50 Things You Should Know About the Tudors

Gr 4–6—The reign of the Tudors in England was established in confusion and conflict and ended the same way. Between 1485, with the ascent of Henry VII, and 1603, with the death of Elizabeth I, the nation was transformed from a relatively isolated medieval kingdom to a nation engaged in international commerce. Using excellent time lines, pictures, photographs, and maps, this selection attempts to clarify this period of British history. Laid out in a sound-bite format consisting almost entirely of sidebars and snippets of information, the text highlights key events and people. While this will attract readers first delving into the history, it does not allow for much in-depth analysis. Most glaringly, the section on Elizabeth I does not even touch on the gender-specific issues with which she grappled during her reign. In addition, the format often adds to the confusion fostered by history itself. For example, the section on Henry VII states in a sidebar that the king lived in exile and was at one time so poor that he "borrowed money to buy food." On the next page, however, the text states that Henry, while a virtual prisoner in exile, was "kept…in comfort." A cursory glossary defines words bolded in the text, but there is no list of sources provided, limiting use for research purposes.