Get a free audiobook
-
The White Princess
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Series: The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels
- Length: 19 hrs
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense
People who bought this also bought...
-
White Queen
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Susan Lyons
- Length: 15 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They ruled England before the Tudors, and now internationally best-selling author Philippa Gregory brings the Plantagenets to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women.
-
-
Enchanting ...
- By Melissa on 2019-05-10
-
The Red Queen
- A Novel
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness.
-
-
I love medieval history
- By Shelley Barva on 2019-06-18
-
The King's Curse
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Length: 24 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Regarded as yet another threat to the volatile King Henry VII's claim to the throne, Margaret Pole, cousin to Elizabeth of York (known as the White Princess) and daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, is married off to a steady and kind Lancaster supporter - Sir Richard Pole. For his loyalty, Sir Richard is entrusted with the governorship of Wales, but Margaret's contented daily life is changed forever with the arrival of Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon.
-
The Lady of the Rivers
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jacquetta always has had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she met his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and saw her own power reflected in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the wheel of fortune before Joan is taken to a horrific death. Jacquetta understands the danger for a woman who dares to dream. Jacquetta is married to the Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, and he introduces her to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy.
-
-
Interesting!
- By CassandraG on 2019-04-17
-
The Other Boleyn Girl
- The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Vanessa Kirby
- Length: 22 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of 14, she catches the eye of the handsome and charming Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family’s ambitious plots as the king’s interest begins to wane, and soon, she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. With her own destiny suddenly unknown, Mary realizes she must defy her family and take fate into her own hands.
-
-
wonderfully spoken
- By Jessica Spragg on 2019-04-08
-
The Constant Princess
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Samantha Bond
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a little girl Katherine of Aragon was betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Henry VII of England, and was raised in the palace of the Alhambra, knowing that she would be queen of England. In 1501, the teenage Spanish princess arrives in her new kingdom, but the future is turned upside down with the death of her handsome young husband - only six months after the wedding. Transformed from beloved bride to superfluous widow, Katherine endures hardship and loneliness as the Tudor court slowly squeezes her out of royal circles.
-
-
Keep volume controls handy
- By Hayley on 2018-07-16
-
White Queen
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Susan Lyons
- Length: 15 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They ruled England before the Tudors, and now internationally best-selling author Philippa Gregory brings the Plantagenets to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women.
-
-
Enchanting ...
- By Melissa on 2019-05-10
-
The Red Queen
- A Novel
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness.
-
-
I love medieval history
- By Shelley Barva on 2019-06-18
-
The King's Curse
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Length: 24 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Regarded as yet another threat to the volatile King Henry VII's claim to the throne, Margaret Pole, cousin to Elizabeth of York (known as the White Princess) and daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, is married off to a steady and kind Lancaster supporter - Sir Richard Pole. For his loyalty, Sir Richard is entrusted with the governorship of Wales, but Margaret's contented daily life is changed forever with the arrival of Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon.
-
The Lady of the Rivers
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jacquetta always has had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she met his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and saw her own power reflected in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the wheel of fortune before Joan is taken to a horrific death. Jacquetta understands the danger for a woman who dares to dream. Jacquetta is married to the Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, and he introduces her to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy.
-
-
Interesting!
- By CassandraG on 2019-04-17
-
The Other Boleyn Girl
- The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Vanessa Kirby
- Length: 22 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of 14, she catches the eye of the handsome and charming Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family’s ambitious plots as the king’s interest begins to wane, and soon, she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. With her own destiny suddenly unknown, Mary realizes she must defy her family and take fate into her own hands.
-
-
wonderfully spoken
- By Jessica Spragg on 2019-04-08
-
The Constant Princess
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Samantha Bond
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a little girl Katherine of Aragon was betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Henry VII of England, and was raised in the palace of the Alhambra, knowing that she would be queen of England. In 1501, the teenage Spanish princess arrives in her new kingdom, but the future is turned upside down with the death of her handsome young husband - only six months after the wedding. Transformed from beloved bride to superfluous widow, Katherine endures hardship and loneliness as the Tudor court slowly squeezes her out of royal circles.
