Tudor History Lovers discussion
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What Started Your Interest in the Tudors?
I would have to say what got me interested in The Tudors was seeing the PBS series "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" starring Keith Michel. My Mother had almost all the Jean Plaidy books on the wives and I read as much as I could on the wives of Henry VIII. I was partial to Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves.
Cyl wrote: "I would have to say what got me interested in The Tudors was seeing the PBS series "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" starring Keith Michel. My Mother had almost all the Jean Plaidy books on the wives a..."I love Anne! She doesn't get enough attention!
I picked the book in Royal Diaries Series of Elizabeth I and became obbessed with Tudors Era and just become more and more everyday since that!
When i was young I watched Elizabeth: The Golden Age (It had just come out) I was interested in the dresses and when i was in highschool I looked in the library and found The Other Boleyn Girl so I read that and I was hooked :p
The Other Boleyn Girl movie started my interest in the Tudor Era! & from there I did a big history report on the Tudor Era for school!
I first became interested in The Tudors when I was a Senior in high school - for English class one day we watched Anne Of A Thousand Days. I've always loved period pieces and that one is especially beautiful with the costuming. Got back into it again thanks to the Tudors and the HBO miniseries Elizabeth and Cate Blanchett's two movies, so now I've been reading everything remotely Tudor/Elizabethan I can get my greedy little hands on!
I was about 12 when I went to Costco and got the royal diaries Elizabeth I. I have been hooked on Tudor royalty and European royalty ever since. I read almost every single royal diary and wanted more. I read Alison Weir's Six Wives of Henry VIII in 6th grade.
Another 12-year-old! What is it about that age and interest in the Tudors?!
Weird, isn't it?
Maybe it's because at that age, we're moving out of the princess stage, and in our desire to cling to something of our youth, we want to experience life as a princess or queen, and who better than the queens of Henry VIII and his most famous daughter, Elizabeth I?
That's when we learn about european history in school as well.
That's when we learn about european history in school as well.
Destiny wrote: "I was about 12 when I went to Costco and got the royal diaries Elizabeth I. I have been hooked on Tudor royalty and European royalty ever since. I read almost every single royal diary and wanted mo..."I'm so jealous. I wish I had known about the Tudors when I was that age. I'm sure I would've devoured anything I could've found on them!
I pretty much have. Every book on them from the library was read two or three times. I would look them up on the internet and found this one message board to chat about the six wives of Henry VIII they had no idea that I was 13 and not a college stuent.
Destiny wrote: "I pretty much have. Every book on them from the library was read two or three times. I would look them up on the internet and found this one message board to chat about the six wives of Henry VIII ..."Wow, that's amazing. Now I know whose brain to pick when I need some hard to find Tudor fact! Aren't you lucky!
I became interested in the Tudors when I visited the Tower of London when i was 18 and was told the story of the Princes in the Tower by a Beefeater. I've been fascinated since then. Love reading English Historical books by Sharon Penman, Jean Plaidy, Philippa Gregory, Barbara Erskine, Elizabeth Chadwick, Alison Weir and Helen Hollick. Love the stories of Elizabeth and Mary, Henry Viii, but also Eleanor and Henry, Welsh kings, Edward IV. Am looking forward to hearing of any recommendations you may have for me!
Probably the movie Anne of a Thousand Days, plus my mother was extreamly interested in English history and always had some kind of English history book laying around.
I got hooked on the tudors after watching the wedding of Diana and Charles and wanted to read about other royals. I just happened to pick our Brief Gaudy Hour by Barbara Barnes and ever since Anne Boleyn has been my favorite Tudor.
King Arthur. After I read about the mythical king I wanted to learn more about England and one of my professors got me very hooked on English history with the way she gave her class.
I know the 1st Tudor book I read was She Was Nice To Mice: The Other Side of Elizabeth I's Character Never Before Revealed by Previous Historians, but that didn't stick (I don't think) until I picked up an old copy of Young Bess in 7th or 8th grade. Then I had to know about Henry VIII and then how the Tudors came to be on the throne and what exactly was the War of the Roses? I have picked up more obscure novels because of this interest!(My mother has wondered if it came naturally out of a earlier deep interest in mythology)
In my experience it was mythology that started me interested in Henry Tudor and all of his descendants and then the wars of the roses because that was my main question, how did they get to be there if they were not the first in line? It is an amazing and unlikely story of Henry VII's rise to power. What mythology were you interested Dawn?
I still love reading mythology, my favorite myths are Greek/Roman and Egyptian.
I was picking up a series of books about Tristan and Isolde (Isolde, Queen of the Western Isle) by Rosalind Miles and right next to them was her book I, Elizabeth. I picked it up on a whim and next thing I knew I was devouring anything about the Tudors. My second reading was Phillipa Gregory's Tudor Court series and I was so baffled by the differences between Miles and Gregory's versions that I kept reading more. Now I know a little bit better about Gregory's historical accuracy. Like Dawn and Athena, my interest might have come from my childhood obsession with Mythology. From third grade on I checked out D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
two to three times per year and then bought it for myself as an adult. Later I went out and got their book on Norse mythology but the Greeks remain my favourites!
