The Private Lives of The Tudors - Tracy Borman

Title - The Private Lives of The Tudors
Author - Tracy Borman
ISBN - 9781444782899
Genre - Adult > Historical > Non Fiction
My Copy - Purchased
Format - Hardback
Where You Can Find It - Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Amazon UK - Amazon US

'I do not live in a corner. A thousand eyes see all I do.' Elizabeth I
The Tudor monarchs were constantly surrounded by an army of attendants, courtiers and ministers. Even in their most private moments, they were accompanied by a servant specifically appointed for the task. A groom of the stool would stand patiently by as Henry VIII performed his daily purges, and when Elizabeth I retired for the evening, one of her female servants would sleep at the end of her bed. 
These attendants knew the truth behind the glamorous exterior. They saw the tears shed by Henry VII upon the death of his son Arthur. They knew the tragic secret behind 'Bloody' Mary's phantom pregnancies. And they saw the 'crooked carcass' beneath Elizabeth I's carefully applied makeup, gowns and accessories. 
It is the accounts of these eyewitnesses, as well as a rich array of other contemporary sources that historian Tracy Borman has examined more closely than ever before. With new insights and discoveries, and in the same way that she brilliantly illuminated the real Thomas Cromwell - The Private Life of the Tudors will reveal previously unexamined details about the characters we think we know so well.

I have said many times before i don't read many Non Fiction, but recently i have been really getting into them, i am a member of Historic Royal Palaces and there are members events and The Author is a curator of HRP and she did an event about this book and i didn't read it until the end of June, but i am so glad that i did because i learnt so much, and it was a really well researched book.

The Tudors are the most well known Royal Family in British History, but then again when we talk about the Tudors we only ever really talk about Henry VIII, Mary I and Elizabeth I. Which i find unfortunate because the story of Henry VII is one that should be more well known, because he and his wife united the Waring houses of York and Lancaster. They brought relative  peace after 30 years of civil war, Borman spends the most time talking about Henry VIII, because he did a lot in his reign. If you love The Tudor Period, or if you are curious about it or if you just wish to know more i highly recommend this book. 

I enjoyed this book, and reading some facts i knew and some that i didn't even though this book was more expensive and i wouldn't normally pay that price i did and its a choice i don't regret because it is my favourite Non fiction i have read.

Until Next Time

Happy Reading