-
-
Keep volume controls handy
- By Hayley on 2018-07-16
-
The Taming of the Queen
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Length: 18 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kateryn Parr, a 30-year-old widow in a secret affair with a new lover, has no choice when a man old enough to be her father who has buried four wives - King Henry VIII - commands her to marry him.
-
-
Pronunciation drove me wild
- By Amazon Customer on 2019-01-12
-
The Boleyn Inheritance
- Boleyn, Book 2
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Emilia Fox
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The last Boleyn is Jane, Lady Rochford - widow of the disgraced George Boleyn. Caught in the intrigues of the Tudor court, she maneuvers for personal position as her family, in turn, tries to manipulate her. The king has married again; his bride is the deceptively astute Anne of Cleves. Her wits are tested as she senses a trap closing around her, with the Howards ready to take advantage of her fall.
-
The Queen's Fool
- A Novel (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels)
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Yolanda Kettle
- Length: 21 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah Green, a 14-year-old Jewish girl, is forced to flee with her father from their home in Spain. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee; she has the gift of “Sight”, the ability to foresee the future, priceless in the troubled times of the Tudor court.
-
-
As always wonderful.
- By Niki_C on 2020-12-11
-
The Last Tudor
- Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, Book 13
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Length: 19 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jane Grey was queen of England for nine days. Her father and his allies crowned her instead of the dead king's half sister, Mary Tudor, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her throne, and locked Jane in the Tower of London. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner's block, where Jane transformed her father's greedy power grab into tragic martyrdom.
-
-
3 Stars
- By Justine J on 2019-07-24
-
The Virgin's Lover
- The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, Book 3
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Perdita Weeks
- Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the autumn of 1558, church bells across England ring out the joyous news that Elizabeth I is the new queen, yet one woman hears the tidings with utter dread. She is Amy Dudley, wife of Sir Robert, and she knows Elizabeth’s ambitious leap to the throne will draw her husband back to the center of the glamorous Tudor court, where he was born to be. Elizabeth has inherited a bankrupt country where treason is rampant and foreign war a certainty. Her advisors warn her that she will survive only if she marries a strong prince to govern the rebellious country. She desires Robert Dudley.
-
-
Phillipa Gregory at her best
- By jodagrant on 2019-06-22
-
The Other Queen
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato, Dogmara Dominczyk, Graeme Malcolm
- Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mary is queen of Scotland, but she has been forced to flee her land and take refuge in an England that is ruled by her cousin, Elizabeth. But England, precarious in its Protestant state, set against the mighty powers of Spain, France and Rome, doesn't need a charismatic Catholic figurehead at large. So Elizabeth's chief advisor, Cecil, devises a plan in which Mary will live under guard with his trusted accomplice: Bess of Hardwick.
-
Wideacre
- Wideacre, Book 1
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Emma Powell
- Length: 26 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Philippa Gregory's first story in the best-selling Wideacre trilogy. A compelling tale of passion and intrigue set in the 18th century. From the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover. Wideacre Hall, set in the heart of the English countryside, is the ancestral home that Beatrice Lacey loves. But as a woman of the 18th century, she has no right of inheritance. Corrupted by a world that mistreats women, she sets out to corrupt others.
-
-
Amazing storytelling but just so vulgar
- By Jodie on 2019-08-17
-
Dark Tides
- A Novel (The Fairmile Series, Book 2)
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Louise Brealey
- Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Midsummer Eve, 1670. Two unexpected visitors arrive at a shabby warehouse on the south side of the River Thames. The first is a wealthy man hoping to find the lover he deserted 21 years before. James Avery has everything to offer, including the favor of the newly restored King Charles II, and he believes that the warehouse's poor owner, Alinor, has the one thing his money cannot buy - his son and heir.
-
-
even better than tidelands!!!
- By Beth Stephen on 2020-12-12
-
The Summer Queen
- Eleanor of Aquitaine Trilogy, Book 1
- Written by: Elizabeth Chadwick
- Narrated by: Katie Scarfe
- Length: 18 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Eleanor of Aquitaine's story is legendary. She is an icon who has fascinated readers for over 800 years. But the real Eleanor remains elusive - until now. Based on the most up-to-date research, best-selling novelist Elizabeth Chadwick brings Eleanor's magnificent story to life, as never before. Young, vibrant, privileged, Eleanor's future is golden as the heiress to wealthy Aquitaine. But when her beloved father dies suddenly in the summer of 1137, her childhood ends abruptly.
