Tudor Book Reviews - By TheAnneBoleynFiles.com
I was so excited when Suzannah Lipscomb told me that she was writing this book because I knew it would be different to all of the guide books that are out there – and it is. The word “companion” is spot on because it is a guide that will appeal to those who want to actually physically go and visit these Tudor places, and to those who want to be transported from the comfort of their armchair to Tudor England without moving a muscle!
Suzannah’s premise in choosing the places to go in the book was that there must be something left of the place that is worth seeing. She could write about Nonsuch Palace and Greenwich Palace, but there is nothing left of them for the visitor to see, so it would be a huge disappointment for people travelling to their locations. So, the focus is on places that Tudor history buffs can go, visit and enjoy.
The book is divided into geographical locations – London and Greater London, South East, South West, West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, North East/North West/Yorkshire and the Humber – and there is a useful appendix giving opening times and details of how to get to the places. Each entry gives the history of the place, how it links to the Tudors and what attractions the visitor can expect to see and enjoy there. Being both British and a Tudor history lover, I’m familiar with the majority of the Tudor attractions, but there were some that I had missed and that are now on my list of must-sees – places like Charterhouse and Lincoln’s Inn in London.
Written in Suzannah’s engaging, easy to read style, this book is perfect for Tudor history lovers whatever their knowledge. It’s not an academic history book, it’s a guide book to England’s beautiful Tudor buildings and a journey back in time, but with the stamp of Suzannah’s expertise and Tudor knowledge. A book to add to your suitcase on a trip to the UK or to simply enjoy with a glass of wine after a hard day in the 21st century.
Publisher’s Blurb
Meet the Tudors in this fascinating book about the places where they lived, played and worshipped.
For the armchair traveller or those looking for inspiration for a day out, The Visitor’s Companion to Tudor England takes you to palaces, castles, theatres and abbeys to uncover the stories behind Tudor England. Susannah Lipscomb visits over fifty Tudor places, from the famous palace at Hampton Court where dangerous court intrigue was rife, to less well-known houses, such as Anne Boleyn’s childhood home at Hever Castle or Tutbury Castle where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned.
In the corridors of power and the courtyards of country houses we meet the passionate but tragic Kateryn Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife, Lady Jane Grey the nine-day queen, and hear how Sir Walter Raleigh planned his trip to the New World. Through the places that defined them, this lively and engaging book reveals the rich history of the Tudors and paints a vivid and captivating picture of what it would have been like to live in Tudor England.
Details
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Ebury Press (UK 15 Mar 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0091944848
ISBN-13: 978-0091944841
It is available to buy as a hardback and Kindle from Amazon UK – click here – and from Amazon.com as a Kindle version – click here. It is due out as a hardback in the US on the 24th April 2012.
