Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. So here's a thing I'm looking forward to: The White Princess, by Philippa Gregory, the latest in her Cousins' War series of historical novels, due out from Touchstone on July 23, 2013.


 When the King of York, Richard III, is murdered in battle at the hand of Henry Tudor, Henry claims the crown and demands Elizabeth wed him, knowing that it's the only way to weaken the claims of other surviving members of the House of York.
Elizabeth begrudgingly agrees. As impostors claiming to be the last York heir begin to come forward, Elizabeth's mother, the former White Queen Elizabeth of Woodville, concocts a plan for revenge.
 What only she knows is that her son Richard, in hiding since he was smuggled out of England during the usurpation of Richard III, is now a young man prepared to take his rightful place as king. Holding the interest of her clan close to her heart, Elizabeth Woodville supports an uprising against Henry, placing her daughter, now Queen to Henry's King, between two loyalties.

When Henry learns of their plan, he imprisons his mother-in-law and orders Richard to live with them at court as the Queen's brother, keeping him close while attempting to prove that he is merely another impostor. But when Richard attempts to escape from court, Henry locks him in the tower alongside a York supporter, and the two prisoners escape - only to be recaptured and sentenced to death.
 Elizabeth must respect her husband's order and witness her brother's execution, torn once again between family and crown...



*****
For a while there the end of June and all of July was looking like a vast wasteland for books to look forward to, but I finally found one at the end of July! I've been a fan of Philippa Gregory since I first read The Other Boleyn Girl on an airplane years ago, and this series is my favorite of hers. I thought the last couple of installments kind of went over the same ground she'd already covered, so I'm glad to see that this one advances a little farther into the early Tudor period.

Coincidentally, Alison Weir has a biography of Elizabeth of York coming out this year, so I'll probably pick that up after I've read this novel.

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