The Lady of the Rivers (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #1)

The Lady of the Riverstells the story of Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg, and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, who was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of nineteen she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her household for love, and then carved out a life for herself as Queen Margaret of Anjou's close friend and a Lancaster supporter - until the day that her daughter Elizabeth Woodville fell in love and married the rival king Edward IV. Of all the little-known but important women of the period, her dramatic story is the most neglected. With her links to Melusina, and to the founder of the house of Luxembourg together with her reputation for making magic, she is a most haunting heroine. THE COMPELLING NOVEL FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER PHILIPPA GREGORY 'This is a man's world, Jacquetta, and some women cannot march to the beat of a man's drum. Do you understand?' 1435. Rouen. Jacquetta of Luxembourg is left a wealthy young widow when her husband, the Duke of Bedford, dies. Her only friend in the great household is Richard Woodville, the Duke's squire, and it is not long before the two become lovers and marry in secret. The Woodvilles return to the Lancaster court, where Jacquetta becomes close friends with young King Henry VI's new queen. But she can sense a growing threat from the people of England, and the danger of royal rivals. The king slides into a mysterious sleep; Margaret, his queen, turns to untrustworthy favourites for help; and Richard, Duke of York, threatens to overturn the whole kingdom for his rival dynasty, the House of York. Jacquetta fights for her king, her queen and her daughter Elizabeth Woodville, for whom she senses an extraordinary future. A sweeping, powerful novel rich in passion and legend, The Lady of the Rivers tells the story of the real-life mother to the White Queen. Praise for Philippa Gregory: 'Meticulously researched and deeply entertaining, this story of betrayal and divided loyalties is Gregory on top form' Good Housekeeping 'Gregory has popularised Tudor history perhaps more than any other living fiction writer...all of her books feature strong, complex women, doing their best to improve their lives in worlds dominated by men' Sunday Times 'Engrossing' Sunday Express 'Popular historical fiction at its finest, immaculately researched and superbly told' The Times Descended From Melusina, The River Goddess, Jacquetta Has Always Had The Gift Of Second Sight. As A Child Visiting Her Uncle, She Meets His Prisoner, Joan Of Arc, And Sees Her Own Power Reflected In The Young Woman Accused Of Witchcraft. A Sweeping, Powerful Novel Rich In Passion And Legend And Drawing On Years Of Research, The Lady Of The Rivers Tells The Story Of The Real-life Mother To The White Queen. Philippa Gregory. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 499-502). Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of 19, she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her household for love, and then carved out a new life for herself. Number 1 bestselling author Philippa Gregory continues her series, The Cousins' War, with Jacquetta Woodville, mother of the White Queen