Page 92 - All About History - Issue 52-17

Reviews

LONDON’S TRIUMPH:

MERCHANT ADVENTURERS AND THE TUDOR CITY
The rise of a medieval city into a global community
Author Stephen Alford Publisher Allen Lane Price £20 Released Out now

ondon’s Triumph tells the story of 16th Churches remain a uniting community centre,
century London from a new perspective. but the role of worship evolves throughout the
Instead of focusing upon the politics, Alford century, forming in London a worldview that
digs deeper to give the reader a satisfying modern readers find more familiar than that of
Lportrait of the city at work behind the the first Tudors.
glitter and riches of kings and queens. The Through the stories of merchant adventurers
names mentioned in this book may not who made and lost fortunes in Antwerp,
be familiar, but they are just as vital to the the newly discovered Russian court, and in
development of London as a global community. precarious relationships with the crown, a richer
We are shown a London charged with energy story of Tudor London is revealed. The reader
and entrepreneurship. In a city as diverse as it sees the city rise, the Royal Exchange built,
is proud, immigrants work with gentlemen’s the crowds swell in St Paul’s courtyard. After
younger sons and those who have become watching the city claim victory over famine,
disillusioned with life in the countryside. When disease, and adversity, it is almost heartbreaking
this blend of cultures, experiences, and beliefs to be reminded that it all had to be rebuilt after
comes together, it creates a London unafraid the Great Fire of 1666.
to dream its way to being one of the world’s This examination of the merchants of Tudor
leading business centres. London and the extreme risks they took to
The author examines the role of faith, once establish the city as a global trading centre
a vital concern of monarchs and subjects, gives a new appreciation for the glimpses of
as it becomes secondary to making a living. Medieval England still tucked around the city,

THE SEYMOURS OF WOLF HALL

A revealing portrait of the family of Henry VIII’s Queen Jane

Author David Loades Publisher Amberley Publishing Price £9.99 Released Out now

RECOMMENDS… uring the reign of Henry VIII, the Seymour family was imprisoned with her husband, the younger Edward
seems to come out of nowhere to rise to the Seymour, when the purpose of their imprisonment was to
Churchill & The Dardanelles pinnacle of power in England. Loades investigates keep them apart.
Author: Christopher Bell Price: £25 the background and characteristics of this family to The remainder of the Seymour story beyond the
Publisher: OUP Ddiscover how one of their number became queen Tudor period is told in a handful of pages, making this a
without the scheming and positioning that had put the book primarily focused on Edward with chapters giving
The Dardanelles
Campaign of 1915, Boleyn faction in power. First arriving with William the summaries of the lives of Jane, Thomas, Henry, and
and the role of the Conqueror, the Seymours seem to be a rare example of a Edward VI. Mirroring the beginning of the book that
man most closely family who climbed the ranks on their own merit, with tracks the Seymours from
associated with it siblings Jane and Edward finding themselves close to the Medieval France to Tudor
remains enveloped
in controversy king without machinations. England, the epilogue
to this day. The book does not linger too long on Jane’s time as follows the Seymour family
The names queen, and brings other members of the family to the fore. tree to present day.
Winston Churchill
and the Dardanelles Straits are In particular, the reader is treated to detailed background This book examines an
intrinsically linked and as author on Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, whose meteoric intriguing family whose
Christopher M Bell tells us in his rise from courtier to lord protector is often assumed to be rise to power could have
meticulously researched account, “the due to his sister’s position. Loades provides a compelling placed their descendants
campaign still casts a long shadow over
Churchill’s reputation.” argument for the idea that it was Edward’s personal skill upon the throne of England
Bell makes it clear that Churchill and character that made him useful to the king. for generations. Tudor
was neither the hero nor the victim, The details included in this book are enjoyable for the enthusiasts looking to
and that these campaigns do not lend
themselves to sweeping generalisations. Tudor enthusiast looking for more information on the expand their knowledge of
It is worth noting that in his history Seymour family. However, it is somewhat odd to discover the prominent players will
of World War II, Churchill himself what details are not included, such as the scandal with enjoy seeing the Seymours
acknowledged that, “War is usually a
catalogue of blunders.” Edward’s first wife and disinherited children. There are revealed in The Seymours Of
also clear errors, as when it is stated that Catherine Grey Wolf Hall.
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