Today, I am happy to host Judith Arnopp’s latest release, Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury! For those of you familiar with Judith, you may know she has penned an excellent trilogy featuring another Margaret–Margaret Beaufort–and that protagonist has something very important in common with today’s leading lady, namely they were both Lancastrian noblewomen. Marguerite was not Lancastrian by birth–she became Lancastrian upon wedding the unfortunate and rather incapable Henry VI. While I do tend to lean Yorkist, I have always had the greatest admiration for Marguerite, who so bravely handled the rather shoddy cards she had been dealt. I have of course read this book – my review is further down.
Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury!
From the moment Henry VI’s new queen, Marguerite of Anjou, sets foot on English soil she is despised by the English as a foreigner, and blamed for the failures of the hundred years war in France.
Her enemies impede her role as the king’s consort and when Henry sinks into apparent madness, her bid to become regent is rejected. Marguerite must fight, not only for her own position but to maintain Henry’s possession of the crown.
The ambitious Duke, Richard of York, seizes control of the country, thrusting Marguerite aside and inflating the mutual hatred between the houses of York and Lancaster. But the queen refuses to relinquish power and fights determinedly for the rights of her son, Edward of Lancaster.
The long and bitter civil conflict, that has come to be known as the War of the Roses, commences.
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/mhhnf
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
My review: I have admired Ms Arnopp’s writing for quite some years by now, and Marguerite is yet another well-researched book that sheds (to me) surprising insight on its protagonist. We follow Marguerite from a very young bride to a strong and determined mother who will do anything to protect her beloved son. Marguerite’s initial affection for her husband–he is sweet and kind, if evidently not quite up to the task of ruling his kingdom–morphs into frustration and a a growing insight that it will fall to her to protect her son’s future as Henry is incapable of doing what it takes to control the more power-hungry nobles, principal among them the Duke of York.
It soon becomes evident that war is inevitable–on the one side, the Yorkists, on the other the Lancastrians, loyal to Henry VI and his wife. As most of us know, things will not end well for Marguerite–or her son. Ms Arnopp has given this impressive woman a voice of her own–and does so in a most engaging way!
Author Bio: A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith holds a BA in English / Creative Writing and a Masters in Medieval Studies. She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction. She is best known for her novels set in the Medieval and Tudor period, focussing on the perspective of historical women but recently she has written a trilogy from the perspective of Henry VIII himself.
Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria which is when and why she began to experiment with sewing historical garments. She now makes clothes and accessories both for the group and others. She is not a professionally trained sewer but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly historically accurate clothing. A non-fiction book about nse of impeTudor clothing, How to Dress like a Tudor, was published in 2023 by Pen and Sword.
She runs a small seaside holiday let in Aberporth and when she has time for fun, likes to garden and restore antique doll’s houses. You can find her on most social media platforms.
Her novels include:
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
The Beaufort Chronicle: the life of Lady Margaret Beaufort (three book series)
The Henrician Chronicle: comprising of:
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years (Book One of The Henrician Chronicle)
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix (Book Two of The Henrician Chronicle)
A Matter of Time: Henry VIII, the Dying of the Light (Book Three of The Henrician Chronicle)
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Winchester Goose: at the court of Henry VIII
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Peaceweaver
The Forest Dwellers
The Song of Heledd
The Book of Thornhold
A Daughter of Warwick: the story of Anne Neville, Queen of Richard III
Marguerite: Hell Hath no Fury!
Author Links:
Website: http://www.judithmarnopp.com/
Blog: http://www.juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/JudithArnopp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetudorworldofjuditharnopp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tudor_juditharnopp/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tudor_juditharnopp
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jarnopp.bsky.social
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jarnopp/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judith-arnopp
Amazon Author Page: http://author.to/juditharnoppbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4088659.Judith_Arnopp
Thank you so much for hosting Judith Arnopp today, with such a lovely review of her intriguing new novel, Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury!. Much appreciated.
Take care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club
My pleasure
Thank you so much for hosting me on the Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour. I really appreciate it.