Tudors

The History of England from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I

By: Peter Ackroyd

Narrated by: Clive Chafer

From Henry VIII's cataclysmic break with Rome to the epic rule of Elizabeth I, the age of the Tudors comes to vivid life on the page.

Peter Ackroyd, one of Britain's most acclaimed writers, brings the age of the Tudors to vivid life in this monumental book in his History of England series, charting the course of English history from Henry VIII's cataclysmic break with Rome to the epic rule of Elizabeth I.

Rich in detail and atmosphere, Tudors is the story of Henry VIII's relentless pursuit of both the perfect wife and the perfect heir, of how the brief royal reign of the teenage king, Edward VI, gave way to the violent reimposition of Catholicism and the stench of bonfires under "Bloody Mary." It tells, too, of the long reign of Elizabeth I, which, though marked by civil strife, plots against her, and even an invasion force, finally brought stability.

Above all, it is the story of the English Reformation and the making of the Anglican Church. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, England was still largely feudal and looked to Rome for direction; at its end, it was a country where good governance was the duty of the state, not the church, and where men and women began to look to themselves for answers rather than to those who ruled them.

©2012 Peter Ackroyd (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Ackroyd writes with such lightly worn erudition and a deceptive ease that he never fails to engage.”

(Telegraph (London))

“Superbly accessible and readable.”

(Financial Times (London))

“As so often in Ackroyd’s books there are irresistible small details of everyday life in historic London.”

(Daily Express (London))

“Ackroyd clearly relishes the wicked glamor of the family which presided over the Reformation, saw off the Spanish Armada, founded the British Empire, and left the country they ruled a great European power…Fluent and colorful.”

(Sunday Express (London))

“Peter Ackroyd is energetic and gifted enough to have mastered his sources and produced a sparklingly fresh account of Tudor England…Ackroyd has a wonderful eye for the telling detail, cameos that stick in the mind…If you want a finely written, racy account of the monster Henry VIII and his brood, a history book that really fires your imagination and is often so exciting that you cannot put it down, you should get this book.”

(Weekly Standard)

“Ackroyd’s love of his subject shines through every page. This is a thrilling story that will delight readers interested in this period.”

(San Francisco Book Review)

“Ackroyd’s thoroughly researched narrative of the notorious Tudors is colorful, engaging, and highly accessible to general readers.”

(Choice (Australia))

“Ackroyd’s books are a celebration of Englishness. One senses that he has an immense pride in the way aspects of modern life have evolved...This is a fascinating read, an accessible history where the immense research is wittily presented and where the ideas are profound and moving.”

(Newtown Review of Books (Sydney))

“The Tudor era was pivotal in English history and remains of perennial interest to the general reader. Ackroyd takes on this much-written-about family history in his new, highly engaging book…[with] rich prose and careful explanations.”

(Booklist (starred review))

“This is an accessible account, made even more so by anecdotes revealing the personalities of the main characters.”

(Publishers Weekly)

“Of particular interest to those seeking an in-depth look at the religious changes of the Tudor period and the complex and often violent ways in which religious upheaval intertwined with politics.”

(Library Journal)

“As usual, Ackroyd is a find guide. A solid multivolume popular history: readable, entirely nonrevisionist, and preoccupied by politics, religion, and monarchs—a worthy rival to Winston Churchill’s History of the English Speaking Peoples.”

(Kirkus Reviews)

enjoyable, look forward to 3rd instalment

I know the tudors histories very well. the enigma of that family is what got me most interested in reading details of history. so this info was not new to me. but I did not no find It tedious or boring at all. if say even good for beginners to the subject. its the best to hear anything you didn't already know about stuff you think you know all about. no big reveals here in this book, but still a good recount of history. I'm looking forward to the 3rd book in the series. that part of history I don't know as detailed and I know it will be good after first 2 books. we enjoy.

Narrator ?? hmmmmmm !

If you can persevere with the narrator you can get used to it and be offended by the narration less and less frequently until eventually you won't notice it. Extraordinary intonation but wonderfully clear diction. Information very interesting and well written.

I'm an insomniac and I'm glad I bought this book because I use it as a sleep aid...the narration inflections are a predictable pattern.

historically accurate

single voice performance read with nuance and inflection. covers all you need to know about the Tudors.

The history of the Tudors & English Reformation

When I was a student, history was always one of my favorite subjects. But European history, other than the very broadest of strokes, was something that I never formally studied. As an adult, my lack of European history keeps coming up as a lack of understanding of current European events.

My one advantage has been a decent Christian history background. I have read a number of books on the Reformation and some on other parts of early Christian history. This history of the Tudors is in large part a history of the English Reformation. From Henry VIII’s movement away from the Roman Catholic church to the backlash against the English Reformation under Mary to the re-assertion of the Anglican church under Elizabeth, the English Reformation is inseparable from the Tudors.

About a year ago I read a Very Short Introduction to the Tudors, which while helpful, mostly skipped the religious aspects of the era. If anything, Ackroyd probably spent too much time on the religious issues during the reign of the Tudors.

Part of what was very helpful about this book was Ackroyd’s attention to the cultural and religious understanding of the office of King/Queen. When you believe that you have been placed in authority by a direct action of God, it is not surprising when you do not take criticism well.

Ackroyd also was careful in his exploration of the religious devotion of each of the Tudors as well as their blindspots. Henry’s infidelity does not pair well with his religious devotion. But he seems to have been actually devote, although unbothered by frequent infidelity. Elizabeth similarly was actually devote but vain and viewed insults as treason.

I never cease to be amazed when reading history easy it is to see parallels in current events. They are not always direct, but history is so helpful to provide understanding for current events.

A Great Listen for Any Anglophile

This second work by Ackroyd on British history is equally informative and fascinating as the first. The length of time covered here is considerably shorter and easier to get your head around. The narrator's style becomes familiar and is much less distracting. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment: The Reformation.