Tudor Books for Christmas!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas full of love, laughter and happiness! Here in Sydney, it is the eve of New Year’s Eve and even though we are so close to 2011 I am still having difficulty believing that 2010 is almost over! It truly flew by in the blink of an eye!

I thought that before another round of festivities kicks in, I should update you on some wonderful Tudor books that I found waiting for me under the Christmas tree this year – thank you Santa!

Sacred Treason by James Forrester

The first is an historical thriller called ‘Sacred Treason’ written by historian Ian Mortimer under the pen name James Forrester. The blurb reads:

1563- England is a troubled nation. Catholic plots against the young Queen Elizabeth have left the country in a state of fear and suspicion.

Late one night, respected herald William Harley, known to all as Clarenceux King of Arms, received an unexpected visitor – fellow Catholic, Henry Machyn. His friend is desperate to hide a manuscript chronicle containing a secret so dangerous he fears for his life. But soon, the State –  in the form of Francis Walsingham and his ruthless enforcers – are destroying Clarenceux’s peaceful home in search of Machyn’s chronicle.

On the run, and with the aid of Machyn’s wife Rebecca, Clarenceux must solve the clues in the manuscript to save their lives. Yet the more light they shed on the mystery, the more terror overtakes their world. Beaten, tortured, and hunted-down, they realise that what they have discovered could tear their country apart.

The book has received some excellent reviews with Robert Goddard calling it,

“A clever and enthralling historical thriller that not only brings the sixteenth century vividly to life but manages to be historically accurate in the process.”

And this quote by the Sunday Times has intrigued me ,

“An Elizabethan romp featuring a conspiracy, a secret manuscript and whispers about Anne Boleyn.”

Whispers about Anne Boleyn? I need to know now! I am really looking forward to reading this one and from what I have heard if you like CJ Sansom, and I definitely do, then you will love this novel!

Henry: Virtuous Prince by David Starkey

The second book is David Starkey’s ‘Henry: Virtuous Prince’. The Amazon blurb reads:

The first instalment of the highly anticipated biography of Henry VIII, written by one of the UK’s most popular, established and exciting historians. Published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Henry’s accession to the throne, ‘Henry: Virtuous Prince’ is a radical re-evaluation of the monarchy’s most enduring icon. Henry VIII was Britain’s most powerful monarch, yet he was not born to rule. Thrust into the limelight after the sudden death of his elder brother, Prince Arthur, Henry ascended the throne in 1509, marking the beginning of a reign that altered the course of English history. In his youth Henry was highly intelligent, athletic and musically talented. He excelled in Latin and Mathematics and was an accomplished musician. On his accession to the throne, aged just seventeen, after the tumultuous rule of his father, he provided England with hope of a new beginning. Nobody could have foreseen how radical Henry’s rule would prove to be. Often overshadowed by the bloody saga of his six marriages, his reign has left a lasting legacy. An absolute monarch, Henry’s quest for fame was as obsessive as any modern celebrity.His fierce battles against Papal authority mark one of the most dramatic and defining moments in the history of Britain. Yet his early life was insecure. The Tudor regime was viewed by many as rule by usurpers and the dark shadows of the Wars of the Roses often threatened to tear England apart once more. The culmination of a lifetime’s research, David Starkey gives a radical and unforgettable portrait of the man behind the icon; the Renaissance prince turned tyrant, who continues to tower over history.

I am also looking forward to reading this book as I have read a lot about Henry VIII and his wives but little about Henry’s childhood and what he was like before becoming the large, violent old man. Read Hilary Mantel’s review in the Guardian here.

Tudor Houses by Trevor Yorke

The third book is one called ‘Tudor Houses Explained’ by Trevor Yorke. Amazon’s product description reads:

The commanding bulk of King Henry VIII in his full regalia, and Queen Elizabeth I with her fiery red hair, are mighty royal figures who still hold our fascination over four hundred years on. The Tudor period they dominated is still personified by the houses that remain standing in England’s towns and villages. Black and white timber framed buildings ‘jettying’ out between more recent bland structures, and rambling rows of quaint cottages around a green; these are as much the iconic image of England as that of the monarchs themselves. This book sets out to explain the rich range of houses built during the Tudor period. It is divided into five sections, looking firstly at the general changes in society and how they affected the housing of the period. The second section explains the structure of the houses and the different materials used. There is a chapter on the styles of timber frame, brick, and stone houses, together with dating details. There is a section on interiors, with information about original features, and finally some details about the gardens and landscapes that surrounded the larger Tudor homes. There is also a Glossary, and a Quick Reference Guide that helps to identify the use of Tudor styles in houses of the Victorian and more modern eras.

I’m hoping to use this book to write an article about Tudor houses as readers have written in suggesting this as an interesting topic.

And the last book is ‘Life in Tudor England’ by Penry Williams, part of the English Life Series. In the preface the author states that the book has been “designed to show how the England of the Yorkists was transformed into the England of Elizabeth.” Williams focusses his attention on the years between 1520 and 1570 as he sees these as the most crucial in understanding the change that occurred.

The book is divided into eight parts and they are:

1. The Land

2. Trade, Industry and Agriculture

3. The Order of Society

4. Castles, Palaces and Houses

5. Doctors, Disease and Diet

6. School and College

7. Church and People

8. Change and Rebellion

Details about life in Tudor England truly fascinate me and so this is a welcomed addition to my Tudor library.

That’s all from me for now, I hope you have a very happy New Year and a great start to 2011!

Let me know about any Tudor Christmas presents that you received.