This review will discuss Elena Woodacre’s book ‘Joan of Navarre: infanta, duchess, witch, queen?’, part of the Lives of Royal Women collection that she edits for Routledge. Woodacre is an expert in Renaissance History and a Reader at the University of Winchester. This is the first full biography of Joan II of Navarre, she was queen consort twice first France (Brittany) then later England in 1386 and 1403, in the turbulence of the hundred years war. This ensures that Joan is no longer lost in the historiography, through the biography Woodacre focuses on the financial aspects of Joan’s time as queen and duchess. This is important as not much is known from Joan’s time as consort of England. Woodacre’s passion for Joan, is displayed throughout the biography. This work is a masterpiece in shining a light on Joan as one of the women that are relegated to the footnotes of history, as Woodacre states. Joan herself is a natural ‘girlboss’, who’s legacy is remembered by Woodacre throughout the biography. Additionally, from a neurodivergent student perspective the biography that Woodacre writes is engaging and very easy to read. Therefore, in this book review there will be the analysis of Woodacre’s Joan of Navarre taking into account the accessibility from a neurodivergent perspective.
The biography is laid out in two parts which the first part covers Joan’s life through the progress of her life from infanta to dowager. This is in chronological order, in this Woodacre uses subheadings which help to understand what she is trying to portray. The use of micro history by Woodacre is conveyed by chapter one ‘infanta: the context and content of Joan’s early years’, this displays how through her early years and arranged marriages with the impact of her father Carlos II. This indicates her role as wife to Jean IV of Brittany and the turbulence of her father’s politics during the Hundred Years War. The result of her marriage to Jean IV meant that for a short time she became queen regnant of Brittany. Woodacre’s monolith on ‘The Queens Regnant of Navarre’ (2013) is also referenced throughout chapter one. This is important to understand with the concept of ‘Salic law’ a research interest for Woodacre. In short this is a Frankish law which dictates who can be the French monarch. Her knowledge of Navarrese queens is bought in to explain their power within court and the French nobility during this period. The way that the biography is laid out by Woodacre ensures that the reader has a concrete understanding of her life before discussing her revenue methods. The turbulence of her life is illustrated and allows the reader to grasp the impact of her life which was forgotten before Woodacre discussed her impact. Her impact on history is neglected as she had been lost in history for centuries. Therefore, as demonstrated it was vital for Woodacre to do Joan of Navarre justice.
The most intriguing part from the perspective of my own studies is Chapter 4: ‘Dowager: Anything but a quiet retirement’, this takes Joan's charge of witchcraft and the turbulence of the Hundred Years War. This is significant due to the fact that Joan was the first and only queen to be charged of witchcraft. This is with the caveat of the fact that this is in regards to English history. This is of intrigue due to the political climate as well as her turbulent relationship with her stepson Henry V, in comparison compared to public history which still holds the misconception that Anne Boleyn (second wife of Henry VIII) was trialled for witchcraft. Though, even with this misconception Joan is neglected by the historiography this is due to the fact that there is little evidence for her in the written sources and meant that Woodacre’s research was extensive to draw upon Joan’s life. The layout of the biography by Woodacre ensures that the reader has a concrete understanding of her life before discussing her revenue methods. The turbulence of her life is illustrated and allows the reader to grasp the impact of her life which was forgotten before Woodacre discussed her impact. Therefore, from a neurodivergent perspective the way that Woodacre allows the reader to go on a journey to get a perspective of Joans life, is important for accessibility. The limited use of academic jargon ensures that the book is accessible to a wider audience. This means that Woodacre’s work ensures that Joan’s life is done justice. Where for centuries her life had been undermined and accredited to male counterparts.
Furthermore, in part two Woodacre moves onto the revenue system that Joan uses, in this there is clear and understandable figures and maps used. From a neurodivergent perspective helps to picture how and why Joan received as much money as she did. The placement of Joan’s lands, wardships and liveries are important to understand the discontent Joan faced but also her power that she gained over certain regions of England. The lands she gained especially when queen consort to Henry IV. This is displayed throughout chapters five to seven which make up part two, in this Woodacre uses a multitude of figures to evidence Joans use of financial power, places and land to assert her power. This demonstrates how she went against the societal norms for queen consorts during the late medieval period. Joan’s use of financial resources are important to show her as independent to her husband even after death which is explored through part one. The final chapter ‘places, piety, possessions and patronage, displays the cultural significance of gift giving during the late medieval period. This was important for Joan to assert dominance and recognition, due to the views of gender during this period. The use of her dower lands and networks of service highlight her responsibility and her importance for ensuring that her finances were kept separate from her husband. This is mentioned in Chapter Six ‘networks of service’ but delved deeper into in the final chapter. The dower lands as Woodacre mentions were important for a queen to remain independent from her husband. Throughout the turmoil of two marriages Joan manages to still display power.
Even as previously mentioned while she was imprisoned on accounts of witchcraft. The discussion and figure used by Woodacre displays how much land both in France and England that Joan maintained and oversaw. This is vital to understanding the abilities that Joan demonstrated during her lifetime. The intelligence of Joan is displayed through this, the importance of keeping track of her finances and lands, this can be displayed through spending habits of the royal household included in tables utilised throughout part two. Though the importance of religion throughout Joan’s life and the spending on patronage and religion highlights her influence. Woodacre conveys the importance of her legacy which was neglected until Woodacre’s biography. Therefore, highlighting how significant Joan of Navarre is to the royal narrative, though before Woodacre’s groundbreaking work on her she was a forgotten queen lost in a patriarchal history. Through, the chapters that Woodacre has crafted the reader grows to understand how she should have been remembered better than Joan has been in the past.
Overall, the biography from a neurodivergent perspective is important to be able to access academic work, as it allowed me to be kept engaged. Woodacre’s writing style is inclusive due to how the biography is laid out and the way that the reader feels as if they are going along a journey with Woodacre. As she almost tells a story to given an insight into this forgotten queen. The maps and family tree are engaging as they keep neurodivergent brains engaged through being able to go down a multitude of rabbit holes. Woodacre knows how to keep the reader engaged throughout the book. Woodacre has certainly done Joan of Navarre justice, in regards to ensuring that Joan of Navarre is no longer neglected as a result of previous constructionist historiographies. Therefore, it is fair to praise Woodacre for her dedication to Joan and ensuring that Joan is recognised for her achievements beyond the academics that study her. Woodacre’s passion towards studying Joan is conveyed through this carefully curated biography. The time and hours that Woodacre spent researching and fascinated by Joan is commendable because without Joan and her legacy other queen consorts may have not had the same attitude to become as powerful.
Book reviewed:
Woodacre, E. 2023 ‘Joan of Navarre: infanta, duchess, witch, queen?’ Routledge.
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