Queens at War: 4 (England's Medieval Queens, 4) by Alison Weir

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Triumph and tragedy, love and loss, murder and malice in the lives of five fifteenth-century queens, from 'the queen of history writing' (Sunday Express)

The fifteenth century was a turbulent age: the Hundred Years War between England and France, and the Wars of the Roses dominated the lives of people both inside and out of the royal courts.

Joan of Navarre, Katherine of Valois, Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth Wydeville and Anne Neville were the queens who stood by England's sovereigns, caught up in wars that changed the course of their lives, and the course of history.

They were also formidable women who defied the limitations of their times, often living out the brutal consequences of their determination.

Alison Weir uncovers their stories in this final volume of her ground-breaking series on the queens of medieval England. Queens at War is a stunning culmination of research by a historian at the full extent of her powers and gripping account of five women on the throne.

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About the Author

Alison Weir is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Innocent Traitor and The Lady Elizabeth and several historical biographies, including Mistress of the Monarchy, Queen Isabella, Henry VIII, Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Life of Elizabeth I, and The Six Wives of Henry VIII. She lives in Surrey, England with her husband. Find out more at Alison's website http://www.alisonweir.org.uk/ and find her on Facebook and Twitter  @AlisonWeirBooks

Free eBook: The Proof of the Pudding, Book Four of the Elderwick Mysteries, by Rachael Gray

Free from Smashwords

It's five days to Christmas, a storm is blowing in, and thirteen people are trapped in Elderwick Hall... what could go wrong?

The Proof of the Pudding is the fourth and final instalment of the Elderwick Mysteries. Unlike the previous three books in the series, which are set in and around the fictional village of Elderwick, the events of this book all take place over the span of a single night in a single location, the sprawling Georgian Elderwick Hall. Inspired by the classic And Then There Were None, and films like Clue and The Glass Onion (follow-up to Knives Out), this book is my homage to the archetypal closed circle murder mystery.

I’ve come to be very fond of my central characters: Laurel, Maggie, and Albert – and Albert’s impertinent cockerel, Aroon. I’ve enjoyed pitting their wits against a variety of killers. In each book, there are newcomers to the village, and almost everyone has at least one secret they're keeping under wraps. Much like life in real villages, everyone knows everyone else's business, or at least they think they do, and the path of the amateur sleuth is never smooth.

 
From the outset, I knew I wanted to create a setting for my stories that was somewhere readers might like to live; a place of escapism – Three Pines in Lousie Penny’s Inspector Gamache series is the perfect example. Whilst Elderwick is entirely fictional, inspiration has come from the little village in East Yorkshire where I grew up, the real nearby town of Beverley, and the gorgeous golden villages in Somerset where I lived for a couple of years. The Pleasant Pheasant Café, St Stephen’s Church, and many of the walking trails mentioned in the books are based on real places in the West Country.

Although I’ve always known I wanted to be an author, it took me a while to get started. I spent twenty plus years working as a clinical psychologist for the NHS and healthcare charities, and it wasn’t until 2020 that I finally sat down at my laptop and tried my hand at writing fiction.

Book one in this series, A Little Bird Told Me, was the first book I ever wrote. It was a steep learning curve, and it took about a year of rewriting and editing to get a reasonably complete draft. Despite being a voracious reader, I had no real idea about how to create a narrative arc, story beats, or how to find 'my voice'. Even now, I'm still learning every day.

As for how I write, I discovered early on that I am a 'pantser'. That is, I don’t do a lot of planning ahead. Instead, I start with an idea for a murder, and the rest somehow follows from there. With the Elderwick Mysteries, the main characters appeared almost fully formed. They’re the kind of people I’d like to have as friends and neighbours – though, not the murderers, obviously. What’s fun about writing a book without a great deal of preparation is that you never quite know where it’s going to take you. Many’s the time a character has said or done something that has surprised me, and I love that.

