For today’s post, I have decided to do a countdown of my favorite non-fiction books about the White Queen, Elizabeth Woodville. Woodville is one of the iconic Queens during the Wars of the Roses. She was called the White Queen because she was married to the first Yorkist King of England, Edward IV. Their love story is one of the most romantic in the history of the English monarchy. She was the first commoner to be chosen by a King who married for love. Elizabeth had been married once before, with her first husband dying in battle, leaving her widowed with two young sons. During her marriage to Edward, she would go on to bare him ten children! These children included future Queen Elizabeth of York and the famous Princes in the Tower. Now that my background is done, let’s get on to the list.
Number 5: Elizabeth Woodville: A Life “The Real Story of the White Queen”by David MacGibbon
~This is the first biography that I ever read about the White Queen. It is a well-written book, but I felt the others on this list tell the story better.
Number 4: Elizabeth Woodville: Mother of the Princes in the Tower by David Baldwin
~This book focused a bit more on Elizabeth’s role as a mother. It is about the Queen as well as her pain over the loss of her sons, the Princes in the Tower.
Number 3: Elizabeth: England’s Slandered Queen by Arlene Okerlund
~This book is about Elizabeth as a slandered figure. It is important to see Elizabeth as more than the maligned figure in history.
Number 2: Royal Witches: Witchcraft and the Nobility in Fifteenth-Century England by Gemma Hollman
~This really unique look at a handful of late medieval royals who were accused of witchcraft tells Elizabeth’s story alongside her mother’s. Her mother was actually put on trial and acquitted of witchcraft charges.
Number 1: Edward IV & Elizabeth Woodville by Amy Licence
~My favorite biography of Elizabeth Woodville is by far this fantastic dual biography of the two great lovers! It is beautifully written, as well as being by a great historian.
Special Mention: Elizabeth of York: A Tudor Queen and Her World by Alison Weir
~This bonus book is actually about Elizabeth Woodville’s daughter, the first Tudor Queen! It is an amazing book written by Tudor historian icon, Alison Weir. I believe it gives a great look at the story of Elizabeth Woodville during the Wars of the Roses from the perspective of her eldest daughter. So if you are really interested in this intriguing woman, I would also recommend this book.
~I hope that you have enjoyed this countdown. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
White Rose of Avalon 
I’d be more interested in #2, but they all sound good. The Plantagenet Edwards are very interesting to me, especially Edward 3 on account of his involvement in Arthurian legend and sponsorship of chivalry.
Have you ever heard of or read Margaret Murray’s “Witch Cults in Western Europe?” It’s not about royalty, per say, but it does tangentially talk about witches against royals, although mostly it focuses on how witchcraft survived in secret and may have even come over to the New World. It’s extremely fascinating.
…
https://spergbox.wordpress.com/2022/04/06/witch-cult-in-western-europe-in-review/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I have read that book. You are right it is fascinating!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for you! It’s a tremendously underrated book. It’s a shame hardly anyone knows about her in the occult scene today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so true!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice! Some books for my list! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person