The Tudor Chronicles: 1485-1603

by Susan Doran

The Tudor period (1485 to 1603) marks in the minds of many the emergence of an English national identity. Defined by the iconic figure of the virgin queen – Elizabeth I – it witnessed the end of the dynastic uncertainties of the Wars of the Roses, the creation and triumph of the Protestant Church; the successful repulsion of a foreign invader and the beginnings of the adventure of empire; the blossoming of a sublimely gifted generation of musical composers, including Thomas Tallis and William Byrd; and the flowering of English poetry and drama, culminating in the glories of Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. But it was also a period wracked by rebellion, invasion scares, sectarian strife, and – increasingly – by worries about dynastic succession.
The Tudor Chronicles is a compelling, year-by-year chronology of this tumultuous and critical period in the development of the modern English nation. Each year is covered by a concise, informative and accessible narrative, amplified by extensive quotations from contemporary sources and accompanied by generously captioned and stunning images of the period – including portraits, maps, illuminations, royal seals, tapestries and other artifacts.

Authoritative, informative and sumptuous, and compiled by a scholar who is steeped in knowledge of the period, The Tudor Chronicles brings a glorious era of English history dramatically and vividly to life. It is the perfect gift book for anyone with a love of, or fascination for, 16th-century English history.

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

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Dr Susan Doran is a British historian whose primary studies surround the reign of Elizabeth I, in particular the theme of marriage and succession. She has published and edited sixteen books, most notably Elizabeth I and Religion, 1558-1603, Monarchy and Matrimony and Queen Elizabeth I, part of the British Library's Historic Lives series.

She is currently a tutor and member of the history faculty at Christ Church, Oxford University where her specific area of interest is stated as being Early Modern British and European history. Previously, Doran was a reader in history, Senior Lecturer in History and Teaching Studies and Director of the History Programme at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, part of the University of Surrey.

She is also a Director of Studies for history at Regent's Park College and Senior Research Fellow for History at Jesus College

Reviews

[Chase Parsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of history, this book is not to be missed. Doran writes in prose easily understood by readers of all levels, and the book is packed with art and primary documents. It all goes by fast - it is written in a year-by-year format - and there were many times when I had to research stuff on my own out of curiosity and/or thirst for more knowledge. There is so much fascinating stuff that happens throughout the 1500s that you cannot help but love the book. It makes a great companion with its sister book, the Plantagenet Chronicles.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-read for anyone interested in the Tudor Dynasty. This book is physically enormous, and contains beautiful full color pictures of maps, portraits, and other artifacts from the time period. I loved how it went year-to-year with events, separating each monarch in their own section.

It's the quintessential larger-than-life book chronicling the larger-than-life monarchs that have only gotten more prominent in the 450 years since they reigned.

[Joseph J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this beautiful coffee-tableish volume from Barnes & Noble at a steal after the first of the year-along with Alexander Hamilton! Are you a PBS fan? Do you love those dramas and documentaries on the debaucheries of Henry VIII and the political soap opera surrounding his daughter Elizabeth? This beautifully produced volume is a great companion to those programs. The portraits are big and richly colorful. Additional illustrations show life of the time; men in stocks! And the well versed author offers a type of yearly log, alongside, to follow the military, political and social upheavals of those tumultuous decades. Great to page through and informative to read. With this and another earlier B&N purchase, I can now follow Jeopardy with more knowledge of English history, pre and post-Henry VIII! A beautiful American edition of a work previously published across the ocean.

[Thalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think a better title for this volume would be "The Tudors: an Illustrated Chronology". Year by year of the dynasty it discusses important events acompanied by many visuals. The written part is brief and "safe" (Doran sticks to what is commonly believed - no mention of more recent suggestions) although i'm sure I percieved a little religious bias. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend pairing this volume with Meyer's The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty for a more complete rendering should you be interested. I loved the pictures. Excellent addition to the Tudorphiles library.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reference book that you can easily read from cover to cover. It includes the gist of every Tudor monarch’s life (with its ups and downs and even a well-calibrated conclusion of each reign at the end) without any rumors or eccentricities (no mention of Elizabeth’s penchant for painting her skin white, for example).

