A Brief History of Britain 1485-1660: The Tudor and Stuart Dynasties (Brief Histories) by Ronald Hutton (PDF)

Description

Praise for the author::’For anyone researching the subject, this is the book you’ve been waiting for.’Washington PostFrom the death of Richard III on Bosworth Field in 1485 to the execution of Charles I after the Civil Wars of 1642-48, England was transformed by two dynasties.First, the Tudors, who had won the crown on the battlefield, changed both the nature of kingship and the nation itself. England became Protestant and began to establish itself as a trading power; facing down seemingly impossible odds, it defeated its enemies on land and sea. But after a century, Elizabeth I died with no heir and the crown was passed to the Stuarts, who sought to remould the kingdom in their own image.Leading authority on the history of the British Isles in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Ronald Hutton brilliantly recreates the political landscape of this early modern period and shows how the modern nation was forged in these febrile, transformative years. Combining skilful pen portraits of the leading figures of the day with descriptions of its culture, economics and vivid accounts of everyday life, Hutton provides telling insights into this critical period on Britain’s national history.This the second book in the landmark four-volume Brief History of Britain which brings together leading historians to tell Britain’s story, from the Norman Conquest of 1066 to the present day. Combining the latest research with accessible and entertaining story-telling, the series is the ideal introduction for students and general readers.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: About the Author Professor Ronald Hutton graduated from first Cambridge then Oxford, where he held a fellowship at Magdalen College, before moving to the University of Bristol. He is a leading authority on the history of the British Isles in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well as on ancient and medieval paganism and magic, and on the global context of witchcraft beliefs. He is the author of the definitive The Pagans: A History as well as The Rise and Fall of Merry England, The Restoration and a biography of Charles II.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This is perhaps the best book of the series. Obviously this is just an overview history and tends to focus on the key events. It is still focused on kings/queens, as they drove much of the events. This is a fascinating period in British history, the start of the Tudors. This is very well written and does a good job of not getting too bogged down in details. For Americans like myself who did not grow up learning British history, there are a few references that are obscure, but for the most part, this book does a good job of presenting an approachable account of this period of history.

⭐I found this volume to be not quite as thorough as Nicholas Vincent’s first volume in the set. Ronald Hutton also spends time talking about the opinions of various historians of each period covered. That is interesting academically, but not particularly interesting for the popular reader who, “just want’s the facts, ma’am”. I also felt that the chapters, especially early on, were more in the form of individual essays with less of a feeling of a cohesive history about them.However, having said that, I learned things I hadn’t known before, especially about Charles I and the short-lived republic. (This may be due to the deluge of information that makes most folks fairly familiar with Henry VIII and Elizabeth.) The author does a good job of painting the skills and weaknesses of all the rulers of the period. I would have liked to see a more full discussion of how people lived during these times, but one can’t include everything in a survey of this sort.The annotative bibliography at the end of the book, as in the first volume is a helpful resource for further study. And in the final analysis, the book makes me want to read more about the period (if I ever have time), so I think I have to rate the book as a success, in spite of my wanting it to be more than it is.

⭐This is an excellent overview of the Tudors and Stuarts (to 1660) by one of the leading historians of the period who is Professor of History at Bristol University. It is not just about the ‘Kings and Queens’, but covers government, religion and society as well, plus useful comments throughout the text on the relevant historiography. There is also a comprehensive ‘further reading’ addendum. Highly recommended.

⭐It’s useful to have this on Kindle so that I can locate references that I can’t be bothered to bookmark when listening to it on Audible. It summarises conflicting historical opinions on various controversies and events and indicates where to find them – very useful, and entertaining too.

⭐I am currently working my way through this 2nd volume and it has continued with the same format and excellent delivery of The Brief History of Britain. I can really recommend this series.

⭐I found this book to be an excellent account of the main events of the period, including the historiography of the subject. It gave an insight into evolving developments from political, religious and personal perspectives and was very clearly written.

⭐A good book to dip into if you want a brief outline of history during a certain period.

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