Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England

by Carol McGrath

The Tudor period has long gripped our imaginations. Because we have consumed so many costume dramas on TV and film, read so many histories, factual or romanticised, we think we know how this society operated. We know they ‘did’ romance but how did they do sex?

In this affectionate, informative and fascinating look at sex and sexuality in Tudor times, author Carol McGrath peeks beneath the bedsheets of late fifteenth- and early sixteenth-century England to offer a genuine understanding of the romantic and sexual habits of our Tudor ancestors.

Find out the truth about ‘swiving’, ‘bawds’, ‘shaking the sheets’ and ‘the deed of darkness'. Discover the infamous indiscretions and scandals, feast day rituals, the Southwark Stews, and even city streets whose names indicated their use for sexual pleasure. Explore Tudor fashion: the codpiece, slashed hose and doublets, women’s layered dressing with partlets, overgowns and stomachers laced tightly in place. What was the Church view on morality, witchcraft and the female body? On which days could married couples indulge in sex and why? How were same sex relationships perceived? How common was adultery? How did they deal with contraception and how did Tudors attempt to cure venereal disease? And how did people bend and ignore all these rules?

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Tudor Period, Renaissance, Historical

156 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2022

About the author

My first degree is in History and English from Queens University Belfast. I have a postgraduate MA in writing from Queens University and an Mphil in writing from The Royal Holloway ,University of London. My debut novel The Handfasted Wife is the first in a Trilogy The Daughters of Hastings. The first is the story of 1066 and its aftermath from the perspective of the noble women. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister have followed. All have been best sellers. My new novel The Woman in the Shadows tells the tale of Thomas and Elizabeth Cromwell and is the story of an early Tudor marriage. I am now working on a medieval trilogy about 'she wolf' queens.

Reviews

[Melanie THEE Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I was 14 years old, a little show premiered on Showtime about Henry VIII. That show was called "The Tudors." Reader, I was obsessed (Yeah, I was probably too young to be watching it. My mom had no idea 😭).Not only is "The Tudors" responsible for my love of history (particularly royal history), but it's also the reason that I fact-check historical dramas while I'm watching them. Back then I had a friend/classmate who also watched the show, and we would whisper about the latest episodes when we were supposed to be doing group work in science class. We both disliked Anne Boleyn and were staunchly Team Catherine of Aragon. Don't worry, by season 2 we both realized who the *real villain was. Since then, I keep an eye out for any historical dramas that are coming out: I've watched "The Borgias" "Vikings" "Victoria" "Becoming Elizabeth” “Turn" "John Adams" and "The Serpent Queen." I even watched "Reign", but it was a guilty pleasure and I accepted it for the ridiculousness that it was 😂. No, I won't go near anything written by Philippa Gregory. And yes, I do know the words to every song on the Six: The Musical (studio cast recording).

So, when I saw this book pop up on my Kindle recommendations a few days ago, I was thrilled.

Unfortunately, this book is not good. I wanted to love it; I really did, but it reads like someone trying to reach a certain word count. An editor was needed! The repetition drove me crazy. The only decent chapter was the one about contraceptives. I actually wrote down the books that were listed in the endnotes because I want to read better books about this subject in the future *sigh*




*The real villain was the guy who killed two of his wives btw

[MAP · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a hot mess of a book. Badly written, mistakes, repetitiveness, and historical inaccuracies.

Within the first 10% of the book, the author asserts both that the Tudor world thought women were cold and men were hot and then the opposite. Within the first 25%, the author asserts that Henry VIII declared himself "defender of the faith" (he did not, it was the Pope), and throughout the book there were multiple typos, almost word for word redundant sentences, and a lot of information not really related at all to the topic. Maybe there's some good info in there but given the mistakes I caught (and I'm sure I missed a lot) who knows if any of it is reliable?

