About book The Reluctant Queen: The Story Of Anne Of York (2007)
I went searching for a blurb of the story at Random House's site and this what I found is what is written above- I must say that I am a bit puzzled, Anne was not bethrothed to the older brother of her childhood love and Plaidy certainly never made that mistake... The Reluctant Queen is part of a series Plaidy wrote about the Queens of England and it’s the story of Anne Neville, Richard III’s queen. The story is told in the first person and reads like a memoir, as she lays sick and feeling death approach, Anne Neville recounts her life from childhood to Queen of England.She was the youngest daughter of the Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker, and along with her sister Isabel the richest heiress of England. She spent her childhood in Middleham Castle, one of her father’s properties, and where she met Richard of Gloucester, the youngest son of the Duke of York and brother of the future Edward IV. Plaidy follows the usual route of showing them as a sort of childhood sweethearts but Anne is soon as a political pawn by her father. After Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville the relationship between him and Warwick becomes strained, the Earl wanted to be the power behind the throne and Edward wants to follow his own way. Eventually Warwick changes his allegiance and supports Margaret of Anjou. As Anne’s sister had been married to Clarence, Edward VI’s brother to strengthen political ties, so Anne is married to Margaret’s son Henry in 1470. I found it a bit odd that Plaidy only mentions a betrothal and not a marriage as I was under the impression from other reads that Anne had indeed married Henry. However, when they arrive in England to fight for Henry’s claim to the throne the Earl of Warwick is dead, after the Battle of Tewksbury so is Henry and Anne becomes first a prisoner, and afterwards went to live with her sister Isabel and the Duke of Clarence.Apparently, Clarence wanted to prevent Anne from marrying again and wanted her to stay as his ward so he could control the whole of the Warwick fortune. However, Anne and Richard wanted to marry and to prevent that Clarence has Anne kidnapped. It’s only after Richard finds her working as a maid in a common shop that she is taken to sanctuary and they finally marry in 1472.After her marriage Anne and Richard settle in Middleham Castle. Richard is Governor of the North and they have one child, Edward. While telling her story Anne notes that Middleham is where she feels at home and was most happy. But after Edward IV’s death, when Richard is appointed Lord Protector for his nephews they have to travel to London. Being this Anne’s story, we only see Richard of Gloucester through her loving eyes. But after he becomes king and their son dies Anne is filled with doubts and insecurities. She feels the end is near and is haunted by rumours that the king is poisoning her to marry his niece. I found it interesting that Plaidy really makes us feel that the future will be bleak for both of them.I thought the story was very well written in the sense that it is very clearly explained how the Wars of The Roses started and the complex political events of that time. It was less so when it comes to explain why and how Richard III became king. I had a bit of a problem with Anne as she at times seemed just too perfect. While she may be the object of admiration, I didn’t feel much empathy with her and I missed having a strong character to identify with and feel passionate about. For readers already familiarized with the Wars of The Rose this book will probably not bring anything new but if you are just starting on the subject it might make for an interesting read.Grade: 4/5
I've been disillusioned by the last few Jean Plaidy books I have read, but this one reminded me why I love her writing. Anne of York, the daughter of the "Kingmaker" Richard Neville and the wife of the infamous Richard III, comes to life within this book, and she felt like a real person instead of someone merely there to tell a story. She actually has a personality, good traits, and flaws. I love Anne's story because she had so many ups and downs in her life and all she wanted was to marry for love, something which was practically unheard of during this time period. The novel is definitely pro-Richard III, which is always an enjoyment, because personally, I don't think he was involved with the plot to murder the princes in the tower. He didn't have anything to gain from it, not like Buckingham or Henry VII. Anyway, Anne meets Richard when they are young children and he is brought up in her father's care to learn military strategy and social graces. From the moment she sees him, Anne falls head over heels in love with him and that love never goes away. Even when her powerful father turns on Richard's brother, Edward IV, and she learns she is to marry the son of Margaret of Anjou and Henry VI, she remains loyal in her love for Richard. When Margaret