How to be a Tudor
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- Create Date：2021-06-14 09:53:22
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Ruth Goodman
- ISBN：0241973716
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Summary
The real Wolf Hall - a time traveller's guide to daily life in Tudor England The Tudor era encompasses some of the greatest changes in our history。 But while we know about the historical dramas of the times - most notably in the court of Henry VIII - what was life really like for a commoner like you or me？ To answer this question， the renowned "method historian" and historical advisor to the BBC Ruth Goodman has slept， washed and cooked as the Tudors did - so you don't have to！ She is your expert guide to this fascinating era， drawing on years of practical historical study to show how our ancestors coped with everyday life， from how they slept to how they courted。 Using a vast range of sources， she takes you back to the time when soot was used as toothpaste and the "upper crust" of bread was served to the wealthier members of the house。 Exploring how the Tudors learnt， danced and even sat and stood according to the latest fashion， she reveals what it all felt， smelt and tasted like， from morning until night。 'Ruth is the queen of living history， long may she reign！' - Lucy Worsley
Reviews
Nancy Ross
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I love this kind of social history--not about wars and kings， but about daily life。 I learned a lot about what people wore， what they ate （the accepted order in which we eat most dinners came to be because of people's belief in the four humors and which foods did what to the body）， the social stratifications of towns and cities， the work of various tradesmen， etc。 Very enlightening。 My only problem was the abrupt ending。 I love this kind of social history--not about wars and kings， but about daily life。 I learned a lot about what people wore， what they ate （the accepted order in which we eat most dinners came to be because of people's belief in the four humors and which foods did what to the body）， the social stratifications of towns and cities， the work of various tradesmen， etc。 Very enlightening。 My only problem was the abrupt ending。 。。。more
Mary Catelli
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Details of life in Tudor England。 The "progress of the day" has some things shoehorned in in loosely suitable times because they were not a daily sort of thing。Covering such things as cloths and sumptuary laws。 Dyes and imported fabric。 How small children had to doff their hats or curtsey to their superiors， which， because of their youth， meant many people who were their parents' inferiors。 The sorts of grain that made bread -- manchet， the finest， was for special days even among the rich， and w Details of life in Tudor England。 The "progress of the day" has some things shoehorned in in loosely suitable times because they were not a daily sort of thing。Covering such things as cloths and sumptuary laws。 Dyes and imported fabric。 How small children had to doff their hats or curtsey to their superiors， which， because of their youth， meant many people who were their parents' inferiors。 The sorts of grain that made bread -- manchet， the finest， was for special days even among the rich， and we find it rather more chewy and tough than normal， and others， such as growing rye and wheat together and just making the bread from the grain。 The vast importance and frequency of plowing。 The dairy work。 Making ale， and alewives selling it。 Ready-made foods -- there were shops open twenty-four hours in London for food。 And more details。Obviously a high-level overview 。。。more
Alix Chidley-Uttley
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Superb！ Kept jumping back into it between feeding sheep。 Loved every word。
Deena
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This is a fascinating take on daily life during the 1485-1603 Tudor era。 Imminently readable and fascinating to people who know little about the period and those of us who know a little TOO much。 I highly recommend it。
Mel Kerr
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Honestly， just as good as the first in the series。 I love reading about regular people from these eras！ I had no idea， for example， that people went out to ale houses， just as they do pubs these days， to hang out， talk and drink socially。Once again Goodman has produced a gem。 I look forward to future releases！
Dianna
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Audio narrator had a dry delivery but the info was fascinating。
Emmalg
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An interesting and easy readI really enjoyed this though it always takes me a long time to read non-fiction， no matter how interesting and easy the style of writing。I've learnt a lot from it。 An interesting and easy readI really enjoyed this though it always takes me a long time to read non-fiction， no matter how interesting and easy the style of writing。I've learnt a lot from it。 。。。more
Rhiannon Grant
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A lively book with details based on historical research and hands-on reconstruction of many of the processes。
Alex
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A highly interesting account of day to day Tudor life， set within the course of a typical day in Tudor England。 I really enjoyed finding out more about the period and how the ordinary people in the Tudor era。
The Over London Project
