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  • The Tudors

  • The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty
  • Written by: G. J. Meyer
  • Narrated by: Robin Sachs
  • Length: 24 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (24 ratings)

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The Tudors

Written by: G. J. Meyer
Narrated by: Robin Sachs
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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

What listeners say about The Tudors

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent and Entertaining overview of the Tudor Era

Meyer is not afraid to venture his opinion without qualifying or being wishy washy like a lot of historians. Not enough detail or appreciation of Henry VII. Parsimonious or not, it’s worth spending more time on how a nobody who’s grandfather slept with a dead king’s widow maneuvered himself to be king, and then kept it. Henry VIII is likely one of the most evil men in middle age/Renaissance history and that is well portrayed. Definitely one of the least flattering portrayals of Elizabeth I I’ve come across, but he backs up his opinions credibly. I would have liked more of a soft intro do James I/IV and the issues he inherited on becoming king.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent fresh perspective, less hagiographic.

Excellent fresh perspective, less hagiographic and welcome for that. Very well written and read. Highly recommended.

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  • PJS
  • 2020-10-09

Entertaining look into the past

I listened to this to bolster my knowledge of the history of this period. I'd forgotten how many current day conflicts trace back in some manner or another to the segmentation of Christianity, especially the break between Catholicism and Protestantism during this period. The creation of the Church of England, which traces to Henry the VIII, has had unfathomable impact in the United Kingdom and across the world. This captivating description that provides great detail and interesting background is well worth the time spent listenting.

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