Alison Weir (Over 6,400 results)

Paperback. Condition: Good. The stunning new Tudor novel from Alison Weir, Sunday Times bestselling author of Six Tudor Queens.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. "A sharp and lucid blend of grim fact and stylish fiction" (Publishers Weekly), this thrilling novel in New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir's Six Tudor Queens series follows Katharine Parr, King Henry VIII's sixth and last wife, and the romantic intrigue after his death that threatened the very throne of England. "A superb read and a remarkable end to a brilliant series."--Historical Novel Society Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived Having sent his much-beloved but deceitful young wife Katheryn Howard to her beheading, King Henry fixes his lonely eyes on a more mature woman, thirty-year-old, twice-widowed Katharine Parr. She, however, is in love with Sir Thomas Seymour, brother to the late Queen Jane. Aware of his rival, Henry sends him abroad, and in 1543, Katharine reluctantly becomes Henry's sixth Queen. They forge a loving and affectionate relationship, but her enemies are poised to destroy her, and she has to tread a perilous path to avoid becoming the third of the King's wives to suffer execution. Less than four years into the marriage, Henry dies, leaving England's throne to nine-year-old Edward--a puppet in the hands of ruthlessly ambitious royal courtiers. Thomas Seymour wastes no time in asking Katharine to marry him. Thrilled at this renewed opportunity to wed her first love, Katharine doesn't realize that Sir Thomas now sees her as a mere stepping stone to the throne, his eye actually set on bedding and wedding the late King's fourteen-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. Thus begins a tangled tale of love, deception, and a devastating betrayal, bringing to a close the dramatic and violent reign of Henry VIII.…

Paperback. Condition: Good. Bestselling historian Alison Weir brings Elizabeth I to vivid life in a novel of intrigue, sex, plots, mysteries and tragedies, amid all the colour and pageantry of the Tudor court. '[Weir] gets right inside the head of the Virgin Queen.

Paperback. Condition: Good. More than four hundred years ago, seven people were beheaded in the Tower of London. Three had been queens of England. The others were found guilty of treason. Why were such important people put to death?Alison Weir's gripping book tells their stories: from the former friend betrayed by a man set on being king, to the young girl killed after just nine days on the throne. Traitors of the Tower is a short, sharp shot of royal revenge from the master of popular history and one of Britain's top-selling historians, Alison Weir.'Weir provides immense satisfaction. She writes in a pacy, vivid style, engaging the heart as well as the mind' Independent.…

Paperback. Condition: Good. "A sharp and lucid blend of grim fact and stylish fiction" (Publishers Weekly), this thrilling novel in New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir's Six Tudor Queens series follows Katharine Parr, King Henry VIII's sixth and last wife, and the romantic intrigue after his death that threatened the very throne of England. "A superb read and a remarkable end to a brilliant series."--Historical Novel Society Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived Having sent his much-beloved but deceitful young wife Katheryn Howard to her beheading, King Henry fixes his lonely eyes on a more mature woman, thirty-year-old, twice-widowed Katharine Parr. She, however, is in love with Sir Thomas Seymour, brother to the late Queen Jane. Aware of his rival, Henry sends him abroad, and in 1543, Katharine reluctantly becomes Henry's sixth Queen. They forge a loving and affectionate relationship, but her enemies are poised to destroy her, and she has to tread a perilous path to avoid becoming the third of the King's wives to suffer execution. Less than four years into the marriage, Henry dies, leaving England's throne to nine-year-old Edward--a puppet in the hands of ruthlessly ambitious royal courtiers. Thomas Seymour wastes no time in asking Katharine to marry him. Thrilled at this renewed opportunity to wed her first love, Katharine doesn't realize that Sir Thomas now sees her as a mere stepping stone to the throne, his eye actually set on bedding and wedding the late King's fourteen-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. Thus begins a tangled tale of love, deception, and a devastating betrayal, bringing to a close the dramatic and violent reign of Henry VIII.…

