Elizabeth Woodville is undoubtedly a historical character whose life no novelist would ever have dared invent. She has been portrayed as an enchantress; as an unprincipled advancer of her family's fortunes and a plucky but pitiful queen in Shakespeare's histories. She has been alternatively championed and vilified by her contemporaries and five centuries of historians, dramatists and novelists, but what was she really like? In this revealing account of Elizabeth's life David Baldwin sets out to tell the story of this complex and intriguing woman. Was she the malign influence many of her critics held her to be? Was she a sorceress who bewitched Edward IV? What was the fate of her two sons, the 'Princes in the Tower'? What did she, of all people, think had become of them, and why did Richard III mount a campaign of vilification against her? David Baldwin traces Elizabeth's career and her influence on the major events of her husband Edward IV's reign, and in doing so he brings to life the personal and domestic politics of Yorkist England and the elaborate ritual of court life.
Elizabeth Woodville: Mother of the Princes in the Tower
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About the Author
David Baldwin is a medieval historian, who has taught at the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham for many years. His historical research has focused on the great medieval families in the Midlands and he has contributed articles to historical journals and lectured regularly to societies and conferences in this field.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 61 people found the following review helpful
By Ben Browne
Format:Hardcover
'I enjoyed this book because it is written in an entertaining style and really is about Elizabeth Woodville (i.e. there are no wearisome chapters dealing with the background rather than the person). It portrays her in a completely new light - as a politically aware and able queen rather than a haughty and grasping consort - and there are a number of interesting appendices concerning matters such as 'The Woodvilles and Witchcraft', Elizabeth's alleged 'Diary', and her possible association with the author of the 'Croyland Chronicle'. Highly recommended.'
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By Serpentinite
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a well-written and accessible, though somewhat biased, biography of one of the most controversial of English queens. The author takes issue with the traditional view that Elizabeth, being motivated solely by the desire to gain influence and power for the Woodville family, was a corrupting influence on Edward IV and advocated some of his most ill-advised policies. Here she is portrayed as providing wise and moderate counsel to her husband and frequently using her influence to mitigate his harsher decisions. She is seen as an astute and capable politician, who fell victim to the machinations of her trusted brother-in-law and, ultimately, became the victim of centuries of black propaganda. This revisionist history is interesting and the author cites abundant contemporary evidence to support his stance. However, I can't help but feel that the book would have been stronger for being a slightly more balanced portrait. Whilst the justified defence of a much-maligned individual against ill-founded, but generally accepted, allegations can prove enlightening, the author seems to be attempting to prove Elizabeth's innocence against all charges, no matter how indefensible. All in all though, a good read.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An interesting and convincing account of the life of Elizabeth Woodville, who despite being a much reviled figure of the Wars of the Roses era, does not have a society dedicated to reassessing her life as does Richard III. The alleged rapaciousness of her and her family is simply not supported by the historical evidence. Worth a read, though in places it does rather read like a "life and times" rather than a biography, something the author says in the introduction to the book that he wishes to avoid, but which is more difficult to avoid in the case of most Medieval personages, whose personal lives are very often very or fairly closed books. The only slight downer is the sometimes quite lengthy extracts from contemporary sources which are not translated into more modern English and are quite difficult to read.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I brought this book after I read Philippa Gregory's book "The White Queen". I wanted to learn more about this women who is just about known for been the mother of the princes in the tower. This book is a very good account on her life. I haven't read many books on the War of the Roses, but you don't need to know the ins and outs of it, as this biography, unlike so many, concentrates purely on Elizabeth herself and it gives you a very good overview of her life. I recommend this book to anyone interested in remembering those who are side lined in history!!!
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fresh look on one of England's most controversial Queen Consort - new perspectives, but too much of a whitewash
14 Feb 2008
Format:Paperback
Elizabeth Wydeville was Queen Consort to King Edward IV., is mostly known as the mother of the Princes in the Tower and she was - through her daughter, another Elizabeth - the " maternal grandmother" of the Tudor dynasty. However, there is much more to her than just being wife, mother or grandmother of. Her general historical reputation is however one of a clever and beautiful woman which is marrying above her station, clever and greedy for herself and her family. Not particuarly a good reputation.
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Balwin put things into perspective, shows motivation for slandering thsi queen and woamn , shows precedences how important females were treated at the time, sweps certain historical myths away. One starts to understand where Elizabeth Wydeville came from, learns about her background, her interest, her role as Queen and her legacy to her children and grandchildren. This is extremely interesting to read and understand.
However, I feel it is a bit of a whitewash, a bit too unbalanced. But maybe that is necessary because the historical reputation is unbalanced in the other direction.
All in all I did enjoy reading very much this biography. I learned a lot and my views on this Queen Elizabeth has changed.
!
Balwin put things into perspective, shows motivation for slandering thsi queen and woamn , shows precedences how important females were treated at the time, sweps certain historical myths away. One starts to understand where Elizabeth Wydeville came from, learns about her background, her interest, her role as Queen and her legacy to her children and grandchildren. This is extremely interesting to read and understand.
However, I feel it is a bit of a whitewash, a bit too unbalanced. But maybe that is necessary because the historical reputation is unbalanced in the other direction.
All in all I did enjoy reading very much this biography. I learned a lot and my views on this Queen Elizabeth has changed.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
if one wants to know about this period and what drove these ambitious mothers of the 15th century, this is the book to read
By Andrew
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
have just finished reading this and i loved it. lots of background history to elizabeth's time but also lots of proper information about elizabeth herself. i really enjoyed it.
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