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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Covers the first bulk of the War of the Roses (Lancaster vs York) but not the latter part involving the two princes in the tower, Richard III, Henry Tudor (later Henry VII), Battle of Bosworth, etc. As I've only studied the latter portion previously, this book was an interesting read. The names can get confusing though as many people are referred to by the town involved with their title (Somerset, Clarence, Warwick, Gloucester, Northumberland etc.) and the families in power change often so you'll wonder, "wait, it's not the Percy family anymore?!" and things like that if you're not too careful. Some may call the book dry or too long, but I think it was done pretty well since it covered the reigns/conflicts from Richard II up to Edward IV.
Found this book really interesting, and having read this can sum up the Wars of the Roses as a total mess! As always, Alison Weir brings each character to life and provides interesting insights into the power struggles amongst the aristocracy at the time.
I really liked how Weir took the time to explain how the cause of the Wars of Roses could be linked to usurpation of Richard II by Henry IV - the reasons for this, and the implications for Henry IV and his descendants. The only drawback for me is that the book ends in 1471 with the murder of Henry VI, despite the Wars of Roses considered to have ended when Henry VII became king following the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Though having said that, Weir has published another book called 'The Princes in the Tower' which I assume will contain details on this time period.
Overall, a really enjoyable and insightful read. Would recommend to anyone with an interest in history.
I really liked how Weir took the time to explain how the cause of the Wars of Roses could be linked to usurpation of Richard II by Henry IV - the reasons for this, and the implications for Henry IV and his descendants. The only drawback for me is that the book ends in 1471 with the murder of Henry VI, despite the Wars of Roses considered to have ended when Henry VII became king following the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Though having said that, Weir has published another book called 'The Princes in the Tower' which I assume will contain details on this time period.
Overall, a really enjoyable and insightful read. Would recommend to anyone with an interest in history.
informative
slow-paced
muy útil para entender las guerras de las rosas pues la autora es muy buena explicando. el final se me hizo bastante apresurado, especialmente porque solo menciona la batalla de bosworth field y casi no habla de el reinado de richard iii.
informative
This focuses on the people involved with the Wars of the Roses or the Cousins' Wars.
I prefer that because the battles can get a bit tedious.
Unfortunately this is so incredibly biased and embraces a ton of sexism. I'm continually surprised at the amount of bias regarding women that is rampant in this historians work. I believe it to be a reflection of her age, wealth/status, race and personal conservative political views.
It's grating.
Historians are welcome to share their personal beliefs, in fact I enjoy and prefer historical nonfiction that includes the opinions of the historian.
That said, all facts have to be presented and weighted equally. It feels like this historian has simply adopted the historical bias and ignored how women in powerful positions were viewed and treated.
I find her books easily readable and well researched just biased which always grates on my nerves the more I read.
I prefer that because the battles can get a bit tedious.
Unfortunately this is so incredibly biased and embraces a ton of sexism. I'm continually surprised at the amount of bias regarding women that is rampant in this historians work. I believe it to be a reflection of her age, wealth/status, race and personal conservative political views.
It's grating.
Historians are welcome to share their personal beliefs, in fact I enjoy and prefer historical nonfiction that includes the opinions of the historian.
That said, all facts have to be presented and weighted equally. It feels like this historian has simply adopted the historical bias and ignored how women in powerful positions were viewed and treated.
I find her books easily readable and well researched just biased which always grates on my nerves the more I read.
In my rudimentary understanding of the British monarchy, I have always imagined the crown to be an unshakable and fixed image of royalty. That statement I made needs to be clarified a little : what I meant here was that I always assumed that once the crown is fixed on the brow of a man or a woman, it stays so until the end of days arrives for the person. But then I was wrong, there are challengers to every crown and nothing stays the same forever, especially not royal status. Beyond the historical thrills, the Wars of the Roses proved that this guesstimate of mine was absolutely wrong. Considering that each book read and each idea received molds the mind a little differently, this was a welcome change. Alison Weir’s book has the narrative pace of historic fiction but recounts the events of a tumultuous period in British history.
In Weir’s words :
This story begins in 1400 with the murder of one king, and ends in 1471 with the murder of another. One murder could be said to have been a direct result of the other. The story of what happened between 1400 and 1471, which is the story told in this book, answers the question: how?
There couldn’t have been a more succinct review of this book beyond this. Much intrigue, conspiracy, bloodshed and drudgery occurs between the lifetimes of Richard II and Henry VI. Contrary to what the title led me to believe, the Wars of the Roses involved maybe 19 decisive battles fought on a field. The bloodier battles were fought in the courtrooms, the parliament and the houses of high nobility. Following the highly acclaimed reign of Henry V, his son Henry VI comes to the throne and if historic accounts were to be believed then this was the start of a disastrous reign for the nation. Being a pious gentleman, Henry VI is not able to deliver the goods when it comes to military conquest and a chivalrous public image. Henry also does not hold his court of nobles in check and they run riot through the nation’s coffers. It was thus a time of high dissatisfaction for the populace with no military action, heavy taxes and general lawlessness. Adding insult to injury, Henry marries Margaret of Anjou who was French and thereby a dreaded enemy of the English during the age and era. Rival factions form at court, the citizens go bonkers and the Wars of the Roses erupts between the houses of Lancaster (Henry VI and his supporters) and York (the Duke of York and his supporters). The pendulum swings this way and that all through the seven decades and there are scandalous romances, skirmishes with France, bankrupt Italian merchants, vigilante citizens and a colorful crew of motley characters who populate the narrative with their adventures and exploits.