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. NATIONAL BESTSELLER * A "well-researched and compulsively readable" (Booklist) biography of Anne Boleyn's final days, from the renowned author hailed as "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe) "It is a testament to Weir's artfulness and elegance as a writer that The Lady in the Tower remains fresh and suspenseful, even though the reader knows what's coming."--The Independent (U.K.) Nearly five hundred years after her violent death, Anne Boleyn, second wife to Henry VIII, remains one of the world's most fascinating, controversial, and tragic heroines. Anne's ascent from private gentlewoman to queen was astonishing, but equally compelling was her shockingly swift downfall. There remains, however, much mystery surrounding the queen's arrest and the events leading up to it: Were charges against her fabricated because she stood in the way of Henry VIII making a third marriage and siring an heir, or was she the victim of a more complex plot fueled by court politics and deadly rivalry? Drawing on myriad sources from the Tudor era, The Lady in the Tower explores the motives and intrigues of those who helped to seal the queen's fate, unraveling the tragic tale of Anne's fall, from her miscarriage of the son who would have saved her to the final, dramatic scene on the scaffold. What emerges is an extraordinary portrayal of a woman of great courage, tested to the extreme by the terrible plight in which she found herself, a powerful queen whose enemies were bent on utterly destroying her. Horrifying but captivating, The Lady in the Tower presents the full array of evidence of Anne Boleyn's guilt--and innocence.…

Paperback. Condition: Good. NATIONAL BESTSELLER * A "well-researched and compulsively readable" (Booklist) biography of Anne Boleyn's final days, from the renowned author hailed as "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe) "It is a testament to Weir's artfulness and elegance as a writer that The Lady in the Tower remains fresh and suspenseful, even though the reader knows what's coming."--The Independent (U.K.) Nearly five hundred years after her violent death, Anne Boleyn, second wife to Henry VIII, remains one of the world's most fascinating, controversial, and tragic heroines. Anne's ascent from private gentlewoman to queen was astonishing, but equally compelling was her shockingly swift downfall. There remains, however, much mystery surrounding the queen's arrest and the events leading up to it: Were charges against her fabricated because she stood in the way of Henry VIII making a third marriage and siring an heir, or was she the victim of a more complex plot fueled by court politics and deadly rivalry? Drawing on myriad sources from the Tudor era, The Lady in the Tower explores the motives and intrigues of those who helped to seal the queen's fate, unraveling the tragic tale of Anne's fall, from her miscarriage of the son who would have saved her to the final, dramatic scene on the scaffold. What emerges is an extraordinary portrayal of a woman of great courage, tested to the extreme by the terrible plight in which she found herself, a powerful queen whose enemies were bent on utterly destroying her. Horrifying but captivating, The Lady in the Tower presents the full array of evidence of Anne Boleyn's guilt--and innocence.…

Paperback. Condition: Fair. NATIONAL BESTSELLER * A "well-researched and compulsively readable" (Booklist) biography of Anne Boleyn's final days, from the renowned author hailed as "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe) "It is a testament to Weir's artfulness and elegance as a writer that The Lady in the Tower remains fresh and suspenseful, even though the reader knows what's coming."--The Independent (U.K.) Nearly five hundred years after her violent death, Anne Boleyn, second wife to Henry VIII, remains one of the world's most fascinating, controversial, and tragic heroines. Anne's ascent from private gentlewoman to queen was astonishing, but equally compelling was her shockingly swift downfall. There remains, however, much mystery surrounding the queen's arrest and the events leading up to it: Were charges against her fabricated because she stood in the way of Henry VIII making a third marriage and siring an heir, or was she the victim of a more complex plot fueled by court politics and deadly rivalry? Drawing on myriad sources from the Tudor era, The Lady in the Tower explores the motives and intrigues of those who helped to seal the queen's fate, unraveling the tragic tale of Anne's fall, from her miscarriage of the son who would have saved her to the final, dramatic scene on the scaffold. What emerges is an extraordinary portrayal of a woman of great courage, tested to the extreme by the terrible plight in which she found herself, a powerful queen whose enemies were bent on utterly destroying her. Horrifying but captivating, The Lady in the Tower presents the full array of evidence of Anne Boleyn's guilt--and innocence.…

