I couldn't get far in this book because it felt like family description after family description or timeline after timeline, and by 5-10% of the book we still had not gotten to Anne Neville specifically, which felt like it missed the point of the book completely.

This book is a very good introduction to Anne Neville and the world she was born into... but if you are looking for something that dives a bit deeper into Anne's character/personality, then you are out of luck.

It's certainly no fault of the author, who writes in a very clear, concise, engaging and (thankfully) unbiased way but, because of to the lack of source materials available to historians, the author can only speculate what Anne's opinions and motivations may have been.

Overall, this biography gives the reader no clearer picture of the 15th century queen than they may have had before but Rebecca Batley does a wonderful job of collating all the available information and opinions of previous historians to paint a bigger picture of the world an English noble woman may have lived in during the late 1400's


Tl;dr This is not really a biography of an individual but book about how 15th century noble women may have lived and survived during one of the turmoilist periods of English history


Thank you to Netgalley and Pen & Sword History for providing me with a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Anne Neville was the queen to England's most notorious king, Richard III, and yet we know little about her. She's a shadowy figure, and while much has been written about Richard, there's nowhere near the same amount of information available about her. In Anne Neville: Queen and Wife of Richard III, Rebecca Batley seeks to fill those gaps and does an excellent job.

Although Anne was the daughter of one of England's most powerful men and the wife and the wife of the heir to the throne (Edward, Prince of Wales, son of King Henry VI) and King Richard III, her life wasn't very well documented because she was a woman. Batley combed through the contemporary sources to create a detailed portrait of Anne. Where the sources don't provide information, she adds some conjecture. This is an excellent biography of a woman who deserves to be known as much more than the passive victim she's often portrayed as.

Having previously written Ann Walker, The Life and Death of Gentleman Jack's Wife, I was intrigued to note that Rebecca Batley, though sticking with an individual named Ann(e), had gone back in time a few hundred years for her next book, Anne Neville.

Anyone with an interest in the Wars of the Roses knows the name Anne Neville. For most people, her existence and life is overshadowed by the male counterparts in her life, which is not surprising when her family was so closely linked to the royal family. Her father was Warwick, the Kingmaker, she married a Prince of Wales, and then a royal Duke who would become Richard III. There was no shortage of powerful men in Anne's life, but she also had her own life to live.

Rebecca Batley has done an incredible feat of bringing Anne out of the shadows and giving her a voice of her own. She was not just the kingmakers daughter or a pawn in the marriage market. She was a remarkable woman who lived through a time of war and  turmoil, ending her life as a queen.

Rebecca begins by setting the scene for events in England at the time when Anne was a child. Although this does take up a portion of the book, I really enjoyed reading about the period Anne was born into and the circumstances surrounding her childhood and family. As we go on, Anne really becomes her own person. Using the little evidence available, but with meticulous detail, Rebecca has managed to weave the pieces of Anne's life together; her journey to France, her return as the wife of Edward, Prince of Wales, and despite war and many losses, her ultimate rise to power as queen of England through her marriage to the future Richard III.

For someone who died at what we would now think of as a young age, Anne witnessed and lived through an immensely eventful period in history, but she was not just a bystander. Her family, herself included, lived in the midst of these events and were often directly involved. Of course, there is some conjecture, but that is a result of the lack of surviving evidence, and the author does not force an opinion on the reader. Rather, it leaves some of the unknown open for interpretation.

Rebecca succeeds in her aim of dispelling the Shakespearean image of Anne that has lasted for centuries.

I was excited to get my hands on this biography as I became fascinated with Anne Neville after reading a historical fiction novel on her a few years back. Her husband, Richard III, naturally has numerous biographical works written about him, but there's not much on Anne herself. This of course is not unusual for women of the time, even for queens. Their voices are usually drowned out by the louder voices of their male counterparts and sadly lost to time.

Batley is clearly passionate about her subject. Her writing is easy to read and the book is very well researched. Unfortunately, to no fault of the author's, the book also falls into the usual pitfalls when it comes to writing about women in this time period. There's a lot of speculation about how Anne must have been feeling, where she was, what she might have been doing, etc. which gets a tad repetitive. Again, this is a result of the lack of documentation and records of the life of women at the time, but the author did a great job trying to fill in the blanks and connect the dots. Because of the need for educated guessing though, the book comes off a little more like a summary of the War of the Roses.

I think this biography would benefit people who know little to nothing about Anne, such as myself, as I don't think someone who has a plethora of knowledge already will learn anything new.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-Arc!

