The Untold History of Henry VIII and the Tudors by Judith John

When we look at them closely, it becomes clear that the newest Tudor trends have attuned themselves thoughtfully and provocatively to our social and cultural moment. The answer may lie in following pop culture rather than fighting it. But they worry about how much more there is to give: how can we tell stories about the Tudors that don’t just reassert, over and over again, premodern priorities and assumptions about religion, class, gender, sexuality, and race? For example, Shakespeare lived 39 of his 52 years under Tudor rule, and his plays, full of mystery, mirth, and murder most foul, are products of the period. Tudor food, music, costumes, and, of course, literature offer most modern Americans, at a minimum, a sense of vague familiarity with the women and men who were part of this family. The Tudors have also benefited from their long inclusion in American cultural and educational life. This isn’t because we can’t recognize the inherent appeal: the central soapy drama-the marriages, divorces, executions, and political intrigue-is transcendent and a bit escapist.

Historians of Britain often bemoan the popularity of the Tudors. And it has the potential to focus entirely upon the experiences of white people. It risks being heteronormative, centering on romances, marriages, feuds, and divorces. It can feed religious intolerance in its praise of Protestant ascendancy. Attending to the Tudors can seem classist, reifying history’s long preference for lauding wealthy, well-known people. These are worn-out stories, but enthusiasm for the family that inspired them never seems to wane. But our Tudormania is mighty, playing out in books, radio, television, film, and, increasingly, social media. Why does one royal dynasty from early modern Britain still get so much popular attention? The Tudors themselves reigned for only 114 years. (1606), courtesy of the Folger Shakespeare Library Base image from Robert Fletcher, The nine English worthies. But they are appearing in new arenas and with a new emphasis on diversity.

King Henry VIII, his parents, six wives, and four children continue to inspire pop culture.

The Untold History of Henry VIII and the Tudors by Judith John