Writing can be stressful, but I love it. There’s nothing like the sense of satisfaction I get from creating a story. Then there’s the excitement of working on it with my editor, seeing each new book cover, and anticipating publication day. However, I’m not such a fan of the after-publication bit when the book is out in the world. At that point, I became a bag of nerves, constantly checking reviews, Amazon rankings, and the number of Likes on social media. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with the pressure to self-promote, and it’s a tough market out there.

As a reader, I like to cast a wide net, because you never know what gems you might discover. The genres I enjoy most include crime, psychological thrillers, and dystopian novels. In non-fiction, I’m partial to reading about life in other parts of the world. At the moment, I’m especially fascinated by Japan and Alaska. I read books by traditionally published authors and indie writers and have come across some amazing talents in both spheres.

Rachael Gray

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About the Author

With over twenty years of experience working as a Doctor of Clinical Psychology for the NHS and healthcare charities, Rachael Gray is the author of the Elderwick Mysteries series. As a reader, Rachael will devour almost anything. As a writer, she enjoys crafting entertaining murder mysteries set in the glorious countryside of East Yorkshire. Her ultimate dream is to have her books made into a TV series directed by Mackenzie Crook – if you’ve ever watched Detectorists, you’ll understand. When she’s not dreaming of unlikely television stardom, she can be found writing in the home she shares with her husband in Normandy, France – though she’ll always be a Yorkshire girl at heart. Find out more at Rachael's website: https://welcometoelderwick.godaddysites.com/ and follow her on Bluesky @rachaelgray.bsky.social

Blog Tour Excerpt: The Blackest Time: A Novel of Florence during the Black Plague, by Ken Tentarelli

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

It's Europe in the 1300s, and Gino, a young man living in rural Italy, leaves behind the familiarity of his family's farm to seek a new life as an apprentice in an apothecary shop in Florence.

Excerpt: The plague is rampant in Florence.  This is a conversation between Carlo Roselli the owner of an apothecary shop and Franco Guarino, a doctor who treats the afflicted.

Doctor Guarino arrived shortly after Signor Roselli opened the apothecary.  Roselli greeted his friend. “It gets worse every day. Some come here asking for treatments to protect them from the sickness. Others are already afflicted and plead for a cure, and I can’t help any of them, the well or the sick. And if I’m besieged like this, I can’t imagine what it must be like for you.”

   Guarino shrugged and dropped onto a chair. “We’ve trained them to believe that we have the knowledge to cure their ills; then when the worst comes along, as it has now, we tell them we can do nothing to rid them of the disease.”

   Roselli nodded his agreement. “It pains me to tell them all we can offer is herbane or hemlock to relieve the pain. Yesterday a man came begging for something for his son. The man was in tears. He said the boy couldn’t move and was just lying in bed, moaning. I’ve heard similar stories before, and each time my helplessness makes me angry. When I told the man there is no cure, he implored me to give him something to end his son’s suffering.”

   “What did you do?” Guarino asked.

   “I gave him belladonna and cautioned him to give the boy only a drop or two. I warned him that a larger dose would act as a poison. He thanked me profusely and clasped the vial with both hands as he rushed from my shop.” After a pause, Roselli added quietly, “He understood what I was telling him. I blackened my soul and set him on a path to stain his own.”

   “If that action blackens your soul, then take comfort in knowing yours is no darker than mine,” Guarino said. “I have done the same. I believe my decisions fit my oath to eliminate suffering, and I can only hope that a merciful God shares that view.”

   Roselli leaned on the counter, placed a consoling hand on Guarino’s arm and said, “We live in difficult times, Franco, more difficult than some men can bear. Yesterday, my priest told me he trembles every time he is called to deliver last rites. He can’t bring himself to anoint the dying by touching their foreheads and hands, so he sprinkles holy oil on them and signs the cross above them. He prays God will accept his actions as fulfillment of the sacrament.

   “It must be even more difficult for you, Franco. As a doctor, you’re called to the homes of those in such misery that they can’t even rise from their beds. Yet you go, despite knowing you can’t make them whole. Few men have your courage.”

