New Worlds, Lost Worlds

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A Different Approach to Tudor History - Rated
This is not a strictly chronological history of the Tudor age and its events. Instead, Susan Brigden takes a more thematic approach - concentrating on England's attempted subjugation of Ireland and the religious and social changes of this period. The author succeeds admirably. Of all Tudor history books, "New Worlds, Lost Worlds" most captures the spirit of the age and Tudor life.

This book should be read alongside G.R. Elton's England Under the Tudors, which provides background and analysis to the key characters and events of the Tudor age.

The Dynasty That Changed the Nation - Rated
To cover so many levels and issues in Tudor society, would be a large feat for many a historian, however this author has come up trumps. At times, some of the well know points of the history of the period are lightly covered, but as these are generally and widely covered by other authours, this as meant that the spotlight can be turned onto the lesser known facts. For example, the relationship of the Tudor monarchy and the Irish (and the infighting of the Irish lords), get a great deal of coverage.
For all those Tudor enthusiasts like myself, you are bound to enjoy and pick up new information from this book.

I fell in love with history through this book - Rated
Written for ordinary people (like me) to read. It gently leads one through the changes in religion, politics and statehood to give a real understanding of where British culture comes from and helped me to understand the "Irish problem" for the first time. Buy it , wonderful read. Loved it.

Timely reminder of the dangers of monarchism - Rated
If you subscribe to the Great Person theory of history this book will appeal greatly. On the other hand if hold that history is shaped by economic and political structures then this book may disappoint. There is little economic analysis of trade and industry, and very little pan European comparative analysis. At times the book struck me as if it had fallen out of a 19th century library.

Ireland is characterised as unromantically wild, savage and preyed upon by treacherous Irish chieftains. A land of fickle political alliances and despotic opportunism. Undoubtably much of this is true but the analysis is rooted almost entirely in terms of the impact of the anglo Norman invasion.

The Tudors and their courts are equally portrayed as ruthless tyrannical lairs turning largely on the whims of a sovereign. The picture that emerges of the common people is profundly unenviable.

At the end of the book, I was left wondering how on Earth anyone could espouse the antidemocratic institution of monarchism. In modern terms Henry VIII comes across as positively Hitlerian, a trend continued under Elizabeth with the plantations of Ireland which provided the 16th century with its own largely unacknowledged Holocaust.

Worth reading if only to remind ourselves that democracy is something to cherish otherwise political depravity will gain the ascendant.