What do you think?
Rate this book
Tales from the Tower of London
A history of the building itself, told through the stories of the people, royal and common, good and bad, heroes and villains, who lived and died there. This book presents a microcosm of human experience, from love and death to greed and betrayal, all played out against romantic period settings ranging from medieval knights to the days of WWII.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2004
31 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 25, 2017
A pleasant little read that is what it says on the cover.
A few I knews, some I did not. The story of the last man executed at the Tower, Nazi spy Josef Jakobs was the most interesting to me, as I saw artefacts associated with him on display in the White Tower just last month.
Recommended to anyone with an interesting in London and its history.
A few I knews, some I did not. The story of the last man executed at the Tower, Nazi spy Josef Jakobs was the most interesting to me, as I saw artefacts associated with him on display in the White Tower just last month.
Recommended to anyone with an interesting in London and its history.
October 26, 2011
'Tales from the Tower of London' is a collection of histories pertaining to the grisly goings on inside London's fortress from the Norman conquest to WWII.
I have to say that I find this sort of historical writing to be somewhat loose and careless. The authors have selected their tales from other publications, given in the bibliography. There are no notes within the text to give authority to stated facts. Page 8 talks of 'Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and duchies' which I find odd. The book states confidently that Edward IV died of pneumonia and Henry Tudor was Duke of Richmond. The faux pas collection is not just limited to the text. One of the picture plates is described as 'Nineteenth-century representation of heads displayed on Bridge Gate, Tower Bridge. (Authors' collection) The plate clearly shows the gatehouse at the Southwark end of the old London Bridge. For the authors' information, Tower Bridge is a nineteenth century construction. I found much in this book to be just sloppy, inaccurate and simplistic. Two stars, and I'm being generous.
I have to say that I find this sort of historical writing to be somewhat loose and careless. The authors have selected their tales from other publications, given in the bibliography. There are no notes within the text to give authority to stated facts. Page 8 talks of 'Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and duchies' which I find odd. The book states confidently that Edward IV died of pneumonia and Henry Tudor was Duke of Richmond. The faux pas collection is not just limited to the text. One of the picture plates is described as 'Nineteenth-century representation of heads displayed on Bridge Gate, Tower Bridge. (Authors' collection) The plate clearly shows the gatehouse at the Southwark end of the old London Bridge. For the authors' information, Tower Bridge is a nineteenth century construction. I found much in this book to be just sloppy, inaccurate and simplistic. Two stars, and I'm being generous.
March 1, 2017
The bits of this book I did read were riddled with basic errors and it completely put me off. Lord Hastings a leading Lancastrian? Yes, lifelong loyalty to the Yorkist King was a tell-tale sign of leading Lancastrians. Not. Execution dates were wrong, descriptions of people were wrong, even descriptions of the plates were wrong.
I was really disappointed with this, mainly because I was so excited when my copy arrived.
Avoid like the plague.
I was really disappointed with this, mainly because I was so excited when my copy arrived.
Avoid like the plague.
February 20, 2013
Glanced through this, but was warned by a review that it gets things wrong, so it really was a glance. Seems okay for what it is intended to be -- a light and interesting read accessible to most. Curious that they mention the meticulous research -- down to the colour of a cloak someone wore -- and then get their Lancastrians muddled with their Yorkists.
December 19, 2021
The Tower of London. Famous for its Beefeaters, its ravens, and for hosting the Crown's jewels (attracting each year several thousands of visitors) the whole building, imposing and proud symbol now turned museum, embodies a fascinating past, reflecting about a millennium of English history.
Daniel Diehl and Mark P. Donnelly aren't retellings such history here, though -it has been done an hundred times over and over again. They aren't bothered with its architectural, military, or even touristic value either -it too, done an hundreds times over and over again. What they do is in fact more original and instructive. Focusing on the tower as a prison only (for it also served as a royal residence and, even, a menagerie!) they dress the portraits of some of its more famous and infamous inmates, each addressed in specially dedicated chapters. The approach allows to get a feel of the past terror such prison inspired, while being an express journey through centuries of history.
