Fighting from Inside: Books about Women and the Wars of the Roses (ep 26)

The so-called “Wars of the Roses” is one of the most fascinating
periods of English history. There is the uber-king, Henry V,
vanquishing the enemy in France and inspiring his troops (and
Shakespeare!) to a stunning victory at Agincourt. There’s his
son, the under-king, Henry VI. Crowed as a child, Henry VI never
came anywhere near the ease or effectiveness on the throne his
father had. There are the York brothers, Edward, George, and
Richard. All sons of Richard Duke of York, the three brothers
displayed a level of ambition and ruthlessness that led to of
them to the crown of England. And there are some Beauforts and
Nevillles and Tudors lurking about as well.

I can tell you right now that one of my very, very favorite
things about this time period is the women!!

They weren’t all dressed in armor and riding into battle like
Joan of Arc, but the English women involved in the Wars of the
Roses were fierce, fearless, and fantastic. They were queens, and
almost-queens, and duchesses, and all-around fighters. They were
also mothers and daughters and sisters who had a level of access
to the of course male leaders of the time. These women broke the
rules—and I mean BROKE the rules—and made new ones. Working from
the inside, they changed everything.

There are some terrific books about these women, and I’d like to
share three with you:

**She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth by
Helen Castor.

**Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the Wars of the Roses by Sarah
Gristwood.

**Uncrowned Queen: The Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort, Tudor
Matriarch by Nicola Tallis.




History shows us what's possible.