Red Roses

Exploring the lives of women during the Wars of the Roses, Red Roses reveals their significant yet often hidden influence on English history.

The Red Roses delves into the often-overlooked roles of women during the Wars of the Roses, illustrating how their lives and decisions significantly influenced the course of this tumultuous period in English history. While battles raged and political alliances shifted, women like daughters, wives, mistresses, mothers, and queens played crucial roles behind the scenes. Their stories reveal the complexities of loyalty, ambition, and survival in a world dominated by men.

This book traces the narratives of women on the Lancastrian side, beginning with Blanche, the wife of John of Gaunt, and extending through the fifteenth century to the rise of Margaret Beaufort’s son in 1485, which marked the beginning of the Tudor dynasty. The Red Roses highlights the secret liaisons and love lives of figures such as Katherine Swynford, Catherine of Valois, Mary de Bohun, and Jacquetta of Luxembourg, providing insight into their personal challenges and triumphs.

Through their experiences, the book examines the questions of loyalty and influence. What motivated these women to support their causes? How did they navigate the dangers of treason, defamation, and childbirth? The Red Roses offers a compelling exploration of how these extraordinary women not only survived but also shaped history during extraordinary times.