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The Private Lives of the Tudors

A revelatory glimpse into the lives of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I and more

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The Private Lives of the Tudors

By: Tracy Borman
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble, Sandra Duncan
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Secrets. Silence. Scandal. This is the Tudors as you have never seen them before - as told through the eyes of the people who were ALWAYS watching.

'I do not live in a corner. A thousand eyes see all I do.' Elizabeth I

The Tudor monarchs were constantly surrounded by an army of attendants, courtiers and ministers. Even in their most private moments, they were accompanied by a servant specifically appointed for the task. A groom of the stool would stand patiently by as Henry VIII performed his daily purges, and when Elizabeth I retired for the evening, one of her female servants would sleep at the end of her bed.

These attendants knew the truth behind the glamorous exterior. They saw the tears shed by Henry VII upon the death of his son Arthur. They knew the tragic secret behind 'Bloody' Mary's phantom pregnancies. And they saw the 'crooked carcass' beneath Elizabeth I's carefully applied makeup, gowns and accessories.

It is the accounts of these eyewitnesses, as well as a rich array of other contemporary sources that historian Tracy Borman has examined more closely than ever before. With new insights and discoveries, and in the same way that she brilliantly illuminated the real Thomas Cromwell - The Private Life of the Tudors will reveal previously unexamined details about the characters we think we know so well.

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Critical acclaim for The Private Lives of the Tudors:

'Borman approaches her topic with huge enthusiasm and a keen eye for entertaining...this is a very human story of a remarkable family, full of vignettes that sit long in the mind.' Dan Jones, Sunday Times

'Tracy Borman's eye for detail is impressive; the book is packed with fascinating courtly minutiae... this is a wonderful book.' The Times

'Borman is an authoritative and engaging writer, good at prising out those humanising details that make the past alive to us.' The Observer

'Fascinating, detailed account of the everyday reality of the royals... This is a book of rich scholarship.' Daily Mail

'Tracy Borman's passion for the Tudor period shines forth from the pages of this fascinatingly detailed book, which vividly illuminates what went on behind the scenes at the Tudor court.' Alison Weir©2016 Tracy Borman 16th Century Europe Great Britain Military Modern Tudor England Royalty Thought-Provoking
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Read in moderated tones, this book is a little gem and a must-listen for those interested in the details of Tudor court life. The transition through the Henrys to Elizabeth is skilfully done and, whilst I've read and listened to many such books, I would certainly rate this near the very top of my list.

Very illuminating!

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The Private Lives of The Tudors was my first foray into a book by Tracy Borman. Prior to this, I had read several historical books covering the Tudor period by the renowned Alison Weir. I found Borman to be just as skilled an historian and writer as Weir. Borman differs slightly from Weir, I feel, in the level of detail she brings to her writing. This is not to suggest that Weir is lacking in that regard, not at all. However, Borman seems to eke out even more information.

I do have a minor niggle over the title of this otherwise excellent book though. I was expecting something hitherto little known, an exposure of things below the surface not touched upon so much in other books. However, I'd have to say that there wasn't much I hadn't read before elsewhere. To be fair, the level of detail does go further than I'd come across when it came to the section of the book covering Elizabeth's reign. Like Weir, Borman delves deeply into the subject matter and writes superbly.

Narration was also excellent, suited the subject matter and was easy to listen to. If you've read other books covering Henry VIII, you'll likely have already read much of the material presented here. However, Borman includes Henry VII, perhaps less well written about, and so provides a comprehensive treatment of the Tudors through to Elizabeth.

As ever, I have to mention one error. Edmund, the short lived son of Henry VII, was stated as being born in 1599 and not 1499. A tiny typo, no doubt, but one I managed to catch.

Overall, a very impressive work by Tracy Borman and I've already purchased another of her books. If you're interested in this most turbulent and pivotal point in English history, then this is an excellent and impressive feat of research.

A Comprehensive Work

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The Tudor world came to life. The detailed facts were so well portrayed that it did impede the flow or story telling of the narrative.

Wonderfully detailed and fascinating.

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Enjoyed every bit of this book and loved Jonathan Keeble's narration. A really great book.

Great!!

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If you like the tudor documentaries, you will like this.
It is brilliantly performed too

Brilliant

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