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During the last week I've become a huge Ruth Goodman fan。 I enjoyed How To Be a Tudor so much。 The approach is pragmatic and interesting。 Goodman's writing and anecdotes are engaging and enjoyable。 This is a definite five-star read and is no-doubt going to be a go-to resource in the future。 During the last week I've become a huge Ruth Goodman fan。 I enjoyed How To Be a Tudor so much。 The approach is pragmatic and interesting。 Goodman's writing and anecdotes are engaging and enjoyable。 This is a definite five-star read and is no-doubt going to be a go-to resource in the future。 。。。more
Mrs Olga A Danes-Volkov
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Brillliantly writtenI’ve often watched Ruth Goodman on tv living history programmes and loved her enthusiasm and articulate way of conveying historical facts。Here， in a a book divided into sections through the day， she very entertainingly gives all the details of Tudor life for people at all stages of social strata。This is a really super book。 If you’re interested in social history， do read it。
A。L。
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Wonderful， intelligent， and informative。 It ended a bit suddenly but it was a wonderful read。
Ergative Absolutive
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This was also a lot of fun。 The details were slightly different from the one on Victorians， and the utterly bonkers views on healthy digestion were extremely bonkers。 I also enjoyed reading about the details of polite posture， and how people were supposed to hold their bodies throughout the period to be fashionable。 The bits on dancing I found less interesting， I confess， than bits on brewing ale， growing wheat， making cheese and the business arrangements of painters and clothes makers， but I do This was also a lot of fun。 The details were slightly different from the one on Victorians， and the utterly bonkers views on healthy digestion were extremely bonkers。 I also enjoyed reading about the details of polite posture， and how people were supposed to hold their bodies throughout the period to be fashionable。 The bits on dancing I found less interesting， I confess， than bits on brewing ale， growing wheat， making cheese and the business arrangements of painters and clothes makers， but I do appreciate the way Goodman makes a real effort to combat the notion that past was a simpler life。 It really wasn't: if you held your hat the wrong way， or bowed the wrong depth， you could give offense--either by accident or on purpose。 I find myself wondering how much richer the plays of the era would have been if you could have seen them acted out with the right contrasts of body language。 And， as always， Goodman's own protectiveness of the Tudors （rush floors weren't really that gross; hygeine wasn't really that stinky as long as you changed your underwear） is charming， and her experience living that lifestyle， trying to make bread and brew ale as they did， and watching her daughter learn to loop silk braid by hand and become an expert in a wildly complex craft， lent a real richness to the picture she wove。 I want to look up those documentaries she keeps talking about having made。 。。。more
Allie
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Excellent and worth combing over many times more。 I look forward to it！ Goodman is an intelligent writer and casts a canny look into the clothes， meals， practices， and laws of the Tudor period。 But then， I love everything she’s ever done， so I am not surprised。
Accalia Smith
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Compelling and fun to read， Ruth goodman makes history truly come alive as she had done in her TV shows。 Pulling together her own experience and extensive research， the Tudor age feels so much closer - all I want to do now is try out her recipes for making Tudor bread！
Vince Summers
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Great run through what it would have been like for ordinary folk living in Tudor times。 Fascinating and informative， well researched and supported by the author's having actually tried living in a period style wearing tudor style clothing and cooking， farming etc。Enjoyable read and dispelled a few myths as well。 Great run through what it would have been like for ordinary folk living in Tudor times。 Fascinating and informative， well researched and supported by the author's having actually tried living in a period style wearing tudor style clothing and cooking， farming etc。Enjoyable read and dispelled a few myths as well。 。。。more
Kathleen
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I'm so proud of my library for having all of Ruth Goodman's books！ I came across the various historic farms series during quarantine and what wonderful， soothing tv for a crazy time。 I wanted to know more about Ruth Goodman （who is knowledgeable and quite funny n these shows） and thus the search for the books。Hooray， public library！Because I liked the Tudor show the most， I started with this book。 The tv show was very farm-centric （did mention more， but for the most part） while the book ranges t I'm so proud of my library for having all of Ruth Goodman's books！ I came across the various historic farms series during quarantine and what wonderful， soothing tv for a crazy time。 I wanted to know more about Ruth Goodman （who is knowledgeable and quite funny n these shows） and thus the search for the books。Hooray， public library！Because I liked the Tudor show the most， I started with this book。 The tv show was very farm-centric （did mention more， but for the most part） while the book ranges through all classes， urban and rural。Most pleasant！ 。。。more
Amelia