   Guarino laughed. “Courage? No, I’m not courageous. I cower every time I set foot inside a house reeking with the stench of death. Only a fool would not be afraid. I visit their houses, but not for the dying because they’re never even aware of my presence and there is nothing I can do for them. When it’s time to surrender their souls to the angels, no medical treatment can save them.”

   Roselli asked, “If you can’t help them, why do you go to them?” 

   “My purpose is to treat the other members of the family. I test their urine because imbalances in humors make people susceptible to the disease. Balancing their humors can help those not yet affected stave off the disease. I know of houses where all but one person has perished. They all breathed the same air, so it must be that the one who didn’t contract the disease had his humors in balance.”

   Roselli said, “Priests say the disease finds those who dwell on death and despair. They tell people to avoid such thoughts by spending time in gardens and engaging in cheerful conversation.”  

   Guarino scoffed. “That advice might have merit, but how can anyone think cheerful thoughts when a dear one is dying in the same room? If I were to tell family members not to keep a constant vigil with the dying, they wouldn’t listen. I was called to the home of a long-time friend who had been stricken. I told his wife to keep her distance and not touch him; then, as I was leaving and barely outside the bedroom door, she dropped to her knees at his bedside and cradled his hand in hers. She was in good health when I saw her; yet she lived not another five days, so perhaps the priests are right in saying that dwelling on despair can unbalance the humors.

   “I’ve taken to wearing gloves when I visit the sick. My mother always wore gloves when she labored in the garden to protect her hands from thorns. She claimed the practice originated with the ancient Romans. Am I being foolish expecting gloves might shield me from the disease? Perhaps. I’ve certainly been ridiculed by my colleagues who swear the disease travels through the air in particles like dust. They say it’s foolish to believe that sickness can be transferred by touching someone. I have a few friends who wash their hands with vinegar after contacting sick patients, but they won’t admit to doing so for fear of being mocked.”

   Doctor Guarino shook his head, then continued. “Do you recall the arrogant bastard at the last guild meeting who planned to flee the city and tried to convince other doctors to leave. He said we have no cure, so why expose ourselves by going to the homes of the sick where the bad air is concentrated? I can’t refute his argument because it’s true that many doctors have died after visiting plague victims. I test myself often to be sure that my humors remain balanced, but I also credit the goddess Fortuna for keeping me safe.”

Ken Tentarelli

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About the Author

Ken Tentarelli is a frequent visitor to Italy. In travels from the Alps to the southern coast of Sicily, he developed a love for its history and its people. He has studied Italian culture and language in Rome and Perugia, background he used in his award-winning series of historical thrillers set in the Italian Renaissance. He has taught courses in Italian history spanning time from the Etruscans to the Renaissance, and he's a strong advocate of libraries and has served as a trustee of his local library and officer of the library foundation. When not traveling, Ken and his wife live in beautiful New Hampshire. Find out more at https://KenTentarelli.com  and on Facebook 

Special Guest Interview with J. P. Reedman, Author of Bride of the Devil: Agnes, Wife of Robert de Belleme (Medieval Babes: Tales of Little-Known Ladies Book 13)

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

She is a great heiress; he is the wickedest man in Normandy. Known to men far and wide as 'The Devil,' Robert de Belleme terrorises France alongside his equally fearsome mother, Mabel the Poisoner. But even a Devil needs an heir, and Mabel chooses the wealthy heiress Agnes of Ponthieu to be her son's bride.. The marriage is unhappy, though the longed-for son and heir is eventually born...but when Robert is away on one of his military campaigns, Agnes flees back to her father's castle.

