The Last White Rose: A Novel of Elizabeth of York

Written by Alison Weir

Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir explores the life of Henry VIII's mother, Elizabeth, the first queen of the Tudor dynasty, in this stunning historical novel.

Elizabeth of York is the oldest daughter of King Edward IV. Flame-haired, beautiful, and sweet-natured, she is adored by her family; yet her life is suddenly disrupted when her beloved father dies in the prime of life. Her uncle, the notorious Richard III, takes advantage of King Edward’s death to grab the throne and imprison Elizabeth's two younger brothers, the rightful royal heirs. Forever afterwards known as the princes in the tower, the boys are never seen again. On the heels of this tragedy, Elizabeth is subjected to Richard’s overtures to make her his wife, further legitimizing his claim to the throne. King Richard has murdered her brothers, yet she is obliged to accept his proposal.

As if in a fairy tale, Elizabeth is saved by Henry Tudor, who challenges Richard and kills him in the legendary Battle of Bosworth Field. In recognition of his victory, Henry becomes king and asks Elizabeth to be his wife, the first queen of the Tudor line. The marriage is happy and fruitful, not only uniting the warring houses of Lancaster and York—the red and white roses—but resulting in four surviving children, one of whom, Henry VIII, will rule the country for the next thirty-six years.

As in her popular Six Tudor Queens series, Alison Weir captures the personality of one of Britain’s most important monarchs, conveying Elizabeth of York’s dramatic life in a novel that is all the richer because of its firm basis in history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705061541

Reviews for The Last White Rose

[thepageladies · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was able to finish this in two settings and it was a great read! Elizabeth of York lived an interesting life. I enjoyed the little twists that the author added to the story. The one where Elizabeth finds out about what happens to her brothers was quite interesting! As with all of Alison Weirs novels it's well written and the one thing I have always enjoyed is that she keeps the facts right but adds where it needs to but still allows it to flow well together and make sense. Really great read!

[robin · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This narrator grates on my nerves so badly I could not get past it and couldn’t even get into the book although the story is the same as many others.. The best books on the Tudor era are by Philippa Gregory bu far

[eyes92c · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First Tudor Queen!Ah! Tudor times! I’ve always been fascinated by those Tudors, tantalised by the cut and thrust and their political jousting, and the sheer ruthlessness of those who would be King, or kingmakers. After all the stakes were high. Technically, this is a fascinating look at the life of Elizabeth of York and the plots surrounding her family as the highest role in the land is grappled for. Thoroughly researched and explained, the complexity of regal politics is well described. I must say I found the characters difficult to relate to and harder to engage with as events unfolded. The conversations between them were often stilted. The result for me? Somewhat flat and my interest flagged.A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV of England, sister of the Princes in the Tower, wife of Henry VII, and mother of Henry VIII, is the central figure in this novel and the women who emerges in the narrative is certainly plausible for what is known about this historical figure. I found the author's description of Elizabeth's actions and efforts between her father's death and her marriage to Henry VII the most interesting portion of the novel and made me wish more sources exist for this time in Elizabeth's life. Overall, this was an easy read and highly recommended for fans of the Tudor era.

[Anette Lancaster · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book!! I love the narration. I would recommend this.