramatic and colourful.The events of this civil war are parallel in style to the struggles in Renaissance Italy that set the context for Machiavelli's "The Prince."Charles Ross's book is a helpful introduction--about 140 pages of reading--to the main developments in these struggles that led shortly thereafter to the rule of Henry VIII, and then Elizabeth I.Ross's interpretation is a bit conservative, but overall he gives a fair sense of what was happening and why.This would be a good first book to read to get a handle on what the "War of the Roses" was about.

Great potential for use with high school students
At first, I felt the book went at a break-neck pace through years of changing alliances and shifts in power, not giving a novice enough detail to understand why the momentum would shift from one house to another.However, I greatly appreciated the real "meat" of the book in the last two chapters where Ross goes on to explain the effect of the wars on the culture of England.I teach World History to high school freshmen in a college prep environment.Each of my students is following a certain theme, and I will definitely direct some of them to the final chapters of Ross's book.For those following battles, there are diagrams of Barnet and Bosworth with paragraphs explaining tactics.For those following architecture, Ross explains how the wars did (or did not) affect building styles and plans of the nobility.For those following economic patterns, Ross explains how various groups (nobility, towns, merchants, etc.) were influenced by the wars and by foreign alliances made by Yorkists and Lancastrians.For those studying women's history, the Wars of the Roses more than any other (I think) show the "value" of marriage in military alliance.There is even a section showing how literature was affected and an interesting segment on Sir Thomas Malory (author of *Morte d'Arthur*).The last two chapters also help students understand the concept of the "new monarchy" and the declining power of the feudal nobility that occurred in the aftermath of the Wars.What is more, the paragraphs in the last chapter, in particular, will give great practice for younger students in their attempts to follow the development of an idea over several paragraphs, a great skill for ACT and SAT practice.I will definitely be getting a copy of this book for our school library!

A superb introductory survey
I am a reasonably intelligent person, was a theater major in college, and have read more than my share of the tragedies and comedies of Shakespeare.I was, however, quite at a loss upon completing the first Act of RICHARD III.I was completely lost. The endless queue of corpses, pretenders to the throne, and partisans of one competing group or another left me completely bewildered and confused.I knew that Richard was unscrupulous and evil, and that he had managed the deaths of many of his relatives, but by and large I was unclear on all of the details.

The fault lay not with Shakespeare but with my knowledge of English history.The depth of my ignorance about several periods of history is unfathomable.Among those areas of ignorance are several of the military conflicts in European history.I know that there was a Hundred Years War (that lasted considerably more than a hundred years), a Thirty Years War (that I believe was fought in the early 17th century for God knows what reason), and the Wars of the Roses.To be perfectly honest, until recently I had no idea when the Wars of the Roses were fought, between whom, nor why.Imagine my delight when I discovered that this was precisely the conflict with which most of Shakespeare's historical plays dealt.Learn about this period of English history, and I have the background I need to read RICHARD III and the other historical plays.After some brief research, this volume appeared to be one that would give me what I needed to know about the conflict.

I have to admit that it did the trick.I have now restarted reading RICHARD III, and I not only understand Shakespeare's narrative, I know his account of things is extraordinarily wrong!Primarily he changes chronology to suit his purposes, and recreates historical scenes that could not have happened.There is no evidence according to Ross that Richard in any way plotted against either his brother Edward IV (he in fact seems to have been his staunchest supporter) nor that he machinated his brother Clarence's imprisonment (Clarence was the tool of Warwick, who pushed him forward as a pretender to the throne).Nor was there ever a time when Margaret could have made her long, impassioned speech.Actual historical chronology would have precluded it. In short, Shakespeare recreated history for dramatic effect, and painted Richard far, far blacker than he in fact deserved.He was not, however, a nice guy.Most historians agree that he probably did have his nephews murdered, and there is some evidence that he killed his wife Anne (daughter of Warwick) with the idea of marrying his niece Elizabeth (who in fact married Henry Tudor, later Henry VII).Shakespeare more or less gave the Tudor party line, and then some.Had Richard III won the Battle of Bosworth, he undoubtedly would have painted Richard as a great hero, and Henry Tudor as a black hearted villain.

For those who like the books to be pleasant to look upon, I am happy to report thatTHE WARS OF THE ROSES is a beautifully produced paperback book, sewn in signature, printed on high quality paper, with a huge number of well-reproduced photographs.In short, quite apart from the content--which was excellent--it was a complete pleasure to hold and look at this book.It certainly enhanced the reading experience.

Well written general survey of the Wars of the Roses
Ross draws upon his experience as a professor of Medieval History at the University of Bristol to provide the reader with a well written survey of the Wars of the Roses.He presents the reader with discussions of views held by chroniclers of the period, as well as those of modern historians.Ross divides the topic into five main categories: 1. the historical traditon of the wars; 2. the origins of the civil wars; 3. civil war and dynastic revolution; 4. the military aspects of the wars; and 5. the impact of civil war on English politics and society.The book is well illustrated with 126 black and white illustrations, a map and two battle plans.Genealogical tables help the reader understand the relationships amongst the houses of Lancaster, Tudor, Beaufort, York and Nevill.Although the bibliography is short, Ross enhances its value by short comments regarding each book or article.If the reader becomes confused by the use of titles to refer to the major players, a quick glance at the well written index where the title includes entries for the Christian and Surnames for the individuals holding the title.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a survey on the Wars of the Roses!Readers who are interested in biographies of the kings will want to read Ross' biographies of Edward IV and Richard III.

One of the best book in the subject
A well written book with excellent ilustrations. One of the best survey of the Wars of the roses. Highly recomended to anyone interested on the subject. He divides the book in five chapters, one dedicated exclusibly tothe battles, and the last one is an accurate panorama of the Wars impact onthe English people. ... Read more

Book Description
In 1806 Lt. Louis Garneray's ship was en route to France when it was captured by the Royal Navy. Confined for nine years with hundreds of others in the cramped quarters of a prison ship off Portsmouth, he tells a compelling story in turns violent, poignant, dark, and humorous. Originally published in 1851 in French as Mes Pontons, the memoir is considered to be the most detailed account of shipboard prison life at that time. Translator Richard Rose presents the first full, unabridged English-language version of the classic and draws on extensive research to examine the veracity of the more fanciful elements of the narrative. As an added feature, the book is illustrated with paintings and etchings done by Garneray, who became a distinguished maritime artist later in life. This rare first-person exposé on a little-known facet of the age of sail is a valuable resource and makes fascinating reading. 30 illustrations. 6 x 9 inches. ... Read more

Book Description
From Henry IV, the first Lancastrian king, to Richard III, The Wars of the Roses follows the history of the kings of the houses of Lancaster and York who shaped this tumultuous period of English history. Anthony Cheetham provides insight into the politics, society, and economy of this time, and above all, he conveys the personal histories and characters of its rulers.
About the series A Royal History of England:
From the beginning of monarchical power in Norman times to the present queen, the British royal family has experienced many scandals, triumphs, and changes in public image, but few of their reigns can be described as uneventful. With contributions by specialist authors and contemporary illustrations of royal heraldry and coats of arms, Antonia Fraser has edited a definitive and entertaining history of one of the most powerful monarchies in the world. ... Read more

Book Description
A problem-focused and clearly organized survey of the dynastic strife and crisis of medieval government in 15th century England. ... Read more