Really gives a good look at 16th century living
592258
Still reading...  Really gives a good look at 16th century living...
3408629
I enjoy being introduced to the lives of  ordinary people living during periods of  medieval  history, and this series does it so well. It brings to life the history but though the lives of people you can identify with. Can' t wait to find more in the series.
4790910
This novel easily held my attention.  It presented a fascinating portrait of life in the 1600 s in a small Bohemian town.  The characters were well drawn and it was possible to connect with them.  I loved the discussions of  herbal medicine vs bloodletting and the reasoning behind them.

This book also brought in the history of this pivotal time in Europe which was warring with the Ottoman Empire and dealing with the aftermath of the reformation.

The fact that the story line was based on historical characters made it all the more interesting.
1289038
Quite absorbing for someone who relates to that period of the Renaissance and for those who are explorers of the true history of the Catholic Church.
1899141
A terrific look at the way governing worked at this time - the various machinations by individuals and factions.  It's easy to forget that the house of Tudor didn't have as strong a hold on the throne - they won it in battle.  And many people felt it should not rest with them.

David Starkey is a thoughtful historian who contrasts well the viewpoint of Henry VII and his son on what a King should do and how his time should be spent.  Also tracts how the privy council evolved - who was in and why, and how it worked with the other pieces of governance.

A slim volume but pithy - well worth reading if this period interests you.
1173060
Another reviewer noted that this is a shorter work, and it is, though I think that's actually a good thing: too much detail might be too much to absorb! There's some slight repetition here and there but on the whole this is a fun and engaging look at some of the inner workings of Tudor society.

Nonfiction often glosses over some of these details (maybe assuming that they're less interesting to the reader somehow?) but in fact, this knowledge isn't obscure: it serves to paint a clearer picture of the way in which society functioned!
637182
I emjoy historical novels, and Wolf Hall as a historical novel succeeds in giving a different view of Cromwell and Thomas More.  Both become more knowable: Cromwell less of a villan and More less of a saint.  You get the feel of Tudor England; you feel as if you could walk down its streets, which stank.  The beginning in which Cromwell is beaten by his father went on too long; but the imagined conversations seemed to fit in as part of the story.  The author has done her research, and I learned a lot without feeling that I was reading a history.

(by cvs, the history honcho)
497508
I love medieval history and have found this book a great addition to my collection. I have found it to be quite engaging and I can't put it down but then I love history books. He tries to tell the story of the history from several sides.

He starts before the iron age and shows England from there, not just what invaders changed but the people who were there before the invaders- so often the history starts there. Once you beyond that he keeps going, there are lots of details and explanations to pull it all together.

It sounds odd but every book I've read about medieval England has listed the kings and various details, not one before this went into detail about the parliament or even magna carta, just that they existed (at the very most) I like how he showed the roots of these and how some of the most disliked kings brought about a really change, even if inadvertently. As he said many times, chance and timing play a big part in everything, there are no what ifs
2251364
I've never had a full understanding of the Stuart period.  Some books have proved rather heavy going, but Peter Ackroyd's Rebellion strikes just the right balance between academic and readable.  For the lay reader, this book is a delight; a lively and entertaining romp through the Monarchs, politics, people, lifestyles and issues of the day.  It reads more like an historical thriller, filled with a colourful cast of characters and enough plot lines to keep anyone gripped from start to finish.  For me, his narrative really brings people to life.  I loved the arrival of James in London.  As a Scottish outsider, he was viewed with hostile suspicion and the fact that Weldon observed he was 'forever fiddling with his codpiece' is a colourful detail. The book is filled with observations recorded at the time.

In addition to descriptions of Court and courtiers, Ackroyd gives a tangible feel to how life  and times were for ordinary people as well, so it's a truly fascinating social history of the period.  He has an eye for detail and selecting the right anecdote or reference to make a point. The Stuarts were far more complex than I'd realized.  I had underestimated the continuous plotting, treachery and suspicion created by the religious tensions between Protestants and Catholics.  There are numerous literary references to Jacobean playwrights and authors and I've thought about a number of familiar plays with better and deeper understanding as to their context and meaning.

The panorama is vast and it's no small achievement to have created such a readable and accessible account which explains domestic and international politics, policies, allegiances and enemies in a memorable way.  This was a complex period and one where Scotland and England finally joined.  Reading it during the days immediately before the recent Scottish Independence vote was particularly interesting. All in all, this is a cracking account and I wish it had been around many years ago when 'history' was only presented as dry and academic, filled with dates and events.  It should be about the people and this book hits that spot.  It's a rich and rewarding read and I loved it.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.  This is a copy of my review posted on Amazon UK.
4606809
I really enjoyed this account of Martin Luther. The description of the political, religious and social environment of the 16th century was fascinating to me and written in a very easy to read style.  I recommend this as a great primer to anyone interested in the history of the reformation and the man who started it all.
1066548
This is a book that will invite you in and make you feel like you are witnessing history.  You care about the King and his circle and what happens to all of them. The book is not only about the king and his circle, however; the reader learns about Spain (and indeed different parts of Europe at that time), culture, and many other topics.  Simon Doubleday gives a new perspective about the Renaissance.  Most of us learned that it began and  was centered in Italy, especially thanks to Machiavelli, but he shows that some of the ideas about  leadership and ruling began in Spain.  This is well-written in a lively style; Professor Doubleday teaches history at the university level, but his writing is approachable, clear, and elegant.  I learned a lot from this book, and it makes me want to learn more about Spanish history.  I didn't want the book to end!
2037364
I really enjoyed reading this story, gives you a great view of what it would be like to live in the period and it was told in a way that you did not want to put the book down.  I found it very reflective.
3386595
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book especially learning how people lived in England in the late 1600's.  Also about how they fought and the religious conflicts of that time.  I did think, however, that the ending was a bit abrupt.
3179337
The beginning of this book is a bit academic, but the story of her life is a very touching and moving story.  It is a valuable insight into the life of a very advanced practitioner in the late 1600s and is well worth reading.
3135059
We just finished a tour of Italian Cathedrals, so I was very interested into how these were constructed so long ago.  This book gave a lot of insight into cathedral construction as well as a great depiction of what life must have been like at the time.  It was a very long book but a very good read, both as history and fiction
3324218
An enlightening view of how our ancestors lived in the New World in the mid-1600s, which truly touches ones heart.  The hardships that both the English and the Natives endured were well accounted for, from clandestine friendships to the trials and tribulations of leading a Godly life, to the sorrow and misfortune of untimely deaths.  This novel also depicts the life of a female in those days, where her place was in the home serving her family, not of acquiring the knowledge of books and politics, because "it is not seemly for a wife to know more than her husband...".  I was unsure of this book as I read the first few pages, being that the language is a bit difficult to read. It is written in the dialect of the seventeenth century English, along with many Native America words.  However, reading this book on my Kindle allowed me to use my dictionary to look up words I was unsure of, although there are some that are not found. Overall, I loved how this book prompted me to reassess my own Christian beliefs and lifestyle.  Definitely worth the read!
2126727
This book was one that really opened people's minds to what could be discovered about women in the early-medieval era, and it still makes for fascinating reading, particularly when she speaks  about pre-Christian family patterns and the impact of conversion onm things like marriage and inheritance.  Some of her theoretical framework is a bit dated now, but this is still a starting place for those interested in pre-modern women's history.  It helps that, despite the fact that many of the names and situation are unfamiliar to most people, she writes the book in an enganging stule.