The Penguin History of Britain

A history of the Tudor reign, which solidified the power of the crown amid great religious tumult. The Tudors ruled during one of the most awkward stages of English history. Henry IV came to power by the sword, defeating the dastardly Richard III, who had murdered his rivals to the throne. The first Tudor wasn't much more humane, however, and he kept a ruthless grip on the nobility, who every now and then raised armies against him. Oxford historian Brigden ( London and the Reformation , not reviewed) provides the well-known tales of court intrigue and chivalry as well as the social context for these changes. She describes the difference between the aristocracy, gentry, and commoners (discussing at length the crisis instigated by the country's focus on sheep herding rather than other forms of agriculture, for example). The author also brings in literature of the day (e.g., Thomas More's Utopia ) to illustrate trends in the era's political thought. These asides come frequently, as a new monarch always pops up to replace the old: Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I succeed each other in dramas springing mostly from the Reformation. Mary reversed the direction of her father's church, delivering the nation back into the hands of Spain and the Hapsburgs, only to die childless, with Elizabeth waiting behind her. The author successfully conveys how switching back and forth between Protestantism and Catholicism was a sea change for the people: in 1553, when Mary assumed power, half the population was under 20 and had no recollection of the Catholic faith. Elizabeth, the last Tudor, is the most charming. Brigden portrays Elizabeth, the patron of Shakespeare, as the first and only softhearted Tudor. She concluded treaties with Scotland and told her governors in Ireland to rule by persuasion rather than force (the governors didn't listen). She reluctantly executed Mary Queen of Scots. And when the Irishman Hugh O'Neill revolted against her, she offered him pardon. A treat for Tudor afficionados, but others might find this a heavy read. (Kirkus Reviews)