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tudors are my favorite royals and this book includes so much you don't want to put it down! I loved it and have now shared my copy with a friend who shares the same love for British History as I do.

[Doris Raines · Rating 2 out of 5]

NICE BOOK.

[J Grimsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful Coffee Table book. I really enjoyed it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any Tudor-phile will appreciate this thoroughly comprehensive and beautiful volume. It documents the entire dynasty year by year and is full of gorgeous color images, paintings, document facsimiles, and contemporary accounts. It is incredibly detailed, occasionally tedious, recounting every privy appointment and title, political maneuverings on the continent, treasonous plots, executions, riots and every last element of Tudor life. Of course, the latter half of the book is dedicated to Elizabeth I and her long reign. It becomes mildly redundant with assassination attempts, naval expeditions, and administration.

Regardless of any monotony, this is an incredible resource covering all aspects of the six Tudor monarchs.

[John Gunderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A textbook about English history? Only a nerd would read that for entertainment! Well, I am that nerd.

One of the more fascinating periods of world history is Europe's emergence from the dark ages and the Tudor family add a flair of drama for entertainment. A succinct encompassing of the family's reign, it lacks somewhat in the dramatic details you might find in a more detailed, concentrated text. However, if you seek to place events in a timeline, this is the book for you.

I recommend this to my fellow history lovers as a springboard into learning the Tudor dynasty and the constant conflict in Western Europe during the reign. If you want to be entertained by mesmerizing tales of deceit, glory, and adultery, you may want to look elsewhere.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in Tudor history, this is a good read. Doran summarizes the reigns of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, and provides a wonderful overview of the entire dynasty. The writing is clear and comfortable to read, and the pictures allow you to put faces with the many names and events spoken of. There is a geneological chart in the back, which is very helpful. I do with the author had included a map of what Europe looked like during the period. Otherwise, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as I did the others in the series. The strict chronological sequence events gives the reader a perspective that traditional biographies don't. The downside is that it also separates related in events in time making it easy to overlook or underestimate important events. Overall it is a good book to read and has a lot of first-hand accounts that are quoted in side windows and is well illustrated.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge volume, lots to read

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been re-reading this as we watch the Tudors. This book breaks down each year of each monarch's reign. It's funny how they can span 5 or 6 years of history in a 50 minute episode!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so informative. I love all of it, and the pictures are beautiful.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a coffee table book than anything, but still an informative read.

[Chantay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had to be one of the best christmas gifts given to me. It's a encylodpedia (sic) any Tudorophile could want and needs.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and future son-in-law purchased this book for me for Christmas. It's awesome and has a prominent spot on the coffee table. Now I need the Plantagenet Chronicles.

[Karen Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

good, lots of pictures

[Ashley Dallas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book and reference for anybody interested in the Tudor family..... it covered a very interesting time but you really need to love reading history to enjoy this book.

[Rebekah Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT PHOTOS

The written stuff is not too bad...
I use this book for costume inspiration.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superbly illustrated chronicle of the Tudor age, with plenty of excellent images of paintings and other works of art.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a beautiful coffee table book. A must have if you love the Tudor era

[Bridgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love the pictures inside, the hard cover, the text book quality. This would be an amazing resource for any Tudor Fan. Definitely worth reading. I checked for lower prices though.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful images

[Michelle's Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book cover is on my Pinterest board and my blog, Michelle Dragalin’s Journey.

[Katie Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly engrossing and richly informative and containing lots of interesting photographs, this is a very detailed look into the lives of the Tudors.

[Jacki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Tudor buff and I loved this book. Nice illustrations!

[Kimberly Ann]

who knows? who remembers... shelfari sure doesn't!

[Ladyc · Rating 5 out of 5]

well written and the pictures are superb.