I'm pleased to welcome author J. P. Reedman to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book

My latest novel (number 13!)  in my MEDIEVAL BABES series about lesser-known medieval queens and nobles is BRIDE OF THE DEVIL. The bride in question is Agnes of Ponthieu and the 'devil' is her husband, the notorious Robert de Belleme who eventually became Earl of Shrewsbury at the very end of the 11th century. I must admit to having a slight obsession with the Belleme family, who were notorious for raiding, murdering and side-swapping in Normandy and, later, England. I have already written about Robert's mother, the poisoner Mabel, in an earlier novel called POISONED CHALICE. Robert was most definitely a chip off the old block!

 Robert de Belleme

 I first became interested in the Bellemes in the 1980's while watching the historical fantasy series, ROBIN OF SHERWOOD. One of the antagonists was the Baron Simon de Belleme, a sorcerer who had imprisoned his wife. I later learned that there really was a hated nobleman called  Robert de Belleme who had, in fact, imprisoned his wife and got up to other nastiness (although he was a superb castle builder). Recently, I decided to research this shadowy and rather unfortunate lady and see what I could find out...

Of course, my book is Agnes' story, rather than Robert's—he is the antagonist. 

Not a lot is known about Agnes save that she was a great heiress (which meant she was a marriage prize for power-hungry Norman lords) but she must have been quite strong-minded despite having such a mercurial and dangerous husband; she managed to actually escape her imprisonment with the aid of her friend Adela, daughter of William the Conqueror. She had one son with Robert, who seemed , fortunately, to be somewhat more like his mother than his father in temperament, although he did some side-swapping in allegiances as well.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research

I had several unexpected finds while writing  BRIDE OF THE DEVIL. One was  that Robert had spent the last twenty or so years of his long life (he lived till 80) as a prisoner at Wareham Castle in Dorset. I took a trip to that very interesting town to have a look. The castle is now gone, but there was one Norman door with a fine decorated arch embedded in a later wall. There were several interesting churches too, one of them a former priory. I am guessing that may have been Robert's burial place, although sadly no record of his burial was ever made.

Another unexpected find was that Agnes was a direct ancestor of another of my book characters, Ela of Salisbury, the protagonist in LONGSWORD'S LADY. Agnes' granddaughter Adela/Ela first married William de Warenne, Earl of Surrey and then Patrick of Salisbury. Patrick and Adela's son, William, was the father of Ela, who became one of England's two female medieval sheriffs and one of the founders of Salisbury Cathedral. She also founded Lacock Abbey. I like to think some of Ela's intelligence and strong will were also apparent in her ancestor, Agnes.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

Reconstructing Agnes' life was quite difficult because of conflicting information. Many references to her were only on dodgy genealogy sites, many of which had birthdates  for her that were completely implausible. Her marriage date is also debatable. One medieval source said the marriage was arranged by William Rufus, but there was reference to the marriage some years before that although nothing fixed and firm. Therefore I went for an earlier date, which seemed more likely.

What are you planning to write next?

I am having a little break from historical fiction and currently writing a dark fantasy based on Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem, Annabel Lee called SEPULCHRE BY THE SEA (due out by Halloween). That will be followed by a retelling of The Snow Queen (FROST MAIDEN), told from the Queen's perspective and set in an ancient time. My next historical fiction work might be on George of Clarence, brother of Richard III, since I have done stories on all of his other brothers! I do sometime change the order of my future works, though—if something jumps out at me screaming 'write me', that is the story that gets done first!

J. P. Reedman 

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About the Author

J.P. Reedman was born and raised in Canada, daughter of a Canadian soldier and a 17-year-old war bride. Her mother and older sister instilled a love of all parts of the British Isles in a small child, and it was all knights and castles and history from the age of about four. Earliest memories include climbing the keep of Guildford Castle. First historical writing, though, was about Cleopatra—age six. She began writing fantasy in the 70’s and in the 80’s had many fantasy short stories and poems published in the small press of the day.  In the 90’s J.P. moved permanently to the UK, first living in Northamptonshire and then in Wiltshire, near Stonehenge, where she worked for twelve years. J.P. ‘s first published novel was The Stonehenge Saga, a historical fantasy placing the Arthurian legends in a Bronze Age context. This was published in 2 volumes in 2012; in 2018 J.P.  finally made the transition to ‘full-time writer.’ Follow J.P. Reedman on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky Social, TikTok and Twitter @stonehenge2500

Book Launch Guest Post by Eric Schumacher, Author of Vengeance of the Damned: A Viking Age Novel (Olaf's Saga Book 5)

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Vengeance of the Damned is the gripping, final novel of Schumacher’s award-winning series chronicling the life and adventures of Olaf Tryggvason, one of Norway’s most controversial kings.

