‘House of Tudor: A Grisly History’ certainly lives up to its title. Forty-five historical events are covered including battles, sickness, executions and the horrors of everyday life. The grisly is balanced by the author’s approach with some humour amongst the horror.
Jane and Guildford Dudley are described as ‘hapless royal wannabees’ and the suspects in the murder of Lord Darnley is, ‘more of a question of who wasn’t involved in his murder as opposed to who was.’ The short chapters make it the perfect book to dip in and out of to learn more about the other side of life in Tudor times.
Thank you to Pen & Sword History for my review copy
This superbly written book views events of the reigns of the Tudor monarchs through the eyes of the Dudley family. The family’s fortunes rose and fell with each change of monarch.
From their non-noble beginnings, the Dudley’s had further to climb than other court families, which made each rise and fall even more spectacular. Two Dudley sons came tantalisingly close to the throne itself but three generations lost their lives on the scaffold.
This is a must-read account of a family who faithfully served their monarch, country and own ambitions, even when it led to disaster.
Thank you to Penguin books for my review copy
