The Private Lives Of The Tudors: Uncovering The Secrets Of Britain's Greatest Dynasty Uncovering The Secrets Of Britain's Greatest Dynasty

England’s Tudor monarchs—Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VII, Mary I, and Elizabeth I—are perhaps the most celebrated and fascinating of all royal families in history. Their love affairs, their political triumphs, and their overturning of the religious order are the subject of countless works of popular scholarship. But for all we know about Henry’s quest for male heirs, or Elizabeth’s purported virginity, the private lives of the Tudor monarchs remain largely beyond our grasp. In The Private Lives of the Tudors , acclaimed historian Tracy Borman delves deep behind the public face of the monarchs, showing us what their lives were like beyond the stage of court. Drawing on the original material from those closest to them—courtiers like the “groom of the stool," surprisingly a much-coveted position—Borman examines Tudor life in fine detail. What did the monarchs eat? What clothes did they wear, and how were they designed, bought, and cared for?... British & Irish History. '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. Henry Vii -- Ch. 1. `infinitely Suspicious' -- Ch. 2. `not Admitting Any Near Approach' -- Ch. 3. `closeted Away Like A Girl' -- Henry Viii -- Ch. 4. `their Business Is In Many Secrets' -- Ch. 5. `lay Hands Upon His Royal Person' -- Ch. 6. `she Excelled Them All' -- Ch. 7. `a Thin, Old, And Vicious Hack' -- Ch. 8. `true Carnal Copulation' -- Ch. 9. `kings And Emperors All Be But Mortal' -- Edward Vi -- Ch. 10. `being Yet But A Child' -- Mary I -- Ch. 11. `thinking Myself To Be With Child' -- Elizabeth I -- Ch. 12. `we Highly Commend The Single Life' -- Ch. 13. `she Seldom Partakes Before Strangers' -- Ch. 14. `a Thousand Eyes See All I Do' -- Ch. 15. `i Am Soft And Made Of Melting Snow' -- Ch. 16. `the Crooked Carcass'. Tracy Borman. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 381-395) And Index. ""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."--Book jacket." Read more... An examination behind the public faces of the Tudor monarchs draws on material from their most intimate courtiers to illuminate details about their private worlds, from what they ate and the clothes they wore to how they were treated while sick. Tracy Borman, author of the bestselling biography of Thomas Cromwell, takes us behind the scenes to reveal the intimate secrets of the Tudor court and the private lives of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I and more.