[Heidi Malagisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The study of the Tudor dynasty has led us on many different adventures throughout the centuries. We have analyzed this period from numerous angles, from the royals and nobles to the essential lives of those who lived in England during this time. We tend to leave the more intimate moments for historical fiction novels and dramas, but one must wonder what those moments might have been like for those who lived in Tudor England. What were the romantic and the more intimate moments like for the Tudors? In her book, “Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England,” Carol McGrath gives her readers an in-depth look at these private moments.

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I have heard great things about the Sex and Sexuality series by Pen and Sword Books, so when they announced the book about Tudor England, I knew that I wanted to read it.

McGrath begins by informing her readers that to understand how Tudors viewed sex and sexuality, we must know how the Catholic Church and Protestantism viewed sex. We also see what kinds of aphrodisiacs the Tudors found the most effective, where prostitution reigned supreme for a time, how music and dancing influenced courtship. They viewed hygiene and their overall health through the Humours Theory and how the Tudors viewed witchcraft compared to other dynasties that would follow.

She also mentions how those accused of adultery and impotence were tested and tried and how a couple could prevent an unwanted pregnancy. McGrath makes sure that no stone is unturned in this journey to understand better these private moments from love and lust, sex inside and outside of marriage, clothing, and symbols in art.

One complaint with this title was that she spent a little too much time on Henry VIII and his wives. Still, I wanted to see more about other less known Tudor relationships to gain a more comprehensive understanding of different Tudor relationships.

This is a well-written and informative book on the more private moments in Tudor history. They played a dynamic role in our understanding of the Tudors. It is educational, and a fun read for any fan of the Tudor dynasty. If you want to learn more about the more intimate side of the Tudor dynasty, I highly recommend you read “Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England” by Carol McGrath.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I read The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory in middle school, I have been deeply obsessed with all things having to do with the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII. The sex, the scandal, the beheadings - a veritable devil's playground, if the countless movies and TV shows have anything to say about it.

And yet, it's no wonder the sneaky sex-capades come across as so exciting - there were so many rules against it! I mean, come on, nothing is more thrilling than breaking the rules. Carol McGrath does a marvelous job illustrating those rules and how all things sex were perceived during that time.

Of course, most of those rules are concerning when you can and can't have sex (especially when you can't). For instance, sex was forbidden on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays. So explain to me, exactly, how the people of Tudor England fought off the Monday blues without a little nooky!? Oh, also - you weren't allowed to have sex naked and only in missionary! So basically, no one was allowed to have any fun at all - unless you're the king, of course.

That, my friends, is just the tippy tip of the iceberg. McGrath covers numerous sexually related topics, from witchcraft to naughty words. Did you know that "Cock" is a euphemism for God (ugh, men) or that to "Die" can mean having an orgasm? I sure as hell didn't. But I do now, and I fully plan on adding everything I've learned to my mental lexicon.

It takes quite a bit for me to enjoy a work of non-fiction, but this one was a titillating mix of being both entertaining as well as informative. It's a quick read that's well written, so give it a chance if you need a brain break from the world of fiction! I assure you, real life (historical life, especially) can be so melodramatic, you'd think it was made up anyways.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pen & Sword, for the ARC!

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This needed a competent proof reader and copy editor. Littered with typos and embarrassingly basic errors. I am rather mortified for the author…

[mollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️’s (Like).

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just looked it up and realized that this is, in fact, the third of these historical compendiums on sexual mores from the publishers I’ve read. First one was from Elizabethan age and the second one from Ancient Rome. That’s a lot of prurient interest, one might think. But it really is interesting how people…got down back in the day; it says a lot about the world they lived in.
Anyway, the Elizabethan book was ok, the Ancient Rome one was actually oodles of fun and funny. I was hoping for more of the same, but this book was, appropriately enough, much like the Elizabethan one – not quite all that juicy or humorous.
Then again, Ancient Romans knew how to have fun. The Tudors knew how to change country’s religion, over and over again. In the boudoir, they were, you know, as imaginative as people just emerging from Middle Ages into the shiny new Renaissance era might be – mildly adventurous yet terribly backwards (by today’s standards). Firmly holding on to some quaint antiquated notions about genders, sex and reproduction, they did their best. But then again, it wasn’t even that long of a span of time for them to really get interesting. The book mainly and heavily focuses on the main (and heavy) king, you know the one with all the wives. And as much fun as that guy was, it’s all very much a familiar territory, covered often in many formats, fictionally and nonfictionally due to its sheer built-in scandalousness.
So overall, a decent read, informative and quick. Disappointingly the publisher’s ARC didn’t come with any visual aid it normally is so generous with. So, no photos of ancient condoms, nothing fun like that. Text only. Thanks Netgalley.

