This study of early modern queenship compares the reign of Henry VII's queen, Elizabeth of York, and those of her daughters-in-law, the six queens of Henry VIII. It defines the traditional expectations for effective Tudor queens-particularly the queen's critical function of producing an heir-and evaluates them within that framework, before moving to consider their other contributions to the well-being of the court. This fresh comparative approach emphasizes spheres of influence rather than chronology, finding surprising juxtapositions between the various queens' experiences as mothers, diplomats, participants in secular and religious rituals, domestic managers, and more. More than a series of biographies of individual queens,
Elizabeth of York and Her Six Daughters-in-Law
is a careful, illuminating examination of the nature of Tudor queenship.
"The book achieves its stated aim, placing these various elements of the consorts' roles, life events, and agency side by side, often for the first time, and this will make it an excellent place to find factual information on these topics quickly. ? this is a useful book, rearranging existing information thoughtfully into a thematic rather than a biographical comparison, and it should be placed on reading lists for any number of undergraduate courses dealing with queenship during this period." (Nicola Clark, Royal Studies Journal, Vol. 6 (1), 2019)
"Warnicke examines the reigns of each of the seven Tudor queen consorts and how they performed their roles as patrons of religion; presided over celebrations; managed their households; and experienced marriage and childbirth. ? Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above." (D. R. Bisson, Choice, Vol. 55 (8), April, 2018)
