The Letters of Margaret of Anjou

A new study and edition of Margaret of Anjou's letter collection reveals a different picture of her as a woman who lived according to noble standards of her time, enjoying the hunt, practicing her faith, and helping or protecting those who called upon her for assistance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 12 November 2021
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

A new study and edition of Margaret of Anjou's remarkable letter collection brings all her correspondence together in one volume for the first time. This collection sheds light on the life and character of Margaret, who remains a controversial figure in English history. As the wife of King Henry VI, Margaret was on the losing side in the first phase of the Wars of the Roses. However, her letters, collected here in full for the first time, present a different picture of the woman. In her words and the words of her contemporaries, both friends and foes, they reveal a woman who lived according to the noble standards of her time. Margaret enjoyed hunting, practiced her faith, and tried to help or protect those who called upon her for assistance, as was expected of a queen and good lady.

However, her life was disrupted by Henry's mental breakdown, the birth of their son, and growing tensions among the lords of the land. This study of Margaret's letters establishes the scope of a late medieval queen's concerns, while providing a unique account of this extraordinary woman. Helen Maurer and B.M. Cron are both independent scholars who have focused on Margaret of Anjou for many years. Their work has contributed significantly to our understanding of this important historical figure.

Weight: 506g
Dimension: 182 x 235 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783276820