The Last White Rose: A Novel of Elizabeth of York

· Sold by Ballantine Books
4.5
6 reviews
Ebook
560
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir explores the turbulent life of Henry VIII’s mother, Elizabeth, the first queen of the Tudor dynasty, in this “superbly readable and engaging” (Historical Novels Society) novel.

Elizabeth of York is the oldest daughter of King Edward IV. Flame-haired, beautiful, and sweet-natured, she is adored by her family; yet her life is suddenly disrupted when her beloved father dies in the prime of life. Her uncle, the notorious Richard III, takes advantage of King Edward’s death to grab the throne and imprison Elizabeth’s two younger brothers, the rightful royal heirs. Forever afterward known as "the Princes in the Tower," the boys are never seen again. On the heels of this tragedy, Elizabeth is subjected to Richard’s overtures to make her his wife, further legitimizing his claim to the throne. King Richard has murdered her brothers, yet she feels she must accept his proposal.

As if in a fairy tale, Elizabeth is saved by Henry Tudor, who challenges Richard and defeats him at the legendary Battle of Bosworth Field. Following his victory, Henry becomes king and asks Elizabeth to be his wife, the first queen of the Tudor line. The marriage is happy and fruitful, not only uniting the warring houses of Lancaster and York—the red and white roses—but producing four surviving children, one of whom, Henry VIII, will rule the country for the next thirty-six years.

As in her popular Six Tudor Queens series, Alison Weir captures the personality of one of Britain’s most important consorts, conveying Elizabeth of York’s dramatic life in a novel that is all the richer because of its firm basis in history.

Ratings and reviews

4.5
6 reviews
Toby A. Smith
February 13, 2022
NOTE #1: I was given early access to this manuscript through netgalley in exchange for writing an impartial review. Thank you Ballantine Books. Publication Date: May 3, 2022 Generally I’m a fan of Historian Alison Weir’s fiction (I LOVED her six-novel series about the wives of King Henry VIII) but I found more flaws (especially during Elizabeth’s early years) in this book, the first of her new series (Tudor Rose). I would rate this one 3.5 stars. ELIZABETH OF YORK, THE LAST WHITE ROSE is a fictional account of the life of the oldest daughter of King Edward IV of England and his wife, Elizabeth Woodville. Elizabeth eventually becomes the wife of King Henry VII and together they found the Tudor Dynasty, ancestors of all English monarchs since 1509. Weir’s account of Elizabeth’s life is solid and comprehensive. The traumas of her childhood, uncertainties surrounding prospective marriages, marriage to Henry, and threats to the legitimacy of their claim to the throne are all handled believably. If the author had stuck with just that, I’d have given this book four or five stars. But Weir, an historian by training, felt compelled to include a lot of additional historical detail that felt superfluous so Elizabeth’s story and made the book feel long and in some places clunky. Let me try to explain. • When Elizabeth is still a child, I felt the narrative kept shifting. I think Weir was trying to maintain Elizabeth’s child-appropriate perspective, like referring to “Mother” (instead of Queen Elizabeth Woodville) and “Grandmother” (Jacquetta Woodville). But then Weir would include information or observations that would not be possible coming from a five-year-old. As though the narrator suddenly became omniscient, with the language and sensibilities of an adult. • Weir includes a lot of detail about the politics and shifting allegiances associated with the Wars of the Roses, some of which have little or no impact on Elizabeth’s interests or life. This, I believe, made the book feel overly long. • To include a lot of this extraneous information, Weir again and again resorts to the same literary device: someone overhearing a conversation between others. WAY overused! I certainly recommend the book for historical fiction fans, those who want to know more about this remarkable woman (the mother of King Henry VIII), and, of course, anyone who loves Tudor England. NOTE #2: If you, like me, believe Richard III innocent of the controversial deaths of the two princes in the Tower, be warned that Weir does not agree.
Did you find this helpful?
Andrea Romance
May 12, 2022
After the death of her father Edward IV, Elizabeth of York's life is turned upside down. Her brothers are imprisoned in the Tower of London, and her uncle Richard III seizes the throne. Now, she's a pawn in his scheme to shore up his claims to kingship. Richard wants to marry her to secure the succession. Meanwhile, Henry Tudor, Duke of Richmond, is putting together an army to invade and overthrow Richard. Can Henry save her from a forced marriage to the man who's destroying her family? This is a long but riveting book—I didn't want to put it down. The author does a good job of humanizing the historical characters, making the story fresh and interesting. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Did you find this helpful?

About the author

Alison Weir is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Katheryn Howard, The Scandalous Queen; Anna of Kleve, The Princess in the Portrait; Jane Seymour, The Haunted Queen; Anne Boleyn, A King's Obsession; Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen; The Marriage Game; A Dangerous Inheritance; Captive Queen; The Lady Elizabeth; and Innocent Traitor, as well as numerous historical biographies, including Queens of the Crusades; Queens of the Conquest, The Lost Tudor Princess, Elizabeth of York, Mary Boleyn, The Lady in the Tower, Mistress of the Monarchy, Henry VIII, Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Life of Elizabeth I, and The Six Wives of Henry VIII. She lives in Surrey, England.

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.