Athena wrote: "In my experience it was mythology that started me interested in Henry Tudor and all of his descendants and then the wars of the roses because that was my main question, how did they get to be there..."Greek was the original and deepest, but I also was interested in Roman, Norse, and a little Egyptian. I've dabbled in Celtic, but find those difficult to keep straight. Too bad the D'Aulaires didn't do one of those!
I've always been interested in poetry, especially the Renaissance period. When still at school (such a long time ago...)I fell in love with Thomas Wyatt's sonnets, and I wanted to read more about the period in which he lived... And that's how I got tangled up!
I loved She Was Nice To Mice: The Other Side of Elizabeth I's Character Never Before Revealed by Previous Historians, and, about 30 years later, I, Elizabeth.I adored D'Aulaire's Greek Myths when I was a child.
Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "I adored D'Aulaire's Greek Myths when I was a child..."
It was my absolute favourite! I wish, like Dawn, that they would have done more of the different mythologies.
They did the Norse myths (I had that one, too), but I think that's it.
I really don't know why I'm so interested in Medieval literature. I just find it absolutely addictive. Anything from 1100 to 1600 I devour with relish. We think today's politics is underhanded and devious but we have nothing on Medieval intrigue. We modern persons would be hard pressed to survive in the Medieval age.
I've always found the personality of Henry VIII amazing, not necessarily in a positive way, at least not in every aspects, and the story of his six wives was like a fairy tale when I was little - only not a very happy one.
I became interested/obsessed when I started watching The Tudors, I realize a lot of artistic licence was used , I think the costumes sets and the actors made me want learn more about the ' real' people behind the drama , Natalie Dormers portrayal of Anne Boleyn was the start, I wanted to know more about Anne , then the other Queens in more detail, now all I read is Tudor/ war of the Roses , I love fiction but also read reference too, the more I read the more characters I discover so read up on them. It's an addiction hope to visit the places associated with Anne and the Tudor court in the near future.
Janina wrote: "I became interested/obsessed when I started watching The Tudors, I realize a lot of artistic licence was used , I think the costumes sets and the actors made me want learn more about the ' real' pe..."According to The Creation of Anne Boleyn: A New Look at England's Most Notorious Queen, Natalie Dormer fought hard to make Anne "real." They wanted to make her blonde! Natalie had specifically dyed her hair dark for the audition and they were going to bleach her. There were other aspects she argued about as well.
It is nice to know that she wanted Anne to be "real." While I liked the Tudors I wish they would have been more factual.
What started my interest in the Tudors? I like genealogy; love to hear/read about England's Royal Family and their history.
I've always wanted to be a princess so stories about the court, all its scandals and splendor interests me. I started reading historical fictions last year, I was 19 and the first book i read was Philippa Gregory's "The king maker's daughter" and read all oft he cousins war novels and then later, the Tudor court which, until now, CAPTIVATES me so much. I think it's very unusual for an Asian to love English history haha and it's really hard for me to find someone who'll go on listening to me and my tories about the tudor court (sometimes I'd even jot down their names so as not to confuse my friends. Yeah, I memorize the Lancaster-York-Tudor family tree) but non of them seem so interested that's why I'm very truly happy to have found this group. My goodness. At least, now I have people whom I can relate to and who won't think I'm going out of my mind whenever I say something about my beloved Tudor court ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I've always wanted to be a princess so stories about the court, all its scandals and splendor interests me. I started reading historical fictions last year, I was 19 and the first book i read was Philippa Gregory's "The king maker's daughter" and read all oft he cousins war novels and then later, the Tudor court which, until now, CAPTIVATES me so much. I think it's very unusual for an Asian to love English history haha and it's really hard for me to find someone who'll go on listening to me and my tories about the tudor court (sometimes I'd even jot down their names so as not to confuse my friends. Yeah, I memorize the Lancaster-York-Tudor family tree) but non of them seem so interested that's why I'm very truly happy to have found this group. My goodness. At least, now I have people whom I can relate to and who won't think I'm going out of my mind whenever I say something about my beloved Tudor court ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I've always wanted to be a princess so stories about the court, all its scandals and splendor interests me. I started reading historical fictions last year, I was 19 and the first book i read was Philippa Gregory's "The king maker's daughter" and read all oft he cousins war novels and then later, the Tudor court which, until now, CAPTIVATES me so much. I think it's very unusual for an Asian to love English history haha and it's really hard for me to find someone who'll go on listening to me and my tories about the tudor court (sometimes I'd even jot down their names so as not to confuse my friends. Yeah, I memorize the Lancaster-York-Tudor