Dear publisher and author,
I'm not going to hold back on this. I was not impressed and I learned nothing. I should have known after reading the synopsis, but it is about the Tudors so I typically always say yes definitely I'll read it. This would be a great book pushed to readers new to the genre or British history, someone who has a clean slate. My mind is more like one giant marker board that needs cleaning because stuff has been written and erased on top of older items so there are constant glimpses of everything the reader knows. So I grew weary early with this book. It just the right marketing I think and will sell well.

It was indeed a short brief summary of The Tudors (112 pages) and it intrigued me who recently watched The Other Boleyn Girl.

Well written, easily read especially for beginners who is interested with The Tudors.

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for this eARC.

Michelle Rosenberg's "The Tudors" is a captivating journey through one of the most tumultuous and fascinating periods in English history. From the rise of Henry VII to the reign of the iconic Elizabeth I, this comprehensive exploration delves into the intricacies of power, politics, and personal drama that defined the Tudor dynasty.

Rosenberg masterfully navigates through the labyrinth of Tudor history, shedding light on the key figures and events that shaped the era. From the gripping battles of Bosworth to the intricate web of marital alliances and betrayals, readers are transported back in time to witness the drama and intrigue of court life.

What sets "The Tudors" apart is its meticulous attention to detail and its ability to breathe life into historical figures often shrouded in myth and legend. Through Rosenberg's insightful analysis, Henry VIII emerges not only as a tyrant but also as a complex and conflicted ruler grappling with personal demons and political pressures. Similarly, Elizabeth I is portrayed as a formidable monarch whose reign ushered in a golden age of cultural and political flourishing.

Beyond the royal courts, "The Tudors" explores the broader cultural, religious, and social currents of the time. From the Reformation to global exploration, from scientific advancements to artistic achievements, Rosenberg paints a vivid portrait of a period marked by both progress and upheaval.

Moreover, "The Tudors" offers fresh perspectives on familiar events and personalities, challenging readers to reconsider long-held assumptions and stereotypes. By delving into lesser-known aspects of Tudor history, such as phantom pregnancies and religious dissent, Rosenberg invites readers to explore the complexities and contradictions of this fascinating era.

Creative, descriptive, and well-written, author Michelle Rosenberg's, "The Tudors" was one I literally did not put down and read in a single sitting! I found her writing style to flow easily, she had a great balance of going into detail without overdoing it, and keeping it educational and light without coming across as a history text book read.

From the very start, I loved everything about this book! The pictures and illustrations were a wonderful addition and while there may be a lot of books on this time period, this one stood out above the rest by far.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword History publications for providing me the opportunity to review "”The Tudors". I am appreciative and leave my review voluntarily.

This book is an interesting introduction to The Tudors dynasty era. The author made a good job organizing chronologically the main characters.
Interesting to consult before going to more detailed sources.

A well-researched guide to some of the Tudors, ideal for readers who want to learn more as well as those who already are familiar with the period.

The Tudors is part of the 4 book History Snapshots series by Michelle Rosenberg.

This is a great way to to get an overview of the Tudors. I’m not a scholar on the Tudors, but I have read a lot about them and I enjoyed this book and learned a bit too. There are a lot of pictures which I appreciated even though they were black and white on my Kindle.

Thank you to the author, Pen & Sword, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I love books like that while you read it Time just flies by. If you love reading about royalty especially the mid evil and tutor era then you’ll love this book by Michelle Rosenberg it is chocked full of tidbits facts and information about the kings queens and the consorts we have come to know. From Richard the third‘s crown and where it was found and when he lost it to the bed that future kings were made in every page of this book I found interesting and when it was done wished the book would’ve been longer. The book also goes more into detail about Henry and all his wives something I found also interesting. Although the book isn’t as long as most nonfiction books are still long enough to quit your appetite not to mention it has so many things I didn’t know already about the famous royal family I have come to adore. I received this book from NetGalley and a publisher that I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A good introduction to the main people of the Tudor dynasty, going through them from Henry VII to Elizabeth I in more or less chronological order. It isn't a deep dive into any one biography and doesn't spread out past the very main players, but there are a ton of photos, paintings and other illustrations, giving you a sense of the people and when and where they lived.

This is an interesting and quite quick read all about the Tudors. Most people know about the famous Tudor monarchs like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, but not everyone knows all the facts especially some lesser known ones such as what became of Henry VIII’s mistresses and what people used to eat in the Tudor times.

I love my history and the Tudors is a period I have spent some time studying , so I was curious when I saw this book on netgalley and wondered if there was anything new I could learn. The book begins with a chapter sharing some interesting faces, such as where the marital bed of Henry VII was found after many years and how much a haul of Tudor coins found is worth today. These quick facts instantly made me want to read more and I found this book interesting on the whole.

After the initial chapter of quick facts we’re then given more insight into each Tudor of the time beginning with Henry VII and how he became monarch. There is obviously a lot of information you can learn about each person and because this book is short, meant to introduce you to the Tudors rather than be a lengthy read, some of the information is condensed with some parts of a monarch’s history not given much depth and instead given only brief mentions. However, even though some of the information is condensed it still makes for interesting reading and I was surprised with the fact I learned some new things, even though I’ve studied this subject quite a bit in the past.

The chapters cover not only the obvious Tudor monarchs which follow from Henry VII, but also the queens of the time too, namely Henry VII and VIII’s wives, Henry VIII’s sisters and Mary Queen of Scots too. There’s also some detail about some of the mistresses too and what happened to them and they’re children. Each chapter covers a surprising amount of information considering the size of this book and dotted throughout are some interesting images of paintings and sketches of the various mentioned people and events.

