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In 15th century England, Lady Anne Neville is the daughter of the Earl of Warwick, a wealthy, ambition man with the influence to determine kingship. The War of the Roses, a war between the houses of Lancaster and York for the throne of England has ended. The Lancastrians demand to reinstate the elderly and insane King Henry VI lost. Anne's father's support won the throne for the young, charismatic King Edward IV, a man the Earl of Warwick is confident he can influence.
To secure his power over King Edward, Warwick marries his eldest daughter Isabel to King Edward's brother, George, the Duke of Clarence. When King Edward's younger, more serious brother, Richard, is sent to Middleham, Warwick's family home, to train, Anne falls in love with him and he with her.
King Edward is an independent man and he proves to be uncontrollable by the wily Warwick. The entire country is aghast when Edward marries Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner and widow with two young children. Rumours abound that Elizabeth bewitched the king in a wood. As queen, she is anxious to raise the status of her family and ambitiously arranges political marriages and secures positions and estates for them. Before long, the Woodvilles are in power, not King Edward and certainly not the Earl of Warwick.
Angered, Warwick shifts his loyalties to the Lancastrians and betroths his youngest daughter Anne to the son of the insane Henry VI, also named Edward. Anne, who has only ever known the Lancastrians as the enemy is now sent to France with her future mother-in-law, Henry's wife, the strident and voracious Margaret. Together, the two women wait as Warwick and the Lancastrians battle to overcome King Edward and reinstate Anne's betrothed as the rightful king.
The Lancastrian's lose the battle and Anne's betrothed is killed. King Edward places her under the guardianship of her brother-in-law, Clarence, and she is returned to England.
Misfortune strikes again however. Clarence is ruthless and has always wanted to usurp the crown from his elder brother, King Edward. Anne and Richard are reunited and they pledge their hearts to each other and await approval for marriage. Clarence is determined to keep his hands on Isabel's and Anne's fortune and does not wish Anne to marry Richard. He is behind a treacherous plot that not only rips the two lovers from each, but removes Anne from all that she has known and loved. Poor Anne, all she wants from life is to live quietly with her family. Instead, circumstance after circumstance plunge her into turmoil until ultimately she is adorned as queen, a position she never desired.
Jean Plaidy has successfully recreated a highly complex period in English history. The author did an excellent job of explaining the complicated inter-relationships between the characters which made the story easy to follow. She made it easy to understand how the Lancastrians came to be enemies of the house of York and how their different claims came about.
Jean Plaidy manages to keep readers' interest throughout while bringing this rich story to life. The novel highlights a very critical era in English history and Jean Plaidy made it fun to learn.
Everyone alive today is running in the retirement race of their lives, according to Robert Lamoreaux, author of Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race. As with any race, there are rules to be followed, and times are kept to determine the winners and the also rans. Robert Lmoreaux applies the analogy of running a competitive race to achieving a successful financial status for retirement. The book describes in detail how the reader can finish inside the winners circle upon retirement.
Estate planner Robert Lamoreaux brings thirty-five years of hands on estate planning experience to writing this step by step book of retirement race winning strategies. As with any race, the runner must set some goals, and plan tactics and strategies for reaching them successfully. Since everyone alive today, and is running in the race of a lifetime, we all need to prepare for crossing the finish line with our arms raised in triumph. The book sets out the rules and techniques for finishing the race ahead of the pack.
Robert Lamoreaux (photo left) points out in blunt fashion that everyone is included in the race to retirement simply by virtue of being alive. There is no choice in the matter. At the same time, everyone in the race is at different stages, as the race start has staggered entry times. The book considers the various stages of people's lives, and the different strategies to be employed to lap the field.
From the very young person, to mid and late career people, to those in retirement now and nearing the end of life, easy to follow instructions are described in detail. From goal setting to practical ideas for living life on a more solid financial foundation, the book provides the framework for victory.
As with any race, the runner must work within the rules, and follow the timing procedures set out by society for the determination of your successful progress. While deliberately avoiding the technical and legal intricacies, the author provides the background and advice for discussions with professional people, in the various fields from accounting to financial planning to law. The book provides the base for further investigation and study of the more specific technical details. By emphasising the important concepts that everyone on the road to retirement must know, the author creates a toolbox that can be applied to anyone at any stage of life, or current financial status.
For me, the power of Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race is its practical step by step approach to achieving financial independence upon retirement. Without sacrificing the good life, a healthy and prosperous retirement is a goal that can be reached without serious painful sacrifices. Solid advice for making good investment decisions, operating a sucessful business, and making wise purchases of the necessities of life are covered in detail.
The author also recognizes that the road won't be smooth, and the race will often have many hurdles to clear and obstacles to avoid. The book features chapters on health and medical expenses, marriage and family expenditures, as well as planning for funeral expenses and estate planning. By not avoiding potentially painful events of life, the book becomes a much more powerful planning tool for the average person.
I recommend Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race by Robert Lamoreaux as a powerful and honest retirement and estate planning guide. Whether you are twenty or eighty, or any age in between, there is advice suited to you and your personal race to retirement.
Read Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race and be a winner in the retirement race for you and your family. Since you are already entered into the race, you may as well be in it to win it.