A Novel (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels) - The Red Queen

Philippa Gregory's historical novels are powerful and bring personal perspective to the period. I read "The Red Queen" out of order which actually worked out well. When I read "The White Queen" afterward I knew who the people were that were going to have an effect on Elizabeth's life and how her actions were going to create consequences for her. I have enjoyed every Philippa Gregory book I have read ... in particular "Queen's Fool".

I had assumed that The Red Queen, as the companion book to The White Queen, would be about Margaret d' Anjou. When I realized that instead it was about Margaret Beaufort, making the pair of books about the grandmothers of Henry VIII, I was immediately intrigued.

I already knew that I did not like the overly pious Margaret but knew little about her other than historical details.

I still do not like her, but I now feel as if I have a better grasp of who she was and her motivations as well as those of Lord Stanley, surely one of the most cynical and nasty plotters of any history. (Even though the two of them had no children together, I have managed to be descended from both of them, so freely say that Stanley was a foul can of worms.)

Certainly, Margaret had a hard life in which her own wishes and desires were ignored for the ambitions of her family, but her ability to blame others for her problems is amazing, especially when she mentally attacks Queen Elizabeth Woodville for her own reasoning and behavior after the failure of Buckingham's rebellion.

Especially interesting is the ability of Gregory's female characters to connect to the supernatural. I eagerly await Book III, Lady of the Rivers. The inclusion of Joan d' Arc in these books adds to their historical flavor and the roles available for women at the time.

I was a bit disappointed with this one. Usually, Phillipa Gregory captures my attention and holds on for dear life, but not this time. Although I finished the book, it left me with the feeling of the lead character being hypocritical and sanctimonious. Perhaps Ms. Gregory went a little bit overboard in that respect. Most of her books I would read again, but sorry to say, not this one.

One of my favorite literary quotes is when Margaret tells her husband that she is doing God's will and he replies that it is funny that God's will always coincides with HER will. Very interesting historical figure and interesting book.

This book really gives thoughtful background to the start of the Tudor reign. Much has been written about Henry VIII with just passing references to Henry VII and Margaret Beaufort, his father and grandmother. That it is written by Philippa Gregory is a plus. She does such a good job bringing characters to life. Highly recommend this.

Captivating. Of the series, not my favorite character, but still an engrossing story. I love historical fiction, and this series gives personality to the dozens of characters in the War of the Roses, which is helpful when trying to keep straight all the dozens of Henry's and Edward's and Richard's and such in the English nobility.

I read that when Philippa was writing The White Queen that she felt this character needed her own story, and she was right. What a head strong and egotistic woman she was...she was extremely full of herself and extremely hypocritical, but also made for a great story. I certainty don't admire her because I don't like her personality, but I do love her ambition and her devotion to a cause.

I absolutely love PG's [Phillipa Gregory's] work and there hasn't been a book yet that I did not completely enjoy. However, with The Red Queen, I would not risk reading this book in my bath-tub for fear of destroying my hardback copy or short-circuiting my Kindle [or worse] via falling asleep. I hope this book does get better, but right now it just draaaaaags. I've always had a love-hate relationship with Margaret Beaufort; I can't even imagine what living in those times [ie...the medieval ones] must have been for her... a rape victim, I mean a child bride of 11 yrs, a birth scene that if it where shown in schools today, would have girls [not guys] raiding the condom machines in the rest-rooms. But, I digress, there is so much of this woman's life that is worth knowing and I hope PG gets to it before she loses her readers to boredom.
)O(

One of the astoundingly accurate series about the "Cousins' War," AKA THE "War of the Roses," this book and the others in the series are a wonderfully accurate and unbelievably entertaining and mesmerizing in the reading. Most readers will have the feeling of being right there in the midst of the action(s.)

Margaret Beaufort was not the most interesting or likeable person, making this my least favorite of Philippa Gregory's books. But that has nothing to do with her writing. As are all of her books, The Red Queen was well-written and easy to follow.

I watched the first season of the White Queen and was interested in the books. After reading the first one and not being able to put it down, I continued reading until I finished all of Philippa Gregory's books. I love how she captures the life of the women living during that time. I wish there were more books like this to read.

The book was difficult to put down. I was usually confused my the characters as they had like names (no fault of the author). The book was entertaining so I purchased The White Queen and the same characters appear only from a different perspective. This book would not appeal to all, but I enjoyed reading it.

A very typical Gregory book, lots of English history written into a historical novel. It was not her best but still worth reading for the history. The characters are real people blended into the story, I like that about her books. It easy way to learn a little more history about England.

Excellent story on the life of Margaret Beaufort, who went to extremes to ensure that her only son inherited the throne of England. Her story also plays prominently in the Starz production of “The White Queen.”

Another great historic novel by Philippa Gregory. I love how she gets into the minds of these women who have to navigate and succeed in a male dominated world. If you like English history, a complete list of her books is in order, then ... get reading!!

Although the book was well written and I like Gregory's other books -- the story was tedious. I didn't like any of the characters. I realize that is not a very good reason to give 3 stars in a critical review, but I really cannot recommend this book.

Philippa Gregory's heroines are usually a hit, but this time it was a miss. The story and writing were above par, but I HATED the heroine. I understand that she's self-righteous, but I found it hard to root for someone so unbelievably arrogant. After a while I didn't care what happened to her--a dangerous place to be for the main character of a book.

