Reviews
'[A] richly nuanced study . . . It will be the essential reference point for discussion of late medieval English queenship for many years to come'. Nigel Saul, Royal Holloway University of London
'This is a stunning piece of scholarship, essential reading for anyone who seeks an understanding of these late-medieval queens. Laynesmith's research is extensive, and she writes in an engaging manner, proving that academic history can also be accessible history'. Alison Weir
'By the sensitive use of sources often neglected by more traditional historians, Laynesmith succeeds in deepening our understanding of the role and powers of queens in the context of late medieval English monarchy.' Diana Dunn, The Ricardian
'Laynesmith's cool appraisal of the evidence has enabled her to struggle free of the somewhat fanciful agenda she inherited from recent historians of medieval queenship, to good effect' C S L Davies, English Historical Review
Review of Last Medieval Queens by Rachel Gibbons
'In restoring Cecily Neville to her rightful place, Joanna Laynesmith has produced a book that is both scholarly and a pleasure to read, and that will surely appeal to a broad readership.' Hannes Kleineke, The History of Parliament
'[A] a richly detailed book … Laynesmith's qualities as a scholar are evident on every page … [A] comprehensive and meticulous study of one woman's exercise of power within the limits of medieval gender expectations and will serve as the standard account of Cecily Neville.' Kim Phillips, Journal of British Studies
'Compellingly written and convincingly argued, . . . One of the main strengths of this book is its presentation of Cecily as a figure at the heart of rich and far-reaching series of overlapping networks . . . a wonderful and accessible book which will appeal not only to those interested in the lives of late medieval women, but also to those looking to gain a fresh perspective on the general workings and structures of fifteenth-century England ' Rachel Delman, English Historical Review
'Rarely do we have the source material to present a medieval woman as a fully-fleshed out human being, which is what Laynesmith has accomplished in this work.' Lois L. Huneycutt, University of Missouri
'An outstanding picture of one of the most important figures, male or female, during the fifteenth century . . . Joanna Laynesmith has set a benchmark with this work, not only in the study of Cecily Neville, but in the study of medieval women more generally. It is a benchmark I can't see being reached by many.' Matthew Lewis, Author of Richard duke of York. King by Right
'Laynesmith has produced a foundational study into discussions on how women used their agency in different contexts,' Lisa Benz, Royal Studies Journal
'Solid research and excellent scholarship. Laynesmith writes in a very engaging style, which makes the material lively and beguiling.' Michele Seah, Parergon
Review of Cecily Duchess of York by Caroline Barron
Later Plantagenet and the Wars of the Roses Consorts, edited with Elena Woodacre
'A model for how to present a coherent overview of a subject as complex as these queens, . . . The authors, attentive to the gendered nature of power and authority, are judicious in their discussion of controversial queens and “quasi-queens” – women whose influence at court and beyond is often underestimated.' Theresa M. Earenfight, Seattle University, USA
'This thought-provoking, accessible, and multifaceted volume is essential reading for anyone interested in the structures and practices of late medieval queenship, or in the queens themselves who stood at the heart of the dynastic conflicts that shaped fourteenth- and fifteenth-century England.' Helen Castor, University of Cambridge