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A review by topdragon
Trinity by Conn Iggulden
4.0
I am not overly familiar with the grand historical chapter of British history known as the Wars of the Roses. I have come across bits and pieces of it over the years so feel I have a sort of cursory outline understanding of it. So it has been a great pleasure to read the first book of Conn Iggulden’s series, [b:Stormbird|17830079|Stormbird (Wars of the Roses, #1)|Conn Iggulden|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385271736s/17830079.jpg|24944890], as well as this second chapter.
The title (in the UK, at least), “Trinity” references the forces allied against King Henry VI and his queen, Margaret of Anjou, namely York, Salisbury, and Warwick (later to become known as “The Kingmaker”. This book essentially covers their political machinations for the crown and Margaret’s masterful moves against them. This volume in the series covers the time frame of 1454 through 1461. This is a key time in the overall build-up and positioning of the houses of York and Lancaster as well as major events of the war itself, covering the Battle of Heworth Moor, as well as what many believe to be the actual beginning of the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of St. Albans in 1455. This volume ends with the critical events at Sandal Castle at the end of 1460 wherein two of the members of the titular “trinity” lost their lives.
This author does a good job of bringing the vastness of the political events that occurred during those years down to the personal level. To my knowledge, all but one of the characters in this book are actual historical people. The one who is not, spymaster Derry Brewer, serves well as a way to let readers see certain key events through his eyes. I was struck particularly with the character of York, who is proving to be a complicated man with complex motivations. While it is clear that neither side of this conflict really wants war, York, in particular seems torn about just what his goals are: protecting the throne for the rightful ruler or becoming the heir himself.
This is not an easy book to follow, especially if the reader’s knowledge of these events is as cursory as mine. This is a complex historical struggle, with some characters shifting allegiances and it’s not always easy to follow the events. To compound matters, names of characters can be confusing with many sometimes being referred to by their given name (Richard) and sometimes by their title (York, as in Duke of York). This is common, of course in historical novels and non-fiction books involving British history but makes it doubly difficult to keep it all straight. And even worse, naming conventions of the time weren’t all that creative. Which Richard or Henry or which Mary are we talking about? And for that matter, which York or which Warwick is being referenced given that they all have sons that take over when a titled position is vacated. Thankfully, this book contains several detailed maps, complete family trees, and a handy list of characters that also includes who they are supporting. Without them, I fear I would have been completely lost.
Overall, these books are a great way to understand what occurred during the Wars of the Roses but at the same time, enjoy a good old fashioned novel of intrigue, political gamesmanship, and fierce battles of honor and revenge. It can be a bit of a chore to get through but worth it in the end. Looking forward to the next chapter in this historical saga.
The title (in the UK, at least), “Trinity” references the forces allied against King Henry VI and his queen, Margaret of Anjou, namely York, Salisbury, and Warwick (later to become known as “The Kingmaker”. This book essentially covers their political machinations for the crown and Margaret’s masterful moves against them. This volume in the series covers the time frame of 1454 through 1461. This is a key time in the overall build-up and positioning of the houses of York and Lancaster as well as major events of the war itself, covering the Battle of Heworth Moor, as well as what many believe to be the actual beginning of the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of St. Albans in 1455. This volume ends with the critical events at Sandal Castle at the end of 1460 wherein two of the members of the titular “trinity” lost their lives.
This author does a good job of bringing the vastness of the political events that occurred during those years down to the personal level. To my knowledge, all but one of the characters in this book are actual historical people. The one who is not, spymaster Derry Brewer, serves well as a way to let readers see certain key events through his eyes. I was struck particularly with the character of York, who is proving to be a complicated man with complex motivations. While it is clear that neither side of this conflict really wants war, York, in particular seems torn about just what his goals are: protecting the throne for the rightful ruler or becoming the heir himself.
This is not an easy book to follow, especially if the reader’s knowledge of these events is as cursory as mine. This is a complex historical struggle, with some characters shifting allegiances and it’s not always easy to follow the events. To compound matters, names of characters can be confusing with many sometimes being referred to by their given name (Richard) and sometimes by their title (York, as in Duke of York). This is common, of course in historical novels and non-fiction books involving British history but makes it doubly difficult to keep it all straight. And even worse, naming conventions of the time weren’t all that creative. Which Richard or Henry or which Mary are we talking about? And for that matter, which York or which Warwick is being referenced given that they all have sons that take over when a titled position is vacated. Thankfully, this book contains several detailed maps, complete family trees, and a handy list of characters that also includes who they are supporting. Without them, I fear I would have been completely lost.
Overall, these books are a great way to understand what occurred during the Wars of the Roses but at the same time, enjoy a good old fashioned novel of intrigue, political gamesmanship, and fierce battles of honor and revenge. It can be a bit of a chore to get through but worth it in the end. Looking forward to the next chapter in this historical saga.