Towards the end of the book there are some more facts about the Tudors which I enjoyed reading as this was a chapter filled with all sorts of interesting trivia on what Tudor people ate, wore, their bathing habits and more. After this there is also a final chapter about the Tudors in the media, giving a brief description and list of some of the better known films and TV dramas and shows which are about the Tudors (though oddly one of my favourite TV dramas with the same name as this book, The Tudors, is not mentioned on this list! 😮 ).

Overall this is a good book for anyone who’s interested in history and wants to know more about the Tudors and that time period. It’s quite a short read, which took me about two to three hours to finish and isn’t a super detailed book of facts, but for someone new to the subject and even someone interested in knowing a few perhaps lesser known facts, they will enjoy this book, and with all the images in it too, it’s a great book to have especially if, as I’ve said, you want to use this as an introduction to the Tudors.

What a wonderfully written, informative and quick read at an hour and a half. Michelle Rosenberg has very successfully written the briefest book on British royalty. I loved it and ate up every word. Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Sword Publishing for this wonderfully insightful read on everything Tudor! And yes, that includes Henry VIII! Thank you for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love anything to do with the Tudors. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction I will read anything about this period of history. Fantastic read! Throughly enjoyed it!!

The Tudor period of history was fairly brief but continues to fascinate many of us. I devour eagerly any books about the Tudors. Initially I thought this was "Tudor for beginners" but I still learned a lot of new facts. Henry VIII probably ingested 5,000 calories a day. for example, which was apparent in his later years. During his reign 72,000 people were executed, many for minor crimes such as stealing.

My favourite of Henry's queens has always been Anne of Cleeves, who was his wife for just six months but managed to get a good divorce settlement and outlive him. The book gives a more realistic view of the doomed marriage than the one we've been fed over the years.

Henry may well have thought her unattractive and not sophisticated enough for his court, but she in turn was probably repulsed by this man, so much older, with a "suppurating, oozing, smelly and ulcerated wound on his leg, inflicted while participating in a jousting event." Anne was buried in Westminster Abbey, the only one of Henry's wives to be afforded the honour.

But I do the book a disservice by mentioning only Henry because the other Tudors are covered: Henry VII, Queens Mary and Elizabeth, Lady Jane Grey and others.

Unstuffy and easy to read, this is a great little book for people interested in history and the Tudors. Published on May 30. Thanks to NetGalley and Pen and Sword for the advanced reader copy.

Authentic, well written, and concise biographies of the infamous Tudor family members.. Full of relevant facts, dates and several pictures.
A good introduction. to the Tudors.

Another 'in a nutshell' book by Michelle Rosenberg. It's a short book on the powerful dynasty of Tudors - from Henry VII to Elizabeth I. The author described some interesting topics related to their relationships, religion. art and science. Any book about Tudors would be incomplete without mentioning their politics, wars and battles. All that with 50 Illustrations. Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley, Michelle Rosenberg, and Pen & Sword for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Tudors.

This short book is perfect for anyone looking for a brief history about the Tudors and how the dynasty started. It even gives more recent tidbits regarding new information that has been learned about them. The pictures included were also appreciated. It is very easy to read this book in one sitting.

This was a good beginner to intermediate place to start if you are interested in The Tudors. The author has obviously done her research and has quoted Tracy Biden often, a well noted and leading Victorian in the field. There are pictures in that book, which are excellent. I think it's an excellent place to start and will intrigue a future Tudor historian to fall down the rabbit hole with the rest of us. She has rotated her sources so that if you want to go back and get further informing, you can result find it.

Michelle Rosenberg's "The Tudors" provides a brief overview of the infamous dynasty. It covers 17 specific people and the battle that put them on the English throne, as well as 3 'chapters' giving interesting Tudor tidbits. The book closes out with a list of websites the reader can access on their own.

While the information is well-known and presented in a simple, easy-to-read manner, Rosenberg manages to throw in bits of information that are up-to-date throughout the book. However, there are times where crucial events are glossed over or completely omitted.

Rosenberg makes it clear that she is a Katherine Parr by stating that Parr should be remembered as more than the wife who survived, but as the one who brought Henry VIII and his children closer together. While that may be true, she was not the only to do this: both Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard did the same thing. Also, she completely leaves the one time she came close to incurring Henry VIII's wrath. Were it not for some quick talking on her part, she would have been arrested and possibly punished for treason.
Finally, she gives the wrong impression concerning the child Katherine had by Thomas Seymour: the child died shortly after Katherine did.

While there are black and white illustrations (which don't do them any justice), the book lacks a bibliography and a timeline of events - both would have been beneficial.

I happen to enjoy anything dealing with the Tudor dynasty. However, while I'm sure this is meant as just a light overview, the material could have been better handled, and at times more accurately presented.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pen&Sword for this ARC, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

“Everything you never knew about the powerful Tudor dynasty - from Henry VII to the glorious Elizabeth I. From Battles at Bosworth to battles for supremacy of the royal bedchamber, marriage, war, murder, divorce, religious dissent, Renaissance letters, science and art, political alliances, the Reformation, treason, a Virgin Queen, phantom pregnancies, global exploration, bloody beheadings and a fresh look at why Henry VIII became such a terrifying tyrant.”


Publication date: 30 May 2023
Author: Michelle Rosenberg
Rating: DNF
Genre: Historical Non-Fiction

This read fell flat for me. As a non-fiction book, to distinguish yourself from a textbook, you have to have some sort of narrative Voice—this had none. It felt very much like reading straight out of a textbook. I love Tudor history and I was very excited to read this. I did enjoy the pictures however!

This is a good overview of the Tudor line, and those closely affiliated with it. While readers with an established knowledge of Tudor history won't find any new information here, I believe it's a good primer for people who are just beginning their Tudor education.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.