The Red Queen - Philippa Gregory

The year is 1453 and nine year old Margaret Beaufort dreams of becoming the English Joan Of Arc, believing herself to be the saintly saviour of her country. What follows is Margaret’s tale as she struggles to fulfil what she feels is her destiny, never swerving from her belief that God has given her a purpose. Philippa Gregory is undoubtedly best known for her Tudor series of books including the bestseller, The Other Boleyn Girl, which has been made into a film (read the book, it’s far superior). Following the same format of taking a strong woman and then allowing her to tell her own story ... more

The Red Queen is the second book in the Cousins' War series; or rather it may be seen as the sister book, since it runs parallel to The White Queen. It is the story of Margaret Beaufort, mother of the boy who would become Henry VII and eventual matriarch of the House of Tudor, as she schemes, gambles and struggles her way through the Wars of the Roses. Maragaret is a serious and (I thought) rather irritating child who believes that she has a divine calling and frequently compares herself to Joan of Arc. She believes throughout her life that she is guided by God and doing his will; ... more

Having read and recently reviewed 'The White Queen' by Philippa Gregory, I thought I should read the accompanying book, 'The Red Queen' which tells the same story but from a totally different viewpoint. As I mentioned in my previous review, I have been a fan of Philippa Gregory ever since reading 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. The Red Queen follows the story of the 'Cousins War', the time period in which the Plantagenets fought continually over the throne. Two opposing houses, the Lancasters and the Yorks though related as cousins, both sought to put their own heirs on the throne and England endured ... more