The Backstory

Vengeance of the Damned tells of Olaf’s return to his homeland, though it doesn’t cover the backstory behind that return. Just before Olaf’s return, he is said to have been in Ireland. While the details are murky, it seems he successfully carved out a kingdom for himself there as well as possibly in northern England. I covered that story in my previous novel, Riddle of the Gods.

The sagas tell us that Hakon Sigurdsson, who ruled western Norway as a jarl (earl) in the name of the Danes, had heard of Olaf in Ireland and sent a spy to gauge the threat. By all accounts, Hakon was not a popular jarl and probably knew that if Olaf was as powerful as the rumors said he was, he could come to take what was Hakon’s. However, Hakon’s plan of sending a spy backfired. Olaf turned the spy to his side and learned of Hakon’s unpopularity. It was then that Olaf decided to return.

In ca. 995 AD, Olaf came to the northwest coast of Norway with his army and quickly defeated the lords who stood in his way. With Olaf near at hand and having no real army left to defend himself, Hakon is said to have hidden in a pig sty at the advice of his slave, Karker, whom Olaf has promised gold. The slave killed Hakon and brought his corpse to Olaf. Expecting a golden reward, Karker received only a blade to the gut. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow stated in his epic poem, The Saga of Olaf:

At Nidarholm the priests are all singing,

Two ghastly heads on the gibbet are swinging;

One is Jarl Hakon's and one is his thrall's,

The death of Jarl Hakon set in motion the story that unfolds in Vengeance of the Damned.

The Story

Olaf had long dreamed of his return to Norway. It was not only power that he sought, but vengeance for the mistreatment of his father and family, which had been betrayed by other Norse nobles (the sons of Erik Bloodaxe) with the aid of the Danes. 

His vengeful campaign set him on a collision course with his former oath-brother-turned-enemy, Torgil. Unable to escape the coming clash, Torgil and his band of outcasts face the new king and his battle-hardened warriors in Vengeance of the Damned. 

From the land of the Swedes, to the islands of the Vik, and finally, to a place called Svold off the coast of Denmark, Olaf and Torgil match their wills and their cunning in this brutal, action-packed conclusion to Olaf’s tale.

The Future

This book concludes my telling of Olaf’s life through the eyes of Torgil, and I am sad to see it end. Olaf and Torgil were driven from their homes in Forged by Iron; fought in the land of the Rus’ in Sigurd’s Swords; lived as princes in the ancient kingdom of Wagria in Wolves of Wagria; and raided in Frisia, Dublin, and northern England in Riddle of the Gods. 

Now they’ve returned home to the North as enemies who are forced to face each other. It’s been a true pleasure bringing them to life in the pages of this series. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. 

My journey as an author continues, though where I travel next is, at the current moment, unknown. Once it’s decided, you will be the first to know.

Eric Schumacher

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About the Author

Eric Schumacheris the author of seven novels and one novella, all set in the Viking Age. By day, Schumacher is a PR consultant for early-stage technology companies. By night, he ventures into the past, using known history and ancient tales to create stories about real people living in turbulent times. From the earliest age, Schumacher devoured books about castles and warrior kings and Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Those stories, coupled with a love of writing, led him to the completion of Hakon’s Saga (published by Legionary Books), which tells the story of the young Norwegian king, Hakon Haraldsson, and his struggles to win, unify, and protect what was not yet Norway. Schumacher began his current series, called Olaf’s Saga, in 2019. The first three books in the saga, Forged by Iron, Sigurd’s Swords and Wolves of Wagra respectively, were all Amazon best sellers, and are now available across e-tailers. Riddle of the Gods is the fourth book in that series. Find out more at Eric's website: www.ericschumacher.net and find him on Facebook and Twitter @DarkAgeScribe and Bluesky @authoreschumacher.bsky.social