-
-
Good read.
- By Phoenix on 2020-02-19
-
Meridon
- Wideacre, Book 3
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Charlie Sanderson
- Length: 20 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The third volume in the best-selling Wideacre trilogy. Set in the 18th century, they launched the career of Philippa Gregory, the best-selling author of The Other Boleyn Girl and Three Sisters, Three Queens. Meridon, a desolate Romany girl, is determined to escape the hard poverty of her childhood. Riding bareback in a travelling show while her sister, Dandy, risks her life on the trapeze, Meridon dedicates herself to freeing them both from danger and want.
-
The Favoured Child
- Wideacre, Book 2
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Kate Rawson
- Length: 25 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Wideacre estate is bankrupt, the villagers are living in poverty and Wideacre Hall is a smoke-blackened ruin. But in the Dower House, two children are being raised in protected innocence. Equal claimants to the inheritance of Wideacre, rivals for the love of the village, they are tied by a secret childhood betrothal but forbidden to marry. Only one can be the favoured child.
-
Tidelands
- The Fairmile Series, Book 1
- Written by: Philippa Gregory
- Narrated by: Louise Brealey
- Length: 15 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On Midsummer’s Eve, Alinor waits in the church graveyard, hoping to encounter the ghost of her missing husband and thus confirm his death. Until she can, she is neither maiden nor wife nor widow, living in a perilous limbo. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run. She shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marshy landscape of the Tidelands, not knowing she is leading a spy and an enemy into her life. England is in the grip of a bloody civil war that reaches into the most remote parts of the kingdom.
-
-
WORST Philippa Gregory Novel I’ve Read..And I’ve read them ALL
- By Jodie on 2019-08-25
Publisher's Summary
The newest novel from #1 New York Times best-selling author and "queen of royal fiction" (USA Today) Philippa Gregory tells the passionate story of Elizabeth of York, daughter of the White Queen, who gets caught in the middle of a battle for the crown of England.
The White Princess opens as the news of the battle of Bosworth is brought to Princess Elizabeth of York, who will learn not only which rival royal house has triumphed, Tudor or York, but also which suitor she must marry: Richard III her lover, or Henry Tudor her enemy.
A princess from birth, Elizabeth fell in love with Richard III, though her mother made an arranged betrothal for her with the pretender to the throne: Henry Tudor. When Henry defeats Richard against all odds, Elizabeth has to marry the man who murdered her lover in battle, and create a new royal family with him and his ambitious mother: Margaret Beaufort, The Red Queen. But, while the new monarchy can win, it cannot, it seems, hold power in an England which remembers the House of York with love.
The new king’s greatest fear is that somewhere, outside England, a prince from the House of York is waiting to invade and re-claim the throne for the house of York. Fearing that none of his new allies can be trusted, Henry turns to his wife to advise him, all the time knowing that her loyalties must be divided. When the young man who would be king finally leads his army and invades England, it is for Elizabeth to decide whether she recognizes him as her brother and a claimant to the throne, or denies him in favor of the husband she is coming to love....
More from the same
What listeners say about The White Princess
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Niki_C
- 2020-07-20
Lovely
The reading is as wonderful as the story itself. Bianca Amato is a wonderful story teller. She definitely adds to the story. As with everything she does Gregory weaves a glorious tale. I definitely recommend this book.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Melissa
- 2019-06-13
Historical Friction
This series so far has been pretty fantastic. Moving through the War of the Roses and the Cousins War is fascinating and Gregory certainly does her research. She is great at exploring theories and giving human characterization to historical fact. My only grievance about this book is that Gregory seems to repeatedly dwell on Queen Elizabeth's problems as if we, the audience, need more time for these moments to sync in. The repetition and convincing tends to grate on the listener's ears instead of provide intrigue. Bianca Amato is wonderful as always. My overall verdict is that even after being five books in to a fifteen book series, I find myself seeking the sixth.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mokajavakick
- 2019-05-13
It dragged out the (inevitable) end forever
I usually love Philippa Gregory’s books. But this one just didn’t do it for me. It seemed like it just dragged the last part out for a long, long time.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kelly N
- 2018-05-28
Love the details
I love the way Phillips Gregory gets us into the hearts and minds of the characters... beloved or despised... it brings a richness to the stories that I haven’t seen elsewhere in this type of novels.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2013-08-14
Paid by the Word? Double for "the boy"?
