Elizabeth of York (Queenship and Power)
by Arlene Naylor Okerlund
New York:  Palgrave McMillian, 2009
263 pages

This was a hard book to review. Elizabeth of York is an intriguing figure:  a member of multiple royal households (as daughter, niece, and wife); daughter-in-law to the formidable Margaret Beaufort; member of a large, close family; and promoter of the Arts.

Was excited for the topic, written with great use of materials from a time period where there are not a lot of records but disappointed with a few inferences (using records for Henry VII) made on behalf of Elizabeth. For example, a lengthy paragraph listed all the attendants for Henry on the Royal visit to Calais. The paragraph concluded with “The que

en had a similar contingent of attendants.” Well, for heaven’s sake, if the book is about Elizabeth should there not be a list of her attendants? Names of Henry’s Court could, of course, be included but the focus should be the names of Elizabeth’s Court.  If there is no such list, that weak comment should not have been made.

Thus, there were a few things in this book that did not sit well with me. Consequently, I am not sure if I will read Okerlund’s other title, Elizabeth Wydeville: The Slandered Queen.