[JK · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 50%. While the information, overall, was interesting, the poor sentence and paragraph structure were unbearable.

I also thought it was as if the author recorded a conversation or lecture and then just transcribed what she said and shipped it off to the publishing company.

However, what did me in was the assertion that because Henry VIII only had three children that lived to be teenagers or older that he was impotent. Catherine of Aragon gave birth to six children, Anne Boleyn had four pregnancies and one birth, Jane
Seymour had one child and would probably have had more if she had not died in childbirth, he had one illegitimate son by a mistress, and potentially another by Mary Boleyn (accounts vary). That is NOT man that was impotent. He may have become that way in the latter part of his life, but certainly not in his younger years. He and/or his wives may not have been very fertile, but I wouldn't classify him as impotent.

The book was confusing due to the poor sentence and paragraph structure; I also felt that the author would make a point but then not have information to back up - or would provide information that made no sense - especially in the chapter dedicated to poetry.

This book had great potential- but failed on so many counts. I understand why other readers love it, but this was just not the book for me. There are far better written and researched books out there about the Tudor era in history and those probably have better editors and fact checkers..

[Anne Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and entertaining addition to Pen and Sword's series on sex and sexuality across history, "Tudor England" looks at England in the reign of Henry VII and Henry VIII. Marriages, births, what was considered sexy and what wasn't, courtly love, health to make oneself sexy (bathing may have been considered dangerous but being clean and smelling good was still the way to go) are all covered here. Both the royal and high born as well as the every day lives are examined, although since more writing is left behind among the high born we do read more about the upper end of society and their views on things. The Church both before and after the Reformation plays a big role in how women are viewed and attempts at controlling sex and sexuality. We explore both 'medical' and folk remedies for infertility as well as contraceptives and the surprisingly nuanced layers that were involved to define what exactly 'being married' meant. There is, as you would expect, a lot of attention paid to Henry VIII and his wives but they are not the focus of the book by any means.
My one complaint with this book was that it could have used some more editing, as there were some sections that were much more repetitive than necessary. But overall an educational and entertaining book and a good addition to the series.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Kalle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England is an entertaining and informative book about love, lust, sex, marriage, childbirth, sex work, witchcraft, and religion in the famous time period.

I really enjoyed this book! I'm pretty familiar with the Tudor era and loved seeing it revisited in this light. I felt like this book had a good balance of covering the well-known monarchy and the common people, as the way that these groups approached sex and areas related to sex in different ways. I think that sometimes I read about the Tudor monarchy and forget that other people existed. I enjoyed seeing how things were different depending on class and rank!

The author also explored less well documented identities, such as same sex relationships and cross dressing. I was surprised that there weren't more historical documents to support these identities, but it definitely makes sense as these relationships were illegal and very taboo at the time. I felt like McGrath did a great job with the information that was available and provided some context without getting into pure conjecture as I think many other authors have.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book if you are interested in looking at this time period in a different light! Four stars. Thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book!

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.com.

First line: On a Monday morning of 13 February 1542, Katherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, first cousin to Anne Boleyn, young, vivacious, and captivating stepped, assisted, onto the scaffold, pale and terrified.

Summary: A look into the private lives of the Tudor society. The author gives in depth look at sex through religion, marriage, outside of marriage and how different classes dealt with the everyday parts of life.

My Thoughts: I was not very impressed with this. It seemed rather repetitive throughout. And there were times when it would repeat the same phrase but one or two times the saying was reversed so it did not match with what was said before. Some of the facts were not correct like Thomas Boleyn was called the Duke of Wiltshire, but he was the Earl of Wiltshire. These may have been fixed in editing but it just was something I forced myself to finish. I liked when actual cases were discussed giving a little more credence to the facts listed.