Patience. This is, without doubt, the most repetitive book I've read, including cookbooks. I dare you to take a sip of wine every time "the boy" is mentioned in the latter half of this book and try to finish a chapter before passing out. Truly, this story (don't confuse it with history) could have been told in one-third the length.
Nearly every one of Elizabeth's thoughts, and her conversations with Maggie, with Henry, with Margaret, with her mother (notice a pattern?), are repeated almost verbatim and/or paraphrased multiple times -- some ad nauseam. Entire chapters consist of repetitions, with only one new minor point plot offered. Describing being drawn and quartered once in excruciating detail will suffice, thanks. Just write "drawn and quartered" after that, we're smart enough to know what you mean. We don't need to be lectured in almost identical detail twice, and partially a third time . . . maybe more. I confess I drifted off a number of times, but I doubt I missed anything I hadn't heard previously several times.
If I hadn't liked The White Queen so much, I wouldn't have persevered to finish, hoping for more and better. It's hard to swallow the premise that the calm, poised, wise-beyond-her-years Elizabeth of The White Queen would develop a grand passion for her uncle, who betrayed a promise to her father, imprisoned and potentially murdered her dear brothers. Cultivating his interest for strategic reasons to protect the Woodvilles may make have made sense. The main characters are static over a near 15-year time span, never growing or learning from their mistakes. If Henry VII was as incapable, cowardly, sniveling, and mother-dominated as depicted here, his uncle would have made a deal with the Yorks to knock him off as soon as there was an heir and a spare, putting the York-Tudor hybrid Arthur on the throne. In reality, history suggests Henry VII had no mistress after marriage to Elizabeth, that Elizabeth and Henry had a successful perhaps loving marriage, that Margaret Beaufort was not an ogre, that Henry's reign was more successful, etc.
What a disappointment!
24 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Qiani Davenport
- 2013-08-08
Worst of the Cousins' War Series!
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
I don't know. Someone who can tolerate repetition and an annoying, weak, and indecisive Queen.
What do you think your next listen will be?
I have to check my wish list but I think I may read about Queen Isabella of Spain by another author.
Which scene was your favorite?
I don't think I had a favorite. I did enjoy the brief period of Elizabeth & Henry being in love but that did not last long.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The White Princess?
The second and third parts of this book were horrible. It went on and on and on! I don't think I could listen to the phrases "I don't know" or "the boy" any longer. It started off strong but it should have been written from another perspective. This book was barely about Elizabeth of York. It was all about a paranoid Henry and "the boy". I am so disappointed because I love this series. I wish we could have learned a little more about her kids. Elizabeth just came off whiny and weak. I wish it would have extended further into Arthur's death.
Any additional comments?
I was highly disappointed in this book. I had been waiting for it since before she wrote "The Kingmaker's Daughter". Elizabeth was not likeable at all. She was weak and indecisive and intolerable. The portrayal of Henry was ridiculous. I know she takes liberties with the history but this was just too far out there. It was not believable at all. How can a king spend so many of his years reign being paranoid about "the boy" and when he finally gets him he does not execute him because he is infatuated by his wife!!! I almost couldn't listen to the whole thing. I had to force myself to finish it. I have never been so happy to have an audiobook end. The only good thing about this book was Bianca Amato.
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- FanB14
- 2013-08-05
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
No, not quoting Macbeth in comparison to this work of historical fiction, merely trying to illustrate how repetition consumes this novel. If you've read several of Philippa Gregory's works, you know the recipe of a little fact; a lot of conjecture; and a great deal of restating the same ideas. These works are B+ romantic novels and I'm not embarrassed to admit I enjoy some of her books.
It doesn't put me off how she takes leeway with some facts. Having read several of her Tudor novels, I was empowered to read and research material on the subjects on my own. Enjoyed the journey to discovery.
