The Wars of the Roses storm through the country, and Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, plots to topple the weak-minded King Henry VI from the throne.
But when the Yorkists are defeated at the battle of Ludford Bridge, Cecily’s family flee and abandon her to face a marauding Lancastrian army on her own.
Stripped of her lands and imprisoned in Tonbridge Castle, the Duchess begins to spin a web of deceit. One that will eventually lead to treason, to the fall of King Henry VI, and to her eldest son being crowned King Edward IV.
What inspired you to start writing?
Some years ago now I moved house to the Welsh Marches and gave up my full-time teaching job. Life was very pleasant but I did not have enough to do with my time. Cleaning the house does not appeal. Write a book, my husband said. So I did. And since I had taught history I wrote a historical romance. I was fortunate to be published and that was the beginning. A few romances later, I decided to write about people who actually lived, medieval women who seemed to have been much neglected in history. This was the start of my giving a voice to medieval women who had for the most part been silent and overlooked in a world of men. Since then it has been a most enjoyable journey.
What was the hardest part about writing this book?
The Wars of the Roses is a major undertaking. The scope of it and the complexity of the relationships present a number of pitfalls for an author. This was Cecily Neville's story; thus it was necessary to weave my way between battles and disputes and the main political events, all of which are relevant but which must not be allowed to detract from the story of this remarkable woman. Some characters must be omitted. Some events must be skated over. Some battles are merely alluded to. Cecily and her emotional connections with her vast family must shine through without losing a sense of the terrible events of these tragic years.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
It has to be Cecily Neville since I have lived with her beside me for well over a year now. What a dominant character she became, as I imagine she was within her own family. And what a survivor, through the deaths of all her sons. I imagine her a woman of great insight and strong will, who knew that sometimes she must accept the difficult choices presented to her by her children. It is interesting that in later life she retired to a life of seclusion and piety. Some peace at the end, perhaps, when family life had drained her energies.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
Because it is in letter form I doubt it will ever be considered for a movie but if by some good fortune it was:
Tom Burke for an ambitious Warwick
Olivia Coleman would be excellent as a proud Cecily
Holly Grainger perhaps as a self-seeking Elizabeth Woodville.
James McAvoy might shine as Richard, Duke of York
The colouring is wrong but Kit Harrington would make an excellently flirtatious Edward IV
Rory Kinnear I think as Cecily's brother the Earl of Salisbury.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
The Wars of the Roses was a time of great turbulence, of battles and death and political manoeuvring. I think that we can often forget that these were families who were involved, real people who experienced great triumphs as well as terrible sorrow. By writing it in letter-form I hoped to paint the intimacy of life, the heart-wrenching suffering and the sheer joy that the characters could experience. To bring it to life on a level that we could step into, even if we do not know the experience of war for ourselves. I hoped that anyone who has sisters would enjoy the sometimes waspish sisterly communications but also the camaraderie! The letters between Cecily and her difficult and disobedient offspring might also resurrect for some readers memories of family clashes.
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Anne O’Brien
Sunday Times Bestselling author Anne O’Brien was born in West Yorkshire. After gaining a BA Honours degree in History at Manchester University and a Master’s in Education at Hull, she lived in East Yorkshire for many years as a teacher of history.
Today she has sold over 700,000 copies of her books medieval history novels in the UK and internationally. She lives with her husband in an eighteenth-century timber-framed cottage in the depths of the Welsh Marches in Herefordshire. The area provides endless inspiration for her novels which breathe life into the forgotten women of medieval history.
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