Book review: De la Pole, Father and Son: The Duke, The Earl and the Struggle for Power, by Michèle Schindler

 

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

I once lived near the village of Ewelme in Oxfordshire, and know the historic church, with an impressive font. I didn't know the magnificent carved cover of the font is a reproduction of one presented by John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk in 1475, as he was baptised there, or that his mother, Alice de la Pole, (also the subject of a book by Michèle Schindler) who has a tomb in the church, was the granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer.

These are typical of the fascinating nuggets from the past that Michèle Schindler sprinkles throughout her impressively researched dual biography of father and son - which is also the story of the Wars of the Roses.. 

'Married' at the age of seven to the six-year-old heiress Margaret Beaufort,  John de la Pole didn't have an easy start in life, as his father William was condemned for treason against King Henry VI, banished and murdered at sea.  

John de la Pole's  first marriage was never consummated, but his next, to the thirteen year old Elizabeth of York, daughter of Richard, Duke of York, made him a committed Yorkist.

After his son is born (following the confusing tradition of naming his son after himself), Michèle Schindler shifts into a higher gear with the story of how John, Duke of Suffolk and his son, John, Earl of Lincoln struggle for power.

I recommend this book for anyone who wishes to have a deeper understanding of the Wars of the Roses and events leading up to the Battle of Bosworth.  

Tony Riches

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About the Author

Michèle Schindler studied at Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, reading English Studies and history with a focus on mediaeval studies. At the same time she worked as a language teacher, teaching English and German as a second language. In addition to English and German, she is fluent in French, and reads Latin. She is also the author of 'Lovell Our Dogge' and 'Alice Chaucer'.  Find out more at Michèle's blog http://francislovell.blogspot.com and find her on Facebook and Twitter @FLovellInfo

(A review copy was kindly provided by Amberley)