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There are a ton of Tudor history books， but this one is different because rather than discussing the monarchs， their relatives or court life it focuses on the most numerous part of society， the labouring and commercial classes。 I really enjoyed it， especially as the author writes in a chatty and easy to understand way， with plenty of humour。 One thing I especially like is that she does her own experiments to test various processes or techniques。My favourite chapters were those dealing with work There are a ton of Tudor history books， but this one is different because rather than discussing the monarchs， their relatives or court life it focuses on the most numerous part of society， the labouring and commercial classes。 I really enjoyed it， especially as the author writes in a chatty and easy to understand way， with plenty of humour。 One thing I especially like is that she does her own experiments to test various processes or techniques。My favourite chapters were those dealing with work and food。 For most men it seems that plowing was their main task， while the women had a huge and varied amount to do in the house and garden。 If that sounds unbalanced then wait until you’ve read what plowing involved！ I also liked learning the origin of phrases like “slugabed” and “pin money”， especially the latter – Jane Austen fans might remember this expression being used for the money a husband would allow his wife for clothes， and it meant the same in Tudor times， but pins were literally the main thing a woman needed to keep her outfit together。 Apparently， “A labourer’s wife might be wearing four or five pins， a lady at court could be wearing a thousand at any one time。” Of course， pins got lost and bent， so had to be bought regularly。I really recommend this book， especially if you enjoy social history， and even if you are a bit tired of books about the Tudors。 I have a much clearer picture of the period now。 Ruth Goodman’s other book， How to be a Victorian， is also brilliant。 。。。more
SJ
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Very well researched。 The author has indepth knowledge and has 'lived' as a Tudor。 She did open up a whole new world for me with this book。 Very well researched。 The author has indepth knowledge and has 'lived' as a Tudor。 She did open up a whole new world for me with this book。 。。。more
Bianca
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Fascinating historical info。 Really like that this is a daily life kind of focus instead of a noble person one。
Amy McElroy
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I'd heard such good things about this book that I really wanted to read it。 We all know the stories of the Tudors whether it is the basic fact that Henry VIII had six wives or knowledge of 'Bloody' Mary and Gloriana but what about the regular people？ Whilst we may be able to read about what people did for a living， food and drink this book has the unique added bonus that Goodman has actually experienced these things！ It is wonderfully refreshing to read someone's actual experience of sleeping on I'd heard such good things about this book that I really wanted to read it。 We all know the stories of the Tudors whether it is the basic fact that Henry VIII had six wives or knowledge of 'Bloody' Mary and Gloriana but what about the regular people？ Whilst we may be able to read about what people did for a living， food and drink this book has the unique added bonus that Goodman has actually experienced these things！ It is wonderfully refreshing to read someone's actual experience of sleeping on straw as they would have done， trying the food etc to give a personal opinion as well as the wealth of information Goodman portrays through her writing。 I was particularly interested in Goodman's experience with rushes on the floor as I have previously wondered how effective they were， how often they should be changed etc。 The prose is easily read and often there is humour throughout from Goodman's experiences， making this a wonderful book to learn about everyday life in the Tudor period。 It made me very grateful for the comforts and technology we currently have。 The book is told in the form of a day from dawn to dusk leading us through a day of a normal person， giving alternate options depending on their vocation and gender。It is easy to see that the people did not have an easy life， worked extremely long hours， had their clothing dictated to them according to rank but there was also the opportunity for fun。 It is interesting to note that a lot of the pastimes are shared across all ranks from royalty to common people including bull baiting， card games and sports。 The chapters are very clear so if you were only interested in one aspect e。g。 dinner or education then you can easily do this but I'd recommend reading the whole book as it's brilliant and is very clearly the result of much research and experiments by Goodman。 The bibliography has given me much more reading material， I am always happy to see a good bibliography。 For anyone wishing to learn about the lives of the ordinary people in the Tudor era I would very much recommend this book。 Although it gives a lot of information it is fun to read which I found made it very enjoyable to read。 。。。more
Ruth Dipple
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Ruth Goodman has fronted many excellent TV series re-creating the past， and her first hand experience of living 'other' lives shows in this engaging and very informative journey through a day in Tudor England。 Having read it I am equipped to make a cheese， plough a field and brew ale whilst negotiating the subtleties of social behaviour in a time both strange and familiar to us。 A handy guide if I ever come across a time machine。 Ruth Goodman has fronted many excellent TV series re-creating the past， and her first hand experience of living 'other' lives shows in this engaging and very informative journey through a day in Tudor England。 Having read it I am equipped to make a cheese， plough a field and brew ale whilst negotiating the subtleties of social behaviour in a time both strange and familiar to us。 A handy guide if I ever come across a time machine。 。。。more