Most people would only know the portrait of Anne through Shakespeare's portrayal of her as a vengeful woman who wants the downfall of her husband. However, alongside much of Shakespeare's play this is propaganda! The difficulty is that most of Anne's life is a mystery and the only things we know are from a small number of sources (not all reliable) and from interpretation. Born a noblewoman and trained to be a great chatelaine, Anne watched her father turn traitor and die. Married to the son of a king, she saw her husband disinherited and then die. A great heiress, she was hidden away by her brother-in-law until she married again. A mother with possible fertility problems, she saw her only child die before adulthood and then died facing repudiation.
This is a very readable book which makes the most of the sources. Batley manages to make inferences as to the chronology of Anne's early life between England and Calais. She does not fall into the trap of projecting any personality onto Anne besides that which is attested. Nor does she make this book about Anne's second husband Richard. It's a solid enough biography.

I enjoy reading about women in history. I first encountered Anne Neville in "The White Queen" by Philippa Gregory and found her character intriguing. Consequently, I was thrilled to read an actual biography about this royal woman.

Biographies of royal women are my favorite genre, and in this particular example, I appreciate the chapter structure and names in particular. It's evident that the author put a lot of thought into the biography. The text is easy to follow, and I especially like the inclusion of historical backgrounds, particularly the War of the Roses. It's very understandable in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Swords History for a free digital review copy. This is my honest review.

Anne Neville - Queen and Wife of Richard III by Rebecca Batleyis an intriguing insight to the Plantagenet dynasty, when women were chattel and their offspring almost currency, determining the continuation of the family line.

However, although the history of women in this era is largely silent, behind the scenes, there was a whole lot more going on as detialed in this highly enlightening and well-written title. Very well researched and utterly intriguing, a great account of a powerful and tenacious woman fighting for survival in a world where she is not seen

Thank you to NetGalley, Pen & Sword | Pen & Sword History and Rebecca Batley for this intriguing ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Born into a powerful dynasty amid England’s tumultuous Wars of the Roses, Anne Neville defied expectations and emerged as a survivor, a queen, and a force to be reckoned with. Though tragedy cast a shadow over her life, this book delves beyond the familiar narratives to reveal the captivating woman behind the crown—a shrewd strategist, a political player, and a fascinating figure in her own right.

This is less a biography of Anne Neville than a history of the Wars of the Roses told from Anne’s perspective. She was a Lancastrian Princess of Wales and a Yorkist queen who must have lived a fascinating life. This interesting and easy-to-read book does a good job of telling her story despite the dearth of source material that remains to us.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Rebecca Batley, and Pen & Sword for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Anne Neville: Queen and Wife of Richard III. I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I feel as though it is unjust to title this book Anne Neville. She is someone that is briefly mentioned when reading about Richard III or the War of the Roses. She has always seemed intriguing during these short tidbits. I was excited to see this book on NetGalley because I was hoping to learn more about her, especially since she was a queen. The book itself is organized and thoroughly researched; however, it discusses the events and people around Anne much more than it discusses her. She almost feels like an afterthought in her own biography.

Anne Neville (11 June 1456–16 March 1485) was Queen of England from 26 June 1483 until her death in 1485 as the wife of King Richard III.She was the younger of the two daughters and co-heiresses of Richard Neville,16th Earl of Warwick (the "Kingmaker"). Before her marriage to Richard, she had been Princess of Wales as the wife of Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, the only son and heir apparent of King Henry VI.Being part of the powerful House of Neville, Anne played a critical part in the Wars of the Roses fought between the houses of York and Lancaster for the English crown.Her father betrothed her as a girl to Prince Edward, the only son of the ousted King Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou.The marriage was to seal an alliance with the Lancastrians and halt the Wars of the Roses. The Kingmaker was one of the most powerful noblemen in England and the most important supporter of the House of York. Her grandfather's sister, Cecily Neville, was the wife of Richard, Duke of York, who claimed the crown for the House of York.Much of Anne Neville's childhood was spent at Middleham Castle, where she and her elder sister, Isabel, met two younger sons of the Duke of York: Richard,Duke of Gloucester and George, Duke of Clarence.The Duke of York was killed on 30 December 1460 but,with Warwick's help, his eldest son became King Edward IV.Anne's first husband died in the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.Anne remarried to Richard in 1472. Anne Neville was crowned alongside her husband on 6 July 1483,the first joint coronation in England in 175 years. The queen's train was borne by Margaret, Countess of Richmond, the mother of Henry VII. Richard and Anne's son, Edward of Middleham, was created Prince of Wales in York Minster on 8 September 1483.Edward of Middleham died suddenly in April 1484 at Middleham Castle, while his parents were on their way to visit him,which devastated them both.Anne then died from illness a few months later.While Richard III grieved her death,there were rumours that Richard III had poisoned her in order to marry his niece Elizabeth of York.Even though Richard displayed genuine grief,he made plans to remarry into Portuguese royalty.

