With so many books out there about the Tudors, thought this would be a typical story I've already read many times. But this author managed to write an interesting story with a different spin on things that kept my interest from beginning to end. It was a well researched story of the effects of love on their lives and Dynasty. Great book!

I enjoyed this different take on the history of England. I just finished Hilary Mantel’s series on Thomas Cromwell, and this book was a great non-fiction companion read. I learned a great deal about the history of courtly love, which I previously saw only through the traditions of English literature (English major here). It also opened my eyes to the influence courtly love had on the actions of Henry VIII, his many wives, down to Queen Elizabeth I. Recommended for those interested in the Tudors and wanting to go beyond the basic histories.

The Tudors in Love by Sarah Gristwood

Published: December 13, 2022
St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 571
Genre: Biographies of Royalty
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Sarah Gristwood is the author of several bestselling Tudor histories. Sarah regularly appears on television and radio talking about royal and historical affairs in series such as Secrets of the National Trust and The Royal House of Windsor. One of the team providing Radio 4’s live coverage of the 2011 royal wedding, she has in 2020 alone featured in some dozen documentaries on ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 on subjects from the Royal Collection to Grace Kelly, Winston Churchill to Admiral Nelson.

“…there is nothing more powerful than a good story.”

Taking what we understand as courtly love and applying it to the Tudors is a vast and profound topic to tackle. Sarah Gristwood eloquently and thoroughly walks us through the Tudor dynasty, explaining the application of courtly love.

The research alone in this novel is brilliant. In the sources analyzed, the excepts included, Gristwood even discusses the exaggerated things we have heard over the years.

This is a dense novel but filled with such beautiful history. I’ve always been fascinated by the Tudors, especially Henry VIII and his wives, so this was brilliant.

The depth and detail are beautifully presented. It was interesting getting possible insights into what these royals were thinking when they behaved the way they did and seeing the way love was often used as a pawn.

I would love to see Gristwood take on courtly love with Shakespeare as her focus.

I feel this deep, instinctual urge to just start belting out a one-woman performance of SIX: The Musical.

As someone who has always been fascinated by long-lasting dynasties and the sovereigns who ruled them, 'The Tudors In Love' was a masterfully written treat, with anecdotal relations and references to the fantastical kingdom of Camelot and King Arthur.

You hear all the time in stories, about those who would destroy the world and watch it burn for those they love. This novel and compilation of history, truly shows just how far the Tudors were willing to go for love, what that love became, and how it lead to the downfall of their dynasty.

The Tudors in Love is set to be published on December 13, 2022. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and the author for the Advanced Reader's Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm an avid nonfiction reader, and this book's premise fascinated me. Unfortunately, from the very beginning I wasn't at all engaged.

The writing has the wordy, scholarly manner of academics out to prove a thesis. In fact, it felt very much like I was reading a dissertation, rather than a text meant for the average reader.

While I'm sure this book will hold appeal to a certain subset of readers, I'm not among them. I'm opting not to finish this book, so I won't be leaving a formal review anywhere.

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Books. The opinions are my own and freely given.

I love anything Tudor, so I was very excited to read this. The first part of this book is about King Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot. I understand the author is showing the history of the love in court. But the Tudors are not really mentioned in the first part at all. Finally, we move on to the Yorks and the Lancasters, that sets the stage for the Tudors. However, there is still a lot of comparison of Elizabeth Woodville to Guinivere. There is a lot of literary history that I found myself skimming through. I am familiar with the Tudors, but I did have a hard time following along. Then going back to what Guinivere might have thought or done in this instance in comparison to what Anne Boleyn did or said. I really didn't like this. This was really well researched, but I just didn't like the comparisons in every chapter.
Overall, this book wasn't for me. Too long, too confusing as it jumps between the royal family with the same names, and I had a hard time figuring out who it was and too much comparison to a real historical people and characters that are fictional (although may be based on real people).

Thank you NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press.

The Tudors in Love by Sarah Gristwood dives in to how Arthurian legend affected the life and relationships of the Tudor dynasty. In an effort to ‘rightfully’ claim the thrown the Tudors connected themselves through ancestry to King Arthur. Much of their court life was based off this affiliation. The main focus of the book is Courtly Love. Courtly love is a game. If you have any knowledge of the Tudors at all you will also know that no family has ever played this game with such verve.

This novel tries to show that courtly love influenced the monarchs. Ms. Gristwood makes a viable case for the each of the Tudors. It is fascinating to see how they played the game. Ms. Gristwood’s writing is engaging and removes the stiffness and dryness that usually occur in historical books. The subject was interesting especially when it discusses King Henry VIII and his wives.

I enjoyed reading this book and I feel it gave me deeper understanding of how performative court life was in this era, as well as how the royals approached relationships with the people around them.

I would like to thank the author, St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Genuinely really held my attention despite being a fairly academic analysis of gender and courtly love rules. Well-written and sure to delight Tudor history afficionados.

