The White Queen

The White Queen
A 15th Century Plantagenet Novel of Suspense
Philippa Gregory

I am a big Philippa Gregory fan, and this book does not disappoint... Sticking to a subject and style that she excels in, with great characters, beautifully described scenery and a plot that keeps you wanting more... All I can really say is if you are into this period, or any of her previous books you should read it... Looking forward to her next installment...

Synopsis (from the publisher): Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.

The Other Boleyn Girl - Film

I am a fan of Philippa Gregory as well as having an avid interest in the Tudors, so as you could probably imagine I was very excited about this film... Unfortunately when we were going to see it we decided that £14 at Leicester Square was a bit much on limited time...

Now that the DVD release has happened Cricket and I made a time to watch it (she introduced me to the book in 04)...

I have very little that's positive to say about this film... The casting wasn't great, the story was chopped up beyond what could be perceived as a full picture of the story, at one point about 4 years passed in a ten minute period (without letting the audience know that was the case) and some key elements in relationships and character development were missed... Am glad that I didn't pay to see it in London, its not worth the money, or the time...

The Other Queen - Philippa Gregory

The Other Queen - Philippa Gregory



Philippa Gregory is probably best known for the movie adaption of 'The Other Boleyn Girl', but it is by far not her only work... I have enjoyed her books for years and was stoked when I found this one at a stock take sale! For as long as I could remember I have been interested in the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots, and have read a few books about them, and seen a few films about them too... It might seem strange to continue to read the same story over and over again, but I love different peoples takes on them... Usually the writer has an extreme bias to one side or the other, but it was refreshing to read this story, told from several points of view, for a more balanced picture which paints neither woman as evil, or angelic... This book focuses on the relationships surrounding Mary as she is being held by England during the negotiations to get her back on the throne of Scotland... A really good read, and if you like period pieces this book is for you!