Quite a lot is known about Richard III - some of it is conjecture & innuendo & the picture we have of him from writers such as Shakespeare is fairly bleak. Did he murder the 'Princes in the Tower' (debate still rages back & forth on this) & did he kill his wife? (Ditto). Richard was married to Anne Neville, second daughter of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick known as 'the Kingmaker' & her life is even more in the shadows than her husband's. We do not know whether this was merely a strategic marriage or if there were feelings on either side, but they only had one child (a son, Edward) & his death lead to the unravelling of Richard's brief kingship & to the question as to whether Anne's rather expedient death was due to illness or more nefarious means.

Although the book is written in a lively way that keeps the reader's interest, the main issue is the fact that there is little evidence for what Anne Neville did or said or thought. The author makes a good case by giving us the evidence for how other contemporary women of similar rank acted, but for Anne so much of it is "could have", "probably did", "may have" etc. Also the synopsis talks about Anne knowing her worth & her power, but I fail to see where that comes through at all. Anne's childhood life was firmly fixed to the political trajectory of her father as to where & how she lived, & he decided who Anne would marry. At the time of her early death (she died in her late twenties) Anne was facing a crisis which could have possibly seen her divorced for infertility & maybe forced into a convent. What is powerful about any of that?

Overall, although it is well written & the evidence, such as there is, is intriguing there is just too much guesswork & personally I don't feel that the aim of showing Anne Neville as a 'powerbroker' was met. Also, to me the book cover looks more like one for a historical fiction novel than a nonfiction work. 3.5 stars (rounded up)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Pen & Sword History, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

This book is an excellent read for an overview of the War of the Roses for readers with little knowledge or wish to review the subject and how the War of the Roses may have affected Anne Neville.

Ms. Batley's writing style is clear, engaging, informative, well-researched, and entertaining. While Anne was a prominent figure, the daughter of the Earl of Warwick, a Kingmaker, during fifteenth-century England, unfortunately, Anne's thoughts and writings, if there were any, are lost or undocumented. While there are few facts about Anne Neville in comparison to other queens of England, what facts are known Ms. Bately provides likely possibilities when discussing topics, such as Anne's death and how her husband may have been cruel, wanting to remarry for an heir, or loving, staying with her to death. Ms. Bately speculates based on educated guesses and reminds readers she is doing so. Through her research, she does a fine job of hypothesizing what it may have been like to be Anne Neville.

While I am knowledgeable on Richard III and the Plantagenets, I did not take away anything new; however, I liked the possibilities Ms. Batley provided how Anne Neville "may have" pursued life from a pawn to a queen in royalty.

I recommend this book for readers who want an introduction to this history with a female player who moves from pawn to queen in her life.

Thank you for NetGalley and Pen & Sword History for the advanced reader's copy (DRC) in exchange for my honest opinion.
Publication date is July 30, 2024

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Anne Neville seemed such an interesting historical lady I just had to pick this one up and I wasn't disappointed.Although, initially it's slow to start with Anne herself and we are are mostly given background information on the times and the people surrounding her.I felt there were so many people being discussed I felt a little lost and the writing was pretty text book like which in this context I'm not particularly fond of but as soon as the author really got into the meat of Anne's life I was rather impressed.I found myself suddenly enjoying the writing and the author's attention to details.This was a surprising little biography and I'm so glad I continued.I would definitely recommend for Plantagenet fans or anyone fascinated with this period in English history.

This was well-researched and interesting, but very little is known about Anne Neville, so much of the book is speculation. She seems to have been a popular, generous, pious and gracious Queen, however. I enjoyed the book but most of it was about history, and the facts of Anne’s life. That has to be the way with most of these medieval biographies, unfortunately.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

As a huge history buff, mysteries of the past are things I find fascinating and the Plantagenet and Tudor eras, where some people were either almost or entirely erased from history, are eras I have found to be the most mysterious of the Early Modern period. Anne Neville is no exception. Queen consort to the infamous Richard III, Anne Neville is described as having the least known recordings of any queen consort in English history since the Norman conquest, adding to the tragedy surrounding her life.

