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A review by irenep19
The House of Beaufort: The Bastard Line That Captured the Crown by Nathen Amin
5.0
I've been interested in learning more about the Beaufort family since reading [a:Leanda de Lisle|90578|Leanda de Lisle|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1363634721p2/90578.jpg] 's [b:Tudor: The Family Story|17456974|Tudor The Family Story|Leanda de Lisle|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1375463991s/17456974.jpg|24349043]. Books usually focus on the Tudor origins of Henry VII, beginning from Catherine of Valois as the matriarch of the Tudor dynasty, overlooking his maternal ancestry. This book gave me the chance to understand his claim to the throne of England from another perspective and, more importantly, learn about his Beaufort roots.
In the book, the Beauforts are, finally, in the spotlight. It all starts from the beginning, giving the reader a clear understanding of how they managed to reach the top and of their subsequent fall from grace. It was actually sad to read about their great beginnings knowing that they were doomed all along. While reading historical books, I always have the question of "what if" in my mind, imagining what could have happened if things had been different. Of course, the Beauforts were somewhat vindicated by the success of Henry VII in claiming the throne, but so many of his ancestors died defending it, through physical and political battles. Who among them could have imagined that their wars would have led to this outcome, one of their own Beaufort kin sitting on the throne? Is it possible that they could have thought that all this fighting would result in one of their relatives as King, not a member of the "pure" Lancastrian family that they never stopped defending after all?
These questions will probably never be answered, but I like to think that the Beauforts thought of themselves as a family destined for greatness, for a place on the throne of England. This book was a trully fascinating read and succeeds in giving the reader great insight into the story of one of the most historically obscure medieval families. Nevertheless, I think I would have liked more details on Margaret Beaufort who was, after all, significantly instrumental in the events that unfolded, leading towards the accession of her son. I imagine that, since the Beaufort name and house ended with the last male descendant, the book had to stop there and Margaret's life is another story on its own.
All in all, I enjoyed this book immensely, delving into its history and emerging with a lot of new facts and a more extensive knowledge on the subject of the Beauforts. I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to expand their awareness of English history and, especially, the Beaufort family and how their role in the Wars of the Roses shaped the country's fate.
In the book, the Beauforts are, finally, in the spotlight. It all starts from the beginning, giving the reader a clear understanding of how they managed to reach the top and of their subsequent fall from grace. It was actually sad to read about their great beginnings knowing that they were doomed all along. While reading historical books, I always have the question of "what if" in my mind, imagining what could have happened if things had been different. Of course, the Beauforts were somewhat vindicated by the success of Henry VII in claiming the throne, but so many of his ancestors died defending it, through physical and political battles. Who among them could have imagined that their wars would have led to this outcome, one of their own Beaufort kin sitting on the throne? Is it possible that they could have thought that all this fighting would result in one of their relatives as King, not a member of the "pure" Lancastrian family that they never stopped defending after all?
These questions will probably never be answered, but I like to think that the Beauforts thought of themselves as a family destined for greatness, for a place on the throne of England. This book was a trully fascinating read and succeeds in giving the reader great insight into the story of one of the most historically obscure medieval families. Nevertheless, I think I would have liked more details on Margaret Beaufort who was, after all, significantly instrumental in the events that unfolded, leading towards the accession of her son. I imagine that, since the Beaufort name and house ended with the last male descendant, the book had to stop there and Margaret's life is another story on its own.
All in all, I enjoyed this book immensely, delving into its history and emerging with a lot of new facts and a more extensive knowledge on the subject of the Beauforts. I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to expand their awareness of English history and, especially, the Beaufort family and how their role in the Wars of the Roses shaped the country's fate.