Lady of the Roses Book Review
Sandra Worth's Unique Look Into England's War of the Roses
Sandra Worth’s historical based novel, Lady of the Roses, is an intriguing look into life during Britain’s War of the Roses. Spanning the years of 1456 to 1476, the reader gets a look into the War of the Roses yet also gets a heartwarming look into the life of Lady Isobel Ingoldesthorpe.
Young Isobel
After being orphaned by her parents, Lady Isobel Ingoldesthorpe faces the choice of entering into a convent or finding a secure marriage once she has come of age. As a ward of Queen Marguerite d’Anjou, Isobel enters into noble society and the royal court and is escorted by Soeur Madeleine. Isobel states she was “on my way to court to be married, but while my heart yearned for the kind of love that troubadours sang about and wordsmiths described in their lovely manuscripts-the kind of love my mother and father must have had for one another, since he never wed again after her death-I knew love would likely not be my portion.”
Love Against Odds
While attending a ball at Tatershall Castle, Lady Isobel meets Sir John Neville whom she falls instantly in love with. Their love is forbidden because while Isobel is of the Lancastrian party, Sir John is of the Yorkist party; the Lancastrians and the Yorkists are the rival parties of the War of the Roses. Being under the wardship of Queen Marguerite, Isobel must obtain her permission to marry. Queen Marguerite, always the opportunist, knows that she can expect a healthy sum from any suitor who comes to ask for the hand of beautiful Isobel. When Isobel approaches the Queen to ask permission to marry her love and rival of the throne, Sir John Neville, she manages to convince the Queen to submit but not without a hefty price.
Perils of War
Due to King Henry VI, weakness and frailty due to an undisclosed illness, the adultress Queen Marguerite d’Anjou is given free reign over the kingdom. The Queen who is nicknamed “the bitch of Anjou” proves herself to be a cruel and greedy ruler. Eventually the Yorkist forces are able to force King Henry and his tyrant Queen Marguerite from the throne of England and replace them with King Edward but not before the deaths of many prominent Yorkists.
A Twist in the Tale
King Edward is well loved and a gracious ruler until he secretly marries Elizabeth Woodville, the former Queen’s favorite, who is every bit as conniving as Queen Marguerite. King Edward leans more towards his wife’s power hungry relatives and less towards the Yorkist party. Although John and Isobel have a loving marriage and a growing family, John feels it is his duty to fight for the interests of the King and is away from home a lot. Under King Edwards rule, John is given high honors and wealth until the influence of the Woodville family causes Edward to strip John of his honors and country in whole steadily declines.
A Bittersweet Ending
Although Sir John Neville is killed in battle and years later is followed by the death of Isobel, the wonderful story of their love and passion remains strong in the reader’s mind. Unlike some historical based novels, Lady of the Roses provides enough historical facts to make the reader understand the circumstances of the times without sounding too much like a textbook. The love story of John and Isobel, based on real facts, is mesmerizing and wonderfully told.
Worth, Sandra. Lady of the Roses. The Berkeley Publishing Group. 2008.
Lady of the Roses Book Cover
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