I had high hopes wanting to know about Henry VIII's mother and the childhood of the four children. Minimal pages are devoted to the offspring and quick references to Henry's gluttony of food and playing games were given paucity of attention. The beginning was interesting (even if not historically correct) and I sympathized with Elizabeth being trapped in a loveless marriage. However, the next 3/4 of the book regurgitated the same idea of how Henry VII was a usurper and his paranoia of chasing the possibility a true York king coming to take his throne were churned out superfluously.
Greggory should take her time and get back to the originality and fervent storytelling from her earlier novels instead of churning out books so quickly. Ignore the big paychecks for quantity and take time for quality.
37 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Bonnie-Ann
- 2013-07-27
My ears are bleeding
I truly don't know where to start with how much I disliked this book so I'll actually begin with the few positives.
Bianca Amato's narration was extraordinary and the only feature that allowed me to finish this novel.I have listened to books she has read in the past where I wasn't in love with her voice, but for this book, her voice was well-paced and soothing to listen to. She got the gender voices done without over-exaggerating the differences. Truly, I would not have finished this book (and almost didn't) but for the narration. I have never put those words in a review before.
The novel brings the War of the Roses series to a conclusion and merges it into the Tudor series (The Constant Princess would logically follow from the conclusion of this story). I'm very glad Ms. Gregory wrote the Tudor books and The White Queen first so that I know that, somewhere, she has some knowledge of the time period. This book most certainly does not demonstrate any such knowledge.
The negatives are based in the "levels" of the book that Ms. Gregory defines at the end in her "Author's Note." Apparently, her intent was to create a "novel about a mystery that has never been solved." Therefore, she unabashedly makes stuff up left and right throughout the entire novel. I would love to see a single piece of historical research that even hints that Henry VII raped Elizabeth of York repeatedly prior to their wedding in order to see if she was fertile and only married her once she became pregnant. For Tudor fans out there who have done an iota of research, this is painful to read material. I completely understand that Ms. Gregory is of the school of thought that one of the two princes survived the Tower of London and that Richard III was not responsible for their deaths. I'm not taking a stand on that question in this review -- even if you accept as true that the younger prince (who would have rightfully been Richard IV of England) was not in the Tower of that he somehow survived or that someone other than Richard III or one of his minions killed the princes, the story doesn't work.
I will give a fiction writer every reasonable inch of "willing suspension of disbelief" to allow them to tell their story. What I will not enable with any positive comments is not warning the reader in advance that the author's plan is to do so. A recent book called "The Boleyn King" says at the outset: what if Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII had a son and Anne Boleyn was not executed? That is a very good premise for a novel and I enjoyed the story. It was fun, it was completely against any and all historical facts and I had no problem with the story BECAUSE of the disclosure. Ms. Gregory attempts in her Author's Note to justify her diversion from anything resembling truth.
Even more grating was the author's use of repetition as a literary tool. I've complained about this style in other novels she has written (specifically, "The Red Queen"), but she perfected whiny repeated phrases in this most recent epic tale. Once again, I found myself thinking "ok Philippa, I get it... Henry VII is afraid of 'the boy' who might be young Richard... I get that Henry VII and his ridiculous mother, Margaret Beaufort, trust no one and have a spy network. I get that Elizabeth of York is emotionally torn between her duties as a York princess and her duties as a Tudor wife." I felt like my ears were bleeding from the use of the words: "the boy." I'd be very interested to see a proportional word count of how many times that phrase appears. It could easily be up to 25% of the words in the entire novel. Maybe it's the presence of Margaret Beaufort -- the repetition was ghastly in the novel about her as well.
I have never, ever given a story one star until today. This book was simply horrible. Ms. Gregory fails in her attempt to re-write history; written by the victors or not. The characters are shallow and false. The writing is borderline unbearable. The "mystery" that is "solved" by the novel has nothing to do with Elizabeth of York so even the title of the book is misleading. If Ms. Gregorty wanted to write a "what if" story about the younger prince in the Tower, she should have called it "The Missing Prince" or something else that more truthfully highlights what the story is about -- not used an interesting woman from York/Lancaster/Tudor times and crammed her into being the emotional outlet for a fairytale that has no basis in fact.
