What Started Your Interest in the Tudors?

[Michell]

I agree I don't understand why authors and movies need to rework history....it IS interesting enough on its own. I loved A Man for all Seasons and Anne of a Thousand Days.

[Romina]

My cousin started telling me stories about them when I was 9 or 10. I attribute my doing two degrees in British and European history to him.

[Christine]

For me, I became aware and interested in the Tudors when I watched "The Six Wives of Henry VII" on PBS in the 1970's.

[Katharine]

I love Deb's story!

When I was 13 I got a chance to take part in the Tudor re-enactments at Kentwell Hall in Suffolk, so basically when all my friends were into pop music and spiky hair (it was the 1980s) I was listening to lute music and falling in love with boys in hose.

It helps that I've always lived in bits of England surrounded by history - currently in Yorkshire where there are ruined abbeys all over the place and our back garden runs up to the old medieval town wall!

It's interesting how many people's interest started with things that were historically not too accurate (ahem) like The Tudors on tv or The Other Boleyn Girl, and it spurred them to find out more.

[Kevin]

Nancy wrote: "I've published my debut novel, The Crown, which is set in 1537-1538 England, primarily in a Dominican priory, and I've been asked many times how I got interested in Tudor England in the first place..."

Hi all. I just joined this group and I'm looking forward to the interaction. I fist started following Tudor history in grammar school after learning of how many wives Henry killed. I was fascinated by that fact. Yea, I was a little bit sordid as a kid. I'm mostly a nonfiction guy, but I like an occasion historical fiction. I've written a book that incorporates several chapters on English history-two on the Tudor era and two covering Oliver Cromwell. Of course, Alison Weir figured prominently as one of my secondary sources. I also utilized Alice Hogge's "God's Secret Agents: Queen Elizabeth's Forbidden Priests and the Hatching of the Gunpowder Plot." Alice tends to go back and forth in the timeline a little too much, but overall its well written, a good read, and very informative.

[Maggie]

I too go against the age of 12, although I always loved history at school I can't remember doing much about the Tudors in school. I picked up The Other Boleyn Girl in a second hand bookshop a few years ago thinking that my daughter had mentioned wanting to read it, she didn't so I did! Been hooked ever since :-)
If only they taught History like this in schools I'm sure that It would get more children hooked on wanting to find out more, much more interesting than crop rotation!

[Kevin]

Maria wrote: "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."

My favorite Tudor film is A Man for All Seasons, although the movie whitewashed over the fact the Thomas More advocated that the government burn Protestant heretics. So it was kind of an ironic twist that he got beheaded by the Government.

[Patricia]

Kevin wrote: "Maria wrote: "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 mo..."

Yes I loved that film too, and you're right about the whitewashing. However, although The Tudors has a few inaccuracies, that part of Thomas More's life was not whitewashed.

[Patricia]

Maggie wrote: "I too go against the age of 12, although I always loved history at school I can't remember doing much about the Tudors in school. I picked up The Other Boleyn Girl in a second hand bookshop a few y..."

Although the Other Boleyn Girl was ok, the historical accuracy is a little dubious. I prefer Murder Most Royal by Jean Plaidy.

[Kevin]

Patricia,

I didn't see the Tudors; I was turned off to it after reading a newspaper review slamming it for being historically inaccurate, among other things. Perhaps I'll watch it for the Thomas More treatment. But in spite of the whitewashing, I have to admit I tear up at the end of A Man for All Seasons, and I do maintain a respect for the historical More for his stand for what he believed was right even though it cost him his life.

[Patricia]

Kevin wrote: "Patricia,

I didn't see the Tudors; I was turned off to it after reading a newspaper review slamming it for being historically inaccurate, among other things. Perhaps I'll watch it for the Thomas M..."
I saw the Tudors out of curiosity, but, although I like JRM, I have never seen someone so miscast as he was for Henry VIII (although Eric Bana comes a close second).
Although I adored Paul Schofield in the role of Thomas, I thought Jeremy Northam did a decent job of portraying him in the Tudors.

[Katharine]

I have a theory about the Tudors, that the JRM casting makes more sense if you think of it as how Henry saw himself rather than how he really was.

[Susan]

Good point Katherine - I had not thought about it that way but would fit with the character of Henry.

[Patricia]

I agree, good point Katharine...I have to let go of the image I have of Keith Michell as Henry back in the 1970s, which has probably influenced my opinion.

[Sara]

I believe I was around 12 or 13 as well! The discussion was in some Science class on genetics and the teacher was discussing how men of that time would blame the woman should they not have a male heir and how Henry VIII went through many wives trying to obtain the Tudor heirs that would rule England. And, like many other subjects, I immediately thought "I need to research this and find out more!". The rest, as they say, is history. LOL

[[deleted user]]

I have liked the time period for so long that I don't remember what got me started. I have watched Anne of a thousand days.

