Thank you to NetGalley and Perseus Book Group for allowing me to read a digital ARC of Leandra de Lisle’s “Tudor: The Family Story.” This novel was informative and introduced me to the true origins of the Tudor family. I never knew about Owen Tudor, a Welshman, who fell into the lap of Henry V’s widow, Catherine of Valois, secretly married her, and sired two children by her.

Ms. de Lisle does a good job covering Owen Tudor’s descendants and their history. Henry VI allowed his step-brother, Edmund Tudor, who was Owen’s son, to marry Katherine Beaufort, and the offspring of this union, Henry Tudor, became Henry VII. I always thought his son, Henry VIII, sought a divorce from Anne Boleyn, but in reality, he wanted an annulment. I learned that Henry VIII disagreed with Martin Luther’s (1520) view that marriage was not a sacrament. Go figure!

Henry’s marriages to Catherine of Aragon and Anne were annulled based on incestuous unions; Catherine's, due to a first marriage to his deceased brother, and Anne's, due to his sexual relationship with her sister, Mary. Oh my!

This novel is chock-full of historical insights into the descendants of Owen Tudor and Catherine of Valois. The author does a great job of examining the conflict between Victoria and Mary and how they have been demonized in life.

Ms. de Lisle did a wonderful job researching this novel. I am so thankful she debunked many of the myths I’ve learned over the years while providing resolution to unanswered questions (i.e., the twins in the Tower). “Tudor: The Family History” is a must-read novel for Tudorphiles.

This books was actually a nice surprise. I liked that de Lisle tried to bring something new to the table of the Tudors. She didn’t only focus on the more popular Tudors but introduced us the other less known. The focus was the more overall picture and contextual facts and if that’s what your looking for more than historical details regarding customs, dress and food and other cultural aspects, this book is great.

Because I was unable to download this title, I cannot leave a review at this time. I apologize for any inconvenience. I love the Tudor era and am sad I was unable to read this.

Usual caveat applies, free copy, Netgalley, blah, blah

Ok, I’ve read the book and had a think. Do I really think this was worth the effort of reading or, indeed writing it????

Absolutely, yes!

Stylishly written, with just the right balance of proper straight-faced history and the more interesting bits. I like that it starts a little further back than is usual, with what we might think of as the formation of the dynasty (or at least their pretentions to the throne) and the arrival in the family (if only loosely) of Catherine de Valois. A nice change from dropping in at the Battle of Bosworth as a starting point.

Lots of interesting facts, some nicely humorous moments, all in all a very enjoyable read.

I’ve also read The Sisters Who Would Be Queen by the same author, also a good, interesting read from a slightly different angle to the norm.

Most surveys of the Tudor period try to be neutral, or they have a bent of some kind (pro-Richard III or anti, leaning towards Katherine of Aragon or Anne Boleyn), but de Lisle attempts to find sympathetic motivations for *everyone*, usually that they were just trying to survive or promote their kids, or that (given the wide dispersion of royal blood) they genuinely thought they were entitled to be in charge. There's nothing really new here, just an assemblage of all of the most charitable readings of all of the people involved.

I loved it. Now I am not a fan of Henry Tudor (being a bit of a Ricardian), however, I was impressed with Leanda's documenting of the origins of the Tudor Monarchs of England (not to be confused by their ancient Welsh counterparts). I was especially impressed with the retelling of Margaret Beaufort's story - she is such a feisty women who was determined to shape her future, and that of her son, as best she could given the mores of the time.

I would recommend this as a welcome and insightful addition to any Tudor library - a great starting place for those wishing to delve deeper into this period of history.