Annie Garthwaite

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An epic feminist retelling of the War of the Roses

Cecily

The King’s Mother

Penguin Shop: 3 Clothbound Classics for £33

Elegant and propulsive . . . I had to fight myself to put it down

Ferdia Lennon, author of GLORIOUS EXPLOITS

History at its most powerful: intimate and personal, visceral and devastating

Family dynamics at their most fierce - timeless and brilliant!

Intense and personal, with stakes as great as kingdoms and a mother’s love

It is impossible not to root for Cecily: fierce mother and ambitious power player

Utterly gripping, beautifully judged and deeply feminist

Elizabeth Buchan, author of TWO WOMEN IN ROME

Breathes life into these women, wives, daughters and mothers. It is rare that historical fiction is so immersive and transporting.

Utterly compelling storytelling in crisp prose that is by turns witty, lyrical, moving and brutal.

Victoria Mackenzie, author of FOR THY GREAT PAIN HAVE MERCY ON MY LITTLE PAIN

A totally propulsive read, which plunges us into the 15th century and shifts our understanding of the roles mothers in history have played.

Harriet Constable, author of THE INSTRUMENTALIST

Brings the women of the Wars of the Roses dazzlingly to life and puts them where they belong: at the heart of events that shaped England.

Garthwaite is a beautiful writer with an incisive pen; the kinship she feels with her characters—heroes and villains both—is evident on every page.

Katherine J. Chen, author of JOAN: A NOVEL OF JOAN OF ARC

An utterly compelling protagonist – Brilliant, determined and ruthless.

A vivid and gripping powerhouse of a novel

Moving and majestic. I honestly don’t think there’s another writer like Annie Garthwaite in British literature.

Explores the lives and loves of noble women in the 15th century in unflinching, terrifying detail.

Sara Sheridan, author of THE FAIR BOTANISTS

Smart, compelling and vividly propulsive with a cast of charismatic royal women who combine the cunning of vixens with the hearts of lionesses.

Garthwaite’s dialogue marries political intrigue with emotional heft in a way I haven’t seen on the page since Hilary Mantel.

Four mothers fight for their sons as the Wars of the Roses rage

1461. Through violent war and great sacrifice, Edward IV has won England's coveted throne. Cecily, having piloted her family's rise to power, stands beside him as the nation's first King's Mother. 
 
But competition is ferocious and Cecily has met her match: three other women, driven by ambition, necessity and fear, who will stop at nothing to put their own sons on the throne. 
 
Their conflict is desperate, the cost of failure high, and Cecily must sacrifice everything she has to secure her dynasty. For there can only be one King, and there can only be one King's Mother. 
 
Spanning England's bloodiest civil war through the 15th century and into the Tudor era, this is a story about mothers and sons; about maternal ferocity and female ambition - all it can achieve and all it can destroy.

JULY 24 TIMES BOOK OF THE MONTH 
 
 From the critically acclaimed author of CECILY comes an intimate and gripping novel perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel, Madeline Miller and Maggie O’Farrell. 
 
'A triumph' The Times 
'Electrifying' Daily Mail 
'History at its most powerful' Jennifer Saint 
 
1461. Through blood and battle Edward has gained England’s throne – king by right and conquest – eighteen years old and unstoppable. Cecily has piloted his rise to power and stands at his shoulder now, first to claim the title King’s Mother. 
But to win a throne is not to keep it and war is come again. As brother betrays brother, and trusted cousins turn treacherous, other mothers rise up to fight for other sons. Cecily must focus her will to defeat every challenge. Wherever they come from. Whatever the cost.For there can be only one King, and only one King’s Mother. 
 
From the Wars of the Roses to the dawn of the Tudor age, this is a story of mothers and sons; of maternal ferocity and female ambition - of all they can build and all they can destroy. 
PRAISE FOR ANNIE GARTHWAITE: 
 
'Elegant and propulsive . . . I had to fight myself to put it down' A.K. Blakemore 
'Family dynamics at their most fierce - timeless and brilliant!' Kate Sawyer 
'Has the new Hilary Mantel arrived?' Sunday Telegraph 
'A vividly female perspective on the Wars of the Roses' Imogen Hermes Gowar

Annie Garthwaite is the author of highly-acclaimed historical novels, Cecily and The King's Mother. She grew up in a working-class community in the north-east of England before embarking on a thirty-year career in international business. In 2017, she returned to her first love - books - and began writing the story of a lifelong fascination, Cecily Neville.

The King’s Mother

Four mothers fight for their sons as the Wars of the Roses rage

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Elegant and propulsive . . . I had to fight myself to put it down

Bold, unique and gripping

History at its most powerful: intimate and personal, visceral and devastating

Family dynamics at their most fierce - timeless and brilliant!

Intense and personal, with stakes as great as kingdoms and a mother’s love

It is impossible not to root for Cecily: fierce mother and ambitious power player

Utterly gripping, beautifully judged and deeply feminist

Breathes life into these women, wives, daughters and mothers. It is rare that historical fiction is so immersive and transporting.

Utterly compelling storytelling in crisp prose that is by turns witty, lyrical, moving and brutal.

A totally propulsive read, which plunges us into the 15th century and shifts our understanding of the roles mothers in history have played.

About Annie Garthwaite

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