It took awhile but I finally did it - I finished Sarah Gristwood's “The Tudors in Love.” This book focuses on the history of the Tudors specifically but also courtly love in general. Courtly love grew out of the dissatisfaction with constraints of the church and society against affection and sensuality. The Tudors consumed fantasy and historical fiction just like we do today, and the monarchs embodied ideals of courtly love.

This book was very detailed and thorough, involving actual historical accounts as well as literary tales from centuries ago and even before the Tudor era. I particularly enjoyed the quotes from archives and first hand accounts/letters.

As with any good history book, there are many references and citations which I appreciated. It did take me awhile to read, but moved faster when it got to the Henry VIII Tudor era. I found some of the information surprising - the book makes it seem like every battle that Elizabeth the first waged was a disaster, which we know not to be true (or at least that is normally how it is taught). The courtly love veil also put history into a different kind of perspective.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I wish high school me could've read this book because it is the perfect example of writing about an overdone topic through a specific lens. Everyone knows the Tudors. Not everyone knows about the phenomenon of courtly love, and Gristwood synthesizes how the Tudors reflected and were impacted by it rather well. The book's a little dense, but fascinating. Perfect for fans of the podcast Noble Blood and Arthurian legend.

The Tudors in Love: Passion and Politics in the Age of England's Most Famous Dynasty is the first book I have by Sarah Gristwood and it will not be the last. I was captivated reading about the Tudors. She obviously did her research. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading about the English Monarchy, particularly from the Tudor era. Five plus stars.

Everyone knows about Henry VIII and all his wives (he had six). I love reading about The Tudors in both fiction and non-fiction formats and I have to admit it was author Philippa Gregory who piqued my interest in them over twenty years ago and for some reason they fascinated me. Sarah Gristwood wrote a well-researched and very compelling take on all matters of the heart and The Tudors.

I was most fascinated by the fact that Henry had so many wives because they could not provide him with a son and heir. Yet, his mistresses had male children he could not claim, what is most surprising is the fact that it was the daughter of the woman he beheaded that ended up rebuilding The Tudor dynasty, and reining for forty-five years, a dynasty that he almost ruined. Elizabeth the first is the daughter of Anne Boleyn and her 45-year reign is generally considered one of the most glorious in English history. She is also known for bypassing on marriage, maybe the start of the women's movement. Then she herself ending the dynasty for having an heir herself.

I enjoyed this informative and unique look at The Tudors' lives and loves. I see this author has a wonderful array of books to choose from, both fiction and non-fiction, and I would definitely be reading more from her catalog. That is one of the best compliments I can give an author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

I've read a couple of Sarah Gristwood's biographies before, and really enjoyed how she selects historical figures-- especially women that are not as heavily covered. The Tudors in Love is well-researched, and I like how it comes from an angle that is different than other historical non-fiction books. It is really detailed about the emotions, thoughts, the culture of the Tudor court and how decisions were made in this lens. If you are looking for another book about the Tudors, I'd recommend. Even if you are not, I'd recommend. This was a really interesting read. I think it also would be excellent as an audiobook!

I was very excited to read this book after hearing an interview with the author on a podcast. It was interesting to look at the history of the Arthurian story in the English court and how it affected the nobles and monarchs. I have a little knowledge of the legend of Arthur but I did not realize how many different iterations there are and how they change based on who is ruling or the events of the time. And I usually assumed that many of the courts of Europe used the manners of courtly love but it appears that England was the most ardent in following the rules and let it be a part of their lives the longest. The author did a great job of showing the major points in the Tudor history and how they were affected by courtly love and the downfalls of the lifestyle as well through the deaths of Anne Boleyn and the Earl of Essex.

I have read many books about the Tudors but this is like no other. Sarah Gristwood has researched extensively and traveled into the mystique of courtly love.
The Tudor court was a myriad of desire, religion, power, politics and endless ambition to ensure the longevity and survival of the dynasty. Moving through the years from King Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere to the ambitions of Henry VIII’s pursuit of Anne Boleyn and the conquests of Elizabeth I (as example) yet making the choice to reign alone, the reader gains greater insight into the foundation (if you will) of courtly love. There were obsessions, rigid rules, mistresses, and decisions made that revolved around gaining alliances with other countries to strengthen political power, performing acts of chivalry, acts of manipulation and dealing with the implications and often difficult outcomes.
This is a fresh look at the Tudors that is equally entertaining as captivating.
Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Gristwood and St. Martins Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.

Excellent writing and a unique take on the Tudor Dynasty. Everytime I think there cannot be another angle to view the Tudors from, I'm proven wrong. Definitely a wonderful addition to the pantheon of Tudor history books!

The Tudors in Love
By Sarah Gristwood

This is a work of nonfiction which sets out to explain the doings of the Tudors – predominantly Henry VIII and Elizabeth I – in their romantic relationships, marital and otherwise.

