Why I Enjoyed Reading “The White Queen” by Philippa Gregory

One reason why I enjoyed reading “The White Queen” is that it is based on a true story. The White Queen is about Elizabeth Woodville, a young Lancastrian Widow and King Edward IV of York.

The novel is set during that turbulent time in England’s history known as the “War of the Roses”.  This series of violent and bloody wars between brothers, cousins, and other relatives were fought for the throne of England. It is called the ¨War of the Roses¨ because of the emblems used by the House of York (White Rose) and the House of Lancaster (Red Rose). 

I enjoyed reading the novel given its almost real depiction of the lives of King Edward IV of York, Richard III, Elizabeth Woodville, and Margaret Beaufort. If you read the White Queen, it is as if you are privy to the very private conversations of these characters who are real-life historical figures.

In the latter part of the novel, the issue of who actually killed or masterminded the murder of the ¨Princess in the Tower¨was portrayed. Is it really King Richard III who killed his nephews. Did Elizabeth Woodville send a pageboy to take the place of her younger son? These are questions that historians themselves cannot provide a definite answer to. 

History is replete with questions without answers. There are events in history that we can only guess what actually happened. This novel will provide answers that, of course, only an imaginative mind may complete the puzzle.