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Review: The Queen of Last Hopes: The Story of Margaret of Anjou

Wednesday, June 26, 2013
http://happy-booker.blogspot.com/2013/06/review-queen-of-last-hopes-story-of.html

The Queen of Last Hopes: The Story of Margaret of Anjou by Susan Higginbotham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



The Queen of Last Hopes tells the story of Margaret of Anjou and the reign of Henry VI from the rarely heard perspective of the Lancastrians. I think nearly every historical novel I've read that takes place during the reign of Henry VI has demonized Margaret of Anjou so this was such a new and refreshing viewpoint that it read like a story I was completely unfamiliar with. From the beginning, Margaret seemed like such a weak and foolish woman, so quick to naively trust and ally with people without fully considering possible long term consequences. However, throughout the story, I began to sympathize with her even when I didn't always agree or when I knew she was making fatal errors in judgment. Susan Higginbotham did such a wonderful job of humanizing this queen who so many have portrayed as being a ruthless queen responsible for the deaths of thousands in her incessant wars. Several times, near the end, I was moved to tears by the narration of what I already knew was going to happen.

I listened to The Queen of Last Hopes on audio from Audible narrated by Nicole Quinn. This is the first audio narration I've listened to from Quinn but hopefully it will not be the last. Quinn does a phenomenal job with the multiple perspectives, accents, and personalities in The Queen of Last Hopes, allowing the listener to fully immerse themselves in this era of court intrigue, scandal, war, and betrayal. Her stellar performance enhanced a story that was already incredible.

I haven't yet read any of Higginbotham's previous novels, but I would compare her writing favorably with some of my favorite authors in this genre such as Alison Weir and Jean Plaidy as far as historical detail. I think where Higginbotham really excels is in writing historical figures in a way that allows a reader to connect to them. I found each of the characters to be fully realized and with all too human flaws and feelings. I am looking forward to enjoying more of Higginbotham's historical novels and would highly recommend The Queen of Last Hopes to all fans of historical fiction.



View all my reviews

Carlo Buonaparte

Born: 29th March 1746 in Ajaccio, Corsica
Married: 2nd June 1764 in Ajaccio, Corsica
Died: 24th February 1785 in Montpellier, France

Youth and Marriage:

Born of Italian heritage in Ajaccio, Corsica, Carlo
initially followed family tradition by studying to be a
lawyer; however, he left his course at Pisa University
part-way through to marry Marie-Letizia Romalino. Carlo
was 18, Letizia 14, and both were members of the Ajaccio
nobility, a position of relative unimportance. Romantic
authors often suggest that this was a marriage of passion
and elopement, but the facts suggest a sound marriage of
economic convenience, especially as their fathers had
already died.

Work For Paoli:
Carlo worked as a solicitor for most of his life, but in the
period after his marriage he worked as a secretary and
assistant to Pasquale Paoli, the Corsican revolutionary leader.
Paoli sent Carlo to negotiate with the Pope in 1766 - Paoli
planned an invasion of Capria, a papal gift to Corsica's current
rulers, Genoa - and Carlo appears to have enjoyed life in Rome -
and life with other women - until being forced, for reasons
unknown, back to Corsica in 1768. Political upheaval followed
 as France gained ownership of Corsica, a new struggle which
 ended with the Paolista's heavy defeat at Ponte Novo on May
 8th 1769. Many of Paoli's supporters had to flee, including
Carlo Buonaparte and family; students of Napoleon may
wish to note that Letizia was several months pregnant with
the future emperor at this time.

Life Under The French:
Carlo soon proved himself to be an opportunist - critics may
prefer turncoat - by embracing the new French government
as Paoli was forced abroad. Modest success followed: Carlo
was made 'Assessor of the Royal Jurisdiction of Ajaccio' in
1771 - the same year as he obtained French confirmation of
his 'noble' status - and later, deputy of the Estates-General of
Corsica. Throughout the 1770's attempted to better himself
through legal means, making numerous claims on land and
money, but his success was limited and the drain on his
family's funds great. Indeed, his combination of official
duties and legal appeals to French authorities frequently
kept Carlo overseas, whether at Versailles or elsewhere.
Regrettably for the Buonapartes, Carlo was free with his
money at the best of times and trips to the ostentatious
c

apital of France ate away at his finances; a fondness for 

gambling exacerbated matters. As he noted in an account 

book "In Paris I received 4,000 francs from the King and 

a fee of 1,000 crowns from the government, but I came back 

without a penny." (Napoleon, McLynn 1998, pg. 21)