If you have read all of the other books and really want to finish the story, go ahead and wade through this tome. Otherwise, use your credit more wisely.
31 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- M. Blackstock
- 2013-07-28
Not her best work
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
The theme and dialogue is quite repetative, and feels boring. I had waited for this biik with such excitement and anticipaption and was disapointed. I am also tired of all the references to Melucina.
What could Philippa Gregory have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
She did not need to keep repeating the same things in different ways over and over. I also think more could have been done with the alliance with Spain, Arthur's death and the arrival of the Infanta.
Have you listened to any of Bianca Amato’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Bianca Amato is a wonderful narrator and does as much as anyone can with a weak story.
Did The White Princess inspire you to do anything?
THe White Princess had so much potential and was such a disapointment.
13 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- C.L.B.
- 2013-07-29
Not what I expected
Would you try another book from Philippa Gregory and/or Bianca Amato?
Yes
Would you be willing to try another book from Philippa Gregory? Why or why not?
Yes, I liked most of her other books
Did the narration match the pace of the story?
yes
Was The White Princess worth the listening time?
not really
Any additional comments?
There was so much repetition, it got really boring.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Shona
- 2018-04-16
Great historical fiction
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I recently found out that Henry VII is my 14th great grandfather, so I have recommended this book to all of my cousins. I am amazed at the strength of the women of this time period. Their value was based on the male heirs that they could produce. They had to fight to secure "good" marriages for their daughters and protect the legacy of their sons while their husbands were off fighting wars and philandering. It's not a life I envy, but it;s certainly interesting history.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- asdfasdfasdf
- 2017-08-29
Philippa and Bianca are the Best!
I don't normally take time to write reviews because I'm such an audiobook junkie I just don't have time in between to share my thoughts. I can't write reviews while listening to the next book, unfortunately. I listened to this book a while ago and happened to be browsing by because I'm currently watching the new Blu-ray series based on this book. I was taken aback by the lack of an overwhelming positive response by reviewers. Nearly every book I see on Audible has all five-star reviews regardless of merit so it's really noticeable when reviewers pan a particular book. Damning with faint praise and even some ridiculous one-stars. All of Philippa's Tudor/Plantagenet books are not merely OK but sublimely excellent, and I don't recall this one being any kind of exception. I devoured all of them almost back-to-back. They really are together an amazing, umpteen-volume mega-novel of which this is only a single chapter. It took me a long time to take the plunge originally because from the outside looking in it looks like an impossible task. Audible isn't even consistent in listing the books as a single series. Where do you even begin? (Currently The Lady of the Rivers unless Philippa writes some kind of prequel in the future.) I finally took the plunge when Audible had all the Tudor books on sale. At the time I was mad at Audible because I already had 50 unlistened-to books but as soon as I started Philippa eclipsed everything else. I bought all the sale books and less than a year a later I've listened to every single Philippa book on Audible and some that are not (you can have the Kindle robot read in a pinch when there's no Audible version). The only books of hers that were at all a disappointment were the Order of Darkness series, and that was only because they were YA-oriented. The Plantagenet/Tudor you novels you can happily binge through from start to finish. I don't know what these other reviewers were thinking. I hope they don't discourage anyone from discovering some of the very finest audiobooks available.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mary Smiroldo
- 2017-08-27
Excellent!
I am actually going back and re-listening to the Cousins War series in sequence, after listening to the stories randomly. As always, Philippe Gregory's books are well researched, and filled with a perfect balance of romance, intrigue, and historical facts. Bianca Amato is brilliant in her narration. I have listened to those Gregory books narrated by others, but none compare to the smooth, pleasant voice of Amato. I could listen to her read the dictionary, and be completely soothed. I would, and have recommended this, and all of Philippe Gregory's books to anyone interested in this period in history.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Soph11
- 2017-06-15
Princess of York
What a great story! Yes it might have been repetitive at times but I fell in love with Elizabeth. I have always loved the Tudor reign (Henry V & Elizabeth l) but never really looked at the beginning of the Tudor reign or even the dynasty of the Plantagenets before them. I am so glad to learn at least a bit of their story and I feel joy and heartbreak for the white princess. Great read if you enjoy English history
1 person found this helpful