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

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.

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

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.

OUTSTANDING!

As an unabashed lover of British royalty, I've read over 100 books on monarchs from William The Conqueror to Edward VIII (the family gets boring after that). For me, the Tudors have always been embodied by a twitchy but regal Bette Davis as Elizabeth I and the fat-boy Holbein painting of Henry VIII. But this book gives all 6 Tudors their due, in one of the most indepth accounts ever. The media has sold us on largely fictional and/or subjective views of Tudor monarchs, Henry and Elizabeth, while basically ignoring Henry VII, and Mary I, Jane Grey, and Edward VI. However, this author sets the record straight. He tells each monarch's life from beginning to end, rather than as merely side characters to the longer reigning Tudors. He also provides the reader with backstories into the people and living conditions of that era, showing the period to be awash with poverty, ignorance, and oppression. Henry and Elizabeth, who are 2 of the most remembered monarchs were certainly not the greatest. And their cruelty, greed, vanity, and selfishness was overwhelming. "Off with their heads" was more than a mere expression for them. This book is enlightening, educational and entertaining. The author pulls no punches yet still allows the reader to judge for him/herself as to the short but turbulent reign of the Tudors. At 24.5 hours in length, it's hard to believe that any more could be written about this dynasty - this has got to be the best researched book EVER on the subject. I'd like to see the author write a "prequel" about the Plantagenets who gave England 14 kings over a span of more than 300 years vs. the Tudor reign of only 118 (83 years combined between Henry VIII and Elizabeth I). This is the only book that I've bought here which is worth 2 credits.

Vivid but strongly biased

G.J. Meyer has a gift for popular history, illuminating many strange corners of a period while keeping up a steady forward pace. I enjoyed this book, especially with Robin Sachs's narration. But I have to wonder about Meyer's determination to "do" the Tudors, because boy, does he HATE them -- all of them, even the glorious Queen Elizabeth. No scurrilous anecdote goes unearthed, no tendency toward tyranny unexamined. Liars, cheats, and murderers all, in Meyer's opinion. For Henry VIII, it seems no more than his due: his monstrous self-absorption comes as no surprise (especially to anyone whose first impression of him comes from "A Man for All Seasons"); a case could be made that Mary, despite the best of intentions, was divisive and destructive, especially with her marriage to Phillip of Spain; even 16-year-old Edward showed traces of religious fanaticism; but Elizabeth?? Meyer, how could you?

Each chapter of narrative alternates with a chapter of "Background," exploring different issues like the dissolution of the monasteries and continental politics. These function as interludes or extended footnotes, and despite their topical organization they often contain stories as vivid as those of the main chapters.

The whole thing speeds by very quickly without skimping on detail. It's a good choice for getting an overview of the period and the dynasty. But if you tend to think of Elizabeth as "Gloriana" first and Cate Blanchett second, prepare for a shock.

Hates Elizabeth

Please be forewarned that the author does not like Elizabeth I. This perceived bias hampered my enjoyment of the book.

Pretty good, but watch out...

The good:
The narrator is clear, concise, has a good cadence, and is overall excellent. The author does a good job of covering almost 120 years of Tudor rule, though the largest percentage of his story is devoted to Henry VIII (maybe half the book?? with the other half devoted to 4 other monarchs). However, this seems reasonable given the profound religious and cultural changes instituted by that great English monarch. The author does an excellent job of setting the stage for major events and addressing, at high levels, factors contributing to various decisions made by the players. If you have only a little familiarity with the subject at hand, this audio book MIGHT be for you.

The shabby and belligerent:
Over-and-over the author talks about the characters, events, and consequences of Tudor rule through a 21st century lens of neuve morals and modern journalistic judgmentalism. The author makes it clear he’s not trying to write anything scholarly, which is fine (very good, actually), but for anyone on the lookout for revisionist history writers, put your defenses up. Facts are facts, and the author covers many, but many facts are framed in such a way that this book FEELS like an account of Adolf Hitler’s or Saddam Husain’s regime. This is of course an exaggeration, but fair in my opinion given how one sided his view of Tudors seems to be.

A must have for Tudor characters history buffs.

Where does The Tudors rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best history listens so far.

What three words best describe Robin Sachs’s performance?

crisp,concise and captivating.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

very pleased

Any additional comments?

A wonderful book that clears up a lot of confusion about the characters in Tudor history and the roles they played.