The author claims much of their motivations can be traced back to that period in Europe which started a couple of hundred years earlier, known as "courtly love". This was a societal mindset – at least for those of the upper classes – which placed ladies on pedestals and left knights trying to perform tasks to win their ladies' favor. However, this love was to be unrequited on both sides.

There were two flaws to this mindset. First the knight was supposed to love only from afar; second the lady, object of his devotion, was to remain pure and chaste on a pedestal. Should either party carry their love into any physical arena, this was considered shameful – the downfall of courtly love.
While seeming to empower these ladies over there lovers, in fact, putting women on pedestals with unrealistic behaviors required served only to objectify them.

The author's premise of how courtly love affected the Tudor monarchs is interesting. It gives the reader a different perspective on what shaped the customs of the times.

Anything regarding the Tudors will always peak my interest. I will ready every book, watch every movie, tv show, documentary you name it! I don’t really think there’s anything here that’s new information, so if you’re looking for some revelation, you won’t find it here.

This book is mainly about how courtly love influenced and affected the Tudor dynasty. The books spends a lot of time on the women of the era, particularly Anne Boleyn who is one of the most fascinating queens in all of English history.

This is definitely an academic work and not a gossipy history of the era, though you could be forgiven thinking it was because of the title and the scandalous family themselves. Definitely enjoyable and well written.

Publication Dec. 13, 2022

This one is not a casual read. I was alternately fascinated and intrigued, then I'd realize a bit later that my mind was wandering. Knowing quite a bit about not just the Tudor era but the players, so to speak, from Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn back to Eleanor of Aquitaine, not to mention the mythical legends of Sir Lancelot and Guinevere did give me a head start. In other words, having some concept of the history involved would benefit readers.

I can't even begin to summarize the contents. It's very well researched and presented as what I'll call more of a historical work than one you'd pick up as a fun read. There are 24 chapters, each rather long, notes at the end of each, a postscript, appendix, and notes for further reading at the end which is where I found the photos in a digital copy. The intro to the book sets forth the idea that courtly love was more a literary fantasy than a reality. It was useful to those in power and hoping to retain or gain power. The author takes us from its earlier literary emergence, noting that the Lancelot and Queen Guinevere image of romance had its beginnings in a work by Chretien de Troyes in the late 12th century. A knight that would show his love by crawling over a bridge made of sharp sword blades....only to have his lady love disappointed that he hesitated? Uh, okay.

The image, spread by troubadours, including trobairitz, the female version, grew and spread. Let's fact it, there's nothing like a good story to catch the imagination, especially at a time when females had little or not power and were often bartered as marriage objects to smooth the way of their family to power and prestige. Trust me, the author details how this works and gives examples from history.

My ears figuratively perked up when Eleanor Neville, mother to two kings entered the story. According to this author, Sir Lancelot may have been modeled on Henry, the son of Eleanor Neville, mother to two kings, and Henry II of England. Unfortunately for young Henry, who one biographer called "Lancelot come to life," he died before he could take the throne. That didn't stop the Plantagenet dynasty, as one king claimed to discover Arthur and Guinevere's graves in Glastonbury. Even Excaliber gets a mention....and this is really just the very beginning of the book. Eleanor died in 1260 but the image of Guinevere she helped make popular spread and lives on today.

Yes, I know you're waiting for me to explain what courtly love had to do with Tudor King Henry VIII chopping off Anne Boleyn's head. Nope, not telling, not that I could come even close to explaining it all without writing a much, much longer review. I mean, there are more than a few wars involved, you know, like the legendary War of the Roses. It was a deadly game, given a romantic tint by troubadours and the tapestries and artwork of the era. And, think of the imagery of "The Virgin Queen" Elizabeth. Flows right into the myths of courtly love. And, hmm, what was that supposed requirement a bride had to have to wed now King Charles? Wonder where that idea came from, hmm?

Oh, come on. Courtly love still grabs our imagination. How many stayed up into the wee hours even here in the decided non-royal United States to watch the "fairy tale" wedding? Ever read or seen a Shakespeare play? Oh, Romeo.... And, think of the movies that use it as the focus, whether the obvious, such as "Camelot" or even "Pretty Woman" and "Dirty Dancing". Courtly love, with its rigid rules and romantic obsessions, still has a hold on our imagination. This book, long though it may be, simply explains why and where that obsession came from. While not for the faint of heart given its length and depth of information, if you are interested in the period, and it spans over a thousand years now that I think about it, you'll find this a fascinating, thought provoking read. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for allowing me to wallow in the romance, blood thirsty though much of it was, and power struggles with the idea of where the heart came into play. Now, if I could just quit humming the tune of "Camelot"...

Historically accurate, well-detailed and researched. I love learning more about this period in history, so I dove right in. It was interesting and kept me reading.