[Logan (loganslovelylibrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book!! I normally read fiction, but I was so intrigued by this non-fiction book. I love the Tudor England time period in historical fiction books, so this was a great supplement to all the books I read. I learned a lot from this and found out some interesting and surprising things. If you're interested in this time period at all I definitely recommend!

[Bookmarked · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accessible, bristling with vivid details, unflinching, warts-and-all account of how the Tudors practised love, sex and romance: Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England by Carol Mcgrath
Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England is an exploration of morality and the mores in one of the most popular and widely fictionalised period of British history. In this brilliant expose, Carol Mcgrath, historian and an acclaimed historical fiction author, dives under the bedsheets of Tudor lovers, joins in rowdy festivities, visits brothels, peeks into Henry VIII’s marital and extra-marital beds, learns about inventive if not quite effective contraception methods, dances, flirts and recites romantic poetry. She takes us from the highest echelons of Tudor society to the lowest, talking about the love life of Henry VIII and his highborn mistresses, his daughter, the virgin queen Elizabeth I, but also prostitutes, witches and wenches. McGrath presents a full and comprehensive picture of Tudor sexuality, matrimony, childbirth, fashion, beliefs and rituals. She puts it into the context of religion, customs, philosophy and arts. She makes interesting links to the medieval, catholic era that preceded the Tudors, and contrasts it with the Protestantism and puritanism of the sixteenth century. She embeds the Tudors in the wider European context of the flourishing renaissance awakening. She makes reference to what came next. Sex and Sexuality is written in easy flowing, accessible language. It is vivid, full of fascinating details and quotes, thoroughly researched and bristling with tasteful, dry humour. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

[Dieter Moitzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been provided by the editor via NetGalley for the purpose of a review.

If asked why the Tudor era holds such a fascination for readers, this one included, I would be hard put to come up with an answer. Maybe it’s the still scandalous-sounding fact of Henry VIII’s six wives and their cruel treatment, or more broadly the fascinating times themselves, that in-between period where the Middle Ages flowed into the Renaissance and thus what historians call Modern Times. Whatever the reasons, add the topic of sex and sexuality, and you get an attention-grabbing title for sure.

As expected and hoped, this book turned out to be a fairly interesting read, too. Fortunately not the steamy, gossipy, bawdy text one could fear if it had been written by some less serious-minded author, but a historical look on the customs and mores of the times as far as they can be reconstructed. Of course, the emphasis lies on written sources, which as such must always be treated with a pinch of salt, which Carol McGrath does very skilfully. She’s also a good writer, who takes care not to drown her readers in too many dry details, too many unexplained quotes, or unexpected non sequiturs. Her style is fluid, sometimes with wry humour and a wink, and as an easily readable introduction into the topic, her book therefore turned out to be pleasant and entertaining as well as informative.

The book focuses mostly on the reigns of the two Tudor Henrys, VII and VIII, as well as Edward VI and Mary I. I would have liked the book to also include the reign of Elizabeth I, who was after all the last Tudor monarch, and I admit some topics were maybe not as deeply developed as I would have preferred (e.g. Henry VIII’s Buggery Act is mentioned, but I remained in the dark as to why that law was passed at that moment rather than another—was there a precise reason, something based on a scandal?). But this are only minor quibbles, I admit. All in all, the balance between information and entertainment I normally seek in history books was perfectly maintained throughout this one.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do yourselves a favor if you are a fan of the Tudor era, the House of Tudor, or even just the Renaissance period in general, read this book as soon as you can.

SEX AND SEXUALITY IN TUDOR ENGLAND had some info I already knew about, but a lot about the sexual norms and customs associated with Europe during this time period, but it also taught me a few things and it may have reignited the urge to write Tudor-era fiction. McGrath was a joy to read. Her prose was fun and informative, and it never really felt like you were reading history. It was a stark reminder that we are the same even centuries later.

