Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir

Elizabeth of York The Last White Rose by Alison Weir is the story of Henry VIII’s mother. I read the first of Alison Weir’s Six Tudor Queens series – Katherine of Aragon – earlier this year. I’d intended to read my way gradually through the rest of the Six Tudor Queens, but then I spotted Elizabeth of York in Sainsbury’s. Henry VIII’s mother is a key character in Katherine of Aragon and I thought it would be interesting to read more about her. And it was!

I found Katherine of Aragon quite a hard read, but I found Elizabeth of York easier and more enjoyable.

Born in 1466, Elizabeth was the daughter of Edward IV. As his oldest surviving child, she should have been his heir. But women couldn’t rule in the 15th century. Elizabeth grew up in a time of turmoil, with constant threats to her father’s throne and the family’s safety. When her father died, her younger brother became King Edward V. But Edward, along with their brother Richard, disappeared – the famous Princes in the Tower.

Elizabeth remained determined to rule and eventually married Henry VII – uniting the houses of York and Lancaster. She gives birth to seven children, including Arthur, Prince of Wales, and his younger brother – Henry VIII. Throughout Henry VII’s reign there are challenges to the throne from people who believe they have a better claim to the throne than Henry – and even one young man who claims to be her beloved missing brother.

Pregnancy and death are constant in the short life of Elizabeth of York. She lived to just 37, but saw a lot of change in that time. With the challenges to the throne, there is no time for either Elizabeth or the reader to get bored.

The families can get very confusing, so there is a handy family tree at the front of the book.

This is a remarkable fictional account, based on fact. Alison Weir is a historian, who has published more than 30 historical books – both fiction and non-fiction. She has previously written a non-fiction book on Elizabeth of York.