Exclusive interview with author Peter Ackroyd and a review of his new book about Tudor history and the Church of England
Rating: 3 stars
By Gabrielle Pantera
“The idea for a series of six books on English history came to me, as they say, ‘in a flash’,” says Tudors author Peter Ackroyd. “I simply sat down and wrote out the titles of the books in sequence, and then sent them to my agent. That was that.”
This is the second book in the History of England series by Ackroyd. It picks up after Foundation: The History of England from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors. Everyone is interested in the Tudors reign because of the popular Tudors television series. Their extreme behavior makes good drama…whether it’s King Henry VIII killing two of his wives, Mary in her Catholic fanaticism murdering priests, or questioning whether Elizabeth was really The Virgin Queen.
The church and the reformation are the backbone of this book. It’s great for learning more about Henry’s acrimonious break Rome over divorcing his first wife and the ruthless way he established the Church of England. Most people know that Henry VIII really wanted a son and wasn’t above changing the rules to get what he wanted. Ackroyd details Henry’s whims and the paradox that was Henry’s demands versus his religious actions. He goes on to reveal just how the daughter of the ill-fated Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, was able to bring about peace to her country.
After Henry dies, his sickly son Edward becomes King. The church becomes much more Protestant and hostile to Catholics. After Edward’s short reign, his eldest sister Mary resets the country to full Catholic faith. She gains the nickname Bloody Mary for all the blood shed in her quest. When Elizabeth comes to the throne she seeks to mend the devastation wrought by her brother and sisters, to create balance. Ackroyd uses London as a character in the story to relate to the everyday people of the time.
Ackroyd says he tries to read every book on any of the topics he’s covering. “Nothing was particularly surprising or unexpected except for the fact that the material seemed to form itself as I worked. I have two researchers who enquire into various subjects which I pass on to them.”
Ackroyd has written over forty books, including London The Concise Biography (2012), London Under Ground (2012), and Dickens (2012). Tudors: The History of England from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I has not been optioned for film or television.
Georgina Morley at Macmillan, England, is Ackroyd’s editor. Ackroyd says his biggest challenge is getting the book to her on time and ready.
“Georgina makes suggestions, which I generally follow,” says Ackroyd. “It is all very amicable.”
Sonia Land at Sheil Land Associates Ltd. has been Ackroyd’s agent for over thirty years.
“I’ve been in the publishing industry for way over 40 years,” says Ackroyd’s agent Sonia Land. “Peter is one of the most talented and gifted authors I’ve come across. Despite his overwhelming successes in writing fiction, non-fiction, screenplays, plays, presenting television programmes and having his books snapped up for film and television…and he even wrote a Libretto which will be performed in the Theater an der Wien in Vienna later this month…Peter remains one of the most delightful, likeable and unprepossessing persons I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.”
Ackroyd was born in East Acton, London.
Tudors: The History of England from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I. Series: History of England (Book 2) .Hardcover: 528 pages, Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (October 8, 2013) Language: English ISBN: 9781250003621 $29.99
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