Reviewer: Amy Lignor
Title: The Tudor Rose
Author: Margaret Campbell Barnes
Publisher: Source Books
ISBN-13: 978-1-4022-2468-3
Release Date: October 2009 (Reprint - Originally printed in 1953)
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Fiction
Year/Setting: The British World of King Henry VII and his Elizabeth
Overall Rating: 3.5
Sexual Content Rating: None/Subtle
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None/Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal
Margaret's Website: (N/A - The author is now deceased)
Dear Readers:
As everyone will already know, I love the Tudors. I love the movies about them; the television show; and, basically, would've done really well during that time period. I'm sure eventually, with my penchant for telling the truth, I would've ended up in the Tower and then lost my head - but it would've been a really fun ride.
This story centers around Elizabeth of York - the only living descendant of Edward IV - which means, she is the only one from here to Hades who has a legitimate claim to the coveted crown. We find two princes meeting on a battlefield to decide who will win the throne of England and sit beside Queen Elizabeth to rule. We're talking about a huge field of ego, here. On one side of the battle is Elizabeth's very own uncle Richard, who is the last Plantagenet King, and on the other side of the net, we have Henry Tudor - an exiled king who will be the man who, let's face it, is only remembered in history as the man who sired the real King Henry that no one can seem to stop talking about even after all these years.
This is a wonderful book, especially the side story of the two young princes who were supposedly killed by Richard and buried under the bottom step of the dreaded Tower. I have read many books about this incident and am dying to see that step. No, I have no idea why. Either Stephen King has finally gotten to me - or my everyday hum-drum job is turning me into an imaginative sicko who wants to see the "icky" places where "bad" things happened. (I think it might be the latter considering I'm also fascinated with Jack the Ripper.) Anyway...
You don't have to be a sicko at heart to enjoy this story. In fact, the subject matter is mild in nature and the story of this world - no matter who tells it - is always a good read. What is it that they say? If you have good material ANYONE can make it work. (Please do not take that as a reason to write a sequel to ANYTHING that Jane Austen ever wrote. If you do, I'll be mortified.)
The real heartache here is that the author is now deceased. Ms. Barnes died in 1962, and she will be missed. Yes...there will always be another in line to write about this, well, royal line - but there are more than a few who simply re-work somebody else's fine accomplishments. I hope this doesn't happen to Ms. Barnes. Her writing is a good memory that I will carry with me. If you're interested in this subject, you should read this. There are very few good books on the market today, so enjoy the precious gems that rise to the surface of the voyeuristic slime. :) And I really MEAN that.
Until Next Time, Amy
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