The Tudor Tutor by Barb Alexander

My review

3/5 stars

After spending several weeks focusing on the newest addition to our little family, I decided to ease myself back into reading with a nice quick read on a familiar topic.

The Tudor Tutor is a whistlestop tour through all of the Tudor monarchs. It's clearly aimed at readers who aren't overly familiar with the subject matter, as the information is kept to the basics and will already be known to anyone who has read any book on the Tudors in the past.

That being said, it is a great introduction to the family, with it's light and fun tone making the information very accessible. The tongue-in-cheek commentary had me chuckling throughout.

The pace is also good to keep boredom at bay for anyone who is already versed in the Tudors. The pace and length of the book make it easy to read in one sitting if you wanted to - I normally would have done but a toddler and newborn put paid to that!

The illustrations were a nice touch and added something to the reading experience, even on a Kindle screen. They weren't anything I had seen before style-wise - you tend to come across the same images again and again in history books, so it was nice to see something that felt fresh.

It was a fairly basic, but still entertaining, segue into Tudor history and I'd be interested to see that author's take on other historical figures, either from this era or others.

Book blurb

From the bloody Wars of the Roses to Queen Elizabeth I’s iconic rule, the Tudor Dynasty was a period of sex, scandal, and intrigue. Monarchs such as Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I have become a part of modern pop culture, resulting in endless parodies, satires, rumors, and urban legends that grace our television screens. But as with all urban legends and parodies, facts surrounding the lives of these rulers are greatly exaggerated. In this entertaining guide, Barb Alexander serves to debunk those rumors and educate you about the dynasty.

History doesn’t have to be dry, boring, and difficult to read. As an educator, Barb knows exactly how to engage an audience. This pocket-sized guide is not only informative, but also filled with cheek, snark, and wit. With 50 beautiful illustrations that depict Tudor Monarchs and key players during their rule, this book is guaranteed to garner a chuckle or two. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the lesson. Before long, you’ll be sharing Tudor history facts that will be sure to impress your less-informed peers.

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You can buy the book here now. It was published by Skyhorse Publishing.

For more info on the author, you can follow her on Instagram or check out her Goodreads page.