Best Books Review

Happy New Year to all!   As usual, my first post of the year is a review of the best books of the previous year 2018.   They are my personal choices and my opinions.  Not all will have been published in 2019, it's just that is when I read them.  I try to persevere with every book I start, even though it's sometimes difficult!  2019 have provided me with some real gems and a few disappointments.   

1.  Undoubtedly the best book of the year was Kathryn Warner's 'Blood Roses - the Houses of Lancaster and York before the Wars of the Roses'.   I absolutely LOVED this book!  There are many, many books on the Wars of the Roses, as we now commonly call the medieval civil war.   However Kathryn Warner takes us right back, to the very first Dukes of York and Lancaster, and their amazing links throughout Europe.   There are fascinating characters to meet along the way - particularly Henry of Grosment.    As usual with all Kathryn Warner's work, the research is out-standing.

2.  The  House of Beaufort - Nathen Amin.  A fabulous and detailed read on one of my favourite, complicated historical families!   That they should come from a 'bastard line' and produce a rank outsider Henry Tudor who became king is remarkable.   In particular, the history of Joan Beaufort and her 18 children is both complicated and riveting.  Very well researched and immensely enjoyable to read.

3.   Another of Kathryn Warner's books - 'Hugh Despencer, the Younger and Edward II'.  Again, meticulous research and what I particularly like about this book is that Kathryn Warner doesn't seek to excuse the behaviour and actions of Hugh Despencer, rather she lays bare all that Despencer has done but that doesn't mean everything he's accused of he is guilty of.  Intimidation, piracy and recklessness all apply to him!

4.  The Nevilles of Middleham by K L Clarke.    I've long had an interest in Richard Neville, the so-called Kingmaker and Earl of Warwick.  This book delves into the background of the Neville family in great detail - particularly the history of Maud Stanhope.   At times a little difficult to follow, but with such a family, it's to be expected.  

5.  Best fiction book of the year is 'The First of the Tudors' by Joanna Hickson.  This is a novel about Jasper Tudor, uncle of the future Henry VII.  The story is told from Jasper and his cousin Jane's point of view, and their romantic involvement during perilous times.  I particularly enjoyed the scenes at Pembroke Castle, with Jasper almost in awe of his young sister-in-law, Margaret Beaufort.   Despite the age difference, Jasper puts Margaret on a pedestal, and will do anything to protect her and her son.  His growing love for his cousin Sian/Jane is charmingly told and I couldn't wait to read the next installment.

6.  'The Tudor Crown' by Joanna Hickson is the follow up to 'First of the Tudors'.  Much as I was looking forward to it, it doesn't quite match 'First of..' , mainly because I was expecting - hoping - for the continuation of Jasper Tudor's story.  But it's not to be, for Henry Tudor himself takes the main role, along with his mother Margaret.  Jasper is present but not as a main character.  We know very little of Henry Tudor's early life, so this allows Hickson to invent a moving romance for the young Henry and his life in France and Brittainy.  I shall look forward to the next instalment.

6.  La Reine Blanche - Mary Tudor, a life in letters by Sarah Bryson.  Exactly what it says it is - a fascinating look at the life of Henry VIII's younger sister, Mary Tudor, using primary sources.  I hadn't realised so many of her papers survived.


7.  The White King - Charles 1st, Traitor, Murderer and Martyr by Leander de Lisle - again, does exactly what it says, and gives a balanced recount of the life of Charles 1st. 

8.  A slight cheat here, as I've still to finish this book, and it deserves a post of it's own (to follow).   It's a novel called 'The Spellbinders' by Aleardo Zanghellini - which at the moment, is the best - yes really - novel I've read on Piers Gaveston and Edward II.  Full review will definitely follow!

Biggest disappointment - and it really pains me to write this as Lauren MacKay's previous book, 'Inside the Court of Henry VIII'  was outstanding, but sadly her book 'Among the Wolves of Court: the Untold story of Thomas and George Boleyn' was very slim, and offered nothing new.  I was so looking forward to this book, and was very disappointed.  There are so many books on the Tudors, particularly Henry VIII, and the market is saturated, to be honest.  I expected so much more from Lauren MacKay.