Special Guest Post with Nicola Harris, Author of Out of the Ashes: Queen Jane Seymour - A Novel (Six Tudor Queens)

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

In the aftermath of Anne Boleyn’s brutal downfall, Jane Seymour is thrust into the scorched ashes of a fractured royal court—and into the arms of a king she finds physically repellent. His bloated pride, mercurial temper, and the ghosts of two dead queens stir not desire, but dread.

I'm pleased to welcome author Nicola Harris to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book

Out of the Ashes begins in the scorched aftermath of Queen Anne Boleyn’s brutal and sudden downfall. Jane Seymour is thrust into a fractured court still echoing with the ghosts of two dead queens. She enters the novel not as a romantic heroine, but as a woman chosen for her silence.

Henry VIII is no longer the golden prince of legend—he’s bloated, volatile, and tormented by his past. Jane finds herself in his arms, but she is not filled with desire, but with dread. She is quiet, devout, and long dismissed as an unremarkable third wife. But it’s precisely this quietness that makes her dangerous. Jane becomes the unlikely figure entrusted with restoring order and delivering the one prize Henry craves above all: a male heir.

To survive, Jane must become what the court demands—an obedient bride, a submissive consort, a vessel for England’s future. But behind the mask lies a woman who is haunted by the blood price of her crown and the death of her cousin Queen Anne.

As she walks the knife-edge of Tudor politics, Jane must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect her beliefs, her legacy, and the fragile peace she’s fought to create. Out of the Ashes is a tender, haunting portrait of quiet defiance—and of a queen who chose the phoenix as her emblem, never imagining how bitterly prophetic it would become by the end of her tragic reign.

What is your preferred writing routine?

My writing routine is as portable as the Tudor court itself. I can write anywhere—on trains, in cafés, even while someone else watches TV. But I prefer to rise early and write before the day begins. There’s something sacred about those quiet hours, when the world hasn’t yet intruded. 

Often, the countryside outside my writing room window inspires as it awakens to the day. Mist over the fields, crows circling the hedgerows—it's all full of echoes of the past. I write in bursts, letting the characters speak when they’re ready, and I spend a lot of time researching and visiting historical places.

What advice do you have for new writers?

My advice for new writers is simple: write what you love. Read widely in your genre. Immerse yourself in the voices, rhythms, and themes that move you. Writing historical fiction isn’t just about facts—it’s about feeling. It’s about asking, “What did it mean to live through this?” I

f you’re passionate about your subject, that passion will carry you through the hard days, the rewrites, the doubts. And don’t be afraid to write badly. First drafts are meant to be messy. The magic comes in the shaping and rewriting.

What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books?

Raising awareness of my books has been a journey of generosity and connection. Word of mouth is still the most powerful tool. I’ve found that being generous with other authors—sharing their work, engaging with their posts, celebrating their wins—creates genuine friendships and a supportive community. Readers respond to authenticity. They want to know the person behind the pages. 

I’ve leaned into creative campaigns, reels, and even comic strips to bring Tudor history to life in unexpected ways. But at the heart of it all is storytelling. Whether it’s a tweet, a teaser, or a tragic quote from Jane herself, it’s always about the story.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research

During my research, I stumbled upon an incident in the Tower that changed everything. I won’t spoil it here, but it became the emotional spine of the novel. It’s a moment that reveals the brutality of Tudor justice and the quiet horror Jane must have reckoned with. It reminded me that history isn’t just a series of grand events—it’s also small, intimate moments of fear, hope, and choice. That’s what I try to capture in my work.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

The most brutal scene I wrote was the opening. Jane is waiting for news of Anne Boleyn’s execution. She is both excited and repulsed by her feelings of happiness. Anne is her second cousin, and her death is the price Jane will pay to be queen of England. 

