Wars of the Roses: Margaret of Anjou
Conn Iggulden has written a spellbinding novel about England’s York and Lancaster families. Theirs is a war fueled by the fact that King Henry VI remains asleep or catatonic for most of the year 1454. Margaret of Anjou, his queen, is his voice, his power, and his weapon.
It opens with Richard of York as Protector of the Throne while the king is unable to assume the heavy tasks of the crown. Loyalty is paramount for Richard, but for those jealous of the power they yearn to have, Richard is branded a traitor. So begins the vicious wars over this increasingly bitter feud. Readers are made to feel as if they were there, watching and hearing about the deft spy-craft skills of Derry Brewer; the intense hatred over two families because of a brutal attack during a family wedding; the indescribably brutal battle at St. Albans; the successes and failures of York’s peers, Salisbury and Warwick; and their formidable enemies, the houses of Percy and Neville, who are used by Margaret for her own gains.
While many know about Richard’s latter days and battles, few know of his efforts to prevent what eventually became a renowned enmity. The difficulties faced by soldiers and commoners leading up to each and every battle are described with scrupulous attention, as are the battles themselves, which occur in three different places. Conn Iggulden’s writing is, as always, accurate, well-researched, and tension-ridden without being overwhelming. One interesting note: pay attention to the relationship between Richard and the king – there is a carefully scripted climax between the two. Highly, highly recommended historical fiction – kudos once again to Conn Iggulden!
