The King's Grace

by Anne Easter Smith Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

Overview

All that history knows of Grace Plantagenet is that she was an illegitimate daughter of Edward IV and one of two attendants aboard the funeral barge of his widowed queen. Thus, she was half sister of the famous young princes, who-when this story begins in 1485-had been housed in the Tower by their uncle, Richard III, and are presumed dead.

But in the 1490s, a young man appears at the courts of Europe claiming to be Richard, duke of York, the younger of the boys, and seeking to claim his rightful throne from England's first Tudor king, Henry VII. But is this man who he says he is? Or is he Perkin Warbeck, a puppet of Margaret of York, duchess of Burgundy, who is determined to regain the crown for her York family? Grace Plantagenet finds herself in the midst of one of English history's greatest mysteries. If she can discover the fate of the princes and the true identity of Perkin Warbeck, perhaps she will find her own place in her family.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Smith's newest historical fiction (after Daughter of York) is a complex exploration of a turbulent period of English history, taking on one of its biggest mysteries: the fate of princes Edward and Richard, locked up in the Tower by Richard III. Protagonist Grace Plantagenet is the illegitimate daughter of Edward IV and had been confidant to his family-including her imprisoned half-brothers Edward and Richard. After Richard III is killed and the princes disappear, a man named Perkin Warbeck appears to challenge Henry VII, claiming to be the presumed dead Prince Richard. Determined to discover the truth of Warbeck's claim, Grace throws herself into the politics of the court, knowing that if Warbeck is Prince Richard, it could be drastic for Grace's family-especially for her half-sister Elizabeth of York, now Henry's queen. Examined through the eyes of a minor historical figure, Smith introduces readers to 15th-century political intrigue with thought, courage and honesty. Though her major historical figures (especially Henry VII) get the broad-brush treatment, Smith is careful to make Grace and her world detailed and engaging. (Mar.)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Library Journal

What really happened to the Princes in the Tower? Were they murdered by Richard III? One of England's-and history's-greatest mysteries is the focus of Smith's (Daughter of York) latest historical novel. Grace Plantagenet, one of Edward IV's bastard daughters and half-sister to the boys, serves as our eyes and ears for the reign of Henry VII, the first Tudor king, leading us through the thrilling climax of the Wars of the Roses, a period ensconced in mystery, lies, romance, and danger. Smith's style of extensive research and meticulous attention to detail lends itself perfectly to this era, one that truly proves that "truth is stranger than fiction." Indeed, in choosing Grace as narrator, a figure about whom so little is known to history, Smith gives herself a unique opportunity to explore the many intrigues that surrounded the English monarchy at this time, while also giving readers an original and endearing character with her own engrossing tale to savor. Highly recommended for all historical fiction collections.
—Leigh Wright

From the Publisher

"Never again will history overlook Grace Plantagenet....Beautifully wrought and compelling, with vivid historical detail, this is a fascinating account of one woman's determination to discover the truth about her family." — Michelle Moran, bestselling author of The Heretic Queen

"A fascinating and vividly written take on one of history's most mysterious episodes." — Vanora Bennett, author of Portrait of an Unknown Woman

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169236880
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	03/03/2009
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos