The Red Queen

A Novel

By: Philippa Gregory

Narrated by: Bianca Amato

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin, Henry VI, fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.

Listen to An interview with Bianca Amato, narrator of The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory.

©2010 Philippa Gregory Limited. All rights reserved. (P)2010 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Nobody does the Tudors better than Gregory ( The Other Boleyn Girl), so it should come as no surprise that her latest—the War of the Roses as seen through the eyes of Henry VII's mother —is confident, colorful, convincing, and full of conflict, betrayal, and political maneuvering....[L]ike Margaret Beaufort, Gregory puts her many imitators to shame by dint of unequalled energy, focus, and unwavering execution." ( Publishers Weekly)

repetitive

Probably could have been a novella. The man reading Henry Tudor as a French man was really annoying considering he was English and raised in England? Why would he give him a French accent? Good thing those sentences were short and very few. If I took a shot every time she said "will of God" I'd be dead lol. glad to move on to the next novel in the series.

Great book, delusional main character

I’ve just started listening to Philippe Gregory’s Plantagenet/Tudor series back to back. This is a captivating novel but difficult to attach oneself to the main character’s never-ending selfish ambition which she justifies through her “devout” religious views that makes you want to throw up. Ick!!
Hats off to this author for enabling me to stay interested in the story as I rolled me eyes at lady Margaret.
On to the next one!

Tired of the same story

I loved The Lady of the Rivers and couldn't wait to move on to the next book, The White Queen. I liked it less than The Lady of the Rivers but it was still okay. Now, in The Red Queen, it is the same story from a different viewpoint. I'm tired. I want new characters and a new story line. I've decided to move on to Diana Gabaldon and see how that goes. I will miss Bianca Amato's narration. She is fabulous!

About the voice:

I loved it! The voice of the reader is very well done. She provides the listener with an image that one is listening to the actual character rather than a person reading a book.

Narcistic Belief in God's Will for Ambition

It's a good read but not the best of the series. it was a lot of the main charecter just being a narcissist believing God is on her side and looking down on everyone else. This will be restated like EVERY 5 MINUTES and is the core of her charecter and thus the majority of the book. accurate representation but gets repetitive. there is no charecter development in her either. she's a pious narcissist as a kid and grows up to be one too, literally no change whatsoever in her charecter itself.

History comes alive

The author brilliantly brings us back in history. We become invested in the battles and triumphs of the courts.

Pretty good read

Where does The Red Queen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

top 10

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

She was a wee bit insane.

What about Bianca Amato’s performance did you like?

calming voice

Who was the most memorable character of The Red Queen and why?

Her second husband. Poor man, she was pushy

Any additional comments?

I think the White Queen was a better story but without the Red Queen it would lose its Rival.

Drama Queen

The second in the series and my first thought is these women were not Red or White Queens but drama queens. Both women focus on their plight in life never realizing they are better off than most of the women of their time. That is not to agree things were nasty and rough but the dwelling on their hardships bogs the story. The Red Queen is sure she is serving God, even when husband #3 comments,"it is interesting God always wants the same thing you want.' The White Queen is the mother of Henry Tutor so the outcome of the story is not the question. The backbiting process of achieveing the historical result is the story. This is not one of those books where a reader can eagerly read the last chapter. Another interesting twist is parts of this listen echo the events from The White Queen only from the other woman's point of view. Philippa Gregory has dovetailed these 2 books and at the same time each could stand alone. Great writing!

I love Phillipa Gregory

It's looking like a great series. Very well written
I'm looking forward to the others
Great book. The red queen seemed very self righteous and falsely humble. I wonder how close that is to the way she really was

Really enjoyed this!

Philippa Gregory weaves an intricate, thoughtful and masterful canvas that vividly transports the reader back to the time of England's York/Tudor rivalries for the throne. She develops in great detail the aspirations, fears, and machinations of all the players on each side of the games of deceit, passion and power. Readers can easily imagine themselves right in the very midst of the action, the plotting, and the pageantry. I thoroughly enjoyed both the book AND the artful, clear and expressive narration!!