The Illustrated Tudor Dictionary (Hardback)
Imprint: Pen & Sword History
Pages: 288
Illustrations: 30 colour illustrations, 100 mono illustrations
ISBN: 9781036101985
Published: 13th December 2024
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The Illustrated Tudor Dictionary is unique. For the first time, the Tudor Age has been brought to life in an illustrated dictionary format that is clear and easy to read. It is aimed at anyone who wants to widen and deepen their knowledge of sixteenth-century England. Cross-referencing is made easy with highlighted text and numerous, beautiful images provide further insight into this period.
All notable characters, events and themes are covered, ranging from Henry VIII, education and the Battle of Bosworth to Francis Drake, the Reformation and the Spanish Armada. Several entries also deal with lesser-known characters and aspects such as Will Somer, marriage and Parliament.
The book aims to include all of the important facts but, at the same time, provide the reader with fascinating trivia. The following questions, for example, are answered:
Which king’s head was used as a football?
Who was the first female ambassador in European history?
Who had to be buried at midnight to prevent a riot?
Why was a leading European academic abducted, blindfolded and forced into a fishing boat?
Which ‘wizard’ claimed he could communicate with angels?
Why is a hangman’s rope displayed in a school cabinet?
Which monarch always cheated at cards?
Written in a concise and balanced style, The Illustrated Tudor Dictionary is the best introduction for students and lovers of history to the heroes and villains, the saints and sinners and the glories and disasters of the Tudor Age.
"The Illustrated Tudor Dictionary" by Simon Sandys-Winsch is a must-have reference tool for any Tudor lover. There are hundreds of entries detailing different locations, events, people and ideas - some are more well known, while others are more obscure. The topics are not overly detailed, making this more of a reference guide. The dictionary format is ideal if one needs to quickly look up when the Battle of Bosworth Field occurred, or if you're like me and can't keep them straight, which Thomas Howard was which (there were 3 of them!).
NetGalley, Danielle Holeman
It is well organized with many beautiful illustrations, including family trees, portraits, maps, etc. A particular favorite section of mine was on health and medicine in the Tudor age, which listed some outlandish "cures", as well as the section on marriage (the Church had some VERY interesting contraceptive advice, to say the least).
I would recommend this to both the avid history lovers/readers, as well as those who are curious about the Tudor era and just want a starting point in learning about key events and figures. The topics are organized alphabetically, with cross-references included, making it easy to find specific topics, and the details given are easy to read and understandable, as well as accurate and concise. This is definitely a beautiful addition to any Tudor lover's library and I hope to someday add a physical copy for my own collection.
‘Welcome to the Tudor Age.’
NetGalley, Georgi Lvs Books
The ideal read for anyone interested in Tudor history.
A book you can revisit again and again, learning about certain Tudors to also learning about the crimes and punishments to health and medicine that happened during the Tudor period.
I personally loved the images throughout!
Some ‘medical’ advice during these times….
‘Jaundice: swallow nine lice mixed with ale each morning for a week.’
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Sarah-Elizabeth Hughes
An Invaluable Tudor Reference
*The Illustrated Tudor Dictionary* is a must-have resource for anyone delving into the fascinating world of Tudor England. Packed with well-organised entries, gorgeous illustrations, family trees, and maps, it serves as a comprehensive and accessible guide to the period's notable figures, pivotal events, and intriguing trivia.
As someone currently exploring the *Plantagenet and Tudor* series by Philippa Gregory, I found this dictionary an excellent companion, enriching my reading experience with historical context and clarity. The cross-referenced format makes it easy to dive into specific topics, and I appreciated the inclusion of lesser-known characters and fascinating anecdotes (who knew about the monarch who cheated at cards or the academic's dramatic abduction?).
Whether you're a student, history lover, or avid reader of Tudor-era fiction and nonfiction, this beautifully illustrated dictionary is both a practical reference and a joy to peruse. I will definitely be looking at acquiring a hardback edition of this book to add to the historical shelves of my personal library.
Simon Sandys-Winsch's The Illustrated Tudor Dictionary provided an interesting looking into the Tudor era that few have done before. Broken down indeed like a dictionary, Sandys-Winsch covers from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I and all things in between.
NetGalley, Abigail Tyn
You will not find in depth coverage of each topic discussed; however, what information is provided is accurate and concise. Some include pictures and diagrams of what the subject is about. There are of course more famous persons of the area covered (each royal of the Tudor period is provided some extra details), but you will find lesser-known individuals as well. Additionally, it is not just limited to those who lived, but also events that occurred as well as general everyday topics.
This was an interesting read and should be a must be for any Tudor history fan's library. With its wide variety of subjects covered, from A to Z, it will be helpful for a quick reference guide.
A great reference book and a must have for those interested to learn more about the Tudor era. The book is extremely detailed with a lot of facts and illustrations
NetGalley, Ceylan Goktalay
A book that I found interesting to read but also as a pen portrait reference book for the most important players of the Tudor period. I was reading a different book about the Tudors and when I came across a name that wasn't fully explained used this book to get a greater insight on them. Very helpful. Worth reading anyway.
NetGalley, Rolf Bachelor
The Illustrated Tudor Dictionary by Simon Sandys-Winsch is perfect for those like me with an insatiable Tudor era curiosity. The dictionary format with photographs and illustrations is wonderful for diving and out at whim.
NetGalley, Brenda Carleton
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Kathryn McLeer
I really enjoyed reading this, it had that concept that I wanted from a Tudor dictionary. Simon Sandys-Winsch does a great job with the research
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Anita Wallas
What an original idea. I dipped into this book as soon as I received it and it’s truly fascinating and completely original. The Tudors were an exciting and conflicted dynasty and so much has been written about not only the monarchs, but many of the key players, places and events. Looking back at that period it can be difficult to see a clear overview of how all was interlinked. Simon Sandys-Winsch has done a remarkable job in collating and presenting an invaluable reference for anyone interested in this era. I’m sure it will interest scholars and lay readers alike.
It’s a not a book to read from cover to cover; as the title suggests, it’s a dictionary and it does set out everything in alphabetical order. But it’s also encyclopaedic and inevitably, if something takes your interest, it leads to associated references and having intended to look up one thing, a couple of hours has flown by as other information has been followed up. The main body of the work has many illustrations and I particularly enjoyed a section at the end which is a huge portrait gallery of many of the main people. There’s an extensive reference of resources, mainly online, but of significant interest to anyone who wants to undertake further research. Each of the alphabetical entries is detailed and gives more than an overview of the subject. Absolutely fascinating.
It’s a sumptuous title. One I think best appreciated in paper format. The electronic version is very good but for me, I prefer to browse with a hard copy and I’ve added it to my Christmas wish list of books! I love this book and happily recommend it to anyone interested in the Tudors or social history.
About Simon Sandys-Winsch
Simon Sandys-Winsch acquired his degree in History and International Politics at Aberystwyth University before becoming a teacher of history in a variety of schools. As a teacher, he realised the importance of knowing topics inside out as well as the need to keep lessons as informative and interesting as possible. Now that he has finished teaching, he seeks another way to enthuse others in his passion for the past – writing books about history!