ALL MY TUDORS...history chat

Important Announcement

The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More

This book is currently flavour of the month with reviewers here in New Zealand - and with good reason. Geraldine Brooks has written a cracker ofa novel, the fictionalised account of what happened in the village of Eyam when plague was discovered in their misdt - their charismatic minister persuaded the village to cut itself off from the outside world. In following this selfless advice the villagers saved many lives - at heavy cost to their own.

Brooks shows the effects of this decison through the eyes of young Anna Frith, who endures the heartbreak of loss, the panic of her neighbours and the miracle of love - all in all, a very human account of this terrible predicament. Highly recommended -

out of five!

This books is packed with intriguing information about the role of the housewife in Tudor England. There are chapters on marriage, childbirth, education, food and drink, housework, the housewife as doctor, women in business, and religion. It is one of the most interesting and informative books on the period that I have ever read. I learnt all sorts of interesting things that I never knew from this book, like the role of Tudor women in business for instance, and the fact that housewives were expected to act as doctors to the family among their many other roles. Being a housewife in those days was a very, very demanding job which required a multitude of skills, and this book is full of fascinating facts.

The events which led to the execution of Anne Boleyn have traditionally been explained in terms ofa factional conspiracy masterminded by Thomas Cromwell. Retha Warnicke offers an interesting reinterpretation, focusing on the sexual intrigues and family politics pervading the court of Henry VIII. The picture which emerges--placing Anne's life in the context of social and religious values, and superstitions about witches and the birth of deformed children--changes our perception of Anne's role within the court. Warnicke suggests that Anne's execution was a tragic consequence of Henry's concern about the continuation of the Tudor dynasty. Whether or not one agrees with Warnicke's interpretation, she has written an excellent book. Definitely should be on the list of anyone interested in Anne Boleyn

This is actually four books which are often lumped together as The Plantagenet Chronicles; The Conquering Family, The Magnificent Century, The Three Edwards, & The Last Plantagenets. They begin with Geoffrey d'Anjou & conclude with Richard III. Costain reads more like a novel than a history; of course, with such a fascinating cast of characters, how could it not? Anyone not hooked on the Plantagenets will be once done with these. My copies are read to tatters! Highly recommended.

This novel about Mary Boleyn offered an insightful look about the other sister. Starting when she's 14, Mary loves how she's in the spotlight with the king, and begins to fall in love with him. But when the spotlight passes to her sister, she realilizes that there's more to life then family and ambition. Although this novel has little historical accuracy, it looks at things that might have been overlooked, like George Boleyn, and Catherine of Aragon's like or dislike of Mary. I give it:

Tell's the story of Charles II, through the eyes of the Duke of Monmouth, his illegitimate son. Covers many spects of life in Stuart times, the overlap between the English and French courts, the strife about the succession of James II, and of course the life of the Duke of Monmouth. Seen as somewhat of a rebel from today's perspective, he is seen with great sympathy and honour.

This book touts itself as "a historical detective story, meticulously researched, vividly told". It is all this an more - an exciting fictionalised account of the Great Fire of London in 1666, an all-encompassing event which touched (or should that be torched?) the lives of all the city's inhabitants. With a chapter on the modern physics of fire and firefighting and the inclusion of primary source quotes and material, this is an account that is well worth a read.

This is a must-read for anyone firmly convinced that Richard III is responsible for the demise of the Princes in the Tower. In this novel, Tey's main character, a London police inspector, is bored silly recuperating in hospital & begins researching the history mystery because of a book brought in by a visitor. This mischance leads him to an in-depth exploration of the evidence, which he evaluates in a methodical police fashion until it leads him to it inevitable conclusion. You may be surprised at the persuasiveness of Tey's argument if you are into the revisionist version of these events.

For those interested in the wives of King Henry VIII and their lives as Queen, I highly recommend this book!

Weir brings a straightforward, unbiased view of the wives, leaving us to form our own opinion of them. The book is very well researched and is a great read. Weir spares no details in the descriptions of Henry's lavish court.

What I enjoyed best was that none of the wives were painted with their stereotypical brushes. Anne Boleyn was portrayed as merely a motivating force behind the reformation, not a cause. Weir is careful to remind us of Anne's staunch refusal to be Henry's mistress, and the preservation of her virtue. She also reminds us how Kathryn Howard was a young, naive girl with very little motherly upbringing, which may have lead to her downfall. They are also seen as victims of a scheming, self-serving family.

The book reads like fiction, and honestly, not even the best fiction writers could have thought up a story of a man, and six strikingly different women, and how they lived, and died.

Superb novel set around the time of Stephen and Matilda and the accession of Henry II, a blindingly well written and researched book. Can't recommend it highly enough.

This entertaining book by medieval scholar and ex-Monty Python member Terry Jones takes a refreshing look at various different medieval stereoptypes, the Peasant, the Damsel, the Knight, the Monk etc, and shows that their lives were not always as they have been portrayed in literature and myth. Medieval peasants, for instance, were by no means as impoverished and down-trodden as is popularly thought, nor were ladies always as helpless and passive as they are shown to be. Nor were medieval people as ignorant of science, medicine, geography etc as propoganda would have us believe.

A very enjoyable book for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at the Middle Ages.

This one I would highly recommend because Antonia Fraser is so good at what she does. With access to all sorts of primary documents, Fraser debunks the theory of the Casket Letters' validity and paints a vivid picture of Mary Stuart's sad but valiant life. After reading this, I finally understand the intricacies of the various plots which swirled around her and ultimately sent her to the execution block. Fraser sees Mary as more of a victim of the Scots' internecine strife than of the wicked Messalina ceaselessly intriguing to her own disadvantage, and offers an interesting take on Mary's lifelong ill-health. Really a fascinating story, especially when told as well as Antonia Fraser can do it.

I've alway read how Mary Queen of Scots was an intriguing person. This book does not carry that across.

For those interested in a book on Mary and her life, this is not the one to read.

For those interested in the Scottish government activities during her minority, reign, and exile, I recommend it. It goes into great detail of the workings of the government during the Queen's life.

Once again, Weir presents us with an unbiased look at one of England's most fascinating monarchs, a woman who rose above the odds and stereotypes placed against her.

Weir discusses the personal and political life of Elizabeth: why she shunned marriage, her steadfast clinging to being the "Virgin Queen", her reluctance to name her heir until she was at the point of death. She discusses her long relationship with Robert Dudley, and why she could not marry the man she loved, and why she could not marry abroad.

Elizabeth is presented as a learned woman who places the love and loyalty of her people above that of her own.

For anyone interested in this extraordinary Queen, I highly recommend this book!

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
ALL MY TUDORS...history chat	[email protected]