Death:
By 1782 Carlo had seven surviving children, but he was
growing weak. Over the next few years - which proved less
litigious than before - Carlo began to suffer constant pain
and he traveled to Paris, Montpellier and other towns to
find medical help. They could do nothing for what historians
 are sure was stomach cancer and Carlo Buonaparte died on
 February 24th, 1785. He left his family virtually penniless.

Notable Family:
Wife: Marie-Letizia Bonaparte, née Romalino and Buonaparte (1750 - 1835)
Children: Joseph Bonaparte, originally Giuseppe Buonaparte (1768 - 1844)
Napoleon Bonaparte, originally Napoleone Buonaparte (1769 - 1821)
Lucien Bonaparte, originally Luciano Buonaparte (1775 - 1840)
Elisa Bacciochi, née Maria Anna Buonaparte/Bonaparte (1777 - 1820)
Louis Bonaparte, originally Luigi Buonaparte (1778 - 1846)
Pauline Borghese, née Maria Paola/Paoletta Buonaparte/Bonaparte (1780 - 1825)
Caroline Murat, née Maria Annunziata Buonaparte/Bonaparte (1782 - 1839)
Jérôme Bonaparte, originally Girolamo Buonaparte (1784 - 1860)

How Margaret of Anjou fell at Tewkesbury and died a lonely beggar

http://www.lookandlearn.com/ Posted in Famous battles, Historical articles, History, Royalty, War on Sunday, 22 July 2012 This edited article about Margaret of Anjou originally appeared  in Look and Learn issue number 754 published on 26 June 1976. Margaret of Anjou aboard the storm-battered ship which brought the fifteen-year old future queen to England by Clive Uptton Famous throughout the whole of Europe for her beauty and learning, Margaret of Anjou seemed assured of a brilliant future. But history was to shape her life in such a manner as to make her penniless. Her beauty was a legend even at the age of thirteen. It dazzled and  bewitched all who beheld her wherever she or her portrait went. But matchless beauty was not all that this remarkable child possessed. Trained and nurtured with the utmost care, she was famous throughout Europe for her exceptional learning and majestic grace. Princes and noblemen all over the continent aspired to her hand, and it seemed to all who knew the lovely young princess, that hers would be a life of peace, and untroubled happiness. Instead her life was to end in tragedy and miserable humiliation. Her name was Margaret of Anjou. Born on March 24th, 1430, Margaret was the daughter of the chivalrous, gentle King Rene of Sicily and Provence, King of Naples, Duke of Anjou and Maine, and of the headstrong Isabel of Lorraine. From all her ancestors Margaret inherited abundant energy, a love of hunting, of horses and warlike tournaments; from her father a love of art and learning, and from her mother, courage, tenacity and an iron will. Throughout her life Margaret was to call on the courage within her that remained undaunted, almost to the very end of her life. The first test of these qualities came at the age of fifteen when she first set an unsteady foot on England’s hostile soil. A tempestuous storm across the Channel had reduced her ship to a mastless, limping hulk. Sweeping across the mainland, the gale had felled trees, ripped off roofs of houses, and devastated the countryside. Sick, dishevelled, her clothes in tatters and on the point of physical collapse, Margaret arrived to find no friendly welcome from the people of her new home. It was a miracle she had not been shipwrecked. She had come to England to be married to the country’s king, the saintly, politically naive, Henry VI, thus sealing the truce intended to end the Hundred Years War between England and France. Henry was at once enslaved by his young bride and Margaret, in her turn, soon developed an aggressive, protective affection for the king who loved justice and peace above all things. England should have adored a queen like Margaret. Even at so young an age, she showed an aptitude and liking for the hard work of government. Two years after her coronation as Henry’s Queen, the real reign of Margaret of Anjou would begin. More and more she had taken on the duties of government which Henry found so intolerable. Peace-loving, erudite, and deeply religious, Henry was totally unsuited to his task as ruler of a troubled nation and Margaret, wanting to relieve him of all the worldly problems which he found so agonising, resolved to spend her life protecting and ensuring his peace of mind. In less troubled times, her policies would have delighted the nation: lasting peace abroad; at home the restoration of the country’s former prosperity; and the encouragement of trade and the broadening of education. Henry had founded Eton and King’s College, Cambridge, and Margaret founded Queen’s College. She sent to the Low Countries and Lyons for skilled craftsmen to improve the woollen industry and to establish silk-weaving. Unhappily, though, for the majority of English, Margaret would always remain ‘the foreigner’. She ruled England at a time of tremendous change. For thirty years the English were to spill each other’s blood in a dynastic struggle so hideous and appalling that it has gone down in history as one of the most tragic events in the nation’s past. The Wars Of The Roses is a deceptively pretty name for the horrors and atrocities which were carried out in the name of honour and revenge in that bloody civil war. Margaret’s role in the struggle was a decisive one. Without her, the destinies of England, of France and consequently of the whole world would have been different. At the age of 20 she was faced with the task of preventing, almost single-handed, the dismembering of an empire and the total collapse of a dynasty. To save the royal House of Lancaster she would have to crush Richard, Duke of York, the claimant to the throne. She appointed the Lancastrian, Somerset, Constable of England, to the amazed indignation of the nation, who blamed him for England’s defeat at the hands of the French at the end of the Hundred Years War. The most unpopular man in England, he had been made commander of all the armed forces which, in the circumstances, made him absolute master of the government. Richard of York seethed with anger at the sight of his archrival being given such power. He assembled a small army and marched on London to claim the Crown. The Wars Of The Roses had begun. In battle after battle, Margaret was to fight with indomitable courage. At Wakefield, where she won a great victory over the Yorkists, her strategy possessed the inspired brilliance of a Napoleon. In 1461 at the second battle of St Albans, she won another victory.  But soon the tide was to change. On the battlefield of Towton where perished the flower of Lancastrian nobility, there took place one of the worst massacres in the history of war. The day after battle, the rivers nearby still ran red with the blood of Lancaster’s 28,000 dead. Richard of York’s son, Edward, Earl of March, was now King of England. But while she had a breath of life in her body, Margaret would fight to win the crown back for her husband and for her son. After seven years exile in France she returned to England to recover from Edward IV the crown. But the battle of Tewkesbury in 1471 was to be her final battle. Utterly defeated, and mentally broken, the Queen was thrown into a cart and taken away to prison. She would never reign again. Henry, the peace-lover, met his violent death at the hands of a murderer on the orders of Edward IV. Her beloved son was battered to death by Edward IV and his lords, and Margaret herself, after five years in prison, was ransomed, at the price of her French estates, to the French king, Louis XI. When her father died she became a penniless beggar. She had signed away all claims to her family’s lands and in doing this had united France with Maine, Anjou and Provence. Friendless, penniless, and completely alone, she died at the age of fifty-two.

Uther Pendragon

.llustrazione di Uther Pendragon realizzata daHoward Pyle per il libro The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (1902)

Uther's story is first told by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his "History of Kings of Britain". As a one of the two younger brothers of the murdered King Constans, he apparently fled, at a young age, to the Royal Court of his cousin, King Budic I of Brittany and here he was raised. As a young man, Uther returned to Britain with his elder brother, Ambrosius, and together they fought for their ancestral rights, eventually defeating the usurpingVortigern and placing Ambrosius on the throne.

Throughout Ambrosius' reign, Uther was his brother's staunchest ally. He commanded the King's forces in Ireland when, withMerlin, he acquired the "Giant's Ring" as a memorial to the dead of the "Night of the Long Knives". Later, it was Uther who was victorious over the rebellious King Pasgen of Buellt & Gwerthrynion at St. Davids (Mynyw).

