To the tower born
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In 1483, Edward and Richard of York—Edward, by law, already King of England—were placed, for their protection before Edward's coronation, in the Tower of London by their uncle Richard. Within months the boys disappeared without a trace, and for the next five hundred years the despised Richard III was suspected of their heartless murders.In To the Tower Born, Robin Maxwell ingeniously imagines what might have happened to the missing princes. The great and terrible events that shaped a kingdom are viewed through the eyes of quick-witted Nell Caxton, only daughter of the first English printer, and her dearest friend, "Bessie," sister to the lost boys and ultimate founder of the Tudor dynasty. It is a thrilling story brimming with mystery, color, and historical lore. With great bravery and heart, two friends navigate a dark and treacherous medieval landscape rendered more perilous by the era's scheming, ambitious, even murderous men and women who will stop at nothing to possess the throne.
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Nell Caxton and Princess Elizabeth of York are great friends, both headstrong young ladies, who want the best for both of their families. After the death of King Edward IV and the murky succession of Edward V and Richard III, the two young boys, King Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, are locked in the tower after it is proven that they were born illegitimate, which means Edward cannot assume the throne. Suddenly one day they are gone, and no one knows where, or if they are even alive.
Nell is sure that they are dead, while Elizabeth is sure that they are alive and that her beloved Uncle Richard would never harm a child. Nell is a secretary in Margaret Beaufort's household, and while Nell does not like her, she feels as though there is something to be learned from being in her home, and she is right, although the extent of what secrets are hiding in that house are beyond what she ever could have imagined. One night after being forced to stop at another of Margaret's homes on the way back to the main estate, Nell makes a horrifying discovery. The two princes are alive, being held in a dungeon. Nell makes a promise that she will rescue them, and sets in motion a plan to help the two boys escape. Will they be successful or will Margaret Beaufort succeed in having the boys killed before Nell can save them?
“To the Tower Born” is a great read. It brings together two families, and digs through some of the most turbulent times in English history. Many were to ready to believe that Richard III could have had his nephews murdered in order to take the throne for himself, and thereby clear the succession, but there were others who refused to believe that Richard would have stooped so low. There were no lack of suspects.. the Duke of Buckingham, who helped place Richard on the throne, and then designed plans of his own to take the crown. Margaret Beaufort who had a right of her own, but instead wanted the crown for her son Henry Tudor who was in exile. Then there were those that wanted the young prince Edward back on the throne, and would have done anything to undermine him, namely his sister in law, the former queen Elizabeth Woodville. I have long suspected Margaret Beaufort of having more than a passing interest in the young prince's disappearance, as it was to perfect for her and helped her plans along. This book pushes that theory to the front, and places blame elsewhere, thereby vindicating Richard III.
