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The Last White Rose

A Novel of Elizabeth of York

#1 in series

Audiobook
2 of 2 copies available
2 of 2 copies available
New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir explores the life of Henry VIII's mother, Elizabeth, the first queen of the Tudor dynasty, in this stunning historical 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 afterwards 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 is obliged to accept his proposal.

As if in a fairy tale, Elizabeth is saved by Henry Tudor, who challenges Richard and kills him in the legendary Battle of Bosworth Field. In recognition of 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 resulting in 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 monarchs, conveying Elizabeth of York's dramatic life in a novel that is all the richer because of its firm basis in history.
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    • Library Journal

      September 1, 2022

      In England in the late 1400s, King Edward IV and his wife Elizabeth have eight children. The ruling couple's claim to the throne is stronger than that of any other contender, and their continued rule seems secure. Their daughter Elizabeth and her sisters expect to make brilliant marriages with other European royal houses to create alliances and end a long series of wars. Edward becomes ill and unexpectedly dies. In his will, he appoints his brother, Richard III, to make sure Prince Edward is safely crowned. Richard usurps the throne, putting both Edward and his brother in the Tower of London, where they vanish. This makes Elizabeth the next in the line of succession, although she cannot rule outright because she is a woman. Overcoming intrigue, political shifts, changing alliances, and dirty dealing finally brings Elizabeth, the last White Rose of the House of York, to the throne. Historian Weir draws on the extensive research she conducted for her 1998 biography The Life of Elizabeth I to create a fictionalized account of the queen's life. Narrator Rosalyn Landor's nuance and inflection make Elizabeth's story come to life. VERDICT Recommended for fans of historical fiction.--Joanna M. Burkhardt

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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