The heart of the matter is that this civil war was ultimately about power and of who wields the crown and sceptre of England. Things go back and forth between these factions so many times that I could only mentally mutter to Edward IV ’Man, you are the King of England how difficult is it to chase down and capture Margaret and her young son and their lieges?’ Edward however did not answer me and the chase goes on and on and on till it gets tedious and humdrum.
Weir is a great writer, it is certainly an act of talent to take a slightly complicated historical narrative and write a condensed version of a long chain of events. It is also not of much help that almost every one of the gentlemen are named Richard, Henry & Edward. The writing does have its negatives in that some of the characters are just black or white and others are merely inconsequential. Barring Henry VI, Edward IV and Margaret of Anjou and the Dukes of York and Salisbury, the others are not very well sketched. They come and go, barely eliciting any response from the reader.
Personally this was a starting point for me to get into British history. It is a topic that I have wanted to read up on for quite a long period now and I finally took the plunge. Recommended but come armed with a lot of patience.
In Weir’s words :
This story begins in 1400 with the murder of one king, and ends in 1471 with the murder of another. One murder could be said to have been a direct result of the other. The story of what happened between 1400 and 1471, which is the story told in this book, answers the question: how?
There couldn’t have been a more succinct review of this book beyond this. Much intrigue, conspiracy, bloodshed and drudgery occurs between the lifetimes of Richard II and Henry VI. Contrary to what the title led me to believe, the Wars of the Roses involved maybe 19 decisive battles fought on a field. The bloodier battles were fought in the courtrooms, the parliament and the houses of high nobility. Following the highly acclaimed reign of Henry V, his son Henry VI comes to the throne and if historic accounts were to be believed then this was the start of a disastrous reign for the nation. Being a pious gentleman, Henry VI is not able to deliver the goods when it comes to military conquest and a chivalrous public image. Henry also does not hold his court of nobles in check and they run riot through the nation’s coffers. It was thus a time of high dissatisfaction for the populace with no military action, heavy taxes and general lawlessness. Adding insult to injury, Henry marries Margaret of Anjou who was French and thereby a dreaded enemy of the English during the age and era. Rival factions form at court, the citizens go bonkers and the Wars of the Roses erupts between the houses of Lancaster (Henry VI and his supporters) and York (the Duke of York and his supporters). The pendulum swings this way and that all through the seven decades and there are scandalous romances, skirmishes with France, bankrupt Italian merchants, vigilante citizens and a colorful crew of motley characters who populate the narrative with their adventures and exploits.
The heart of the matter is that this civil war was ultimately about power and of who wields the crown and sceptre of England. Things go back and forth between these factions so many times that I could only mentally mutter to Edward IV ’Man, you are the King of England how difficult is it to chase down and capture Margaret and her young son and their lieges?’ Edward however did not answer me and the chase goes on and on and on till it gets tedious and humdrum.
Weir is a great writer, it is certainly an act of talent to take a slightly complicated historical narrative and write a condensed version of a long chain of events. It is also not of much help that almost every one of the gentlemen are named Richard, Henry & Edward. The writing does have its negatives in that some of the characters are just black or white and others are merely inconsequential. Barring Henry VI, Edward IV and Margaret of Anjou and the Dukes of York and Salisbury, the others are not very well sketched. They come and go, barely eliciting any response from the reader.
Personally this was a starting point for me to get into British history. It is a topic that I have wanted to read up on for quite a long period now and I finally took the plunge. Recommended but come armed with a lot of patience.
slow-paced
challenging
informative
medium-paced
re-reading as I'm revisiting the 15th century turmoil in England. Weir almost always a joy to read; never dry in her style.
Much like the previously reviewed "And Die in the West", this book contains a great deal of well documented information, and I did occasionally feel like I was drowning in facts. But unlike ADitW this book seemed to have a flow to it--quite possibly because events lent themselves to better continuity, or because the players had more direction.
Almost all of my information about the period is thanks to Shakespeare, but since he was a well paid propaganda engine for the Tudors, I left my mind open for new interpretations. Despite a disappointing paucity of storyline for Richard III and Henry VII I was pleased with the work and it was, in fact, a page turner.
There was a surprising number of battles where one side was utterly routed and massacred, with heads posted at city gates and all, then everybody went home for a few weeks until both sides raised an entirely new army, just as large, and they went at it again. I have to assume England at the time was some sort of primitive Civ game where you built a Wonder of the World that spewed forth brawny young lads ready to commit mayhem.
Almost all of my information about the period is thanks to Shakespeare, but since he was a well paid propaganda engine for the Tudors, I left my mind open for new interpretations. Despite a disappointing paucity of storyline for Richard III and Henry VII I was pleased with the work and it was, in fact, a page turner.
There was a surprising number of battles where one side was utterly routed and massacred, with heads posted at city gates and all, then everybody went home for a few weeks until both sides raised an entirely new army, just as large, and they went at it again. I have to assume England at the time was some sort of primitive Civ game where you built a Wonder of the World that spewed forth brawny young lads ready to commit mayhem.