Review: Lancaster and York (The Wars of the Roses), by Alison Weir

I sought this book because I was after a single volume covering the Wars of the Roses, and, having finished it yesterday, must say I enjoyed it a lot.

For people unfamiliar with the period there’s a helpful setting of the early 15^th century scene, with the reign of Henry IV supplanting Richard II, and the heroic (if short-lived) Henry V following. The book then settles into the meat of the matter: the disastrously incompetent Henry VI, his domineering French wife Margaret, and the clash between them (the House of Lancaster) and the House of York.

The book covers the entirety of Henry VI’s reign (or, perhaps, that of his wife), and the reign of Edward IV. It ends in the 1470s, after the dynastic clash is settled (although mildly surprised it didn’t go to Bosworth in 1485 I do think that legitimate given the succeeding house was Tudor, not Lancaster).

It’s not as bad as reading a biography of King John, but it’s nevertheless remarkable how much incompetence there was at this period in history. Vindictiveness and complacency led those in seemingly unassailable positions to throw away their advantages. Many men changed sides (willingly or not), many remained neutral, but, beyond those competing for the crown, the charismatic, ambitious, and talented Warwick was a fascinating third part of the story.

What’s striking is that the wars were so unnecessary. Factionalism and mistreatment of a man with a better claim to the throne, and who had rendered good service to the crown at his own expense, precipitated a conflict that otherwise wouldn’t have happened.

The book’s easy to read, although I’d prefer there to be a map at the front (there is one but it’s partway through) for reference. Happily, there are footnotes rather than the Devil’s work of endnotes. These are sparing and useful, so there’s no need to worry about a Gibbonian proliferation of notes.

All in all, I would recommend this to anyone who, like me, knows sod all about the Wars of the Roses and would like to remedy the situation.

Thaddeus