I love history and historical novels. Phillippa Gregory has written some of the best. The War of the Roses in England was an interesting time in history - the intrigue and back stabbing - the murder of the two princes in the tower and Richard III defeat.

If you love history-- you will love this one!

It was a gripping story of Lady Margaret Beaufort, of her marriages, mother of Henry Tudor and her secret love for Japer Tudor. If you have read The White Queen and The King Makers Daughter you will enjoy the story of The Red Queen!

If you love history of earlier England, you will enjoy all of Gregory's historical fiction including this one....It is amazing if you read them in order...the books tie in as if one page to another....Gregory makes history come alive!!

Ms. Gregory does good research, and as historical novels go I have enjoyed all her books--except this one. the main character is just so unpleasant it was hard to read! The tv series made a wise choice when they combined the three books into one story with the red queen as the antagonist.

Do you like historical novels where historical fact and a writer's imagination are cleverly mingled, and overlap?
Do you think the Tudor period is interesting, dynamic, romantic, dangerous, charming, hard, intriguing...?

If you can say 'yes' to these questions then this is a great read for you. Well written, fact and fiction carefully intertwined against a background of court intrigues, fights for power, the belief in living out a royal destiny whether it cost you your life or not.. battles, gallloping horses, draughty castles, lousy food and all really entertaining. Recommended.

Ms. Gregory does good research, and as historical novels go I have enjoyed all her books--except this one. the main character is just so unpleasant it was hard to read! The tv series made a wise choice when they combined the three books into one story with the red queen as the antagonist.

Do you like historical novels where historical fact and a writer's imagination are cleverly mingled, and overlap?
Do you think the Tudor period is interesting, dynamic, romantic, dangerous, charming, hard, intriguing...?

If you can say 'yes' to these questions then this is a great read for you. Well written, fact and fiction carefully intertwined against a background of court intrigues, fights for power, the belief in living out a royal destiny whether it cost you your life or not.. battles, gallloping horses, draughty castles, lousy food and all really entertaining. Recommended.

I found this book to be interesting from the point of view of Margaret Beaufort. What a "soccer mom" she was!! Or I suppose she could be thought of in the same breath; as both ambitious for her son and self ambitious? I am not sure I liked Margaret or if I feared her or despised her for her ruthless behavior. But her behavior seemed appropriate for the times.
You have to admit though that most of the women during her lifetime had little else in the way of defending themselves against their horrid spouses and their scheming parents and THEIR mothers! And they say that women now a days are "Tiger-Moms"

I really love this series of books. The historical accuracy is reasonable for a fiction novel and taking the viewpoints of various characters who lived at the same time in each of the books is a brilliant writing technique.

I thoroughly enjoyed how Gregory's character interpretation and presentation invites you in to get to get to know them, good or bad. There were some slow patches for me but overall it was a great read that had me contemplating whether the protagonist was actually the antagonist.

I was interested in another viewpoint of the story I had read in The White Queen. This gave me another way to view what was happening. It also helped me to understand the TV series The White Queen. In addition, I did some research into English history to see how it all ended.

Complicated family histories in the War of the Roses but essential to the understanding of British history and the Lancaster/Tudor legacy on the throne of England. Serves as a companion guide to the great series The White Queen on starz. Now on to the other books in this series!

I loved The White Princess and that inspired me to reread The Red Queen. Phillipa Gregory does an outstanding job of covering the complex character of this ambitious woman. Characters were engrossing and interesting, plot believable and fun to read. This was an engrossing read - I was sorry when it ended.

Fabulous - really enjoyed this book and becoming immersed in its world. Beautifully written and fascinating history lesson, I read this on top of the white queen and with both was left wanting more. I love phillipa Gregory's well crafted sentences and her ability to create a world and to immerse the reader in it. when she is on fire she is brilliant.

I enjoyed the book, was well written and interesting. I found it interesting that Margaret was so obsessed with Joan of Arc and believed that she could save England. She struggled with the difference between right and wrong. I could not help but feel sorry for her and being handed off as a woman at age 12 and bearing a son at 13 only to have her son taken from her led to her obsession for power all of which she truly believed was Gods will.

Another wonderful book from Philippa Gregory! I only stumbled on these treasures after watching The White Queen on Stars. As always the books are amazingly better that the tv mini series! Im hooked!!!

If you have been watching the Showtime series, The White Queen, you have already been introduced to Margaret Beaufort, the future Red Queen. There is no doubt that women were treated as chattel with little say or control of their lives. Likewise, everyone already knows that there was treachery and deviousness within the royal court. However, Margaret whines throughout the book and repeats herself over and over, as she does on the show.

Gregory's book, The White Queen, was a better read.

I have always been fascinated by British history, particularly the period during the War between the Roses. British rule was up for grabs between the Lancasters and the Yorks. In the end, Henry Tudor (Henry VII) and Elizabeth of York were married and ruled GreatBritain. This was a well-written book.

I have read the entire quartet. I would suggest people start with The Lady of the Rivers, then The White Queen, then The Kingmaker's Daughter, and last The White Princess. I finally understand the 100 years' war, the War of the Roses, Richard III, the princes in Tower, Henry VIII's obsession with a male heir for the succession, and Elizabeth I's refusal to marry. Very well done.

Very well written with a good sense of history. My husband and I read The Lady of the Rivers, The White Queen and The Red Queen, reading The Lady of the Rivers first - this I would recommend. It gives a good feel for the progression. Reading the Red and White Queens allows the reader to see the same historical events from a diffrent perspective. These books are addictive - you don't want to put them down.