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  • The Dissolution of the Monasteries

  • A New History
  • By: James G. Clark
  • Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
  • Length: 27 hrs
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (7 ratings)

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The Dissolution of the Monasteries

By: James G. Clark
Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
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Summary

The first account of the dissolution of the monasteries for fifty years—exploring its profound impact on the people of Tudor England

Shortly before Easter, 1540 saw the end of almost a millennium of monastic life in England. Until then religious houses had acted as a focus for education, literary, and artistic expression and even the creation of regional and national identity. Their closure, carried out in just four years between 1536 and 1540, caused a dislocation of people and a disruption of life not seen in England since the Norman Conquest.

Drawing on the records of national and regional archives as well as archaeological remains, James Clark explores the little-known lives of the last men and women who lived in England's monasteries before the Reformation. Clark challenges received wisdom, showing that buildings were not immediately demolished and Henry VIII's subjects were so attached to the religious houses that they kept fixtures and fittings as souvenirs. This rich, vivid history brings back into focus the prominent place of abbeys, priories, and friaries in the lives of the English people.

©2021 James G. Clark (P)2023 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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Fills a gap perfectly.

This wonderful book fills a serious gap in scholarship as mediated to the interestedanateur student. As the first such account in fifty years it responds to questions we’d all ask: what happened to the many Religious after the dissolution; how thoroughly was it carried out, and what are the legacies left by these people?
This is a well researched and very readable book and although chapters are sometimes very long, my interest never wavered. The scene is set in detail reminiscent of the best specialist historians- eamon Duffy et al, and there are interesting and moving individual sketches: very highly recommended

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Detailed, learned but still engaging

A really good piece of accessible scholarly work. Zooms in and out effortlessly, never losing sight of detail yet contextualising within the broader sweep.

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