The Tudors

The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty

By: G. J. Meyer

Narrated by: Robin Sachs

Length: 24 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller

For the first time in decades comes a fresh look at the fabled Tudor dynasty, comprising some of the most enigmatic figures ever to rule a country.

“A thoroughly readable and often compelling narrative...Five centuries have not diminished the appetite for all things Tudor.” (Associated Press)

For the first time in decades, here, in a single volume, is a fresh look at the fabled Tudor dynasty, comprising some of the most enigmatic figures ever to rule a country. Acclaimed historian G. J. Meyer reveals the flesh-and-bone reality in all its wild excess.

In 1485, young Henry Tudor, whose claim to the throne was so weak as to be almost laughable, crossed the English Channel from France at the head of a ragtag little army and took the crown from the family that had ruled England for almost four hundred years. Half a century later his son, Henry VIII, desperate to rid himself of his first wife in order to marry a second, launched a reign of terror aimed at taking powers no previous monarch had even dreamed of possessing. In the process he plunged his kingdom into generations of division and disorder, creating a legacy of blood and betrayal that would blight the lives of his children and the destiny of his country.

The boy king Edward VI, a fervent believer in reforming the English church, died before bringing to fruition his dream of a second English Reformation. Mary I, the disgraced daughter of Catherine of Aragon, tried and failed to reestablish the Catholic Church and produce an heir. And finally came Elizabeth I, who devoted her life to creating an image of herself as Gloriana the Virgin Queen but, behind that mask, sacrificed all chance of personal happiness in order to survive.

The Tudors weaves together all the sinners and saints, the tragedies and triumphs, the high dreams and dark crimes, that reveal the Tudor era to be, in its enthralling, notorious truth, as momentous and as fascinating as the fictions audiences have come to love.

Praise for The Tudors

“A rich and vibrant tapestry.” (The Star-Ledger)

“Energetic and comprehensive...[a] sweeping history of the gloriously infamous Tudor era... Unlike the somewhat ponderous British biographies of the Henrys, Elizabeths, and Boleyns that seem to pop up perennially, The Tudors displays flashy, fresh irreverence [and cuts] to the quick of the action.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“[A] cheeky, nuanced, and authoritative perspective...brims with enriching background discussions.” (Publishers Weekly)

“[A] lively new history.” (Bloomberg)

©2010 G.J. Meyer (P)2010 Random House

Good overview

This book is a good overview of the Tudor Dynasty. There are some drawbacks but they are not bad enough to not read this book. First of all, this book is not exhaustive regarding all six wives. In fact, the book barely mentions the wives after Anne Boleyn. I am now reading "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" by Alison Weir to compensate for this loss. Also, the way the author jumps back and forth in time is annoying.

On the positive side, I learned a great deal from this book. There is lots of good info on Thomas Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell. There are chapters in the book called "Background" chapters and they are fascinating. Robin Sachs is an excellent narrator for this book.

Author bias shows

This history of The Tudors was informative however the author's dislike of two of the family members is easy to deduce. Love them or hate them, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I made the Tudor family so fascinating. I personally love Elizabeth despite her foibles. Gloriana!

Very Easy listen.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes.It was very informative but very easy to digest

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Tudors?

I really couldnt dicriminate between one or the other

Which scene was your favorite?

There wasnt any one scene

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No,it was 24 hours long.

Any additional comments?

This was a very informative history of the 1500's in england.It provides a good deal of background and insight into the major players in the tudor drama. It was also presented in a digestable interesting fashion without becoming Dumbed down

Historical

Too much antipathy towards the monarch’s problems , not enough understanding of the king’s and queen’s personal griefs.

Rich in history. it's long but worth the listen

if you enjoy the Tudor history this book is a must. this book goes pretty deep into the real history and back story of the Tudors.

Not your Grandma's Tudors

Don't get this if you wish to continue enjoying the myth of The Tudors, Elizabeth, in particular. Throughout my many years of the myth, I had a sneaking suspicion there was a lot more going on and not all of it was as had been presented. The common people of that time had been yanked in so many directions it couldn't have been a good time for them. Bloody and God awful is what it seems to have been.

I enjoyed how thorough the author is and for being disabused of some of my mistaken beliefs about this family.

Great History!

This was a great history of England. Very informative and read beautifully. I would highly recommend, if you enjoy history.

Serves it's purpose

There are really good and bad things about the narrative of the Tudor line. I have always been familiar with Henry the 8th and Elizabeth's reign and was really wanting a overview of not just these figures but the transition of power before and after. I was a bit disappointed that the book rushed over Henry the 7th which leads me into my biggest complaint. At the end of each chapter there is a background where it goes further in depth on a certain topic. If you are not familiar with the figures the back and forth in time can be a bit confusing at times.

It should also be mentioned that the Tudors are not painted in the best of light. infact if this is your only encounter it would not be a stretch that you would think they were the worse dictators since Nero and other bad emperors of Rome. This is not a bad thing completely and everything is subjectively described. It is also a good lense to have if your only knowledge is from Hollywood.

overall I really enjoyed this book. It serves its purpose on giving a good overview on how the Tudars ruled and their impact on religious reform in the 16th century England.

Loved it!

It is a fresh view of the Tudor era. The book is well worth reading.

Good but seems to be missing something

Overall, was good not great. It missed being a five star for me due to the fact that they’re just appeared to be gaps in his narrative. It is also hard to follow with all the names and characters throughout the Tudor reign.

My big take away is Henry VIII & Elizabeth were monsters each in their own way. It still boggles my mind how the English people tolerated this insanity as long as they did.