Neil Tonge

The Terrible Tudors is another funny entry in the Horrible Histories series. These kings and queens of England reigned from 1485 to 1603. Probably the best known are Henry VIII of the six wives fame and his daughter, Elizabeth I, who lent her name to the Elizabethan Age. We also get to learn about how the English lived and died during those times, their schools, games, food, crimes and punishments, Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, witches, sailors, clothes, and what life was like for women back then.

The illustrations are also good for chuckles. There is a limerick for each ruler (except for Lady Jane Grey, the nine day queen). We get fun quizzes such as match the illness to the remedy (almost all of which are quite disgusting), or the crime to the law. Some of the fun and games would be considered quite dangerous or even illegal today. I am VERY glad I am not a witch, sailor, or woman in Tudor Times. We even get to learn some thieves' cant [slang]. For example, a Prigger of Prancers was a horse thief. You might wish to try to write in Mary, Queen of Scots' code in the chapter on terrible Tudor kings and queens.

Note: the 'branks' device mentioned in the chapter on Terrible Tudor life for women was also known as a scold's bridle, a witch's bridle, or a brank's bridle.

I recommend this book to juvenile and adult readers who want a painless way to learn about the Tudor times.… (més)