The Lady of the Rivers

The Lady of the Rivers is a historical novel by Philippa Gregory, part of her series The Cousins’ War. The story is narrated by Jacquetta of Luxembourg, mother of Elizabeth Woodville, and covers the reign of […]

The Lady of the Rivers is a historical novel by Philippa Gregory, part of her series The Cousins’ War.

The story is narrated by Jacquetta of Luxembourg, mother of Elizabeth Woodville, and covers the reign of the Lancastrian King Henry VI. The novel serves as a prequel to The White Queen, the story of Elizabeth’s reign as Queen consort of England.

Lady Rivers and her Children. Elizabeth Woodville, daughter of Earl Rivers and later wife of Edward IV

Fourteen-year-old Jacquetta, whose noble family claims descendance from the water goddess Melusine, learns the secrets of her inherited powers from her great-aunt the Demoiselle of Luxembourg. Jacquetta befriends Joan of Arc, who is a prisoner at her uncle’s castle, but later watches in horror as Joan is burned at the stake by the English-backed church.

The country is plunged into civil war between Lancaster and York led by Richard of York