Elizabeth Wydeville

Library Journal

Queen consort of Edward IV (r. 1461-83), Wydeville (spelled "Woodville" in Shakespeare's history plays) is usually portrayed as a conniving schemer who used her position to gain influence for her upstart family. After Edward's death, his brother, Richard III, executed Elizabeth's brother and cousin, arranged for the murder of two of her sons (the princes in the Tower), and had her marriage to Edward declared adulterous and her children thus bastards. History was written by the winners in that intensely partisan age, and Elizabeth's side lost. But Elizabeth had reigned as queen for 19 years, bearing Edward ten children ample reasons for someone to write an unbiased account of her life. This, however, is not it. Okerlund (English, San Jose State Univ.) has mined the available sources, but it strains the evidence to argue that Elizabeth, much of whose time was occupied in childbirth, influenced Edward's rule in any serious way. Okerlund's attempt to prove otherwise is disingenuous. There are too many maybes and must haves, and the narrative is padded with fluff: pageants, costumes, etc. An inauspicious start to a potentially intriguing series on England's forgotten queens; not recommended. David Keymer, Modesto, CA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.