family tree) but non of them seem so interested that's why I'm very truly happy to have found this group. My goodness. At least, now I have people whom I can relate to and who won't think I'm going out of my mind whenever I say something about my beloved Tudor court ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I've always wanted to be a princess so stories about the court, all its scandals and splendor interests me. I started reading historical fictions last year, I was 19 and the first book i read was Philippa Gregory's "The king maker's daughter" and read all oft he cousins war novels and then later, the Tudor court which, until now, CAPTIVATES me so much. I think it's very unusual for an Asian to love English history haha and it's really hard for me to find someone who'll go on listening to me and my tories about the tudor court (sometimes I'd even jot down their names so as not to confuse my friends. Yeah, I memorize the Lancaster-York-Tudor family tree) but non of them seem so interested that's why I'm very truly happy to have found this group. My goodness. At least, now I have people whom I can relate to and who won't think I'm going out of my mind whenever I say something about my beloved Tudor court ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I've always wanted to be a princess so stories about the court, all its scandals and splendor interests me. I started reading historical fictions last year, I was 19 and the first book i read was Philippa Gregory's "The king maker's daughter" and read all oft he cousins war novels and then later, the Tudor court which, until now, CAPTIVATES me so much. I think it's very unusual for an Asian to love English history haha and it's really hard for me to find someone who'll go on listening to me and my tories about the tudor court (sometimes I'd even jot down their names so as not to confuse my friends. Yeah, I memorize the Lancaster-York-Tudor family tree) but non of them seem so interested that's why I'm very truly happy to have found this group. My goodness. At least, now I have people whom I can relate to and who won't think I'm going out of my mind whenever I say something about my beloved Tudor court ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I started my Tudor fascination by reading PG's "The Other Boleyn Girl". Couldn't wait to learn more and have since learned a TON! Love it!
I think for me it was a young adult book named Linnet by Sally Watson. I was a young adult myself at that time
Elizabethan, actually. Loved the book.
Would you believe I was also 12 when I read Jean Plaidy's Murder most Royal. She introduced me to history generally and the Tudors in particular. They are good, concise, well written books for that purpose (introduction). Having gone on to other authors to get more in depth info, coming back to JP after several years is a complete change of pace.... but she is still a good read.
RuthOnly just arrived in this group therefore only just saw your comment on Young Bess with Jean Simmons. Did you ever see The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex? with Bette Davis and Errol Flynn. I loved it. Ok so the palaces are too clean and the acting was welll....the way they acted at the time, but I thinks it's lovely/tragic film.
Talking about Tudor films, I'm probably not going to be very popular here, but quite frankly Eric Bana and Jonathan Rhys Meyers just don't do it for me as Henry VIIIalthough I adore them as actors especially JRM). Honestly, we all know what H looks like, and I'm not talking only about the Holbein portrait, and I just think they were hugely miscast. Now... Keith Michell (brilliant), Richard Burton (also very good in Anne of a Thousand days) or even Robert Shaw in A man for all seasons were much better choices.
Oh, Keith Mitchell was excellent in The Six Wives of Henry VIII. (I saw that series at six, and have been hooked on the Tudors pretty much ever since.)
Yes he was brilliant. He went on to do the film version. And then there was Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth, brilliant as well.I like Cat Blanchett as Elizabeth too....but what spoilt the films for me was that they played around with the time line. History is colourful enough as it is, there is no need to rewrite it
I adored Elizabeth R, almost more than Six Wives of Henry VIII.I found the Cate Blanchett films (or the first one; didn't see the second) very well shot and costumed, but the timeline and history were laughable.
If you liked Elizabeth R, maybe you saw the film Mary Queen of Scots with Vanessa Redrave (a blond Mary!! how weird... well anyway) and Glenda Jackson again! Oh, and you must absolutely see A Man for All Seasons, about Thomas More. Orson Wells played Wolsey and John Hurt (a very young John Hurt) played Richard Rich. Brilliant!! Not forgetting Paul Scholfield who got an oscar for his role as Saint Thomas.
Yes, those were both very good movies.
I was about 8 years old when my grandmother bought me one of those girls annual type of books. In it was the story and pictures of Anne of the Thousand days. I was hooked from that moment on.
Tudor History Lovers
Books mentioned in this topic
Linnet (other topics)The Creation of Anne Boleyn: A New Look at England's Most Notorious Queen (other topics)
She Was Nice to Mice: The Other Side of Elizabeth I's Character Never Before Revealed by Previous Historians (other topics)
I, Elizabeth (other topics)
I, Elizabeth (other topics)
More...
Off topic in terms of the Tudors but perhaps we can devise a "six degrees of separation" game with the lovely Mr. O. Bloom and we'll be back on track. I love him in "Kingdom of Heaven"
(^_^) Lana