Uther took the crown under the title of "Uther Pendragon" after a dragon-shaped comet appeared in the sky at the time of his brother's death. Most of his reign was taken up with campaigning against Saxon and Irish invaders in the North of Britain, where he held court at Pendragon Castle in Westmorland. He was, at first unsuccessful against the Angles of Bernicia. Osla, allied with the Jutish Octa, defeated Uther's armies at York (Caer-Ebrauc). However, he soon turned the tables at the ensuing Battle of Mount Damen. Uther later travelled even further north to help the Kings of Strathclyde pacify the Scots.

It is at this point that the most famous episode in Uther's life is related. Returning to London (Caer-Lundein), he met Ygerna, the gorgeous wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, and fell instantly in love with her. Determined to see her again he invited the Duke to return to the Royal Court, but Gorlois could see what was going on and flattly refused. The two quarrelled and Gorlois and his wife fled to Cornwall. Uther invaded the Duke's lands, but still impatient to be with his new love, he persuaded Merlin to use his powers to magic him into Ygerna's bed. Thus, while Gorlois was being killed at nearby St. Dennis (Dimilioc), Uther was transformed into his likeness. He walked straight into the lion's den at Tintagel Catsle (Din-Tagell) and seduced the lovely Duchess. Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte D'Arthur" claims that the price for this deception was that Uther's son, the future King Arthur who was conceived on that night, had to be given to Merlin to be brought up as he saw fit. Robert de Boron says Uther was responsible for the founding of the Order of the Round Table.

In old age, the sick and aging Uther was drawn into a renewed war with the Northern Angles. When his commander, King Lotof Lothian (Gododdin) was unsuccessful, the King was carried to St. Albans (Caer-Mincip) to besiege the Anglian Princes himself. He won through, but the Germans poisoned the water-supply and Uther, along with many of his men, died in the days that followed.

Despite the popular myth to the contrary, King Uther Pendragon was not created from the imagination of Geoffrey of Monmouth. He appears several times in earlier Welsh tradition, both in his own right and as father of King Arthur. In the 10th century poem,Pa Gur ("Who is the Porter?"), one of Arthur's companions is given as "Mabon ap Mydron, servant of Uthir Pen Dragon". A poem in the Book of Taliesin (some of which may date back to the 6th century) mentions Arthur and is named after Uther himself asMarvnat Uthyr Pen. Ymiddiddan Arthur a'r Eryr ("The Colloquy of Arthur and the Eagle"), a poem contemporary with Geoffrey yet showing a primitive tradition independent of him, identifies the eagle as Eliwlat mab Madawc mab Uthyr and a nephew of Arthur. Uther also appears in several early Triads of the Island of Britainand the personal name is known from other pre-Galfridian sources.

As an epithet, Pendragon can be interpreted as something like "Foremost Leader," "Chief Warleader" or "Chief of Warriors". In the Cambridge version of Nennius' "History of the Britons," there is an addition to Arthur's name of the line "in British mab Uter, that is in Latin terrible son, because from his youth he was cruel". This unlikely reference to Arthur's early character, has encouraged some researchers, to see Uthr-Pen-Dragon as a mere title (Terrible Chief Warleader) which should be applied to a King of another name. The most popular suggestion appears to be King Meurig ap Tewdrig of Glywysing and Gwent, as suggested by Blackett & Wilson and Barber & Pykitt.

Sources
..............

Geoffrey Ashe (1980) A Guidebook to Arthurian Britain.
Peter C. Bartrum (1993) A Welsh Classical Dictionary.
Rachel Bromwich (1961) Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Welsh Triads.
Ronan Coghlan (1991) The Encyclopaedia of Arthurian Legends.
John Gwenogvryn Evans (1906) The Black Book of Carmarthen.
John Gwenogvryn Evans (1910) Facsimile and Text of the Book of Taliesin.
A.O.H. Jarman (1952) Llen Cymru II.
Thomas Malory (1485) Le Morte D'Arthur.
Geoffrey of Monmouth (1136) The History of the Kings of Britain.
Nennius (c.829) The History of the Britons (Cambridge Edition).
John Rous (c.1485) The History of the English Kings.

The language of the Picts

image http://aoc.wikia.com/wiki/Picts

http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/vikingorkney/takeover.htm

One of the great mysteries surrounding the Picts is the language they spoke. This topic has stimulated much discussion and argument over the ensuing centuries. According to the few surviving historical references relating to the Pictish language, the Picts spoke a language of their own - different to the languages spoken by the other people of Britain.

