Blood and Roses

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The Wars of the Roses transformed England between 1455 and 1485, resulting in the downfall of four kings and the deaths of over forty noblemen, alongside countless others. Despite the chaos, little is known about the sentiments of those who lived through this tumultuous period. However, a Norfolk family, the Pastons, documented their experiences through letters that have remarkably survived. These letters, the earliest significant collection of private correspondence in English, reveal insights into politics, business, love, and family life, offering a glimpse into a disintegrating world. Blood and Roses chronicles the Paston family's journey over three generations. As newcomers to the aristocracy, they navigated a society rife with snobbery and power struggles. Key figures include William Paston, the self-made patriarch; his son John, who fought to inherit estates from Sir John Falstaff, the inspiration for Shakespeare's character; and Margaret, John's wife, who held the family together for decades while raising seven children and defending their property. Their sons, John II, a courtier with a love for literature and women, and John III, the dependable brother who penned the earliest surviving valentine in England, further illustrate the family's rich legacy amidst the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses.