TREASON!

For those of you that march to the drum beat of ‘“Eat the Rich” this book is for you.

Unlike the French Revolution where the common man rose up to strike down the royalty. In England during the Tudor reign of the 16th Century the King or Queen killed their own.

In this book we witness what it meant to be accused of treason against the crown. It didn’t matter who you were or how powerful your family was you could get your head chopped off. A bloody time to be rich and powerful.

NetGalley, Brannigan Cheney

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Tudor dynasty was notorious for its executions, particularly of the nobility. This book explores the history of treason during the Tudor era, examining how and why nobles like Anne Boleyn and the Earl of Essex fell victim to this charge. Through detailed accounts of individual cases, it reveals the shifting definition of treason and its devastating impact on the English aristocracy.

This book is interesting, informative, and easy to read.

NetGalley, Andrea Romance

I thought this was a fantastic read. I would recommend it to all Tudor enthusiasts, especially those who may not have much prior knowledge about the background of the figures discussed in this book.

NetGalley, Danielle Holeman

This a book that you pick up because the subject sounds interesting and it fosters the reader's interest in the subject, fostering a desire to learn more. Many of the individuals that Harrison covers in this book are well-known Tudor figures (e.g., Anne Boleyn, Kathryn Howard, Jane Boleyn) and a few lesser-known (e.g., Henry Howard). However, the way that Harrison outlines these individuals' lives and the events that led to their executions is written in such a way that it piques your interest in these individuals. I never thought I would be Googling books on Henry Howard or Thomas Howard but the chapters on them made me interested to learn more.

I think that the shining moment of the book is how much Harrison highlights the Howard family. It is not unusual for the noble houses to be connected during this period (and in other periods as well), but the Howards seemed to have a disproportionately high appearance rate in treason cases. Throughout the book, Harrison draws connections between members of the Howard family and perfectly highlights how they are a cautionary tale of how having too much ambition and royal connections can lead to devastating consequences...

This is a thought-provoking read for any Tudor lover. It has really interesting information specific to the executions of nobility, including their scaffold speeches. Lovers of Tudor history will enjoy this book and it will likely set them on the path of learning about notable figures outside the royal family. I would recommend this book.

NetGalley, Shana Needham

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed Helene’s previous book very much, so I was excited to read this one. Everyone is fascinated by the Tudor monarch’s predisposition towards execution, but the title of this book implies such a broad approach to the topic that I was intrigued to find out how Helene approached the subject matter and dealt with the number people involved.

The answer is she does so very well. The book opens with the execution of Edward Plantagenet, who had to die to secure Henry VII’s position and allow him to take his place on the international stage, and ends with the death of Robert Devereaux, the frankly idiotic Earl of Essex. As such it covers the reigns of all the Tudor monarchs.

The author here systematically and clearly looks at the reasons behind the executions and then the events which took place. Such consistent violence could have been difficult to read but the fact that Helene here focuses on the facts rather than the emotion allows for a certain dissociation and for the historical reality to shine through.

The author has a clear, consistent style and this book is obviously very well researched. I learnt some interesting facts in particular about the execution of Margaret Pole, which I found to be the most hideous of all the related events.

One thing which the author makes clear is just how interrelated the monarch was with the nobles they executed. These were not cold or distant acts; they were in most cases very personal. Helene is careful not to apportion blame though and makes clear that there was no way to separate the personal monarch from the political in Tudor England.

What emerges therefore is a detailed and well-balanced book, perfect for anyone wanting to learn the reality behind the most high-profile Tudor executions.

NetGalley, Rebecca B

If you are a Tudor nerd who is interested in the more gruesome side of the glamorous Tudor court, I would suggest you read, “Tudor Executions: From Nobility to the Block” by Helene Harrison.

NetGalley, Heidi Malagisi

As an avid history lover, I was so invested in this book, especially since I didn’t know the full story of some of the people in this book. I have done my family tree, and I am related to some of the people in the book (e.g. Margaret Pole) and I loved learning more about their lives! I highly recommend this book to those who love history, especially Tudor history as it lets us see in people’s lives if they were high ranked in society!

NetGalley, Kenzie Anderson

As a lover of Tudor history, it was refreshing to read something different that hasn’t been done before, especially in such a detailed and unbiased way.

NetGalley, Alex Longden

A very good book for new and old Tudor fans alike. Well researched and detailed without being dry. Each chapter can be read as a stand alone as every unfortunate soul has their own. However, there is some repetition as it relates from one person to another i.e., Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard. This in no way distracts from the story. I think this would make an excellent edition to anyone's Tudor collection. Contains pictures which is always a bonus for me.

NetGalley, Christine Cazeneuve

I loved the format, writing, research and the ease of reading this. Each person is given their own chapter with their family history, their place in the Tudor court and their charges and reasons for their execution. It was very detailed with occasional new to me information which in my opinion is difficult to do due to my wide reading over the years on the Tudors themselves. Very much recommend to new and old fans alike.

NetGalley, Leslie Hall

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Tudor period was a time of treachery and treason. So many nobles were constantly vying for power and privilege but allegiance to the monarchy was a tenuous game and many paid the ultimate price; their life after being found guilty of treason. I hadn't realised that at the start of the Stuart period, there were no dukes left. Helene Harrison has a particular interest in this era and writes with authority in an easy accessible style. Her research appears impeccable which an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources, a comprehensive index and a fascinating selection of illustrative plates.. Each chapter also has detailed footnotes throughout.

I really like the way she has approached this fascinating topic. She outlines those who lost their life and helpfully includes a definition of treason. It’s broader than just an act against the monarch and Henry VIII even managed to change the law allowing him to execute mad people. In one way, it wasn’t unusual that so many lost their life as a result of the treason allegation. This was a period of constant duplicity and all the nobles were interlinked, often by marriage. They all sought royal favour in one way or another and would stop at nothing to gain status. Their games often resulted in their downfall and this book provides fascinating insight into these bloody times and struggles for power. The narrative is arranged in such a way that each chapter may be read as a standalone ( with one exception). So it’s a great book to dip into. There are extensive family trees at the beginning which show familial links. Best of all is that Ms Harrison really gets behind the individuals and brings them to life. They become people rather than just titles and she explores motivations in an accessible and fascinating way for the lay reader. I’ve really enjoyed this book which delves into a completely different aspect of Tudor society. Original, informed and so readable. I’ll be looking for more from this author.

NetGalley, Anita Wallas

This was such a an interesting read. I think a lot of people are fascinated with the British royal family and this shows another side we don't really see. I would definitely recommend to anyone

NetGalley, Sierra Gonzalez

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyable stories of how some of the elite in Tudor times got to where they did. It doesn't revel in the macabre but instead is fantastically educational, telling the stories of the people and not just how they died.

NetGalley, Victoria Matthews

This was an interesting read about Tudor life, and well, death. Each chapter gives a quite detailed picture of the person leading up to their execution. Something I’m taking with me is how interwoven the royal and noble families in Tudor time were. That was very interesting.

NetGalley, Sarah Matsson-Klingzell

‘Once the condemned person was dead, the executioner would traditionally hold up the head to the watching crowd and declare ‘behold the head of a traitor’ Legend suggests that this was so that the head could see the crowd and its own decapitated body.’

Another interesting read from Helene!

Executions from Anne Boleyn, Thomas Seymour and Jane Grey to name a few.

A must read for history lovers and those who can handle some gory execution's.

NetGalley, Georgi Lvs Books

A great read about the bloody tudor reign,

Helene Harrison creates an enticing and easy to read non fiction for all Tudor enthusiasts.

We all know the old rhyme “divorced, beheaded, died…” when we think of Henry VIII and his wives. This is not that book, though is does feature Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard. But they are not the main talking points of this book, which Was honestly rather refreshing. While these two women’s executions are well known,( and for good reason) they were far from the only victims.
The book begins with Henry VII, who I think is often overlooked because of his son. Henry VII, had his fair share of executions during his reign, most famously perkin Warbeck the pretender. So when they say Tudor executions in the title, it is true. It doesn’t only cover Henry VIII and his children.

Helene goes in depth, dedicating chapters of varying lengths for each person so even someone brand new to history can read. While I’m very familiar with all people discussed I found this entertaining and enlightening despite having previous knowledge. It didn’t feel weighed down with academic textbook language either. Her writing style is what I would consider conversational. If you’re familiar at all with Essayists on YouTube the writing is like that. Informative, but far from boring.

NetGalley, Britt Koller

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This was a really well done nonfiction novel, I really enjoy the Tudor time-period. It had that research that I was looking for and was written perfectly. Helene Harrison has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more.

NetGalley, Kathryn McLeer