I found Rebecca Batley's book to be an interesting dive into what little we know of the Plantagenet queen who has been imagined in many ways over history, most notably in Shakespeare's Tragedy Richard III; a tragic character who curses herself that leads to a deadly end. Because there is very little we know of Anne Neville, the book does have a feeling of emptiness or unfinished, which I think sums up how history will remember Anne: a woman Richard III wanted the world to forget, but a name that will never be destroyed.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Anne Neville: Queen and Wife of Richard III and I recommend reading it if you want to learn more about one of history's forgotten women. However, as with many books of this genre, you shouldn't go into it expecting answers, rather you'll discover more questions that may never be answered.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pen & Sword for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5*
As the author herself says: ‘We know less about Anne Neville than about almost any other queen consort of England since the Norman Conquest.’ There are therefore a plethora of assumptions; she may have done, seen, learnt this, that or the other. In the first 25% of the book Anne hardly features and had I not agreed to review the book I’m not sure that I would have continued. I am glad I did though, as while still short of known facts the book became more interesting from then on.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

FELL INTO ALL THE USUAL PITFALLS

Writing a biography of medieval woman, even a queen, who died early in life in always a challenge. Sadly, Batley falls into some of the most common traps with this attempt, which doesn't really add anything new to the story of Anne Neville.

Disclaimer! I am an historian specialised in medieval queenship, so some of my opinions are of course coloured by this. This might still work as an introductory text for those new to the hisotry.

What I didn't like

👎 Wars of the Roses: Sadly, Anne is a woman and a queen of whom little is recorded. But there are ways to write a biography that is still about her and her experiences. This was not it. No, this was most of all a history if the Wars of the Roses. Anne was of course in many ways a product of her time and this conflict, but when you have a "biography" that only ever mentions its on every 15th-20th page, it stops actually being a biography.

👎 Consistency: Medieval historians now the pain of writing about this era. All of the subjects are either called Mathilda, Henry or William etc. It is a problem that needs to be addressed early on in order to not confuse the reader. And there needs to be a consistent approach to how we name each of the characters. For example calling them by their title (i.e. Duke of York) or their full name (Margaret of Anjou). Explain the choice of name from the beginning and stick to it! Otherwise you end up losing your audience. Sadly, this book needed consistency.

👎 Anne/Anne: One particular inconsistency in my POV was Anne Neville and her mother, of course also named Anne. Often, they are just called Anne, making it really difficult to keep track of whether we're referring to the mother or the daughter. An easy way to circumvent this would have been to refer to the elder as "Countess Anne" and the younger as simple "Anne".

In this fascinating biography into the life of one of England’s most mysterious queens, readers discover Anne Neville, wife of the infamous Richard III and queen of England for her husband’s short reign. Readers will discover what life as the daughter of the Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker, during the chaos of the fifteenth century (during the end of the Hundred Years’ War and the entirety of the War of the Roses) was like before exploring the constant shifting of loyalties between the Lancaster and York branches of the Plantagenet royal family. While comparatively little about Anne Neville is known in comparison to other queens of England, Batley does an excellent job using what information does exist, as well as the work of other historians and biographies of other historical figures, to build the most complete picture of Anne Neville. Batley humanizes Anne Neville and brings everything into context for the period, and this book is straightforward, clear, and comprehensive in its prose and organization. A fantastic addition to current literature on fifteenth century England and the War of the Roses, Batley’s book is an excellent individual, honest, and detailed case study on Anne Neville and finally gives her her due.

When I first heard about this book last year, I instantly saved it to my social media and have been checking for updates on it regularly. I was so excited to see it on NetGalley, and I could not have hit the "wish" button quickly enough. So let me start by thanking Netgalley and Pen & Sword for the advanced reader copy of one of my most anticipated reads of the year!

Rebecca Batley's book tells the history of Anne Neville, Queen of England. Born in what was known as the "War of the Roses" a tumultuous time in English history, Anne became a major player on the chessboard of Royalty. Anne was the younger daughter of Richard Neville, more widely known as the Kingmaker, the man who was known for his role in bringing Edward IV to the throne after removing Henry VI, and then subsequently returning Henry to the throne when Edward's generosity ran dry. As her father turns traitor, so does Anne and when her father decides to wed her to the son of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou, she finds herself Princess of Wales.

When her Prince husband is killed in battle, as well as her domineering father, Anne falls into the strange in between that many women of that age found themselves; she can be independent, but she is also very young and still forced to rely on her male relatives. The next chapter of her life begins when she marries the future Richard III, first becoming his duchess, and when he takes the throne from his nephews, his Queen.

My only disappointment with this book is that there is nothing new or groundbreaking about Anne. This is no way can be laid at the feet of the author. While such a prominent figure in the War of the Roses, historical accounts of Anne's life are lacking. What we know of women in this time is usually by looking at the records of the men in their lives and hoping they were recorded, and occasionally we get lucky and find some sort of historical documentation about the woman herself.

Women in history, even if they had power, were not well recorded, and we are definitely the worse for it. Batley does a great job piercing together Anne's history and I thoroughly enjoyed her book about Anne's life. I strongly recommend this novel for fans of this time period, for fans of royal women, and those who are looking for an interesting figure who lived a wild life.

Advanced reader copy given in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is July 30,2024.