Condition: very_good. Pages are clean with no markings. May show minor signs of wear or cosmetic defects marks, cuts, bends, or scuffs on the cover, spine, pages, or dust jacket. May have remainder marks on edges.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * An intimate, captivating biography of Queen Elizabeth I that brings the enigmatic ruler to vivid life, from "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe) "An extraordinary piece of historical scholarship."--The Cleveland Plain Dealer Perhaps the most influential sovereign England has ever known, Queen Elizabeth I remained an extremely private person throughout her reign, keeping her own counsel and sharing secrets with no one--not even her closest, most trusted advisers. Now, in this brilliantly researched, fascinating chronicle, Alison Weir shares provocative new interpretations and fresh insights on this enigmatic figure. Against a lavish backdrop of pageantry and passion, intrigue and war, Weir dispels the myths surrounding Elizabeth I and examines the contradictions of her character. Elizabeth I loved the Earl of Leicester, but did she conspire to murder his wife? She called herself the Virgin Queen, but how chaste was she through dozens of liaisons? She never married--was her choice to remain single tied to the chilling fate of her mother, Anne Boleyn? An enthralling epic, The Life of Elizabeth I is a mesmerizing, stunning chronicle of a trailblazing monarch.…

Paperback. Condition: Good. NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * An intimate, captivating biography of Queen Elizabeth I that brings the enigmatic ruler to vivid life, from "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe) "An extraordinary piece of historical scholarship."--The Cleveland Plain Dealer Perhaps the most influential sovereign England has ever known, Queen Elizabeth I remained an extremely private person throughout her reign, keeping her own counsel and sharing secrets with no one--not even her closest, most trusted advisers. Now, in this brilliantly researched, fascinating chronicle, Alison Weir shares provocative new interpretations and fresh insights on this enigmatic figure. Against a lavish backdrop of pageantry and passion, intrigue and war, Weir dispels the myths surrounding Elizabeth I and examines the contradictions of her character. Elizabeth I loved the Earl of Leicester, but did she conspire to murder his wife? She called herself the Virgin Queen, but how chaste was she through dozens of liaisons? She never married--was her choice to remain single tied to the chilling fate of her mother, Anne Boleyn? An enthralling epic, The Life of Elizabeth I is a mesmerizing, stunning chronicle of a trailblazing monarch.…

Paperback. Condition: Fair. NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * An intimate, captivating biography of Queen Elizabeth I that brings the enigmatic ruler to vivid life, from "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe) "An extraordinary piece of historical scholarship."--The Cleveland Plain Dealer Perhaps the most influential sovereign England has ever known, Queen Elizabeth I remained an extremely private person throughout her reign, keeping her own counsel and sharing secrets with no one--not even her closest, most trusted advisers. Now, in this brilliantly researched, fascinating chronicle, Alison Weir shares provocative new interpretations and fresh insights on this enigmatic figure. Against a lavish backdrop of pageantry and passion, intrigue and war, Weir dispels the myths surrounding Elizabeth I and examines the contradictions of her character. Elizabeth I loved the Earl of Leicester, but did she conspire to murder his wife? She called herself the Virgin Queen, but how chaste was she through dozens of liaisons? She never married--was her choice to remain single tied to the chilling fate of her mother, Anne Boleyn? An enthralling epic, The Life of Elizabeth I is a mesmerizing, stunning chronicle of a trailblazing monarch.…

Paperback. Condition: Very Good.

paperback. Condition: Very Good.

Paperback. Condition: Good. NATIONAL BESTSELLER * "A gripping fictional portrait" (Salon) of young Elizabeth Tudor, who would become England's most intriguing and powerful queen, from the renowned author hailed as "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe) "Engrossing . . . [Alison] Weir marries conjecture with what is known about the life of Elizabeth I from childhood to coronation, and it makes for ripping good reading."--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Even as a very young child, Elizabeth Tudor is keenly aware that people in the court of her father, King Henry VIII, have stopped referring to her as "Lady Princess" and now call her "the Lady Elizabeth." She soon learns why, as her sister, Mary, tells her of the tragic fate that has befallen Elizabeth's mother, the enigmatic and seductive Anne Boleyn, and that both girls have been declared illegitimate. The death of their father ten years later puts the orphaned Elizabeth in even greater peril: Like her mother two decades earlier, she is imprisoned in the Tower of London--and she fears she will meet her mother's grisly end. Power-driven politics, private scandal and public gossip, a disputed succession, and the grievous example of her sister, "Bloody" Queen Mary, cement Elizabeth's resolve in matters of statecraft and love, and set the stage for her transformation into the iconic Virgin Queen--a woman far ahead of her time, an independent spirit who must use cunning and wits for her very survival. …

Condition: good. Books may contain some notes and highlighting. Supplements such as Access Codes, Cd's Dust Jackets, etc. are not guaranteed with used book purchases.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. An "evocative" (Newsday) biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of England and France, who transcended the mores of society--from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose "An alluringly candid portrait of this most public yet elusive of medieval women."--The Boston Globe "[Alison Weir] has perfected the art of bringing history to life."--Chicago Tribune Renowned in her time as the most beautiful woman in Europe, the wife of two kings and the mother of three, Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the great heroines of the Middle Ages. In an era when women were regarded as little more than chattel, Eleanor defied convention as she exercised power in the political sphere and crucial influence over her husbands and sons. Eleanor of Aquitaine lived a long life of many contrasts, of splendor and desolation, power and peril, and in this stunning narrative Weir captures the woman--and the queen--in all her glory. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, Weir paints a vibrant portrait of this truly exceptional woman and provides new insights into her intimate world.…

Paperback. Condition: Good. An "evocative" (Newsday) biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of England and France, who transcended the mores of society--from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose "An alluringly candid portrait of this most public yet elusive of medieval women."--The Boston Globe "[Alison Weir] has perfected the art of bringing history to life."--Chicago Tribune Renowned in her time as the most beautiful woman in Europe, the wife of two kings and the mother of three, Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the great heroines of the Middle Ages. In an era when women were regarded as little more than chattel, Eleanor defied convention as she exercised power in the political sphere and crucial influence over her husbands and sons. Eleanor of Aquitaine lived a long life of many contrasts, of splendor and desolation, power and peril, and in this stunning narrative Weir captures the woman--and the queen--in all her glory. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, Weir paints a vibrant portrait of this truly exceptional woman and provides new insights into her intimate world.…

Paperback. Condition: Fair. A "fascinating [and] deeply researched" (The Daily Telegraph) investigation into one of the British royal family's greatest mysteries: the murders of young king Edward V and Richard, Duke of York--from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose "Weir takes us on this delicious mystery with a fearsome vengeance."--Milwaukee Journal Despite five centuries of investigation by historians, the sinister deaths of Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, remain two of the most gripping mysteries in English history. Did Richard III really kill "the Princes in the Tower," as is commonly believed, or was the murderer someone else entirely? Carefully examining every shred of contemporary evidence as well as dozens of modern accounts, Alison Weir reconstructs the entire chain of events leading to the double murder. We are witness to the tumultuous reign of Edward VI, the princes' father, and the rivalry, ambition, intrigue, and struggle for power after his death that led to the imprisonment of the princes--and the hushed-up murders that secured Richard III's claim to the throne. A masterpiece of historical research and a riveting story of conspiracy and deception, The Princes in the Tower at last provides a solution to this age-old puzzle.…

Paperback. Condition: Fair. An "evocative" (Newsday) biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of England and France, who transcended the mores of society--from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose "An alluringly candid portrait of this most public yet elusive of medieval women."--The Boston Globe "[Alison Weir] has perfected the art of bringing history to life."--Chicago Tribune Renowned in her time as the most beautiful woman in Europe, the wife of two kings and the mother of three, Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the great heroines of the Middle Ages. In an era when women were regarded as little more than chattel, Eleanor defied convention as she exercised power in the political sphere and crucial influence over her husbands and sons. Eleanor of Aquitaine lived a long life of many contrasts, of splendor and desolation, power and peril, and in this stunning narrative Weir captures the woman--and the queen--in all her glory. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, Weir paints a vibrant portrait of this truly exceptional woman and provides new insights into her intimate world.…

Paperback. Condition: Good. A "fascinating [and] deeply researched" (The Daily Telegraph) investigation into one of the British royal family's greatest mysteries: the murders of young king Edward V and Richard, Duke of York--from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose "Weir takes us on this delicious mystery with a fearsome vengeance."--Milwaukee Journal Despite five centuries of investigation by historians, the sinister deaths of Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, remain two of the most gripping mysteries in English history. Did Richard III really kill "the Princes in the Tower," as is commonly believed, or was the murderer someone else entirely? Carefully examining every shred of contemporary evidence as well as dozens of modern accounts, Alison Weir reconstructs the entire chain of events leading to the double murder. We are witness to the tumultuous reign of Edward VI, the princes' father, and the rivalry, ambition, intrigue, and struggle for power after his death that led to the imprisonment of the princes--and the hushed-up murders that secured Richard III's claim to the throne. A masterpiece of historical research and a riveting story of conspiracy and deception, The Princes in the Tower at last provides a solution to this age-old puzzle.…

Condition: acceptable. Books may contain multiple pages with notes and highlighting. Supplements such as Access Codes, Cd's, etc. are not guaranteed with used book purchases.