I wanted to capture the complexity of that moment—the guilt, the ambition, the dread. Jane isn’t a villain. She’s a woman caught in a web of survival. Writing that scene felt like walking a tightrope. I rewrote it several times, trying to strike a balance between empathy and honesty.

What are you planning to write next?

Next, I’m working on a novel called The Daughters of Aragon. It explores the rich, multicultural early life of Katherine of Aragon and her siblings. They grow up in captured Islamic palaces, surrounded by scholars, slaves, and the looming shadow of the Spanish Inquisition. 

It’s a world of beauty and brutality, faith and fire. Katherine’s story is often reduced to her marriage and divorce, but she was shaped by a world far older and more complex than Tudor England could imagine. I want to show her home, how it shaped her personality—and the girl behind the woman who would become a queen.

The Six Queens Series is my way of reclaiming these women’s stories. Each book stands alone, but together they form a tapestry of power, pain, and resilience. These queens were not just wives. They were survivors, schemers, dreamers, and martyrs. They were women who lived in the shadow of a throne—and who cast shadows of their own.

Thank you, Tony, for inviting me to share my work. It’s an honour to be part of your blog and to connect with readers who love history not just for its grandeur, but for its humanity.

Nicola Harris

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About the Author

Nicola Harris has been a lifelong enthusiast of Tudor history, with a particular fondness for castles, queens, and the emotional undercurrents of court life. She lives in England with her husband and has two adult children—none of whom share her historical obsession, but who have endured countless castle visits with admirable patience (and the occasional ice cream bribe). Nicola is the author of two historical novels: For Now, I Die and Out of the Ashes. Find out more at Nicola's website: https://nicolaharrisauthor.com and find her on Twitter @harris_nic59544 

Book Review: The Last Yorkists: Edmund and Richard de la Pole, by Richard Anderton

Available from Amazon UK 

and for pre-order from Amazon US

Edmund and Richard de la Pole were the last princes of the House of York to actively seek the English throne – their epic thirty year struggle against Henry VII and Henry VIII saw them plunged into a murderous maelstrom of international intrigue. Although the brothers were nephews of Richard III, England’s last Yorkist king, neither had been born to rule and they were forced into rebellion by the relentless scheming of their Tudor rivals.

If you thought what are now known as the 'Wars of the Roses' effectively ended at Bosworth in 1485, Richard Anderton’s The Last Yorkists could make you think again. This book tells the story of Edmund and Richard de la Pole, who kept the Yorkist cause alive long after Henry Tudor won the crown. 

We follow the brothers across Europe as they evade capture, broker deals with foreign powers, and dream of reclaiming the English throne. Edmund comes across as reckless, which ultimately leads him to the executioner’s block. Richard, in contrast, is a survivor until his dramatic death fighting for King Francis I of France.at the Battle of Pavia in 1525. 

Richard de la Pole

One of the strengths of this book is how it places the de la Poles in an international context. France, the Holy Roman Empire, and Scotland all had a part to play in keeping Yorkist hopes alive. By weaving in this bigger picture, Richard Anderton illustrates how English politics was inseparable from the diplomacy and wars of continental Europe.

The writing is lively and accessible, ideal for readers who enjoy history told with a strong narrative. Historians may want a deeper analysis or fresh archival discoveries, but for most readers the balance of detail and readability works well.

The Last Yorkists is an engaging account of men who refused to let the Yorkist cause die quietly. It’s a reminder that the Tudors’ hold on power was less secure than usually thought. Whether you are a history buff or just dipping into the 'Wars of the Roses', this book is a recommended read.

Tony Riches

(I would like to thank Amberley Publishing for providing a review copy.)

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About the Author

Richard Anderton is a writer from the north of England .He has previously written historical fiction, as well as for a variety of magazines. This is his first non-fiction title.