There are the celebrities (Wat Tyler, the princes Edward V and Richard, the Queen Katherine Howard, Guy Fawkes, Sir Roger Casement...). There are, also, the few unknowns, yet those lives and fate were as surprising and extraordinary (from the Colonel Thomas Blood, thief who tried to steal the Crown Jewels back in 1671, to the incredible Lady Nithsdale, who, in 1716, had organised the evasion of her husband by crossdressing him!).
Here's a very good read, but I had two issues. First, I was left quite perplex as to the choice of prisoners (not a word on Anne Boleyn, William Wallace, Rudolf Hess!). Then, even if the Tower is, of course, omnipresent, we nevertheless feel like reading a short romp through English history rather than an insight on such an emblematic prison. Considering the angle taken by the authors, maybe such flaw was inevitable. Nevertheless, to me it felt like reading the wrong book. If you love history, though, it remains a nice read.
Daniel Diehl and Mark P. Donnelly aren't retellings such history here, though -it has been done an hundred times over and over again. They aren't bothered with its architectural, military, or even touristic value either -it too, done an hundreds times over and over again. What they do is in fact more original and instructive. Focusing on the tower as a prison only (for it also served as a royal residence and, even, a menagerie!) they dress the portraits of some of its more famous and infamous inmates, each addressed in specially dedicated chapters. The approach allows to get a feel of the past terror such prison inspired, while being an express journey through centuries of history.
There are the celebrities (Wat Tyler, the princes Edward V and Richard, the Queen Katherine Howard, Guy Fawkes, Sir Roger Casement...). There are, also, the few unknowns, yet those lives and fate were as surprising and extraordinary (from the Colonel Thomas Blood, thief who tried to steal the Crown Jewels back in 1671, to the incredible Lady Nithsdale, who, in 1716, had organised the evasion of her husband by crossdressing him!).
Here's a very good read, but I had two issues. First, I was left quite perplex as to the choice of prisoners (not a word on Anne Boleyn, William Wallace, Rudolf Hess!). Then, even if the Tower is, of course, omnipresent, we nevertheless feel like reading a short romp through English history rather than an insight on such an emblematic prison. Considering the angle taken by the authors, maybe such flaw was inevitable. Nevertheless, to me it felt like reading the wrong book. If you love history, though, it remains a nice read.
June 30, 2013
I liked this book. Was familiar with many of the people showcased here, yet there were a bunch that were completely new to me. Each story was written well, not in a boring text-book kind of way that puts you to sleep, but in a way that makes you feel the author is sitting next to you telling you a really exciting story.
There was a brief history of who built the tower and what it was originally used for. Following that are individual stories of prisoners famous for their crimes or famous for what they did while in the tower. Some favorite stories Nithsdale, and his wife Lady Nithsdale, anything related to the Tudors. It's not a story I had ever heard before, but I love the way it ended.
If you're a fan of royalty, London or its history, then I absolutely recommend this book. It's a quick and easy read that I found to be wonderfully entertaining. Hope for a sequel!
There was a brief history of who built the tower and what it was originally used for. Following that are individual stories of prisoners famous for their crimes or famous for what they did while in the tower. Some favorite stories Nithsdale, and his wife Lady Nithsdale, anything related to the Tudors. It's not a story I had ever heard before, but I love the way it ended.
If you're a fan of royalty, London or its history, then I absolutely recommend this book. It's a quick and easy read that I found to be wonderfully entertaining. Hope for a sequel!
August 25, 2013
loved this book. Have always been interested in the tower of London. Most books i have read has soley been about the two most famous Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard. But we all know their story what about all the rest. I really enjoyed reading about the stories of the two princes, an irish rebel, etc Was so well written clear and precise would recommend it.
September 9, 2012
Some very interesting stories of a very interesting place.
November 30, 2013
Enjoyed this book, I already knew some of the tales but not all. A good well written book that I could recommend.