Condition: acceptable. Books may contain multiple pages with notes and highlighting. Supplements such as Access Codes, Cd's, etc. are not guaranteed with used book purchases.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Handsome, accomplished, and charming, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, staked his claim to the English throne by marrying Mary Stuart, who herself claimed to be the Queen of England. It was not long before Mary discovered that her new husband was interested only in securing sovereign power for himself. Then, on February 10, 1567, an explosion at his lodgings left Darnley dead; the intrigue thickened after it was discovered that he had apparently been suffocated before the blast. After an exhaustive reevaluation of the source material, Alison Weir has come up with a solution to this enduring mystery. Employing her gift for vivid characterization and gripping storytelling, Weir has written one of her most engaging excursions yet into Britain's bloodstained, power-obsessed past.…

Paperback. Condition: Good. Handsome, accomplished, and charming, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, staked his claim to the English throne by marrying Mary Stuart, who herself claimed to be the Queen of England. It was not long before Mary discovered that her new husband was interested only in securing sovereign power for himself. Then, on February 10, 1567, an explosion at his lodgings left Darnley dead; the intrigue thickened after it was discovered that he had apparently been suffocated before the blast. After an exhaustive reevaluation of the source material, Alison Weir has come up with a solution to this enduring mystery. Employing her gift for vivid characterization and gripping storytelling, Weir has written one of her most engaging excursions yet into Britain's bloodstained, power-obsessed past.…

Paperback. Condition: Very Good.

Hardback. Condition: Good. I am now a condemned traitor . . . I am to die when I have hardly begun to live. Historical expertise marries page-turning fiction in Alison Weir's enthralling debut novel, breathing new life into one of the most significant and tumultuous periods of the English monarchy. It is the story of Lady Jane Grey-the Nine Days' Queen-a fifteen-year-old girl who unwittingly finds herself at the center of the religious and civil unrest that nearly toppled the fabled House of Tudor during the sixteenth century. The child of a scheming father and a ruthless mother, for whom she is merely a pawn in a dynastic game with the highest stakes, Jane Grey was born during the harrowingly turbulent period between Anne Boleyn's beheading and the demise of Jane's infamous great-uncle, King Henry VIII. With the premature passing of Jane's adolescent cousin, and Henry's successor, King Edward VI, comes a struggle for supremacy fueled by political machinations and lethal religious fervor. Unabashedly honest and exceptionally intelligent, Jane possesses a sound strength of character beyond her years that equips her to weather the vicious storm. And though she has no ambitions to rule, preferring to immerse herself in books and religious studies, she is forced to accept the crown, and by so doing sets off a firestorm of intrigue, betrayal, and tragedy. Alison Weir uses her unmatched skills as a historian to enliven the many dynamic characters of this majestic drama. Along with Lady Jane Grey, Weir vividly renders her devious parents; her much-loved nanny; the benevolent Queen Katherine Parr; Jane's ambitious cousins; the Catholic Bloody Mary, who will stop at nothing to seize the throne; and the protestant and future queen Elizabeth. Readers venture inside royal drawing rooms and bedchambers to witness the power-grabbing that swirls around Lady Jane Grey from the day of her birth to her unbearably poignant death. Innocent Traitor paints a complete and compelling portrait of this captivating young woman, a faithful servant of God whose short reign and brief life would make her a legend. An impressive debut. Weir shows skill at plotting and maintaining tension, and she is clearly going to be a major player in the . . . historical fiction game.-The Independent Alison Weir is one of our greatest popular historians. In her first work of fiction . . . Weir manages her heroine's voice brilliantly, respecting the past's distance while conjuring a dignified and fiercely modern spirit.-London Daily Mail From the Hardcover edition. …

