Expert historian Alison Weir’s latest book focuses on the lives and backgrounds of those who took part in England’s Wars of the Roses, between 1455 and 1487.
Rather than taking the more usual route of looking at the wars as a whole, the author takes a refreshing look at the conflict from the viewpoints of those who took part, particularly the mentally unstable Henry VI and his wife, the formidable Margaret of Anjou, who raised troops and campaigned for her husband in a male-dominated world.
The Origins of the Wars of the Roses
The author devotes more than 150 pages to explaining the origins of the Wars of the Roses and this is time well spent, as she builds up a fascinating and intriguing picture of England in the mid fifteenth century. Weir describes the state of England’s roads, economy, the differing lifestyles of people from the north and from the south of the country and explains the make-up of the magnate class, the people who took part in the Wars of the Roses.
As the author explains, England’s crown was fought over during this period, not because there weren’t any eligible heirs, but because too many powerful men had good claims to the same throne and so there were many causes to fight for and many people who could reasonably hope to take the throne.
The Battles Which Made up the Wars of the Roses
In the main section of the book, Alison Weir provides an exciting and fast-moving account of how the wars developed, the various battles, including Towton and Blore Hill, which comprised the Wars of the Roses and explains the background and aftermath of each conflict.
The information is presented very well, with a build up to each conflict, which describes who was involved, how the money was raised, why the various parties were fighting, the state of politics in England at that time and how the different sides lined up on the battlefield.
The author advises the reader if any of the battlefields or finds from the battles still exist and also describes what changes had taken place once each battle had been fought to its conclusion. Small details such as the weather on the day of the battle and what goods were found after the fighting really bring the narrative to life.
The Wars of the Roses in Context
In the final section of the book, the author puts the years of fighting into context, in an expert and thought-provoking look at the Wars of the Roses as a whole. She explains that despite the years of battles, only seven noble families became extinct, there were only around 13 weeks of actual fighting during the 32 year term of the wars and most ordinary people were unaffected by the battles, which mostly took place far from towns and villages.
A set of genealogical tables at the end of the book help to place the complicated blood ties into context.
Summary
A fascinating and worthwhile account of the Wars of the Roses which presents an extremely complicated subject in an accessible and interesting way. Alison Weir writes in a clear and focused style and her enthusiasm for her subject shines through to the reader.
Publication Details
Weir, Alison Lancaster and York: The Wars of the Roses [Vintage, 2009]
ISBN 9780099540175, 480 pages
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