The year is 1461, and a new king sits on England’s throne. Edward IV has earned his right to sit on the throne by winning the crown at the Battle of Towton. Now, he must fight for his throne against the Lancastrians and his own family. However, there is one woman who stands firmly by his side: his mother Cecily, Dowager Duchess of York. She earned another title the day he was crowned, that of the King’s Mother. As Edward fights his own battles, so too does Cecily to protect her family. Annie Garthwaite concludes Cecily’s story in her novel, “The King’s Mother.”
I remember reading “Cecily” five years ago and thoroughly enjoying myself. Cecily was such an amazing debut novel, and I was so excited to see how Garthwaite would conclude her story.
We begin with the aftermath of Towton, the battle that secured the crown for the Yorkist cause for a while. Cecily finally believes that her family is safe, for now. But as the King’s mother, she knows that the position is fragile, as war can begin again at any moment, especially with Marguerite of Anjou still at large. Edward is arranging his court and is looking for a wife- well, a legal wife, because he was already technically married to one, Eleanor Talbot, but that surely would not become an issue later on, right? While there were plans for Edward to marry a French princess so they could create an alliance, Edward chose an English widow named Elizabeth Woodville to be his wife and queen. To say Cecily and Elizabeth got along like oil and water would be an understatement.
This marriage caused a rift between Edward and his cousin/top advisor, Warwick, and in the end, Edward had to face off against Warwick, Marguerite, and his brother George. While Edward is able to fight back against Warwick and Marguerite, ending the Lancastrian cause for a while, it is his feud with his brother George that would have deadly consequences and tear the family that Cecily fought so hard to protect apart. With Edward’s sudden death, her only remaining son, Richard, goes from protector of Edward’s sons to the King of England, until he is defeated by the usurper Henry Tudor.
To tell this story of the short-lived Yorkist dynasty and the rise of the Tudors through Cecily’s eyes was engrossing, heartbreaking, and a tremendous read. Cecily was not some wallflower, but a fierce protector of her family who earned the right to be considered the first King’s Mother. If you loved “Cecily” as much as I did, I wholeheartedly encourage you to read “The King’s Mother” by Annie Garthwaite.
Medieval princes are often viewed as men who will one day be king of their homeland or another country. They are seen as wealthy men with prestige and honor who live lavish lifestyles and go to war to earn titles and estates. One of these noble medieval princes was a man who married three times, including to his most beloved mistress. He was the son of Edward III, the uncle of Richard II, and the father of the queen of Castile and King Henry IV, the first Lancastrian king. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would rule in different European countries, even though he never had the chance to wear the crown of England or Castile for himself. His name was John of Gaunt, and his story is told in Kathryn Warner’s latest biography, “ John of Gaunt: Son of One King, Father to Another.”