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No period in British history today retains more resonance and mystery than the sixteenth century. The leading figures of the time have become almost mythical, and the terrors and grandeurs of Tudor Britain have resonance with even the least historically minded readers. Above all Brigden sees the key to the Tudor world as religion - the new world of Protestantism and its battle with the the old world of uniform Catholicism. This great religious rent in the fabric of English society underlies the savage violence and turbulence of the period - from Henry VIII's break with Rome to the overwhelming threat of the Spanish Armada. 'New Worlds, Lost Worlds': is a startlingly atmospheric tour de force. ... Read more

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Beginning with the arrival of Henry Tudor and his army at Milford in 1485 to depose Richard III, and ending with the death of the great Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, this incisive and informative brief history provides a vivid account of England’s most eventful and contradictory age. Its presentation of the life both in the burgeoning capital of London and in the countryside includes 16 pages of full-color and black-and-white photographs, as well as discussion of the costumes of the period, modes of travel, food and medicine, sports and pastimes, and the amazing explosion of English drama that would make the name of William Shakespeare a household word for all time. Nor does this volume overlook the stultifying narrowness of peasant life, the harsh treatment of heretics and traitors, the intrigues and machinations at the court, and the miseries of the plague. In all, A Brief History of the Tudor Age paints an astonishing panorama of an England of great beauty and violence, of splendor and squalor, of achievement and despair. "Bursting with factual evidence ... [a] bright and lively compendium."—The Observer "Jasper Ridley is one of the most accomplished and successful historical biographers."—Times Literary Supplement ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

INTERESTING READ... BUT A BIT WANDERING
interesting read... details of life in the tudor age from the local butcher on up to the priesthood and royalty... a lot of detail about the upper crust, but not much about the day to day of the common folk... would have loved to have read about schooling, healthcare, passtimes, music, how people spent their leisure time... what we get for the most part is royal history, which is interesting in itself but not why i picked up the book and not what i believe the intent of the book was... off course i could be wrong, that's why 3 and not 2 stars

Good Book for the Serious Reader
This book is well written and seems to be very well researched. It contains a lot of detail to back up the author's explanations of the general trends and the momentous events that developed during the Tudor Age. The treatment of the system of punishments of that society's offenders is detailed and not for the squeamish, although it is not presented in a truly sensationalized form. I think this book will please those who are satified by having a lot of coherent facts very intelligently presented; however, it may not please those who seek out a writing style that has more flair and flourish.

Lacks focus
Mr. Ridley wanders about more than the Countess of Salisbury when she went to the block.Why he spent over a page on this in the Chapter on Houses I am not sure.The entire book is filled with historical information which is interesting, but in many cases is related only by a thin thread to the subject at hand.This book could only be used as a history of the Tudor age if it was used with another more complete history.It is too broad and the trivia he provides doesn't fill in the holes.On the other hand, it reads well so if you want some light history reading, its ok.

Great facts, but in a pure accounting manner
Great listing of facts and details about Tudor England, for example how many butchers worked in London and where their waste went. It is a very detail-oriented, accounting-like list of information ranging from everyday items used to road repairs and its implications for the time it took to deliver documents. Not very insightful as to Tudor history itself and a bit biased, as the author clearly states that Henry VIII was the greatest king England ever had, but Elizabeth I was basically a poor queen, indecisive and any decisions were done by her advisors. Interesting as to the details that one is not likely to find anywhere else. ... Read more

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This classic volume in the renowned Oxford History of England series examines the birth of a nation-state from the death throes of the Middle Ages in North-West Europe. John D. Mackie describes the establishment of a stable monarchy by the very competent Henry VII, examines the means employed by him, and considers how far his monarchy can be described as "new." He also discusses the machinery by which the royal power was exercised and traces the effect of the concentration of lay and eccleciastical authority in the person of Wolsey, whose soaring ambition helped make possible the Caesaro-Papalism of Henry VIII. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