Again, do yourselves a favor and read this really enjoyable book! I want to thank the NetGalley and Pen & Sword for a digital ARC!

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peek behind the bedroom door at Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England.

England’s King Henry the VIII is known for his voracious appetites—both for food and women. He created an entirely new religion just so he could dump his first wife! Later, he realized it was easier to just execute them. With a king like that, how did the rest of England behave? The answer was wildly different from the mores and manners of today. Engagements were binding contracts. A public bedding ceremony was held for highborn couples. While virginity was a good way to ensure the groom was raising his own children in those pre-DNA testing days, 30% of English brides gave birth within eight months of their marriage.

In addition to the love and marriage practices of the time, the book also covers medicine, birth control, church, fashion, arts, witchcraft, and the naughty vocabulary of the time. It has extensive endnotes and a bibliography for further study.

Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England is an intriguing look back. It made me grateful to be living in the present. This book would be an excellent reference for historical fiction authors too. 4 stars!

Thanks to Pen & Sword History and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks NetGalley.

It was perfect timing that I happened to start reading this while also binging the White Queen and White Princess. My mindset was ready for digesting some Tudor history. This was fast read that gave me some great context for other Tudor-based media I consume, and I learned a ton of fun facts my partner is less-than-enthusiastic to hear!

My first concern when approaching a book of this nature is the prospect that it will be too academic. I've got no problem with reading materials written with that voice, but sometimes a girl just wants a nonfiction book she can read without using like 25% of her braincells. Thankfully, Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England was written in a really approachable way. It's not overly technical, doesn't treat its audience like an expert or a novice, and has some great wry humor.

If you're a prude, this might not be the book for you. McGrath certainly doesn't get graphic in details, but she is frank in her discussion of sex in 13th-15th centuries. Sex workers, homosexuality, pubic wigs, poetry, it's all fair game.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Tudor history this book deals with a topic no doubt many people have been wanting to know more about but were afraid to ask. Carol Mcgrath focuses primarily on the reign of Henry VIII but there are also snippets that give us an indication of how the poorer classes lived; this aspect is naturally less well-documented than the lives of the aristocracy. Touching on courtship rituals, the Church's stance, contraception. pregnancy and prostitution, this book covers just bout everything you ever wanted to know about Tudor sex and sexuality - and perhaps a few things you wish you hadn't discovered. A fascinating and engrossing read.

[Victoria | · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible and well-researched book on sex and sexuality in the Tudor Era! Author Carol McGrath does a wonderful job at providing detailed and entertaining chapters on this subject. If you have ever been curious about attraction, marriage, pregnancy and childbirth, general sexuality and it's influence in poetry, art, and even witchcraft during the Tudor Era... I highly reccomend this book!
I learned quite a bit about how sex was deeply rooted and also controlled by the church and influenced by medieval beliefs during this time period. It's fascinating how many rituals and practices were utilized within sexual intercourse, marriage, relationships and childbirth, etc.
An engrossing and detailed account with use of well-founded sources, this book will leave you intrigued and with a plethora of interesting facts and knowledge of sex in the Tudor Era.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword Books for the eBook ARC.

[Michelle Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m really interested in history, and reading about times that are worse than the ones we’re in is something I find oddly comforting. Therefore, when I had an opportunity to read an advance copy of this, I did, and am glad for it. This was a really, really interesting look back and I learned a lot in my reading.

Reading this definitely makes you think about some of the happy freedoms most people enjoy - bathing frequently, and without a shirt on, the availability of birth control methods that work,

This is a fascinating look at historical misogyny, ahem, history and just how much worse things used to be.


eARC kindly provided by Pen & Sword and NetGalley. Opinions shared are my own.

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informal and engaging approach to history. Occasionally included some inaccurate and outdated information, as well as grammatical and structural issues. ‘Sex and Sexuality’ would likely benefit from some revision and/or peer-review. The author does a good job at connecting contemporary poetry and writings with events in the Tudor court, such as the Devonshire manuscript and Anne Boleyn’s execution. However, the book suffers from organizational issues and frequent repetition that editors should have caught onto. It is a decent introductory book and its discussion of female vs. male spaces in society and tradition is incredibly fascinating. I would recommend ‘Sex and Sexuality’ for those interested in the topic and look forward to more from the author!

