The Private Lives of the Tudors cover art

The Private Lives of the Tudors

A revelatory glimpse into the lives of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I and more from Sunday Times bestselling author Tracy Borman

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Private Lives of the Tudors

By: Tracy Borman
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble, Sandra Duncan
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £18.89

Buy Now for £18.89

About this listen

 Secrets. Silence. Scandal. This is the Tudors as you have never seen them before - as told through the eyes of the people who were ALWAYS watching.

'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.

----

Critical acclaim for The Private Lives of the Tudors:

'Borman approaches her topic with huge enthusiasm and a keen eye for entertaining...this is a very human story of a remarkable family, full of vignettes that sit long in the mind.' Dan Jones, Sunday Times

'Tracy Borman's eye for detail is impressive; the book is packed with fascinating courtly minutiae... this is a wonderful book.' The Times

'Borman is an authoritative and engaging writer, good at prising out those humanising details that make the past alive to us.' The Observer

'Fascinating, detailed account of the everyday reality of the royals... This is a book of rich scholarship.' Daily Mail

'Tracy Borman's passion for the Tudor period shines forth from the pages of this fascinatingly detailed book, which vividly illuminates what went on behind the scenes at the Tudor court.' Alison Weir©2016 Tracy Borman Europe Great Britain Tudor England Royalty Thought-Provoking
All stars
Most relevant
Beautifully written and wonderfully read, I found this book completely compelling! Every small, intimate detail of how these iconic figures lived their lives made each one of them more human and more accessible! A must read/listen for anyone with an interest in the period!

Utterly absorbing!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

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

Very well produced with interesting varied and authentic voices, true to the title and illuminating various personal aspects of the Tudors (it held one's interest, admittedly for a listener with a liking for history), and generous in length for an audiobook. One of the few lengthly audiobooks that took me months to finish in my car but I did, very well satisfied.

What about Jonathan Keeble and Sandra Duncan ’s performance did you like?

Excellent

Captivating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I found out lots of things that I didn't knew before - 007 thing fascinating. Never knew it was pre James Bond. Loved the things about clothes and furniture too.

Excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A different slant on the lives of Henry VII and his descendants. Absorbing and most enjoyable

Fascinating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Jonathan Keeble could very likely read a bus timetable and make it sound interesting. Here, however, his talents are well deployed in reading this truly entertaining and informative book. One knows a fair bit about the Tudors, either by reading and study or by osmosis. Here, within the well-known framework, is a cornucopia of information. Not only the minutiae of habits and dress, but more serious matters such as the likelihood that Elizabeth I became more irascible and difficult to deal with in her later years due to the increasing amount of toxins which she absorbed from her cosmetics and medications. I've always suspected that Henry VII's elder son was sickly due to being an 8-months baby, and this likelihood is discussed here. And I'd no idea that James I was such a creature!

Do listen to this book. It may be worth getting the hard copy, so that dipping in may be easier! Thank you, Tracy Borman, for bringing together your exhaustive research into a book which is entertaining as well as informative.

Excellent book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews