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liznelson6's review against another edition
4.25
Super interesting. This was my first book about the tudors and it was great. I think it went into the perfect amount of detail.
statman's review against another edition
3.0
Spends more time talking about the details behind the public personas, their family relationships, clothing, food, habits and leisure time. Interesting look behind the scenes of kings and queens.
theremightbecupcakes's review
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
jodyladuemcgrath's review against another edition
2.0
It was interesting to read about the different daily affairs of the time, such as their hygiene rituals, daily habits, food, clothing, etc. I also enjoyed learning about how the royal babies were born. I am not sure if this book really flowed for me though. It read like a textbook instead of a historical nonfiction. It had a lot of really good information, it just felt dry. I wouldn't tell you not to read it, but maybe just in small doses over time,
sanewberg's review
3.0
I'm torn on this one. I did really enjoy this book. It was an interesting way to look at the Tudor monarchs that allowed me to think about them in a more human lights. The writing was great and it kept me engaged all the way through. That being said, I did notice some inaccuracies when Borman was talking about Anne Boleyn. She stated that Anne had six fingers as if it was a confirmed fact, when it is not. She also claimed that Henry was already in love with Jane Seymour when they visited Wulfhall in 1535, which is also most likely not true. These things may be small, but it made me more doubtful of the things she wrote about people that I do not know as much about. I also wish she had dedicated a little more time to Edward VI and Mary I. They only had one chapter each, while Henry VII, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I all had multiple chapters. Overall, this was an enjoyable book. I think people interested in the Tudor monarchs will gain a new way of looking at them from this book. I would just take some of the information with a grain of salt.
ladybedivere's review against another edition
4.0
A well-researched and nicely laid-out overview of the history of the Tudor dynasty, following the chronology of the rulers but organized by an analysis of their material pursuits and possessions. While none of the overarching information was particularly new for me (a self-confessed nerd and history buff with a lot of background in the Tudor era), it was a refreshing and interesting approach to looking at the lives and legacies of one of the most famous, and infamous, royal families in Western Europe.
*I received a copy of this book through GoodReads First Reads giveaways.*
*I received a copy of this book through GoodReads First Reads giveaways.*
meganobs's review
informative
slow-paced
2.5
It's not bad, just dry. Now I can name useless facts about the Tudors, worth it.
mp490's review against another edition
5.0
I knew very little about the Tudors before I read this and I must say this is a fantastic introduction. It paints the monarchs as real people, which is of great importance to me when engaging with history. It is particularly important for periods pre-19th century, as I do not tend to be drawn to them as much. For the most part this was a gripping read. I had a wobble with keeping my interest going during the chapters on Edward and Mary, but mainly due to their lives not being quite as exciting, rather than the quality of the writing changing in any way. I would most wholeheartedly recommend this book and I am likely to pick up another tome by this author as her style is extremely engaging.