[Anita Salát · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both an informative and easy read, sometimes with shocking details of daily practices Tudor nobility and commoners followed. Carol McGrath is the author of many historical fictions and maybe that's why this is an easy-going and entertaining book, not a heavy non-fiction. It was a quick read and I enjoyed reading about the peculiar (and sometimes repulsing) customs and beliefs of the time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword History for an Advance Review Copy.

[LOIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Facts and folklore abound in this fascinating, well-researched book. It gives us a glimpse into another side of

Tudor England. Church laws and sacred promises lie in the background of what really went on in the day to day

lives of the wealthy and the needy. A great read including chapters on hygiene, childbirth, the stews, art, dress,

and courting. Then, as now, we are people, looking for someone ..

[Orlando · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Informative and interesting, with things for even the extreme Tudor nerd to learn.

[Vikki Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gifted a copy on NetGalley. I learned a lot from this, and really enjoyed it. It didn't spend too long on any one topic, and so kept my interest. Bravo.

[ece karadag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England is an interesting and instructive book about love, lust, sex, marriage, childbirth, sex work, witchcraft, and religion. This was a fantastic book for me! I’m familiar with the Tudor period and enjoyed seeing it reimagined in this way. I thought this book did a wonderful job of balancing coverage of the well-known royalty and the ordinary people, as well as the diverse approaches these groups had to sex and areas relating to sex. I believe that I forget about other people when I read about the Tudor monarchs. It was fascinating to watch how things differed based on class and rank!
The author also looked into less well-known identities including same-gender partnerships and cross dressing. I was surprised that there weren’t more historical papers to back up these claims, but it makes sense given how illegal and taboo these relationships were at the time. McGrath did an excellent job with the facts that was available, providing some context without devolving into pure speculation, as I believe many other authors have done.
Despite this, it’s no surprise that the clandestine sex-capades are so thrilling – there were so many prohibitions against it! Come on, there’s nothing more exciting than defying the rules. Carol McGrath does an excellent job of demonstrating those regulations as well as how sex was seen at the time.
Of course, the majority of those regulations pertain to when you may and cannot have sex (particularly when you can’t). On Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays, for example, sex was prohibited. So, tell me how the folks of Tudor England got through the Monday blues without a little nooky!? Oh, and you couldn’t have sex in public unless you were a missionary! So, in essence, no one was permitted to enjoy any fun at all unless they were the king.
That is only the top of the iceberg, my friends. McGrath covers a wide range of sexual issues, from witchcraft to dirty language. Did you know that “Cock” is a metaphor for God (oh, guys) and that “Die” may refer to orgasm?
I certainly didn’t. But I do now, and I want to incorporate all I’ve learnt into my mental vocabulary.
It takes a lot for me to appreciate a book of nonfiction, but this one was a tantalizing blend of both entertainment and education. It’s a fast read with excellent writing, so give it a try if you’re looking for a break from fiction! I tell you, real life (particularly historical life) can be so melodramatic that you’d swear it was all made up.
Overall, if you’re interested in seeing this historical period in a new way, I highly suggest this book! Four out of five stars. Thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for providing an early reader’s copy of this book in electronic format!

[Mana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tudor period marks the transition from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern Era and the book emphasizes the years between 1485 and 1558 (the accession of Queen Elizabeth I to the throne).

Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England explores how the Tudors viewed birth control, marriage rituals, birth rituals; considers views on sex existing within and outside the marriage bed; how the Tudors viewed sexual diversity; life in the brothels; sexual diseases; how they dressed and danced, Renaissance literature and art; how ordinary people conducted sexual relations; how and where they lived; and scandals at court.

