Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir

I sometimes find that Alison Weir's histories include a lot of speculation - I am unconvinced by her theory that John of Gaunt died of VD, for example.  However, her books bring the eras and the characters to life, and this one is no exception.

Elizabeth of York features all the colour and splendour of the age, but Weir also makes the brutality of the era clear to readers.  She also manages to make Elizabeth, the mother of Henry VIII, stand out, emphasizing that she overcame a tragic background with strength, courage and piety.

The only problem is that it's difficult to make the history clear because it's so complicated, however that isn't Weir's fault.  This is highly recommended, if you are interested in English history and royal history.