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When Edward IV died in 1483, the Yorkist succession was called into question by doubts about the legitimacy of his son, Edward (one of the 'Princes in the Tower'). The crown therefore passed to Edward's undoubtedly legitimate younger brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. But Richard, too, found himself entangled in the web of uncertainty, since those who believed in the legitimacy of Edward IV's children viewed Richard III's own accession as a usurpation. From the day when Edward IV married Eleanor, or pretended to do so, or allowed it to be whispered that he might have done so, the House of York, previously so secure in its bloodline, confronted a contentious and uncertain future. John Ashdown-Hill argues that Eleanor Talbot was married to Edward IV, and that therefore Edward's subsequent marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was bigamous, making her children illegitimate. He thereby offers a solution to one of history's great mysteries.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this an eminently readable book, well researched and even handed.
I think by now everyone interested knows that Edward IV was married before his "marriage" to Elizabeth Woodville, but few of us knew enough about the lady he had married secretly, nor did we realise what an important woman his first bride was - in fact, she would have been a better"catch" than Elizabeth, although both women were well connected.Now I am wondering about Edward himself and whether he was legitimate.So different from all his forebears, and possibly not the son of the Duke of York, he would have been insecure enough about his position, without the news of his previous contract with Lady Talbot leaking out.This does clear up the previously mysterious reasons for his killing of his brother of Clarence.I do hope that Mr Ashdown-Hill will soon offer us more of his clear, beautiful English, and his deeply researched work.Of course,as a Ricardian, I am a little biased!
I think by now everyone interested knows that Edward IV was married before his "marriage" to Elizabeth Woodville, but few of us knew enough about the lady he had married secretly, nor did we realise what an important woman his first bride was - in fact, she would have been a better"catch" than Elizabeth, although both women were well connected.Now I am wondering about Edward himself and whether he was legitimate.So different from all his forebears, and possibly not the son of the Duke of York, he would have been insecure enough about his position, without the news of his previous contract with Lady Talbot leaking out.This does clear up the previously mysterious reasons for his killing of his brother of Clarence.I do hope that Mr Ashdown-Hill will soon offer us more of his clear, beautiful English, and his deeply researched work.Of course,as a Ricardian, I am a little biased!
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If I had taken notice of the negative reviews I would not have bought this book, so I am grateful to the authors of the positive reviews that persuaded me to buy it. It was certainly time that an author investigated the life of this neglected lady who was almost written out of history by Tudor authors. The book is well-researched and very thorough in examining Eleanor's descent and family connections. Instead of her being some shadowy hanger-on on the edge of society she is shown to be a woman of some importance, the eldest daughter of an earl, descended from Edward I and Edward III and related to the Beauchamp, Mowbray and Neville families. Her marriage to Edward IV, then, was no mesalliance but a very suitable match had Edward not been king and expected to make a dynastic marriage. In the end, of course, he didn't do this either. The fact that Edward made another SECRET marriage was why his children by Elizabeth Woodville were illegitimate - if he had married Elizabeth in public then the marriage would have been in good faith on Elizabeth's part and her children would have been legitimate. Of course if they had published banns Eleanor would have had chance to object. Fascinating stuff.
What Eleanor did after Edward abandoned her is interesting too. She made endowments to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and also became associated with the Carmelite order at Norwich, in whose church she was buried. She had moved to Norfolk probably to be near her sister, Elizabeth, the Duchess of Norfolk (whose small daughter, Anne, was married to Richard, younger son of Edward IV).
All-in-all a very interesting read and an important book. Maybe we will never know for sure what really happened, but the author's interpretation of the evidence he has uncovered is fair-handed and faultless.
What Eleanor did after Edward abandoned her is interesting too. She made endowments to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and also became associated with the Carmelite order at Norwich, in whose church she was buried. She had moved to Norfolk probably to be near her sister, Elizabeth, the Duchess of Norfolk (whose small daughter, Anne, was married to Richard, younger son of Edward IV).
All-in-all a very interesting read and an important book. Maybe we will never know for sure what really happened, but the author's interpretation of the evidence he has uncovered is fair-handed and faultless.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It did take a bit of ploughing through, but do persevere, it gets more interesting as it goes on. I had heard of the Lady in question Eleanor Lady Butler, and have always believed that Edward 1V had indeed "married" her, when Earl of March.
But Henry Tudor who successfully usurped the throne that he had absolutely no right to in law. Managed by very skillful lies to blacken the name of Richard 111 to such an extent; that very few now believe that Edward was a bigamist and his offspring bastards. A very convincing and well researched book.
But Henry Tudor who successfully usurped the throne that he had absolutely no right to in law. Managed by very skillful lies to blacken the name of Richard 111 to such an extent; that very few now believe that Edward was a bigamist and his offspring bastards. A very convincing and well researched book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An Excellent Study
This book is a must for anyone interested in the history of the Yorkist dynasty which ruled England and Wales from 1461 until 1485. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Chalcotribist
Nothing new... interesting for debates
Whether Edward IV was married before he wed Elizabeth Woodville or not, it would have been easy for Richard III to 'prove' that he was... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Illyria
Eleanor The Secret Queen
Wonderful book, very well researched and presented. Enjoyable to read, the author got to grips with the subject and produced an excellent book. I would recommend it.
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. M. Cheatham
An interesting read, but this book could have been so much better
This book completely demolishes the contention that Richard III was a usurper, because (as Ashdown amply shows) the 'Princes in the Tower' were both illegitimate. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2009 by Dr. Paul M. Monk
The truth behind the lies
A noted historian and an engaging writer, John Ashdown-Hill takes the reader gently by the hand through the life of the shadowy Lady Eleanor, and even offers a reconstruction of... Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2009 by A. J. Carson
A fascinating account of a much ignored (yet crucial) 15th century...
For anyone interested in fifteenth century history, the Wars of the Roses, or Richard III this book is a must-read. For the first time, Dr. Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2009 by Thomas York
usurper or rightful king - one of the mysteries of Richard III -...
Richard III's claim to the throne was set out in the document known as the Titulus regis (The Title of the King) presented to his first parliament held in January 1484, and... Read more
Published on 14 Feb 2009 by Amelrode
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