Daughter of the White Rose
6 CD Set

Nell Gould, a butcher’s daughter, becomes the playmate for Prince Edward (Ned) and his siblings in this first-person narration that takes us into the late Middle Ages. In this audio, Nell’s narrator is multi-layered and captures the playfulness, fear, sadness, and first love of a young girl coming into her own. The full-cast ensemble is fast-paced, colorful and exciting, and the charismatic voices become the story, adding to the author's rich detail and vividly portrayed scenes. Appropriate use of music and sounds woven through the audio give depth and dimension to the time and place. This story, based on a true incident, captures English history, a strong female character, and royal intrigue. It makes a great companion to Catherine, Called Birdy (1994), The Mad Wolf’s Daughter (2018), and The Player King (2017). The author reads her own notes and historical information, including a timeline.

A full-cast production adds excitement to this story based on actual royal intrigue and murder in fifteenth-century England. The cast of five enhances the scenes, allowing the listener to hear lively conversations and bustling London streets. Moira Quirk excels as commoner Nell Gould, an unlikely lifelong friend of Prince Ned and his sisters. Quirk's emotions always ring true; they range from playful laughter to sorrow and even terror as the murderous Richard of Gloucester rises to power. Steven Crossley is convincing and likable as Nell's father, a kindly baker whose love of King and family will cost him dearly. The variety of English accents employed helps listeners differentiate the social classes. Stephen DeRosa's best character is the wily court jester. Author Diane Zahler reads the backmatter