May 29, 2025
This is a 2.5-star rating that I generously rounded up chiefly because they got nearly everything right in the chaper on Lady Jane Grey and that is critical for me. I cannot recommend this one because there are so many glaring inaccuracies. Because I have a working knowledge of history I was able to see these inaccuracies but not everyone will catch them and I hate it when people get incorrect information. Just as an example, so it will not seem that I am being nit-picky. The authors named John Hancock as the author of the Declaration of Independence...
"This was not a building to be loved; it was designed only to protect the king and inspire fear and awe in both his subjects and enemies."
"Only the natural human tendency to grumble rather than fight kept the nation from unravelling."
"The incident did, however, have long-lasting repercussions. There has never again been a poll tax successfully levied in England and within a century the institution of serfdom had been dismantled. Wat Tyler's rebellion was the first popular revolt in England and the only time in its thousand-year history that the Tower was taken by force. The murder of Archbishop Simon Sudbury and his three companions was the first time anyone had been taken from the Tower and publicly executed on Tower Hill. It set a precedent that would continue, under the auspices of the law, for the next three hundred and seventy years."
"On hearing the news, Jane's ladies-in-waiting broke down in tears, but Jane tried to comfort them, saying 'O faithful companions of my sorrows...are we not born into life to suffer adversity and even disgrace? When has the time been that the innocent were not exposed to violence and oppression? The quarrel is God's, but undoubtedly the victory is ours.'"
"On the very eve of her execution, she wrote in her diary the following words, 'If justice be done with my body, my soul will find mercy with God. If my faults deserve punishment, my youth, at least, and my imprudence, were worthy of excuse; God and posterity will show me favour.'"
"As Lady Jane Grey mounted the steps of the scaffold, wearing the same black dress she had worn at her trial, she commented to those around her, 'Good people, I am come hither to die, and by law I am condemned to do the same...I pray you all...to hear my witness, that I die a good Christian woman, and that I do look to be saved by no other means but only by the mercy of God in the blood of His only Son Jesus Christ...And now, good people, while I am alive, I pray you assist me with my prayers.'" (It should be noted that she then recited the 51st Psalm flawlessly from her memory.)
"There is one God and one Christ Jesus, and all the rest is a dispute over petty trifles." -Elizabeth I
"This was not a building to be loved; it was designed only to protect the king and inspire fear and awe in both his subjects and enemies."
"Only the natural human tendency to grumble rather than fight kept the nation from unravelling."
"The incident did, however, have long-lasting repercussions. There has never again been a poll tax successfully levied in England and within a century the institution of serfdom had been dismantled. Wat Tyler's rebellion was the first popular revolt in England and the only time in its thousand-year history that the Tower was taken by force. The murder of Archbishop Simon Sudbury and his three companions was the first time anyone had been taken from the Tower and publicly executed on Tower Hill. It set a precedent that would continue, under the auspices of the law, for the next three hundred and seventy years."
"On hearing the news, Jane's ladies-in-waiting broke down in tears, but Jane tried to comfort them, saying 'O faithful companions of my sorrows...are we not born into life to suffer adversity and even disgrace? When has the time been that the innocent were not exposed to violence and oppression? The quarrel is God's, but undoubtedly the victory is ours.'"
"On the very eve of her execution, she wrote in her diary the following words, 'If justice be done with my body, my soul will find mercy with God. If my faults deserve punishment, my youth, at least, and my imprudence, were worthy of excuse; God and posterity will show me favour.'"
"As Lady Jane Grey mounted the steps of the scaffold, wearing the same black dress she had worn at her trial, she commented to those around her, 'Good people, I am come hither to die, and by law I am condemned to do the same...I pray you all...to hear my witness, that I die a good Christian woman, and that I do look to be saved by no other means but only by the mercy of God in the blood of His only Son Jesus Christ...And now, good people, while I am alive, I pray you assist me with my prayers.'" (It should be noted that she then recited the 51st Psalm flawlessly from her memory.)
