Tudors: The History of England Volume 2

Peter Ackroyd

Oct 2012 · The History of England Book 2 · Macmillan

About this ebook

Rich in detail and atmosphere and told in vivid prose, Tudors recounts the transformation of England from a settled Catholic country to a Protestant superpower. It is the story of Henry VIII's cataclysmic break with Rome, and his relentless pursuit of both the perfect wife and the perfect heir; of how the brief reign of the teenage king, Edward VI, gave way to the violent reimposition of Catholicism and the stench of bonfires under "Bloody Mary". It tells, too, of the long reign of Elizabeth I, which, though marked by civil strife, plots against the queen and even an invasion force, finally brought stability.

Above all, however, it is the story of the English Reformation and the making of the Anglican Church. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, England was still largely feudal and looked to Rome for direction; at its end, it was a country where good governance was the duty of the state, not the church, and where men and women began to look to themselves for answers rather than to those who ruled them.

PRAISE FOR THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND SERIES

"Ackroyd's trademark insight and wit, and the glorious interconnectedness of all things, permeate each page"Observer

"Ackroyd writes with such lightly worn erudition and a deceptive ease that he never fails to engage" Daily Telegraph

"In pages of limpid detail, Ackroyd makes history accessible to the layman" Ian Thomson, Independent

Ratings and reviews

Could not put this down! An brilliant continuation from Ackroyd's first book. The depth of historical research is excellent, and his style of writing kept me wanting more. An throughly interesting read from start to finish! I'm looking forward to reading Volume 3: Civil War.

About the author

Peter Ackroyd is an award-winning novelist, as well as a broadcaster, biographer, poet and historian. He is the author of the acclaimed non-fiction bestsellers, Thames: Sacred River and London: The Biography. He holds a CBE for services to literature and lives in London.