What really happened after Bosworth Field
The era of English history that continues to fascinate is the period when the Tudors ruled.This is not surprising when one considers all that happened.A bankrupt divided nation assumed its place as one of the great powers of Western Europe.This was not merely the result of luck, as is so often the case in history. Rather as a whole the Tudors were profoundly gifted rulers.
The story begins with the under-rated reign of Henry VII.Unlike most of monarchs, very little is known about him, at least as far as the general public is concerned.Richard III is the Shakespearean villian who murdered his nephews and usurped the throne.Henry VIII is unquestionably the most famous kind in English history.Henry VII tends to lose out when compared with these two fascinating figures.Professor Mackie redresses the balance since none of the changes that occurred would have been possible without Henry VII's efforts. Henry's progress is charted by Mackie's admirable book. What is really fascinating is the precariousness of his rule at least in the early stages, not the impression one gets from Shakespeare. The story of Perkin Warbeck, an imposter who pretended to be the murdered Duke of York and who managed international support from rulers who saw the usefulness of a divided England.Aside from this sensational episode, Mackie manages to put Henry's reign into context, charting his efforts to restore the crown to solvency, not a small feat.
Henry VIII managed to build on the success of his father and probably exercised the most decisive role in moving England into the modern age.There are of course the six wives, but the progress of Reformation and the beginnings of the royal navy are charted here. The one shortcoming in this book is that many of its acessments on the Reformation have been superseded since it was published.I would recommend that the begining reader might want to consult either Duffy's Stripping of the Altars or MacCulloch's The Reformation for and update on the state of the art.
Another section which I found rather interesting was the one dealing with Edward VI's reign. Although Edward died while a teenager, here the Church of England acquired many of its features.The men that surrounded him took the next step toward the establishment of the Church of England. Mackie is at his best going through all the numerous bits of material that make up this story.
The book concludes with the reign of Bloody Mary who was not quite as bad as one might gather from Fox's Book of Martyrs.
I consider this book, despite some shortcomings that have emerged with time, to be one of the essential books on Tudor history and would urge it on anyone seeking to gain a good overview of this fascinating period.
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J. L. McIntosh argues that Mary I and Elizabeth I were authority figuresbefore they acceded to the English throne. As independent heads of households and property-owners, the Tudor princesses attained a social and political status usually reserved for elite men, showing that women could achieve agency through the management of an elite household.

Drawing on their household archives, McIntosh recounts how the Tudor princesses attracted political clients, challenged royal authority, and established a recognizable political profile by exploiting the resources of servants, estates, and material culture. Her research proves that "exceptional" women can offer insights into the opportunities available to other contemporary women and that the elite household was a foundational element in identity formation.

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Britain under the reign of the Tudors and Stuarts was a country marked by extraordinary and dramatic change. These are the centuries of the Reformation, civil wars, and two revolutions; a time of upheaval; and a time of relgious controversy. In this exciting and richly illustrated new work, 18 leading scholars explore the political, social, religious, and culural history of the generations from 1485 to 1689. 5 maps. 225 illustrations. in color. ... Read more

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The Devil was a commanding figure in Tudor and Stuart England. He played a leading role in the religious and political conflicts of the age, and inspired great works of poetry and drama. During the turmoil of the English Civil War, fears of a secret conspiracy of Devil-worshippers fuelled a witch-hunt that claimed at least a hundred lives. This book traces the idea of the Devil from the English Reformation to the scientific revolution of the late seventeenth century. It shows that he was not only a central figure in the imaginative life of the age, but also a deeply ambiguous and complex one: the avowed enemy of God and his unwilling accomplice, and a creature that provoked fascination, comedy and dread. ... Read more

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This deftly written book tells the story of the transition from the centrality of the church to that of the state in Tudor and Stuart England. The story begins with a quite medieval Henry VIII and ends with the triumph of constitutional-parliamentary monarchy following the Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689. Besides a Bill of Rights, the first step taken by the new regime led by William and Mary was the passage of the Toleration Act of 1689 (for Protestants). From then on the state was the unifying factor and the church became a divisive factor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Eminently Readable and Highly Informative
I read this book in my freshmen year at college, while taking Professor Prall's own class in Tudor and Stuart History at Queens College. Professor Prall,who leads an excellent discussion and is exceptionallyknowledgeable about the philosophy and theology of the time, presents anencapsulated version of his own class in this book. The text is highlyreadable, compact, and limited to the most effective presentation of thefacts. It can be read quickly by either the student, amateur, or scholar,and makes for an excellent introduction to one of the most turbulentperiods of British history. In addition, he includes the latesthistoriographical advances in the field, especially those of J.J.Scarasbrick, the noted biographer of Henry VIII. At its best, "Churchand State" shows the interaction of the religious and politicalcurrents in England between 1527 and 1688. At the same time, it offers anoted scholar's own interpretation of the motives and forces behind them. ... Read more

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John Rushton was in the Royal Navy from the age of sixteen to nineteen. For several years he worked in factories. As a young adult, he studied at University College and the London School of Economics. His part time work included barrel organ singing, time and motion study and carrying a sandwich board. He came to Ryedale as tutor organiser for the Workers’ Educational Association in 1959 anddeveloped local studies in several towns and villages in north-east Yorkshire. His annual local history exhibitions at Pickering led to the formation of the Beck Isle Museum. For many years he was well known for his appearances at Pickering Carnivals in outrageous costumes. He ran a newspaper column, wrote village pantomimesand the Pickering pageants. John has lectured in recent years for the WEA and Hull University. He was awarded the MBE in 2005 for "service to the community". He has just retired after several years as President of the “Scarborough Archaeological and Historical Society”. John is an active supporter of the enthusiasts who have formed the new Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre.

