Judith Arnopp

Plots & Threats: Everyday Family Politics During England's War of the Roses

Here is the next chapter in the fascinating saga of one of medieval Europe's most powerful mothers. And while I liked the more personal portrait of Margaret Beaufort Tudor (mother of Henry VII) in the first book of this series, THE BEAUFORT BRIDE, I did enjoy this novel's continuation of her story and her struggle for power.

In Judith Arnopp's second book of the BEAUFORT CHRONICLES, Margaret's son is not yet king. show more Instead we follow the widowed Margaret through two more marriages -- first to Harry Stafford and then to Thomas Stanley-- both men of power and influence, though on competing sides. Margaret and her husbands are all trying to travel the thorny road of shifting allegiances that is at the core of the War of the Roses.

As the throne shifts from King Henry VI to Edward IV, then back and forth again, nobles on both sides must continually prove their allegiance to the man who happens to be in power at the moment. And this is probably what this book is best at describing-- just how treacherous it was to live in England during these years. One day your support of the monarch makes you a valued hero, the next day you warrant a traitor's death. This is particularly true for a powerless woman and heiress like Margaret. As a devoted Lancastrian, she must cosy up to the Yorks -- first Edward IV's and his wife, Elizabeth Woodville. And then to Richard III. She has to show concern for their children -- even though those same children stand between Margaret's own son and the throne.

After Edward IV's death, Margaret must publicly appear to abandon Elizabeth Woodville and ally herself with Richard III's queen, Anne. As Margaret secretly plots in support of her son, she is forced to live a true double life, trying to maintain public loyalty to the reigning monarch while ambitiously manipulating behind the scenes.

It's sort of fun to watch how Margaret manages to survive long enough to see her son victorious, which is where this book ends. The next book in the sequence, THE KING'S MOTHER, is yet to be published. You can bet I'll be reading it as soon as I can. show less

This is the second volume in the author's trilogy of novels tracing the life of Margaret Beaufort, scion of the house of Lancaster and mother of the future English king Henry VII. This novel covers the period after she married Henry Stafford right up until the victory of her son at Bosworth in 1485, a full quarter century.

Being told entirely from Margaret's first person viewpoint, the various battles and dramatic political events of the conflict known to later generations as the Wars of the show more Roses, are imparted to her through the arrival of breathless messengers reporting back victory, defeat, or the shocking desertion of one of the principal actors to or from one side or the other. This narrative approach, while historically accurate, sometimes irritates me in historical fiction but here it illustrates effectively how a powerful political figure like Margaret Beaufort is marginalised from the main action as a woman. The most dominant emotion in her mental landscape though is desperate regret and worry about her separation from her son Henry for almost the whole of his childhood and indeed his adulthood until his military and political victory at the age of 28.

The dramatic events of 1483-85 are vividly told; like many historical novelists she appears to be a believer in the innocence of Richard III over the Princes in the Tower and indeed she does not believe they were murdered, or at least that nine year old Richard was not murdered, to judge by the plot of another of her novels. I don't share her view on this, but it is a well told version of events and Margaret comes across as a real three dimensional human character. show less

Four Voices Tell the Story of KIng Henry VIII's Final Wife

Queen Katherine Parr is usually portrayed as a keenly intelligent and dutiful wife. Married three times to much older men - including Henry VIII - she was known as a skilled caretaker and faithful companion. Her fourth, short-lived marriage - to Thomas Seymour, brother to former Queen Jane Seymour and uncle to Henry VIII's successor, King Edward VI - is usually portrayed as the major passion of Katherine's life. She and Thomas were show more involved before Henry VIII chose to make her queen.

What I like most about Arnopp's novel is its construction. There are four sections, each narrated by a different character.
- First, there is Katherine's step-daughter from the second marriage. From her we witness Katherine's loving and supportive presence and extreme kindness.
- Katherine herself narrates the second section of the book, describing her initial horror at being chosen to marry the King, followed by her dutiful commitment to being both a good wife and Queen.
- After Henry VIII's death, Thomas Seymour takes over as narrator -- and his character was the most interesting to me. Instead of his customary portrayal -- as someone deeply in love with Katherine Parr but having to step aside for a King -- Arnopp's Thomas is a scheming, ambitious egotist who cares primarily for pleasure and his own personal advancement. And that sets up to the story of Thomas's "flirtation" with Katherine's step-daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth I.
- Princess Elizabeth is the fourth narrator, lamenting the errors of her own relationships with both Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour and using those experiences to formulate her own public demeanor.

The combination of these four voices paints a believable and very human portrait of Queen Katherine Parr, because it's based on a small group of historical figures who juggle the same conflicting emotions and responsibilities we all face -- ambition, duty, romantic passion, love, mistakes, and bad judgement. show less

A Different and Believable Take on the Child Who Becomes Mother of the Tudor Dynasty

Margaret Beaufort Tudor is usually depicted as a possessive mother, ruthlessly obsessed with her son's claim to the English throne. Her keen political acumen is one of the greatest assets her son has throughout his struggle to ascend and then maintain his throne.

But the Margaret of this novel is a much more sympathetic woman. Girl, really. Extraordinarily wealthy, she is married off to Edmund Tudor while show more still a child, though that does not stop him from immediately consummating the marriage. Just thirteen when she gives birth to her only child -- left with a body badly damaged by the trauma of childbirth while still a child -- she mistakenly thinks she might finally become mistress of her own fate. But I'll skip the spoilers....

Arnopp's depiction of Margaret is an interesting contrast to typical portrayals. Here she is just a helpless child, trying to make her way in an adult world where she is generally viewed as a mere political pawn. I look forward to continuing to read more about Margaret's life in Arnopp's planned trilogy, the Beaufort Chronicles. show less