Tudors: The Illustrated History

by Richard Rex

The Tudor Period is regarded by many as England's golden age, and still casts a spell over the public imagination. Whether it is the glittering rule of Elizabeth, the ruthless power of her father Henry VIII, or the bloody and radical reign of Mary, the Tudors remain the most fascinating English dynasty. Richard Rex looks at how the public and private lives of the Tudors were inextricably linked, and how each Tudor monarch exuded charisma and danger in equal measure. The visual culture of the period was equally spectacular, from Holbein's brooding portraiture to the architectural magnificence of the chapels of St George at Windsor and King's College. Alongside the authoritative and approachable story of the Tudor monarchs, beautifully reproduced, are the iconic - and the lesser known - images of Tudor England.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Tudor Period, British Literature, Historical

255 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Alys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative yet enjoyable. To be honest i did not read this book in order. I flicked between sections as I've been studying the Tudors in school so it was more of a revision tool. I therefore probably haven't actually read all of it, but it's close enough. Also, can we all take a moment to appreciate the irony of the author's name?

[Chris528735 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My interest in the Tudor period of English history was piqued after I started to watch the Showtime series "The Tudors". The show is very good and I wanted to get some more background on the period and the monarchs that ruled England at that time. This book provides a sufficient introduction to the reigns of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary Tudor, and Elizabeth I. The author seems to be at times almost apologetic in his portrayal of these rulers in a more positive light than other historians. Maybe 'apologetic' is too strong, but he seems to give them the benefit of historical doubt. In any event, it is a worthwhile read to brush up on this period of history. The book is quite accessible to the general audience and avoids being bogged down with too many details. There are some areas where the author presumes some knowledge about events and people of the the times that are not explicated (e.g the Lollards - who they were and why they were treated as they were), but in fairness to do so may have turned the book into a tome. All in all a good read.

[Julie Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very balanced overview of the political life of the Tudor dynasty. The author does not focus on the personal lives of the Tudors(no juicy details of Henry VIII's many marriages!), but briefly covers all the major political issues of the dynasty. Not world's most exciting book, but clear, succinct and balanced.

[Izzy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have an interest in the Tudors this book is for you.
Rex's writing isn't dense and full of illustrations and photos of the time. However, if you do not already have a base knowledge of the Tudors you may find his book overwhelming with information.

I loved that it didn't waffle on for very long (only 209 pages) and Rex's thoughts are very informative while remaining unbiased.
I would highly recommend for anyone who may be interested in finding out more about the Tudors or anyone who wants a good refresher on key aspects of the Tudor monarchs reign.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This only gets an extra star because of the photos that are included.
Like most history-based books, the author needs to cram in extra writings that are really not necessary. It had this reader skimming parts.
What is a fascinating era of history, it dragged in many moments.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent study of all of the Tudor monarchs, going through each reign and keeping the focus squarely on who was wearing the crown at the time without getting lost in the weeds.

[Emma Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable, I like how the book is in sections, I read in order anyway. Quite informative with added opinion

[Ollie Norton]

Fun to reread whilst being taught by the man himself

[Helene Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review - I thought that Richard Rex's book was a bit of a let-down, as it was quite short, and I was expecting so much more detail than it provided. Perhaps I have rated it so low just because I was expecting more of it. Nevertheless, it is a valid point, because the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I aren't really covered, and neither are the lives of the wives of Henry VIII, a key part of Tudor history missed out.

Subject/s - History / Tudors

Rating - 14/20

Recommend - Maybe

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book--it was an essential guide to understanding the reigns of the Tudor monarchs. It was written in a style that I could follow without having to reread it over and over--very concise, which any writer knows is hard to do with a complex subject. He also provided recommendations on other books to read about this era, which has really captured my interest.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a work of non-fiction the reading was a little dry, but what can you expect from non-fiction? The author presented the information in essay format on numerous subjects and provided a good foundation for additional studies.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commissioned by me, originally at Tempus Publishing new reissue due out in October from Amberley Publishing with a fabulous new selection of illustrations, expertly captioned by the author. DAVID STARKEY review: 'The best introduction of England's most important dynasty'

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rex's discussion of the Tudor dynasty is an easy read, with enough depth to satisfy those who want a little more than pop history and enough creativity—and plenty of opinion!!—to keep interest at a peak.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and easy to follow history of the Tudors. This is an account of their politics, not their personal lives. It was refreshing to read what they did for England and how they changed England forever. If you are looking for an introduction into the Tudors this is the book for you.

[Heather Domin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good starting point for anyone unfamiliar with the dynasty. Organized, concise, and written in easy-going language.