This book is a study of the county from 1485 to 1558. Kings Henry VII and VIII found Yorkshire a troublesome county, but drew forces from the shire to frequently campaign against a no less troublesome Scotland. National changes in state and church left a legacy of religious division. The grip of the Crown over its great Yorkshiremen was strengthened and governance shifted towards the centre. An emerging regional and international trade gave new rewards to graziers, mariners and merchants. Daily life for most was more ordinary and less changeful than that. If this proves difficult to discover from scanty documents, there was evident struggle, and that mixture of grandeur, disaster and joy which makes up the human condition, albeit very different to the lives that we know today.

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This superb contribution to UK history covers topics as varied as population, government, the Church, witch-hunting, the Interregnum, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the Restoration. Throughout Suffolk the legacy of the events of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries is still clear. In towns such as Lavenham it is there in the architecture; picturesque wool halls tell of the economic activity which sustained the county; grand houses are testament to the numerical rise of the gentry during the period; and there are many ecclesiastical monuments to the devout religious beliefs of the local population. However, these surviving reminders of the period tell of only a small part of the story. In this important book, which is the fruit of many years of research and writing, eminent historian Dr Gordon Blackwood looks at what made Suffolk unusual, comparing it with other English counties, and how the period helped to shape the county we see today, and to maintain a sense of perspective, events and personalities are placed in a national context. Dr Blackwood's book uses a wide variety of sources and the text is complemented throughout by 76 illustrations and 21 maps.`Tudor and Stuart Suffolk' makes a significant contribution to the body of literature on the early modern history of England and is intended to appeal to the general reader as well as to the specialist of the period. ... Read more

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The Scottish Empire charts the imperial involvements of Scots from early times to the end of the twentieth century. This external history of the nation reflects its internal history, not least in a tendency towards opposite extremes. It is a tale of dramatic incidents and craggy characters, of the Scots' concern with education, evangelism and philanthropy but also with their spying, swindles and drug-running. It tells of Scottish regiments on the rampage and in humiliation, of savages eating missionaries and of colonists committing atrocities. It runs from heroic Christian pioneers such as David Livingstone and Mary Slessor to hot-blooded compatriots who had other encounters with alien cultures: William Gladstone (an English statesman but also a Liverpudlian Scot) who hit a Greek bishop on the chin, the Earl of Elgin who burned the Summer Palace in Peking, and many more. Throughout his book Michael Fry takes care to connect the colourful external history with the more humdrum realities of the internal history, but especially with the continuing development of the Scottish intellect which has done so much to keep the idea of the nation alive.What emerges is a history also of Scotland's precarious place in the world, from hard-fought independence to uncertain Union, from deceptive imperialism to self-government now seeking its definitive form. No other small nation can boast such wealth of experience to face the uncertainties of the future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent introduction to the psychological side of monarchy
From Henry VII to Elizabeth, the court during the Tudor era was both the political and cultural focus of the English state, where the monarch attracted talent and dispensed patronage. They dealt heavily in image-building, especially Henry VIII and Elizabeth, for the ruler was not merely a personal executive but the center of a rich symbolism expressing all the aspects of authority. The monarch had not only to be (or have been) a chivalrous war leader, but must also show magnanimity and generosity to his subordinates in the peerage and to his people in general -- and he must do it publicly. The king was also responsible to God for his subjects' well-being, which was why it was so important to Henry VIII to produce a son; not to do so was regarded as a sign of divine disapproval. Royal pageantry was also a tool of statecraft, as shown by Edward IV's competition with the glittering court of Burgundy and the attention paid by Henry VIII to the elegance of Francis I. The author deals at length with the sources on which English courts modeled themselves, their often amorphous administrative structure and day-to-day workings, the nature of access to and security within the court (a nobleman had to be sure of his welcome there, which was often the acid test of his personal political status), the political role of royal sports and entertainment, and the nature of factional political maneuvering. Even the architectural layout of the king's place of residence provided context to the court, and the book includes an annotated list of the king's houses, when and by whom they were built, to what use the monarch put them, and their eventual fate. Mining the private and public writings of the peerage for examples, Loades has produced a very readable account of a subtle side of kingship of which most modern students are not even aware -- even though much of what he has to say might also apply to the White House. ... Read more

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An ideal introduction to the Tudor age, weaving together its people and events into a fascinating story of the times. ... Read more

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Greater Britain, 1516-1776 brings together a series of studies by David Armitage on the history of the early modern British Atlantic world. The essays examine the history of the Britain and its empire from the 16th century to the 18th and place special emphasis on the intellectual histories of the Three Kingdoms of Britain and Ireland in their Atlantic context. They range in time from the Reformation to the American Revolution and treat not only the forces that encouraged the growth of the first British Empire but also the anxieties that constrained it. All are placed in a wider context of the relations among the Three Kingdoms, Europe and the British Empire from the middle ages to the late eighteenth century. Taken together, they offer an account of the ideological history of the anglophone Atlantic world which will be of use to historians of Britain, the British Empire and colonial America, as well as to literary critics and historians of political thought. ... Read more