Sandra Worth

Here is beautifully told, suspenseful novel about a little known figure in English history - Catherine Gordon. A renowned beauty and cousin to King James IV of Scotland, Catherine marries a controversial figure — the man who claims to be Richard, Duke of York — one of the two famous princes (sons of King Edward IV of England) imprisoned in the Tower of London. Richard claims he was rescued, raised in obscurity, and now, backed by many European monarchs, is committed to reclaiming his show more rightful throne from the usurper, King Henry VII. Unfortunately, Richard and Catherine are young, idealistic, and naive — unprepared for the paranoia, ruthlessness and brutality of Henry VII. (He definitely becomes that villain you will love to hate.)

As the author writes in the book’s afterward, little factual knowledge exists about Catherine Gordon. But, in Sandra Worth’s hands, that provides a wonderful opportunity to create. And Worth’s Catherine is a fully fleshed out woman — deeply in love with her husband, committed to his cause, and struggling to navigate the devious politics of Henry VII’s court, all the time deeply wary of the lustful glances coming from the Henry himself. It’s a wonderful story full of plots and double dealings.

It’s also a wonderful opportunity to observe the life of a noble woman of high birth in the late 1400s and early 1500s. And the stringent limitations of her power in a medieval world so fully controlled by men. Like nearly all women of the time, we learn about important historical events, more from the sidelines that from direct participation — like the bloody Battle of Culloden, the famous Field of Gold gathering with France’s King Francois I, and Henry’s VIII’s struggle for a divorce from Katherine of Aragon.

This is a winner! Lovers of historical fiction will enjoy getting under the skin of Catherine Gordon and the life she led during one of the most interesting and perilous periods of English history. show less

Here is beautifully told, suspenseful novel about a little known figure in English history - Catherine Gordon. A renowned beauty and cousin to King James IV of Scotland, Catherine marries a controversial figure — the man who claims to be Richard, Duke of York — one of the two famous princes (sons of King Edward IV of England) imprisoned in the Tower of London. Richard claims he was rescued, raised in obscurity, and now, backed by many European monarchs, is committed to reclaiming his show more rightful throne from the usurper, King Henry VII. Unfortunately, Richard and Catherine are young, idealistic, and naive — unprepared for the paranoia, ruthlessness and brutality of Henry VII. (He definitely becomes that villain you will love to hate.)

As the author writes in the book’s afterward, little factual knowledge exists about Catherine Gordon. But, in Sandra Worth’s hands, that provides a wonderful opportunity to create. And Worth’s Catherine is a fully fleshed out woman — deeply in love with her husband, committed to his cause, and struggling to navigate the devious politics of Henry VII’s court, all the time deeply wary of the lustful glances coming from the Henry himself. It’s a wonderful story full of plots and double dealings.

It’s also a wonderful opportunity to observe the life of a noble woman of high birth in the late 1400s and early 1500s. And the stringent limitations of her power in a medieval world so fully controlled by men. Like nearly all women of the time, we learn about important historical events, more from the sidelines that from direct participation — like the bloody Battle of Culloden, the famous Field of Gold gathering with France’s King Francois I, and Henry’s VIII’s struggle for a divorce from Katherine of Aragon.

This is a winner! Lovers of historical fiction will enjoy getting under the skin of Catherine Gordon and the life she led during one of the most interesting and perilous periods of English history. show less

In the late 1400s/early 1500s, Perkin Warbeck claimed to be the rightful King of England. He claimed he was actually Richard IV, who had been imprisoned in the Tower of London as a boy with his older brother. It was thought that both young princes died in the Tower, but there was a rumour that Richard had escaped.

In this novel, told mostly from the point of view of Richard's wife, Catherine, the two of them come to England from Scotland (where she was royalty) with their son, intending on show more claiming his throne from Henry VII. Catherine and Richard were in love (not common amongst royal marriages at the time), so it was hard on them to be separated once they were taken “prisoner” by Henry (and their infant son, Dicken, was taken from them and hidden). Catherine was serving as one of Queen Elizabeth's (Henry VII's wife) ladies, while the Tudor spies kept a close eye on Richard. This book follows the story beyond Richard's death, to follow Catherine in the years after he was gone.

I really liked this. I've just recently (the past couple of years) started reading more about the Wars of the Roses, but I haven't read a lot about the two young princes (Edward and Richard), though I want to read more, nor have I read anything about Perkin Warbeck (though I knew his name). Appreciated the author's note at the end, too (as always with historical fiction). Maybe Perkin Warbeck was Richard IV... show less

The King's Daughter recounts the life of Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV, sister to Edward V and wife to Henry VII and mother to Henry VIII. This is all pretty much well known history and enough reviewers and the product page recap the main story line I don't want to rehash it again. Worth's version of Elizabeth's life, told in the first person POV, just ended up for this reader to be a sodding, boring mess - I ended up skimming through the last 200 pages.

The goodies were really show more really good and the baddies were really really bad. Elizabeth herself was so pure and perfect I was waiting for her to cut her finger so I could see if she would bleed sugar, while her mother Elizabeth Woodville was practicing witchcraft when she wasn't busy running into sanctuary. Her son Arthur is pure as the driven snow, while young Harry (the future Henry VIII) is a borderline child sociopath. As for Henry's mother Margaret Beaufort - well the only person I can think of to portray her in the movie is Cruella de Vil. Honestly, Henry VII is the only character who got a fair shake in this one.

As for historical accuracy and the author's research from her notes, I am not a historian so I'm not one to judge. However, the bit about proving to Henry VII that she was a virgin has no historical basis that I've heard of, nor does the author mention in her notes where she picked up that bit of supposition from. Worse yet, is the unrequited love (and never-ending even after death) Elizabeth holds for her uncle Richard.

To top it all off, way too much melodrama and "woe" is me from both Elizabeth's (mother and daughter) and over the top prose. Here we have Elizabeth's reaction after Ann (that would be Queen Ann Richard's wife) as she tells niece Elizabeth her uncle will need her,

"I felt as if a shutter had been thrown open, pouring in brilliant light. The sleepless nights, the pounding of my heart each time King Richard drew near; my shyness in his presence...."

Elizabeth's mother giving her advice on keeping her husband in line,

"You'd know what to do -- you'd get into bed and lick that king of yours until he stops listening to his mother and turns to you". Eeeewwww.

Get the point? It is unfortunate, as so little is really known about Elizabeth of York's life and a well written fleshed out novel on her is sorely lacking - however, this is not it. While its certainly not the worst historical ever written, IMO it's far from the best as well. If you're dead set on reading this, get it from the library first and then buy it if you love it. show less