Total Page : 640
Publisher : Delacorte Press
Publication Date : 2010 02 23
>> The Tudors The Complete Story of England s Most Notorious Dynasty
This is the book for anyone that wants to know the facts about the life and times of each of The Tudors and the rise and many times fall of those close to them
Very good Book
>> The Tudors is a one volume popular history on all five of the Tudor monarchs in bloody olde England
This reviewer s shelf groans with countless volumes on the Tudor dynasty of Great Britain However this new book The Tudors by G J Meyers is the only book in my collection which deals with all five of the Tudor monarchs The book is a fascinating look at the 118 years England was ruled by the Welsh upstarts who reigned supreme over a land torn asunder by religious warfare and dissent
Meyer s book is also interesting for its background chapters These pages give the reader a good background into Tudor times Such chapters deal with the origin of the Tudors the way people lived their diet and how the Royal court was organized Other chapters focus on the popes John Calvin The Council of Trent the history of the Tower the background of Mary torture and the career of Roman Catholic Jesuit marytr Edward Campion These chapters are good fodder for the minds of those who have little background in sixteenth century history Scholars may scoff at such elementary material but Meyer is a good popularizer who educates the neophyte reader of Elizabethan history and culture
The Tudor rulers of England were
1 Henry VII He defeated Richard III in the battle of Bosworth Field Henry ruled England for almost 24 years He was cold aloof and a strong defender of the monarchy Henry VII was able to corral the power of the nobles He left a strong crown to his son Henry VIII
2 Henry VIII The most famous king in British history reigned from 1509 47 He wed six times Two of his wives Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard died on the chopping block He divorced Catherine of Aragon the mother of Mary and Jane Seymour died giving birth to Edward VI He contemplated executing his last wife Katherine Parr for her evangelical beliefs but she survived him Henry was the 16th century version of a Stalin and Hitler combined He sent to the block such great and trusted advisors as Thomas Cromwell and Thomas More His wise advisor Cardinal Wolsey would have faced an executioner but died on the way to his trial Henry would brook no opposition as he established the Church of England Roman Catholics and evangelicals faced the fire block and noose for opposing the Henrican Church of England following his break with Rome Henry was self centered vain and cruel He bankrupted the country in foolish wars on the Continent Henry came to believe he was infallible in his judgments on all subjects He was grossly overweight and treated his family with contempt Meyer is good at stripping the mask and revealing the ugly face of a tyrant
3 Edward VI reigned from 1547 53 He probably died of TB He was an evangelical reformer who was very intelligent He wanted to drive the Roman Catholics out of his realm He was greatly influenced by the Dudley faction at court He wanted Lady Jane Grey to reign following his death However his half sister Mary seized the throne and exected Jane Grey and her faction Edward VI never married and died at age 19
4 Mary 1553 58 Known as bloody Mary because over 300 Protestants went to the burning pyre during her short reign She married Phillip of Spain was childless and was a devout Roman Catholic She was the daughter of Catherin of Aragon Mary was a pious person who was called to rule in a horrible time of religious conflict
5 Elizabeth I reigned from 1558 until her death at 70 in 1603 She was the daughter of Anne Boleyn Elizabeth was a Protestant who sent many Roman Catholics to the chopping block Meyer says she brought England stability though there was widespread poverty hunger and dire misery for most of the population During her reign the Spanish Armada of 1588 was defeated plague was rampant and the royal coffers left bear Meyer shows us a vain old woman who toyed with such lads as Robert Dudley and his stepson Lord Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh Essex was executed for his rebellion against her War against Ireland and Spain were a constant in her long reign
Meyer s book is for the general reader interested in the terrible times of Tudor England Sixteenth century Europe was a time when one s religious beliefs could mean death at the hands of a tyrant This is an excellent book for the newcomer to Tudor studies Well recommended
>> Approachable history for theTudor curious
The Tudors The Complete Story of England s Most Notorious Dynasty
This huge book is no doubt targeted to the large audience newly introduced or re introduced to the drama and intrigue surrounding England s most notorious ruling family no small thanks to the Showtime drama The Tudors Those expecting a book about the show will be disappointed However anyone who is actually intrigued by the actual events motivations and history of the period will be rewarded with over 600 pages of easy to read and approachable information This is no dry tome pressed upon unwilling flesh it is engaging enlightening and even a bit entertaining I have been fascinated with the Tudor family for over 30 years and have read a number of historical accounts and biographies about the various family members This book is one of the first that I have read that focuses on all of them as a group and I learned a great many new things as a result of the author s successful expression and interpretation of the wider focus
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about English history Serious academics may find it lacking but the vast majority of intelligent readers are sure to find something between these pages to satisfy their curiosity