Sex and sexuality were dictated by the influence of the Church. The Church has always played a major role in matters of sex. The Church owned a duality of attitude. The temptress Eve was balanced by the importance of the Virgin. Women were seen as inferior versions of men and very susceptible to the devil and dark forces. During the sixteenth century throughout Europe waves of persecution of homosexuals coincided with the persecution of witches. Marriage was the only way to control a woman’s desires.

Even though great changes - new Renaissance ideas and Reformation, the Church tried hard to control people’s sexual lives, but was frequently ignored because humans usually enjoy sex and fall in love despite Church views and laws.

This era also heralded a cultural advance. Many daughters of more prominent Tudors were highly educated.

Sex was not used only to procreate, there were adultery, birth control, "dress to impress" attitude, concern to hygiene and much more. There was also not much of a privacy or secrets.

The book is extremely interesting, very well written, researched, concise, systematic and interdisciplinary. The reader is aware of trends, beliefs and morality of the period. Traditions and moral attitudes inevitably evolve, but sex and sexuality remain part of what it is to be human.

Delightful and fascinating peep into Tudor's bedrooms.

[Helene Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Pen and Sword Books for the gifted copy of this book to review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting, and I learnt quite a lot about the way the Tudors thought about sex and the roles of women and gender. It is irrevocably tied in to the Reformation and changing religious views across the long Tudor century. This is all discussed throughout as McGrath dives into several different areas.

It offers a different view on Tudor England, though there is still quite a lot of focus on Henry VIII and his relationships with his wives. There could have been more on the general populace, and maybe looking more at court cases about women i.e. scolding, adultery, fornication, and children.

The main reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was because I felt there was too much focus on the royal history, as well as a few errors as below:
* Page 12/64 - Thomas Howard referred to as Earl of Norfolk when he was Duke of Norfolk
* Page 27 - It was said that Katherine of Aragon and Prince Arthur were married at Westminster Abbey when they were actually married in St Paul's Cathedral
* Page 58 - Field of the Cloth of Gold said to have happened in 1521, but it was actually 1520
* Page 88 - Anne Boleyn's father was described as Duke of Wiltshire when he was Earl of Wiltshire
* Page 88 - Francis Byron questioned over Anne Boleyn's fall, but it was Francis Bryan
* Page 92 - McGrath says that Catherine Carey was acknowledged as Henry VIII's daughter, but she was never acknowledged, it was only rumoured

[Jenny Barden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous and wonderfully interesting book packed full of fascinating information about a little researched aspect of early Tudor life: sex and sexuality. For anyone seeking to better understand exactly how people lived in the sixteenth century, their habits, beliefs and mores, then ‘Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England’ by Carol McGrath is a ‘must have’. It sits comfortably alongside classic popular reference works such as ‘The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England’ by Ian Mortimer and ‘Elizabeth’s London’ by Liza Picard. Amongst many intriguing revelations, the book explores how ‘sweaty cakes’ (made from blood and bodily fluids) could be used to promote amorous feelings, and how a merkin, or pubic hair wig, could be worn to make a woman more desirable. The author also delves into the history of the Tudor era in relation to the impact of lust and liaisons on key events, Henry VIII’s pursuit of Anne Boleyn being a prime example which led eventually to the schism with Rome and the Reformation. Tucked in amongst all these facts are tantalising details, such as a persuasive explanation for Henry VIII’s difficulty in siring healthy heirs. Contraception, childbirth, brothels, views on sexual orientation and even witchcraft in relation to sex are all covered along with many other relevant subjects. An eye-opening gem of a book to be dipped into with relish.

Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publishers – Pen & Sword History – for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy reading about people in the past, more precisely the everyday life of people in the past. I’ve gotten the opportunity from the same publishers in the past to read book on the same subject but in Elizabethan and Georgian times which I enjoyed, and I wasn’t really disappointed with McGrath’s book either. It does what it says it was going to do.

The book itself is divided in different chapters exploring different parts of sexual and romantic life. It covers the religious aspect of sexuality in the time period including marriage and married life, but it also goes into slight detail of other topics such as love magic.

All in all, a quick, but interesting, read.