The Last White Rose: The Secret Wars of the Tudors
by Desmond Seward
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Description
One of the most dramatic periods of British history, the Wars of the Roses didn't end at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Despite the death of Richard III and Henry VIIs victory, it continued underground into the following century with plots, pretenders and subterfuge by the ousted white rose faction. In a brand new interpretation of this turning point in history, well known historian Desmond Seward reviews the story of the Tudors' seizure of the throne and shows that for many years they were show more far from secure. He challenges the way we look at the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII, explaining why there were so many Yorkist pretenders and conspiracies, and why the new dynasty had such difficulty establishing itself. King Richard's nephews, the Earl of Warwick and the little known de la Pole brothers, all had the support of dangerous enemies overseas, while England was split when the lowly Perkin Warbeck skilfully impersonated one of the princes in the tower in order to claim the right to the throne. Warwick's surviving sister Margaret also became the desperate focus of hopes that the White Rose would be reborn. The book also offers a new perspective on why Henry VIII, constantly threatened by treachery, real or imagined, and desperate to secure his power with a male heir, became a tyrant. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
In reading this book, one is inevitably drawn to comparisons between Henry VIII and Joseph Stalin, in terms of the use of deceit, raw power, and the smashing of long-standing institutions, not to mention the lavish use of espionage and war as tools of policy. This book focuses on the efforts of the first two Tudor monarchs to put down rebellions against their rule — and neither King comes off well. Grim, but compelling reading.
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Best Nonfiction about Tudor England
25 works; 12 members
Author Information
35 Works 4,484 Members
Desmond Seward was born in Paris and educated at Cambridge. He is the author of Richard III, The Last White Rose, The Demon's Brood, and The Warrior King and the Invasion of France. He lives in England.
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2013
- People/Characters
- Henry VII, King of England; Henry VIII, King of England; Arthur, Prince of Wales (son of Henry VII); Francis Bacon; George Neville, Lord Bergaveny; Anne Boleyn (show all 36); Eustace Chapuys; Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor; Robert Clifford; Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter; Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex; Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk, 6th Earl of Suffolk; John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln; Richard de la Pole; Edward IV, King of England; François I, King of France; Edward Hall; Catherine of Aragon; Garret FitzGerald, Earl of Kildare; Thomas Killingworth; Francis Lovell, 1st Viscount Lovell; Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy; Mary I, Queen of England; Maximilian I (1459-1519); Henry Pole; Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk; Philip, Archduke of Burgundy; Margaret, Countess of Salisbury; Geoffrey Pole; Reginald Pole; Richard III, King of England; Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham; Polydore Vergil; Perkin Warbeck; Edward, Earl of Warwick (son of George of Clarence); Thomas Wolsey
- Important events
- Wars of the Roses; Battle of Bosworth Field; Pilgrimage of Grace
- First words
- At Bosworth on 22 August 1485, at the head of his Knights and Squires of the Body, Richard III charged down on Henry Tudor's puny army in the field below.
- Blurbers
- Hutchinson, Robert; Childs, Jessie; Porter, Linda; Castor, Helen; De Lisle, Leanda; Marshall, Peter
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 941.05 — History & geography History of Europe British Isles Historical periods of British Isles 1485-1603 Period of House of Tudor
- LCC
- DA315 .S44 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Great Britain History of Great Britain England History By period Modern, 1485- Tudors, 1485-1603
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 201
- Popularity
- 161,299
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.38)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 3