Piisa
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Too。 Much。 Information。 Too。 Many。 Details。 I felt I was choking although I read other books in between。
S。C。 Gregory
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An interesting and intriguing insight into Tudor 's and their everyday lives。 Well-written and easy to read， I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in history。 My review doesn't really do this book justice， but I loved discovering more about this fascinating era。 An interesting and intriguing insight into Tudor 's and their everyday lives。 Well-written and easy to read， I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in history。 My review doesn't really do this book justice， but I loved discovering more about this fascinating era。 。。。more
Layla Ashby
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Ruth has written a VERY detailed History Of The Tudor way of Life about the every day person who lived in Tudor Times。 From the clothing right the way through to Sex。 A very Indepth book with many details on each page。 If you are a student studying The Tudors you need to read this book。 Ruth has left nothing out， If I could give this book ten stars I would。 Just some of the things covered in the book。FarmingLive StockCookingThe ChurchReligionFoodClothesChildren/ In and out of wedlockHenry the VI Ruth has written a VERY detailed History Of The Tudor way of Life about the every day person who lived in Tudor Times。 From the clothing right the way through to Sex。 A very Indepth book with many details on each page。 If you are a student studying The Tudors you need to read this book。 Ruth has left nothing out， If I could give this book ten stars I would。 Just some of the things covered in the book。FarmingLive StockCookingThe ChurchReligionFoodClothesChildren/ In and out of wedlockHenry the VIII and his courtserventsThe richThe Poor。 Sexall with in the way of The Tudor Life style。It is all in this book。 It is a little Goldmine of Knowledge。If you want to start learning about The Tudors READ THIS BOOK！ This book is a GEM！ It took me a while to get through it as it is packed with so much information。***** 5 STARS AND MORE。。。 。。。more
Alex T
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So much fun！
Kavita
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There are so many books on the Tudors but scant in terms of telling us how ordinary people used to live。 In How To Be a Tudor， historian Ruth Goodman takes us through the life of ordinary people living in England during the period from 1485 to 1603。 It is extremely engaging and informative and was an immense pleasure to read。 What I really loved the most is Goodman's own experiences doing the exact same things the Tudors did。 She talks about sleeping on rushes and which ones she found the most c There are so many books on the Tudors but scant in terms of telling us how ordinary people used to live。 In How To Be a Tudor， historian Ruth Goodman takes us through the life of ordinary people living in England during the period from 1485 to 1603。 It is extremely engaging and informative and was an immense pleasure to read。 What I really loved the most is Goodman's own experiences doing the exact same things the Tudors did。 She talks about sleeping on rushes and which ones she found the most comfortable。 She， during her research， often recreated situations in order to enhance her experience and understanding of Tudor concepts of food， sleep， work， and religion。 This is a far cry from dry academic historians who work through original sources。 They are important， but this is a far more fun way of learning history。 Goodman gives detailed explanations and descriptions but sometimes， I am unable to visualise what she is exactly talking about。 This is especially true when she describes hairstyles， how to tie knots， etc。， and I sort of glazed over because of the excessive verbal detail。 Some diagrams would have been very helpful。 In fact， lack of good images is the only thing this book lacks。 There are a few at the very end but these don't appear to be very important。 I wish there may be such interesting history books about India， but doesn't seem to be likely in the near future。 However， I do still have Goodman's Victorian book left to read！ Meanwhile， I highly recommend this one to everyone even mildly interested in history。 。。。more
Katie
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There is a lot of interesting tidbits in this book， but you have to wade through a lot of somewhat boring info to get to them。 I felt like I was really reading a how-to manual in Tudor living。 I don’t care about how to make ale or a mattress， but learning that eggs and milk weren’t the year round staples we know and rely on is interesting to me。 I liked her first book， How to be a Victorian much better。 I’m glad I read it first。
Toni
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2nd read
Joanne Wood
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Although the narrator was perfectly fine， I'll take off a quarter of a star because Ruth Goodman isn't reading it herself :（ Although the narrator was perfectly fine， I'll take off a quarter of a star because Ruth Goodman isn't reading it herself :（ 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=How to be a Tudor
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=How to be a Tudor&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,How to be a Tudor&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0