[Patricia]

Tammy wrote: "I have liked the time period for so long that I don't remember what got me started. I have watched Anne of a thousand days."
I loved Anne of a Thousand Days. There is also Mary Queen of Scots with Glenda Jackson and Vanessa Redgrave and, of course, A man for all seasons

[Charlotte]

Kevin wrote: "Patricia,

I didn't see the Tudors; I was turned off to it after reading a newspaper review slamming it for being historically inaccurate, among other things. Perhaps I'll watch it for the Thomas M..."

Actually, "The Tudors" handled Cromwell pretty well too. Very believable portrayal based on all I've read about him.

[Jonathan]

It was Legacy by Susan Kay that got me started on the Tudors. Before that I was a confirmed Victorian, courtesy of Harry Flashman.

[Kim]

I was pretty indifferent to the Tudors during high school, and still didn't really have much of an interest in them when I was studying A Level History, but my history teacher gave me The Other Boleyn Girl to read and I fell in love with it... the second time I tried to read it.

[Katharine]

Sarah, you're so lucky - the Weald and Downland Museum is fabulous! I have a local museum, the Ryedale Folk Museum, with reconstructed buildings, but it's not quite on the same scale.

[Louise]

two books by Rosemary Sutcliffe we read at school as a child 'Brother Dusty feet' (about a boy who joins a company of strolling players in Elizabethan times, and 'The Armourer's house' about a family living in London in the reign of henry VIII when Anne Boleyn was queen. Also 'the boy they made king' by david Scott Daniel, about lambert Simnel.

[Laura]

To be honest I started by watching the movie of the other Boleyn girl. I loved Natalie Portman and when I watched the book in a bookstore I knew it had to be mine. Since then I love reading from different perspectives about all characters involved and watching movies and series.

[Natalia]

I became interested in the history of the Tudor when I saw the TV series, The Tudors with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Henry VIII was equal to my father in a matter of women and children. I have so many step brothers and step sisters of different mothers as in the story and as I'm the eldest daughter, I could say I play the role of Mary Tudor.

[Tiiu]

I read the daughter of time by Josephine try about Richard iii and the Tudor view of him

[Christine]

I just found this group and am THRILLED to see so many other Tudor-obsessed people! I first became fascinated with Anne of a Thousand Days and it grew from there.

[Johanna]

Christine wrote: "I just found this group and am THRILLED to see so many other Tudor-obsessed people! I first became fascinated with Anne of a Thousand Days and it grew from there."

Did you see the Elizabeth R series too? I like the old classic tudor movies :)

[Beth]

The Constant Princess and The Other Boleyn Girl by PG got me the most interested. I've like historical fiction but I really like this period in England. The Alison Weir books are also great for the Tudir period. She has book about Bessie Blout that looks interesting - King Henry XIII mistress who gave him first illegitimate son.

[Christine]

Johanna wrote: " Did you see the Elizabeth R series too? I like the old classic tudor movies :)"

Yes! I saw Elizabeth R and loved it. I too like the old classics! Cannot remember a time when I was not fascinated with Elizabeth I. I also loved the Cate Blanchett movies ( I know their portrayal of history is disputed.) I also liked the newer BBC series with Helen Mirren :)

[Christine]

Beth wrote: "The Constant Princess and The Other Boleyn Girl by PG got me the most interested. I've like historical fiction but I really like this period in England. The Alison Weir books are also great for the..."

Alison Weir is awesome! There is something about the Tudor period the draws one in -- the pageantry, the disfunction, the human condition.

[Louise]

Christine wrote: "Beth wrote: "The Constant Princess and The Other Boleyn Girl by PG got me the most interested. I've like historical fiction but I really like this period in England. The Alison Weir books are also ..."

i think the Tudor period is also unique in being an era with so many prominent women in public life - one period when Catherine Moorland's complaint about history - 'scarcely any women at all' does not apply.

[Christine]

Yes, Louise, that is true! Women do seem to dominate the landscape.

[Star]

As a young girl I had a fascination with the thought of a question . How could a man ( a King ) disregard his wife after three years . That was probably a silly girl thought at the time but for some reason I always questioned it .
The story of the Tudor rose origin is another fascination .
Now I have to give credit to Michael Hirst and the fabulous production of The Tudors . I know , I know ,you want to look away how could I possibly watch the Historical Drama with its mostly true story line . I watched it because it grabbed me ,took me away and dropped me into another world that took my fascination and turned it into an obsession with English history .
I read non fiction and some historical fiction on the subject of The Tudors . I would have to say I have learned so much from my Tudor book collection but the actors from The Tudors were enthralling .

