The second book in The Cousins' War series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings to life the story of a complex and determined woman who shapes the course of history--now available in mass market. Fans and reviewers everywhere agree that no one writes historical fiction better than Philippa Gregory. In The Red Queen, Gregory illuminates the fascinating woman who founded England's most powerful ruling line, the Tudors: Margaret Beaufort.
Ignored by the king, mocked by her mother, and forced into a loveless marriage, Margaret, heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. Convinced that her piety and lineage have destined her for greatness, she is determined that her son Henry will rule England--no matter what the cost. After the death of her first husband, she sends the boy into exile and promises him in marriage to the daughter of her enemy, Elizabeth of York. As the political tides constantly turn, Margaret charts her course through another loveless marriage, treacherous alliances, and secret plots. Following the death of her second husband, she marries the ruthless Thomas, Lord Stanley, and gambles her life and her son's future on his support as she masterminds a final rebellion that will either put her son on the throne or send them all to their deaths.
About the Author :
Philippa Gregory is the author of several New York Times bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl, The Queen's Fool, The Virgin's Lover, The Constant Princess, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Other Queen, and the first book in The Cousins' War series, The White Queen. Visit her website at PhilippaGregory.com.
Review :
'This interweaving of the personal and the historical in a way that is fluid and entirely believable is, of course, why one reads Gregory in the first place. But the backbone of this book is the manipulation of her central character, the way in which Gregory successfully guides her from hero to antihero, keeping her compelling all along. Once that job is done, and Margaret has gone truly bad, the action breads into a proper gallop. There is more bitching, double-dealing and downright skulduggery than in an entire series of The Thick Of It, and a splendidly bloody climax to boot. Delightful escapism' "The Times"
'The narrative has both drive and immediacy which, combined with the meticulous research characteristic of all Philippa Gregory's books, bring the 15th century alive... The Red Queen is a vivid and compelling evocation of a turbulent period'
"Daily Express"
'This is a vivid recreation of an unsympathetic and ruthless manipulator...compulsive tale of dynastic deviousness'
"Marie Claire
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'Gregory is a serious historian who steeps herself in source materials.'
"Elizabeth Grice, Daily Telegraph"
'Gregory's skill as a storyteller makes the novel fast-paced, wearing its meticulous research lightly as it plunges the readers into a time when power struggles between rival factions resulted in a county at war with itself'
"Metro"
'This dramatic book follows the life of the courageous Margaret Beaufort. After marrying a much older man and becoming a teenage mum, she decides her son will one day be crowned King of England. This gripping novel tells a fictional story of the Tudor monarchy's earliest roots'
"Hot Stars, OK! Magazine"
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