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3.0 AVERAGE
3.0 AVERAGE
Eh, ok. Full review to come soon. Not terrible, but the Anne bias is always a deal breaker for me.
++++++++++++++++
My book blog ----> http://allthebookblognamesaretaken.blogspot.com
and
https://www.facebook.com/AllTheBookBlogNamesAreTaken
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:
This will be kind of a slim review for a slim book. Or, what I would imagine would be a slim book, seeing as how I read it on my Kindle.
I can fully appreciate this book for the clarification of a lot of the job titles that get thrown around in Tudor history books without any explanation. Even with a fairly significant background knowledge of the time period, I still am somewhat foggy on what some of those jobs entailed. I liked that the author not only specified what the job requirements were for for a particular post in the King's Court, but several men who held such posts were identified by name. The author breaks down how the court functioned and the mirrored roles for those who served his many queens as well.
I think the weakness of this book is the focus actually spent on the queens themselves and some of the repetitive information from chapter to chapter. There has already been so much written about Henry, Catherine, Anne, Jane, Anne, Katherine, and Katherine and I felt like the 'Who's Who' part could have focused more on those that the general reader might know less about. Unfortunately that would not work so well if that information is lost to us, so the additional focus on the queens might have been a bit necessary.
I was fully ready to give this one a four star review, I liked it. However, the clear bias in favor of Anne Boleyn was a deal-breaker for me and the book lost a star by the end. The author refers to Anne's downfall as a tragedy and says around 74% that Anne was "callously ripped from the life of her three year old daughter." And yet, it is barely mentioned how, even more cruelly Catherine and Mary were separated even in life and once sent away, were never allowed to see one another again. Not even as Catherine lay dying, was Mary allowed to see her mother (Is anyone really surprised how Mary turned out, given the way she and her mother were treated?)
So, I can recommend with some reservation. It is an interesting look at the multiple players at court, their social-climbing and maneuvering to place their family members based on favors from Henry. However, expect much favoring of Anne.
++++++++++++++++
My book blog ----> http://allthebookblognamesaretaken.blogspot.com
and
https://www.facebook.com/AllTheBookBlogNamesAreTaken
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:
This will be kind of a slim review for a slim book. Or, what I would imagine would be a slim book, seeing as how I read it on my Kindle.
I can fully appreciate this book for the clarification of a lot of the job titles that get thrown around in Tudor history books without any explanation. Even with a fairly significant background knowledge of the time period, I still am somewhat foggy on what some of those jobs entailed. I liked that the author not only specified what the job requirements were for for a particular post in the King's Court, but several men who held such posts were identified by name. The author breaks down how the court functioned and the mirrored roles for those who served his many queens as well.
I think the weakness of this book is the focus actually spent on the queens themselves and some of the repetitive information from chapter to chapter. There has already been so much written about Henry, Catherine, Anne, Jane, Anne, Katherine, and Katherine and I felt like the 'Who's Who' part could have focused more on those that the general reader might know less about. Unfortunately that would not work so well if that information is lost to us, so the additional focus on the queens might have been a bit necessary.
I was fully ready to give this one a four star review, I liked it. However, the clear bias in favor of Anne Boleyn was a deal-breaker for me and the book lost a star by the end. The author refers to Anne's downfall as a tragedy and says around 74% that Anne was "callously ripped from the life of her three year old daughter." And yet, it is barely mentioned how, even more cruelly Catherine and Mary were separated even in life and once sent away, were never allowed to see one another again. Not even as Catherine lay dying, was Mary allowed to see her mother (Is anyone really surprised how Mary turned out, given the way she and her mother were treated?)
So, I can recommend with some reservation. It is an interesting look at the multiple players at court, their social-climbing and maneuvering to place their family members based on favors from Henry. However, expect much favoring of Anne.
Who’s Who at the Tudor Court is a short, easy to read book which looks at the predominant members of court during the reign of King Henry VIII. Evan’s book is divided up into seven chapters, each one looking at a different section of Henry VIII’s famous and ever changing court. The first chapter explains the structure of the English court and what it was like for those who lived and worked there. Henry VIII’s court was not a static structure but one that went on regular progresses and changed and developed throughout his rein. Evan’s gives a wonderful precise description of the court and courtly life.
Chapters Two and Three discuss the different roles men played at court, the difference between the Privy Chamber and the Privy Council and the roles of the Royal Physicians. Evans presents each male member of Henry VIII’s court, gives a short description about their life, their rise (and sometimes fall) at court and the role of which they performed.
Chapters Four, Five sand Six discuss the Queen’s role at court, the makeup of the Queen’s Household and the ladies in waiting that served the Queen. As with the male members of court Evans gives straight to the point information about each woman’s life and the role she played at court. These chapters were extremely interesting as often the male side of court is focused upon yet Evans takes time to look at Henry VIII’s Queens and the many ladies that served her, giving them a voice and life once more.
The last chapter of Evan’s book explores Henry VIII’s three legitimate children, Mary, Elizabeth and Edward. She looks at their relationship with their father and subsequent step mother’s, their visits to the court and the makeup of their own households.
Overall Evan’s book was a wonderfully informative look at court life and the many roles men and women undertook during the reign of Henry VIII. Evans has a very easy to read writing style and personally once I picked up the book I could not put it down! This is a fantastic book for people who are just learning about Tudor history and are interested in the makeup of a Tudor Court and the many positions that were available and fiercely petitioned for. It is also a great book for those who are well informed about Tudor life as it provides an opportunity to refresh the memory or to clarify information. Evan’s book is certainly one that I would recommend to anyone interested in Tudor history or wishing to learn more about this fascinating time in history.
Chapters Two and Three discuss the different roles men played at court, the difference between the Privy Chamber and the Privy Council and the roles of the Royal Physicians. Evans presents each male member of Henry VIII’s court, gives a short description about their life, their rise (and sometimes fall) at court and the role of which they performed.
Chapters Four, Five sand Six discuss the Queen’s role at court, the makeup of the Queen’s Household and the ladies in waiting that served the Queen. As with the male members of court Evans gives straight to the point information about each woman’s life and the role she played at court. These chapters were extremely interesting as often the male side of court is focused upon yet Evans takes time to look at Henry VIII’s Queens and the many ladies that served her, giving them a voice and life once more.
The last chapter of Evan’s book explores Henry VIII’s three legitimate children, Mary, Elizabeth and Edward. She looks at their relationship with their father and subsequent step mother’s, their visits to the court and the makeup of their own households.
Overall Evan’s book was a wonderfully informative look at court life and the many roles men and women undertook during the reign of Henry VIII. Evans has a very easy to read writing style and personally once I picked up the book I could not put it down! This is a fantastic book for people who are just learning about Tudor history and are interested in the makeup of a Tudor Court and the many positions that were available and fiercely petitioned for. It is also a great book for those who are well informed about Tudor life as it provides an opportunity to refresh the memory or to clarify information. Evan’s book is certainly one that I would recommend to anyone interested in Tudor history or wishing to learn more about this fascinating time in history.