Claudia's Reviews > To the Tower Born: A Novel of the Lost Princes

This was supposed to be a tale about what happened to the princes in the tower - Edward V, uncrowned king of England and his brother, Richard, Duke of York. It is more the story of what happened in the months before the death of Edward IV to the failed first attempt of Henry Tudor's invasion through the eyes of Nell Caxton, friend of Princess Elizabeth (Bessie).

Nell - for all the excuses given - is uncommonly well educated for a woman at the time. To the point that she is able to take a position as Edward V's tutor in Latin. This opens up the way for her to fall in love with married Lord Rivers, Edward's governor. It is later that she becomes a second secretary for Margaret Beaufort, Henry Tudor's mother.

She also has an uncanny ability to be nearby where she can overhear the most incriminating conversations. It that tendency as well as her friendships with people from all walks of life - be it pickpocket, prostitute, royal guard, laundress - that enables her to arrange access to the princes in the tower as well as their supposed rescue. The Hollywood happy ending gives a nice, feel-good touch but is totally unrealistic and implausible from a historic viewpoint.

Overall, it is a piece of fiction that uses the mystery of the princes in the tower as a prop for the character Nell Caxton. An enjoyable read but only vaguely accurate. The final villain is a nice twist.