The Women of the Cousins' War: The Duchess, the Queen, and the King's Mother

**Review: *The Women of the Cousins' War*** *The Women of the Cousins' War: The Duchess, the Queen, and the King's Mother* by Philippa Gregory, David Baldwin, and Michael Jones masterfully connects the fictional portrayals in Gregory's novels with historical accuracy. This book explores the lives of Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, and Anne Neville, offering detailed historical context that complements Gregory’s engaging narratives. While Gregory’s novels provide dramatic and emotional portrayals, this book enriches those stories with factual accounts, primary sources, and in-depth analysis. For fans of Gregory’s work, *The Women of the Cousins' War* enhances the reading experience by offering a deeper understanding of the historical figures behind the fiction. It’s a compelling read that bridges the gap between captivating storytelling and historical detail.

This was a most spectacular book. It gave me a perspective of the historical fiction/novel genre that I never had before. It proved a very valuable insight into these 3 women as well as the 3 authors and their processes. I would actually have liked to have read this first before I read all of the other Philippa Gregory books on my ancestors--these wonderful, powerful, insightful but forgotten women of the Cousins' War. The entire series of Philippa Gregory on all of the women of the era--that war--not just the Duchess, the Queen and the King's Mother are books that I will treasure forever and pass down to my children so that they may have a better understanding of their roots as well.

The book was all right. The three women are well defined, or at least as well defined as our current levels of research allow. All three biographies are very readable, although they do not really shed any more light on the women than other more comprehensive biographies I have read. The real treat of this book was in Philippa Gregory's introduction. Her definition of historical fiction was spot on, and I agree completely with her theory that it is just as viable a form of writing as any other, provided the author does their research and incorporates the facts as seamlessly as possible in with their imaginings. Considering that history changes, or at least our viewpoint of it does, every time the Vatican opens its files or a new treasure trove of material is discovered, is well researched historical fiction really that much different from actual history? Nonfiction history pieces the tale together from known records, but it is still piecing. Historical fiction, if the author knows the subject, does the same thing, but with greater intimate detail and assumptions. So read the book. But also read the introductory essays from Ms Gregory. They are worth the purchase of the book on their own merit.

Purchased as a used book from Amazon seller. Book arrived in practically brand new condition including the jacket at a fraction of the price! Could not believe the wonderful condition this book. Also, an excellent read and thoroughly enjoyed.

it was very informative, I have read most l of Phillippa books and this helped me understand some of the history about these women but I prefer her novels based on non fiction better...

Philippa Gregory is one of my favorite historical authors. She writes biographies very detailed and well written. This book and all her books she covers the basic histories but also gives information that you wouldn’t normally know in a average textbook. This covers everything and all her work does.

Even though these women's names have shown up on the fringes of history, it is great to finally get an in depth look at the real impact they had on history. Even if we think we know a lot about the the mystery of the princes in the tower, or the Tudor years, without these women who set the stage, none of what we know would ever have happened. The War of the Roses didn't occur in isolation. Rivalries had gone on for generations, and the Duchess Jaquetta's story, helps link it back in time, as well as far from Britain itself. Without Margaret Beaufort's immense ambition, and slightly bizarre view of her importance to God, it could be said that the Tudor dynasty would never have happened at all. And Elizabeth Woodville is allowed to break our of the role of schemer and harpy that she is often cast. I couldn't put it down.

I was truly excited when I saw that this book was available for order. The women of the cousin's war were, in my opinion, some of the most fascinating, intelligent, strong willed and motivated women of their time. My hope for the book was that it would elucidate the war in context with the women who played such an important role in the war. I was not disappointed from that perspective! Jcquetta, Duchess of Bedford, her daughter Elizabeth Woodville, the Queen (one of my favorite monarchs) and Margaret Beaufort, wife to Henry VII and mother to Henry VIII. I learned quite about about them and their familial relationships - which is what I wanted to understand more clearly. I found that this book really helped me sort out the myriad 'players' in this most important historical frame. Coincidentally, I was re-reading "Elizabeth, England's Slandered Queen" by Arlene Okerlund at the same time and that really helped me sort through the myriad inter-relationships that were a part of this remarkable, but unstable, time in England's history. I might have given this a 5 start had it all been more 'fleshed out' but as general introduction to these amazing women and their important roles in the long conflict that ruled their lives I found the book to be well worth the reading. It will remain in my "British History Library"!

great book if you love history , are interested in this period of history

Not as expected.

Very happy with it, found it an interesting, entertaining and easy read which gives a great overview of the historical context.

J'ai adoré ce livre qui parle de trois figures de la guerre des Roses entre cousins Lancastre et York. On comprend mieux pourquoi on ne parle presque jamais des femmes dans l'histoire et je recommande ce livre à tous les amoureux de l'Angleterre. Ce qui m'a légèrement déçu c'est le fait que Philippa Grégory n'a pas écrit elle-même les trois résumés des vies de ces personnages.

A very well written account of the lives of three incredible women. All three sections are brilliantly written,very informative and get across very well how dramatic and exciting this period of history really is. A great companion to Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series of novels, which are also a great read. The section on Jacquetta is a little sparse on personal information but that is due to how little is known about her personal life. The lives of Elizabeth and Margaret are much better known. This book, and Gregory's novels, have made me want to find out so much more about this fascinating period of British history. Thoroughly recommended.