of Anjou (who Anne comes to admire and even love)'s son dies, Anne and Richard reunite. Everything should have turned out immediately happy for the two lovers, except for one person's involvement: Richard and Edward's other brother,George, Duke of Clarence. He is a very ambitious man who despite scheming for the crown numerous times, always seems to get off because he is the king's brother. George is married to Anne's sister, Isabel, who loves him to the point of distraction, and because Isabel is the elder sister, their father's inheritance mostly goes to her. If Anne married, she would get half of the inheritance. Being the greedy scum he is, he decides to keep her single by drugging her and imprisoning her in a cookshop. Needless to say, I absolutely hated George (and to a certain extent, Isabel, for her blindness towards George's actions) and couldn't wait for that butt of malmsey wine to come up. Soon, Anne and Richard finally marry, and though I knew how the story ends for Anne, Richard, and their young son, I couldn't help but wish for their happiness. They had so much unconditional love for each other, but they underwent so much grief that they truly did seem cursed at the end. Gaining the crown itself was a curse for them as they had to give up their private life for the public life of the court and court intrigues. It made me admire Anne to an extent because I really felt for her. No matter what happened in her life, she persevered through it, which isn't easy, but it makes you stronger. And Anne, though she kind of lost it in her later years, was in certain ways, strong.
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I greatly enjoyed this novel! It allowed me to see the events of the War of the Roses from Richard III's perspective, a view so often ignored by historians. It was refreshing to see his romantic and more human side, expressed in his encounters with Anne.However, the author was biased towards this side. First, Richard is portrayed in significant detail as being a loyal brother, in awe of Edward, ready to serve him, etc. Then, when he dies, he disinherits his son Edward and takes the crown. His excuse is that the marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was null, and that Richard felt a moral obligation to assume the throne as the rightful heir. Oh please. Nobody would have these moral qualms. It just wasn't.. believable. Plaidy should have expanded more on the idea of the Woodville faction's growing influence. This is why Richard felt threatened, possibly paranoid, and decided to take action.I was confused as to the nature of Anne's relationship with Edward of Westminster. Plaidy makes it seem like they were only betrothed, and a marriage did not happen because he died in battle. However, most sources consider their marriage as valid, and list Edward as her first spouse.In general, this is a great book, especially for supporters of Richard III.
—Andrea
This is between a 3.5 and 4 star book...I am a big Jean Plaidy fan, but I was a bit disappointed in this book. I can't really blame her, though. It is all Philippa Gregory's fault! I loved her book The White Queen and loved how Elizabeth Woodville was portrayed. I had never at that point had read anything about her. This book about Anne Neville was much the same story, but from the "enemies" eyes. Anne paints an awful picture of Elizabeth and her family. You get all the bad and none of the good. That was hard to read for me because I liked her! But, maybe it is justified...As she is telling the story we should expect nothing less, I guess. King Edward IV is portrayed the same, but as a bigger philanderer.I think the book was interesting and I learned some things about Anne Neville that aren't brought out in Gregory's The White Queen. Was she really kidnapped and made to work in a cookshop? Plaidy's work is usually more fact than ficiton so I am guessing that story to be true. In all fairness, if I had read this first I might not have loved White Queen as much, but so to speak, the damage has been done! This book is told in first person narrative, and was easy enough reading, but the ending leaves something to be desired. It ends when our storyteller dies, so King Richard is still on the throne and it gives us no closure on the ending of his reign. It is a little too abrupt. As far as Plaidy's writing goes, it is usually good with a few exceptions. This was not one of my favorites, but mainly for reasons listed above.
—Angie
History is written by the victors, which is why I have to give the finger to Mr. Shakespeare and his "Richard III." In reality, Richard III and his beloved Anne were two of the most charming, sweet, and tragic lovers in history. This is a beautiful version of their story, if you aren't familiar with it, start here. Anne of York was the only queen of England to have also been a kitchen maid, a gentle, intelligent lady who saw her happiness ripped away time and again, and her story (and Richard's) is utterly fascinating.
—Jessica