In his A History of the English Church and People, the venerable Bede wrote that at the time (early eighth century) there were five languages in Britain - English, British, Scots (Gaelic) and Pictish. But like the good churchman he was, he added "all are united in their study of God's truth by the fifth - Latin - which has become a common medium through the study of the Scriptures."

Admonan's Life of Columba seems to back this up, as it states that when Columba visited the court of the Pictish high-king Brude, on the River Ness, he needed a translator. This seems to imply that the Pictish language was different to the Scots/Irish Gaelic spoken by Columba.

However, as the Picts themselves kept no written records of their lifestyles, beliefs or heritage, their language has now all but disappeared. The only sources that can give vague clues as to its nature are some of the carved inscriptions they left, placenames and certain accounts of Pictish names written by external sources at the time.

As with all things Pictish, however, the lack of concrete evidence has led to a number of opinions and theories as to the form of the spoken language of the inhabitants of Northern Scotland in the early centuries of the first millennium.

These generally fall into one of three camps:

• The Picts spoke an ancient language indigenous to area - a language that predated the Celtic languages of the Britons, the Scots and the Irish. This language did not have an Indo-European origin but was instead a survival of the ancient language used by the Bronze Age people of the area.
• The Picts spoke a P-Celtic language - that is a Celtic language related to the language of the Ancient Britons. When the Celts arrived in Britain they brought with them an Indo-European language which replaced the existing languages of country. This, say supporters, is clear from the known Pictish placenames in north-east Scotland.
  
  But if this was the case why did Bede regard Pictish as a different language? Was there perhaps a strong regional accent? Just as a visitor to Orkney in past years often struggled with the Orcadian accent, although the islanders were still essentially speaking English.
• Along the same lines is the idea that the Picts spoke a P-Celtic language, a version of Ancient British that contained elements of Irish Gaelic - fragments picked up over the years through contact with the Scotti - the invading Irish settlers who claimed territory down the west coast of Scotland. This theory is strengthened by the fact that the writing system known to be used by the Picts – Ogham – actually originated in Ireland.

"Court intrigue, scandal, war, and betrayal"

http://www.audible.com/listener/A3XLGH2AK6H02/The-Queen-of-Last-Hopes/ref=pd_seeReview?asin=B00BHZWWHQ


The Queen of Last Hopes tells the story of Margaret of Anjou and the reign of Henry VI from the rarely heard perspective of the Lancastrians. I think nearly every historical novel I've read that takes place during the reign of Henry VI has demonized Margaret of Anjou so this was such a new and refreshing viewpoint that it read like a story I was completely unfamiliar with. From the beginning, Margaret seemed like such a weak and foolish woman, so quick to naively trust and ally with people without fully considering possible long term consequences. However, throughout the story, I began to sympathize with her even when I didn't always agree or when I knew she was making fatal errors in judgment. Susan Higginbotham did such a wonderful job of humanizing this queen who so many have portrayed as being a ruthless queen responsible for the deaths of thousands in her incessant wars. Several times, near the end, I was moved to tears by the narration of what I already knew was going to happen. 

I listened to The Queen of Last Hopes on audio from Audible narrated by Nicole Quinn. This is the first audio narration I've listened to from Quinn but hopefully it will not be the last. Quinn does a phenomenal job with the multiple perspectives, accents, and personalities in The Queen of Last Hopes, allowing the listener to fully immerse themselves in this era of court intrigue, scandal, war, and betrayal. Her stellar performance enhanced a story that was already incredible.

I haven't yet read any of Higginbotham's previous novels, but I would compare her writing favorably with some of my favorite authors in this genre such as Alison Weir and Jean Plaidy as far as historical detail. I think where Higginbotham really excels is in writing historical figures in a way that allows a reader to connect to them. I found each of the characters to be fully realized and with all too human flaws and feelings. I am looking forward to enjoying more of Higginbotham's historical novels and would highly recommend The Queen of Last Hopes to all fans of historical fiction.http://www.audible.com/listener/A3XLGH2AK6H02/The-Queen-of-Last-Hopes/ref=pd_seeReview?asin=B00BHZWWHQ