The Tudors

The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty

De: G. J. Meyer

Narrado por: Robin Sachs

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

Unflattering & Unflinching

I've read/listened to a lot of Tudor history. This was the harshest book by far, but I learned much. The breakdown of the back-story is awesome. If you can take a step back from the much loved Gloriana of mythos - you will enjoy this book greatly.

Fabulous Audiobook

Would you consider the audio edition of The Tudors to be better than the print version?

I would! I listen mostly on my commute to work, reading on the bus sometimes makes me sick. Having the opportunity to listen to the book I was dying to read was an awesome choice!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anne Boleyn, although she doesn't get as much story time (for obvious reasons).

What does Robin Sachs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His awesome voice :)

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

If that were possible, yes! However it's over 24 hours long, so thats not really an option :)

A Real History Lesson

I enjoyed this book a lot. I am currently rewatching The Tudors and I love picking out the factual things and the things they got very wrong on the show - drama, anyone? I enjoyed hearing about the pre-Henry VIII rulers. I feel like I didn't get a lot of Elizabeth in her portion of the book, but more of the men surrounding her. However, I learned more about her vanity and deformities than I knew before.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes Tudor history.

Very revealing

loved the factual story of the Tudors. many myths dispelled and questions answered. we'll worth the listen

This book should be titled the English Reformation and some words about Henry VIII’s attempt to divorce his first wife.

The narrator was good, but the book is greatly mis-titled. We did get 2 sentences on the Spanish Armada (not counting a few phrases that referred back to it). Henry VII’s quarter century reign to kick off the Tudor century merited a brief mention as well.

Richly detailed history

There have been enough books, movies and TV series about the Tudors and the rise of Protestantism to fill a large warehouse. But this book earns a place on anyone's reading list with an essential telling of the six Tudor monarchs from Henry VII to Elizabeth I. This is a richly detailed history with enough sweep and detail to satisfy the general reader and the specialist. I was surprised to feel some empathy for Mary I ("Bloody Mary"), a smart, strong woman who is usually ignored by most historians. She allowed her deep-seated religious prejudice against Protestants to overwhelm her many forward-thinking programs. Another surprise was the portrait of Elizabeth I, who is usually depicted as a dynamic leader. Here she merely hopes to survive a tumultuous era without losing her head or her crown. Henry VIII is, correctly, portrayed as a bully, a self-willed monster and a wholesale murderer who killed thousands out of childish irritation. Henry let few scruples stand in the way of his egocentric needs, a Renaissance dictator worthy of Saddam's terror. The narration is first-rate. Highly recommended.

Interesting background info

Overall liked it. Would have liked more details in some areas more than others but it generally kept me interested. Sometimes hard to follow all the supporting people with similar names through the timeline.

Very detailed and informative

I'm very interested in 15th and 16th century European history so I love that this book goes back to the beginning of the Tudor dynasty. Some parts did seem to drag a little with the huge amount of detailed information that was given but that's not altogether a bad thing. I also liked the "background" parts that came at the end of the chapters.
Probably the only thing I didn't like was the fact that the author seemed to dislike Elizabeth Tudor so much. I understand that the author maybe shouldn't exude being a huge fan of the protagonist, but I really got the feeling that he generally disliked or disapproved of her. It seemed to me that it colored how he wrote about her part of English history rather than being objective.

Absorbing, Straightforward Narrative

Any additional comments?

This was more absorbing than most histories I've listened to, probably because the sequence of events and characters are easier to follow. I listen on my commute, so that's important. I also liked the background sections which help to understand motivations behind the actions at pivotal points in the narrative.

There may be bias, as others have commented, but they didn't back up the assertion as far as I could see, and in some cases the comments were worded so archly / ironically I couldn't follow the logic. So don't accept the premise that the author is biased without examining the reasoning behind the assertion.

Educational and well researched.

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

Yes, if he or she were interested in basic historical facts and the strategic details of the wars and politics.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Anti-climatic.

What aspect of Robin Sachs’s performance would you have changed?

Pleasant but dry. More inflection, emotion, etc.., would have been more enjoyable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No