[Tiiu]

I meant the daughter of time by Josephine tey of course about Richard iii . my parents lived in Leicester before coming to Canada and my aunt and uncle lived there and I visited
.bradgate house ruins owned by lady Jane grey and bosworth field

[Christine]

Star wrote: "Now I have to give credit to Michael Hirst and the fabulous production of The Tudors . I know , I know ,you want to look away how could I possibly watch the Historical Drama with its mostly true story line . I watched it because it grabbed me ..."

Star, I became a fan of 'The Tudors' also. I liked the actors, especially JRM as Henry. I fact checked a few things in my Alison Weir books. A good deal of the history WAS accurate.

[Star]

So glad to have a comrade . I also fact check people and events with the show . I wonder if I could be so bold and state my adoration for J.R.M as well !

[Christine]

Star wrote: "So glad to have a comrade . I also fact check people and events with the show . I wonder if I could be so bold and state my adoration for J.R.M as well !"

Yes! A lot of those things on television seem so bizarre, it is fun to fact check them. I love JRM! Although physically he was not the ideal Henry, amazing acting! I'd like to see him in more things. For a while he was in this vampire series but they canceled it :(

[Star]

J.R.M was my ideal Henry VIII . I have read in other comments that possibly J.R.M was chosen because that was how King Henry saw himself . I believe he portrayed a King that lured you in , gave you no choice to love him or fear him . It became easy to feel the betrayal that Anne felt and to question why between a man and wife . In the end he did not choose love for another but love of himself .

[Dawn]

JRM had what I imagine was the real Henry attitude, at least in the single season I watched. I personally don't have a favorite Henry, although I will admit Keith Mitchell was pretty good.

My worst Henry was Eric Bana (I didn't much care for The Other Boleyn Girl in any format, so he fit right in).

[Christine]

I agree that Eric Bana did seem a bit off as Henry. Plus two Americans playing Anne and Mary yeesh! (I am American, BBC addict -- so many great English actresses could have done it)

[Star]

I have not seen The other Boleyn Girl , I have not even read the book . I will usually read or watch anything on that subject but , I have never had an interest in that movie . Huh ?

[Christine]

Well, The Other Boleyn Girl was very hyped -- which I think is good -- got people interested in the Tudors! There were some good things about the movie -- Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne played some minor roles. (This was of course before they became megastars, haha. And they were great back then!)

[Star]

You are so informative about the actors . I highly defend " The Tudors " series even though I know some may thumb their nose at it . Now I feel a little snobby about the film " The other Boleyn Girl " . Are you saying I should give it a try ?

[Christine]

Star, yes, give it a try. It is worth it just to see Eddie Redmayne as Sir William Stafford (woo hoo!! sigh...) He plays the second husband of Mary Boleyn (who is played by Scarlett Johannson, not my fave choice as Mary, but oh well)

It is a decent movie, definitely worth a watch.

Have you seen The White Queen series? I loved that.

[Dawn]

Someone gave me a copy of the movie because they knew I liked the era and didn't yet know my specifics. I tried to watch it, but checked out (halfway? 2/3?) because they seemed to work on the assumption that Anne & George did do the naughty together. There were a couple other things that bothered me too.

[Christine]

Dawn wrote: "Someone gave me a copy of the movie because they knew I liked the era and didn't yet know my specifics. I tried to watch it, but checked out (halfway? 2/3?) because they seemed to work on the assum..."

Dawn, the history was definitely botched. SPOILER -- they had the premise that Anne requested sex with her brother in order to get pregnant and fool Henry (who at that point would not sleep with her) but that George was too sickened to actually do it -- and then Lady Rochford gave the rumor of it that got George and Anne beheaded.

There were other problematic things too, I agree.

[Dawn]

Christine wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Someone gave me a copy of the movie because they knew I liked the era and didn't yet know my specifics. I tried to watch it, but checked out (halfway? 2/3?) because they seemed to work..."

Yeah, I turned it off when they were alone together after Anne asked him to "help." I had no idea how far they carried it--but I feared the worst! So glad to know they didn't make it happen, but not going to pick that movie up again.

[[deleted user]]

What sparked my interest in Tudor History, as well as an interest in a history of English Kings and Queens, was meeting someone English and a few of her English friend who are part of a group here in America called Daughters of the British Empire. They are absolutely wonderful, sometimes bawdy, but generous and kind, and I love being around them. Knowing them started me reading Philippa Gregory books and the rest, as they say, is history.

[Star]

I wish there was a way to compile all the answers given and show it as a graph .