Hardback. Condition: Fair. I am now a condemned traitor . . . I am to die when I have hardly begun to live. Historical expertise marries page-turning fiction in Alison Weir's enthralling debut novel, breathing new life into one of the most significant and tumultuous periods of the English monarchy. It is the story of Lady Jane Grey-the Nine Days' Queen-a fifteen-year-old girl who unwittingly finds herself at the center of the religious and civil unrest that nearly toppled the fabled House of Tudor during the sixteenth century. The child of a scheming father and a ruthless mother, for whom she is merely a pawn in a dynastic game with the highest stakes, Jane Grey was born during the harrowingly turbulent period between Anne Boleyn's beheading and the demise of Jane's infamous great-uncle, King Henry VIII. With the premature passing of Jane's adolescent cousin, and Henry's successor, King Edward VI, comes a struggle for supremacy fueled by political machinations and lethal religious fervor. Unabashedly honest and exceptionally intelligent, Jane possesses a sound strength of character beyond her years that equips her to weather the vicious storm. And though she has no ambitions to rule, preferring to immerse herself in books and religious studies, she is forced to accept the crown, and by so doing sets off a firestorm of intrigue, betrayal, and tragedy. Alison Weir uses her unmatched skills as a historian to enliven the many dynamic characters of this majestic drama. Along with Lady Jane Grey, Weir vividly renders her devious parents; her much-loved nanny; the benevolent Queen Katherine Parr; Jane's ambitious cousins; the Catholic Bloody Mary, who will stop at nothing to seize the throne; and the protestant and future queen Elizabeth. Readers venture inside royal drawing rooms and bedchambers to witness the power-grabbing that swirls around Lady Jane Grey from the day of her birth to her unbearably poignant death. Innocent Traitor paints a complete and compelling portrait of this captivating young woman, a faithful servant of God whose short reign and brief life would make her a legend. An impressive debut. Weir shows skill at plotting and maintaining tension, and she is clearly going to be a major player in the . . . historical fiction game.-The Independent Alison Weir is one of our greatest popular historians. In her first work of fiction . . . Weir manages her heroine's voice brilliantly, respecting the past's distance while conjuring a dignified and fiercely modern spirit.-London Daily Mail From the Hardcover edition. …

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose presents a "masterful [and] revealingly detailed" (The Boston Globe) account of the epic clash for the throne between the royal houses of Lancaster and York--a blistering period in English history that impacted the monarchy forever. "Weir has perfected the art of bringing history to life."--Chicago Tribune Lancaster and York. For much of the fifteenth century, these two families were locked in battle for control of the British monarchy. Kings were murdered and deposed. Armies marched on London. Old noble names were ruined while rising dynasties seized power and lands. The war between the royal Houses of Lancaster and York, the longest and most complex in British history, profoundly altered the course of the monarchy. The first battle erupted in 1455, but the roots of the conflict reached back to the dawn of the fifteenth century, when the corrupt, hedonistic Richard II was sadistically murdered, and Henry IV, the first Lancastrian king, seized England's throne. Both Henry IV and his son, the cold warrior Henry V, ruled England ably, if not always wisely--but Henry VI proved a disaster, both for his dynasty and his kingdom. The factional fighting that plagued his reign escalated into bloody war when Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, laid claim to the throne that was rightfully his--and backed up his claim with armed might. In The Wars of the Roses, Alison Weir brings brilliantly to life both the war itself and the historic figures who fought it on the great stage of England. This is history at its very best--swift and compelling, rich in character, pageantry, and drama, and vivid in its re-creation of an astonishing, dangerous, and often grim period of history.…

Paperback. Condition: Good. The New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose presents a "masterful [and] revealingly detailed" (The Boston Globe) account of the epic clash for the throne between the royal houses of Lancaster and York--a blistering period in English history that impacted the monarchy forever. "Weir has perfected the art of bringing history to life."--Chicago Tribune Lancaster and York. For much of the fifteenth century, these two families were locked in battle for control of the British monarchy. Kings were murdered and deposed. Armies marched on London. Old noble names were ruined while rising dynasties seized power and lands. The war between the royal Houses of Lancaster and York, the longest and most complex in British history, profoundly altered the course of the monarchy. The first battle erupted in 1455, but the roots of the conflict reached back to the dawn of the fifteenth century, when the corrupt, hedonistic Richard II was sadistically murdered, and Henry IV, the first Lancastrian king, seized England's throne. Both Henry IV and his son, the cold warrior Henry V, ruled England ably, if not always wisely--but Henry VI proved a disaster, both for his dynasty and his kingdom. The factional fighting that plagued his reign escalated into bloody war when Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, laid claim to the throne that was rightfully his--and backed up his claim with armed might. In The Wars of the Roses, Alison Weir brings brilliantly to life both the war itself and the historic figures who fought it on the great stage of England. This is history at its very best--swift and compelling, rich in character, pageantry, and drama, and vivid in its re-creation of an astonishing, dangerous, and often grim period of history.…