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Review
“A rich and vibrant tapestry."—The Star-Ledger
“A thoroughly readable and often compelling narrative . . . Five centuries have not diminished the appetite for all things Tudor.”—Associated Press
“Energetic and comprehensive . . . [a] sweeping history of the gloriously infamous Tudor era . . . Unlike the somewhat ponderous British biographies of the Henrys, Elizabeths, and Boleyns that seem to pop up perennially, The Tudors displays flashy, fresh irreverence [and cuts] to the quick of the action.”—Kirkus Reviews
“[A] cheeky, nuanced, and authoritative perspective . . . brims with enriching background discussions.”—Publishers Weekly
“[A] lively new history.”—Bloomberg.com
“A thoroughly readable and often compelling narrative . . . Five centuries have not diminished the appetite for all things Tudor.”—Associated Press
“Energetic and comprehensive . . . [a] sweeping history of the gloriously infamous Tudor era . . . Unlike the somewhat ponderous British biographies of the Henrys, Elizabeths, and Boleyns that seem to pop up perennially, The Tudors displays flashy, fresh irreverence [and cuts] to the quick of the action.”—Kirkus Reviews
“[A] cheeky, nuanced, and authoritative perspective . . . brims with enriching background discussions.”—Publishers Weekly
“[A] lively new history.”—Bloomberg.com
Book Description
Acclaimed historian G. J. Meyer provides a fresh look at the fabled Tudor dynasty—and some of the most enigmatic figures ever to rule a country. In 1485, Henry Tudor, whose claim to the English throne was so weak as to be almost laughable, nevertheless sailed from France with a ragtag army to take the crown from the family that had ruled England for almost four centuries. Fifty years later, his son, Henry VIII, aimed to seize even greater powers—ultimately leaving behind a brutal legacy that would blight the lives of his children and the destiny of his country. Edward VI, a fervent believer in reforming the English church, died before realizing his dream. Mary I, the disgraced daughter of Catherine of Aragon, tried and failed to reestablish the Catholic Church and produce an heir, while Elizabeth I sacrificed all chance of personal happiness in order to survive.
The Tudors presents the sinners and saints, the tragedies and triumphs, the high dreams and dark crimes, of this enthralling era.
The Tudors presents the sinners and saints, the tragedies and triumphs, the high dreams and dark crimes, of this enthralling era.
Inside This Book
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Most helpful customer reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's important to have good "PR"...,
By
This review is from: The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty (Hardcover)
...if you're a despot on the throne. G E Meyer's biography of the Tudor dynasty - all five rulers - shows why William Shakespeare got paid the big bucks to rewrite British history as he did with his plays about their immediate predecessors. The five Tudors - beginning with Henry VII and ending with Elizabeth - were an interesting group. Their slightly more than 100 year occupation of the British throne is examined closely by Meyer (no relation to me). He writes "popular" history - accessible to the average non-academic reader. And he does a good job at it, too. Following every chapter in this large book is a few-page section called "Background", where Meyer goes into detail on something he's covered in the previous chapter. He may write a small section about "John Calvin", for instance, when discussing the Reformation as developing on the Continent as opposed to how the Church of England evolved at the same time. I've never seen another historian do this in a book, and I heartily approve.One thing that he writes about in one of his "Background" sections is the English alphabet in the 16th century. Evidently, it had only 24 letters and one of them, the letter, "y", was actually pronounced as a "th" sound. SO, we have "ye olde tea shoppe" which should be pronounced "the" olde tea shop. Interesting fact, I think. If a writer of history is going to pursue a dynasty, he's best concentrating on one or two particular issues to link the generations. I'd say Meyer uses "religion" as his major theme here. And maybe the various personalities - spouses and advisers - who served each of the five Tudors, as his minor theme. The same families pop up time and again as they serve the Tudors in "supporting roles" during their reigns. And regarding Shakespeare, who wrote during the last years of Elizabeth's reign. Her 45 or so years on the throne were not the "golden era" we have come to believe. As Meyer points out, the poor and unfortunate members of society greatly increased during her reign. She was not a particularly successful ruler but she had very good "PR", both then and after. Meyer writes very readable history here. The book is long but never boring. The only disturbing thing is that the book's subtitle is "The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty". By using the word "notorious" in the title, I think the publisher is cheapening the contents of the book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting and informative read.,
This review is from: The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty (Hardcover)
Meyer's overview of the entire Tudor dynasty identifies both the continuing myths and legends of the family, as well as, the many ironies that existed in the 100+ years of Tudor reign. He examines the on-going effect the Tudors have had on the well being (or lack thereof) on the British people and the UK. The book falls within the ongoing revisionist examination of the era.He demonstrates the political nature of the British Reformation and its social impact on ordinary people, the narcissism of the Tudor's themselves, and the full development of the concept "Divine Right of Kings" (or queens). There are many times when the daily life of the court and of the country become very vivid and the reader is able to obtain a true grasp of the discrepancies of life in Tudor times. The extreme wealth of a very small segment of the population, over and against the increased poverty of the majority is clearly emphasized. Every now and then Meyer goes off on a tangent that he places in a full chapter refered to as "Background" These tangents are important as they give the context in which the events of England take place. These include the impact of the actions of Suleiman, the familial relationships of certain Popes, and the physical strengths and weaknesses of various people. Although there is an extensive sources and notes section at the back of the book, it would have been beneficial to have appropriate footnotes throughout the text. For those who enjoy history, especially the Tudor era, or for those who enjoy learning about social development, this book is a very interesting and informative read.
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good read,
By Tudor fan (Saint John, New Brunswick Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty (Hardcover)
Well written and very well researched. The author does sometimes seem to be stretching to be negative. There were moments when it seemed like he wanted to interpret everything in the worst possible light and made statements that weren't entirely supported by the facts. At least this approach lead to a discussion of aspects of the Tudor reign that are rarely discussed in other books. My only other complaint was that the book claimed to be a complete history of the Tudors and yet had almost nothing on Henry VII. Even the brief discussion of him was in the context of the legacy that he left to his more famous son. This was quite a disappointment for me since everything else is so well researched that I kept hoping there would be more about the first Tudor king.
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