"There is one God and one Christ Jesus, and all the rest is a dispute over petty trifles." -Elizabeth I
October 3, 2020
A very good read and no doubtI will read this again in the future
August 16, 2021
Profoundly enjoyed these numerous vignettes of the Tower and it’s occupants and a bit of the historical context. It’s easy to read and not dense and reminded me how much I love history.
April 20, 2020
I really liked this book. While I had heard of many of the people showcased here, there were a bunch that were completely new to me. I loved how each story was written...not in a boring text-book kind of way that puts you to sleep, but in a way that makes you feel the author is sitting next to you telling you a really exciting story.
The book started with a brief history of who built the tower and what it was originally used for. Following that are individual stories of prisoners famous for their crimes or famous for what they did while in the tower. My favorite story was that of William Maxwell, Lord Nisthdale, and his wife Lady Nithsdale. It's not a story I had ever heard before, but I love the way it ended.
If you're a fan of the Tudors, royalty, London or its history, then I absolutely recommend this book. It's a quick and easy read that I found to be wonderfully entertaining. I hope they come out with a sequel!
The book started with a brief history of who built the tower and what it was originally used for. Following that are individual stories of prisoners famous for their crimes or famous for what they did while in the tower. My favorite story was that of William Maxwell, Lord Nisthdale, and his wife Lady Nithsdale. It's not a story I had ever heard before, but I love the way it ended.
If you're a fan of the Tudors, royalty, London or its history, then I absolutely recommend this book. It's a quick and easy read that I found to be wonderfully entertaining. I hope they come out with a sequel!
September 23, 2012
It was all right! Just a collection of stories about various prisoners in the Tower over the centuries, with bits of information here and there about the Tower itself. Honestly, I would have enjoyed more history about the buildings, but that wasn't the point of the book so that's fine. The writing is functional at best and lazy at worst (for example, the authors refer to Jane Grey as "merely a pawn in a massive game of power politics" three times in one chapter) but it got the job done. An enjoyable read but nothing to write home about.
February 15, 2013
A series of historic tales that take place in England from the time that the Tower of London was built by William I up to WWII in the 20th century. It advertises itself as tales *from* the Tower of London but mainly, it's about the people who may have spent some time incarcerated there. Lots of interesting information about the Peasants' Revolt, the Gunpowder Plot, a Great Escape among others. Not bad if you're a history buff.
January 13, 2013
3.25 Stars.
Even though I'm familiar with the majority of The Tower of London's famous guests, I enjoyed reading about the lessor known ones. Josef Jakobs, Rodger Casement, The Royal Heist and The Peasant's Revolt to name a few. Even though the Yeoman Guards at The Tower brief us on these stories during the Tower Tour, I enjoyed reading a more indepth story on them.
Even though I'm familiar with the majority of The Tower of London's famous guests, I enjoyed reading about the lessor known ones. Josef Jakobs, Rodger Casement, The Royal Heist and The Peasant's Revolt to name a few. Even though the Yeoman Guards at The Tower brief us on these stories during the Tower Tour, I enjoyed reading a more indepth story on them.
February 7, 2013
I enjoyed the book, however in the forward it says that it will highlight lesser known prisoners of the Tower. However they still included Jane Grey and Katherine Howard which those are more well known stories.
July 16, 2013
Good read. You don't have to read from cover to cover, rather focusing on the chapters which most interest you. Very informative and detailed- though easy to read and engaging.
December 9, 2012
I knew some of the history but not all of it that was in the book. I am sure that not all of the murders have come out yet that occured in the towers.
December 31, 2012
I really, really liked it, but did find some historical inaccuracies. Those took away from my enjoyment, but it
was fun researching to fact check after awhile!
was fun researching to fact check after awhile!
May 5, 2013
same old same old stories
March 19, 2014
Quite Interesting. A number of stories that I had never read before, and are not presented at the usual Tower tour.
August 27, 2014
Research needed.
January 30, 2020
Super disappointing as there are historical inaccuracies in this book.
December 9, 2015
Excellent book - did the best job of explaining what happened to Jane Grey of anything I've ever read. I finally feel like I have a handle on that tragic affair.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews