Excellent!

What did you like most about The Tudors?

Clear, concise and to the point, providing excellent synthesis and frequent interesting insights. Written in a style that is liberatingly free from the excess of detail and manifold subclauses that so often mar the writings of British historians. Here you get all the detail you need, but nothing that obscures the larger view. Meyer is also highly entertaing and often funny.

In addition, the book is organized so that after each chapter there is a section with 'furhter background'. This seems peculiarly suitable to the audiobook format, since it allows you to easily scroll past that section and go on to the next chapter where the story resumes if you prefer a more direct pace.

The reading is excellent with just the right tone of irony where so required.

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3 people found this helpful

Gripping from beginning to end

What did you like most about The Tudors?

A well-structured book, which glides through these tumultuous times with an ease and grace not always found in history writing. The narrator's mellifluous tones really enhance the prose and provide an absorbing listen, which I thoroughly recommend.

What other book might you compare The Tudors to, and why?

The book most like this is David Starkey's 'Six Wives of Henry VIII' as they both delve in to the detail in a lively and interesting way, which keeps the reader/listener enthralled while providing a disciplined framework for absorbing the facts.

What does Robin Sachs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

His voice is very soothing and he enunciates clearly, which is very helpful. He takes it at a gentle pace and keeps his tone lively so one doesn't lose interest.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, if at all possible, although one would have to stay up for more than 24 hours to do so.

Any additional comments?

I will be listening to this again and again as it contains many important facts and descriptions presented in ingenious ways. I particularly like the background pieces, which focus on the details of life at the time.

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1 person found this helpful

great listen!

i'm about 5 hours in and it's a great listen, voice is very easy to listen too, and the book is full of facts, it also states that a lot of facts are missing so they can one can only asume from what has happened that this is what must have happened next. This is really helpful

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One of the best on Tudor history

What made the experience of listening to The Tudors the most enjoyable?

This is one of the best books I have listened to or read on The Tudors. I know there is no such thing as an unbiased historical account but I really felt the author attempted balance and neutrality. I also enjoyed the fact that Henry VII was included in the story as he often gets forgotten about. I thought this was particularly well told and fascinating start to the Tudor era.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Without even thinking..it is Henry VIII followed by Elizabeth. Their stories are without doubt fascinating and hugely dramatic.

What does Robin Sachs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The reader was particularly professional and easy to listen to.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I wanted to listen to this book little and often to absorb the information and think about the historical characters and events.

Any additional comments?

If you are looking for a book on the Tudor era I would highly recommend this above others. The research is in depth and no stone goes unturned. In my opinion one to listen to many times as there is so much information it is impossible to absorb it all in one read.

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5 people found this helpful

Too much like a very boring history lesson

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This book barely held my interest as I don't like being preached at

Has The Tudors put you off other books in this genre?

Put me off this writer

What three words best describe Robin Sachs’s voice?

Good all round performance

Did The Tudors inspire you to do anything?

Yes, not to listen to any more books by this author.

Any additional comments?

A wasted opportunity for the reign of the Tudors is a most fascinating time in the UK's history

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Not just hand luggage

It's quite clear that Mr Meyer brings a significant amount of baggage to this history. His slant on many of the events of the period and the personalities of Henry and (especially) Elizabeth clearly show definite opinions (usually negative) in the interpretation and choice of language.

To be fair the author does say at the beginning that the book is written entirely from secondary sources and that many of those authors would not agree with his interpretations.

Still it is refreshing to hear an alternative view, though I sometimes did find the narrative led me to start arguing with Mr Meyer in my head and I had to skip the last two hours as I'd had enough.

Finally kudos to Robin Sachs for some great narration.

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2 people found this helpful

Brilliant, precise and absorbing.

Will be reading it again, so much information to remember and absorb. Thoroughly recommend it. Great commentary.

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Very one sided and biased

I found this to be very one sided and biased throughout. The author just falls short of blaming global warming on Henry and Elizabeth. Although they were both deeply flawed, they are portrayed as totally negative . On the other hand Mary's murder of those refusing to revert to Catholicism is glossed over and Mary Queen of Scott's is totally defended. Even the horrific Paris massacre of the French protestants is justified. Things are never this black and white- for any of history's main players.

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