Winter King: The Dawn of Tudor England

by Thomas Penn Narrated by Simon Vance

Overview

A fresh look at the endlessly fascinating Tudors-the dramatic and overlooked story of Henry VII and his founding of the Tudor Dynasty-filled with spies, plots, counter-plots, and an uneasy royal succession to Henry VIII

Near the turn of the sixteenth century, England had been ravaged for decades by conspiracy and civil war. Henry Tudor clambered to the top of the heap, a fugitive with a flimsy claim to England's crown who managed to win the throne and stay on it for twenty-four years. Although he built palaces, hosted magnificent jousts, and sent ambassadors across Europe, for many Henry VII remained a false king. But he had a crucial asset: his family-the queen and their children, the living embodiment of his hoped-for dynasty. Now, in what would be the crowning glory of his reign, his elder son would marry a great Spanish princess.

Thomas Penn re-creates an England that is both familiar and very strange-a country medieval yet modern, in which honor and chivalry mingle with espionage, realpolitik, high finance, and corruption. It is the story of the transformation of a young, vulnerable boy, Prince Henry, into the aggressive teenager who would become Henry VIII, and of Catherine of Aragon, his future queen, as well as of Henry VII-controlling, avaricious, paranoid, with Machiavellian charm and will to power.

Rich with incident and drama, filled with wonderfully drawn characters, Winter King is an unforgettable account of pageantry, intrigue, the thirst for glory, and the fraught, unstable birth of Tudor England.

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal - Audio

Henry VII had a childhood on the run and a fragile claim to the crown but ruled England for nearly a quarter-century. The research into the players is intricate and multifaceted, and Penn paints a detailed picture of court life with its insecurity, conspiracy, intrigue, diplomacy, and politics at the highest levels where the stakes were one's head. Europe at the dawn of the 16th century was rife with plots and shifting allegiances that, ultimately, led to Henry VIII's reign. Simon Vance's rich tenor voice and English accent take listeners back to the era. VERDICT A must-read for any student of British History. ["Penn holds a Ph.D. in medieval history from Clare College, Cambridge University. Not just for diehard historians, as this publisher would be aiming for a broad reach," read the review of the S. & S. hc, LJ 10/15/11.—Ed.]—Scott R. DiMarco, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib.

Library Journal

During England's tumultuous late 1400s, Henry Tudor won the throne by defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, then established peace and stability, which he hoped to continue by arranging the marriage of his elder son to a grand Spanish princess. Editorial director of Verso Books, London, Penn holds a Ph.D. in medieval history from Clare College, Cambridge University. Not just for diehard historians, as this publisher would be aiming for a broad reach.

APRIL 2012 - AudioFile

Listeners are in for a treat when they plug into this well-researched biography of Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty, who has been called the Uniter of England. Although Henry VII is often overshadowed by his much more famous descendants, his quarter-century on the throne was one of intrigue, drama, and political manipulation. Narrator Simon Vance's expressive reading is a perfect match for Penn's accessible and literary work. Especially helpful to listeners are Vance's subtle changes in tone to signal direct quotations and his expert handling of the Latin, Spanish, and other languages sprinkled throughout the text. Through careful use of pacing and emphasis, Vance holds listeners' attention throughout this fascinating true story of England's transition to power and wealth. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169523003
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	03/06/2012
Edition description:	Unabridged

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