So, if you follow me on Instagram, you’ll have seen that my book has been on a #Bookstagram tour this last week, thanks to Pen and Sword Books. There have been some brilliant reviews and some lovely photos to accompany them. I just want to say a massive thanks to all who have taken part:
@littlemissbooklover87
@bethshistoricalblog
@ames_reads
@historywithkel
@georgi_lvs_books
@historic_rabbithole
@bookshelf_wonders
@tattooedliteraryresearcher
@historywithmegs
@historywithrosie
I’m posting the reviews below for anyone not on Instagram, but I feel so humbled by the lovely reviews and comments.
@littlemissbooklover87
This has been interesting and really shone a light on the reign of Elizabeth I. I found this fascinating, I’ve always loved the period around Tudor history so was instantly excited by this one. Elizabeth I was never going to have an easy time. This is a book that shines a light on each rebellion she faced with analysis on how her reign was impacted by these. This is a book that delves deep into each rebellion and I’ve been completely engrossed. We really see what happened, who was involved and how they play out. This is written in a way that it’s easy to get lost in the pages. Informative, interesting and beautifully written. A must for all history fans.
@bethshistoricalblog
“Elizabethan Rebellions” is the perfect introduction to the scheming snake-pits of the Elizabethan Court. Covering the monumental political, religious and social schisms of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, historian Helene Harrison takes us on a journey through the oft-times complicated and vicious plots, intrigues and conspiracies that threatened the Queen’s hold over her own throne. Harrison carefully unwraps the most infamous of Elizabethan rebellions, from the Throckmorton Plot of 1583, to the Babington Plot of 1586, introducing us to the key players and unravelling the web of motives behind each uprising. Harrison achieves what other historians have often struggled with – presenting the Elizabethan rebellions in a readable manner, simple enough for even the most beginner of history lovers to grasp its complicated concepts, while simultaneously ensuring that no detail is missed, and no stone goes unturned. If you’re a fan of Queenship in Tudor England, particularly of Elizabeth I and her most infamous of rivals, Mary, Queen of Scots, then this book will peak your interest. “Elizabethan Rebellions” presents history almost in a intimate, personal way – we enter the mind of the Virgin Queen, and come to understand her decisions, including how and why she signed the execution warrant of the Scottish Queen. In all, this is the perfect book for casual readers and researchers alike. It forgoes the complicated (and boring!) jargon of heavy-academic books, yet maintains an astute and intellectual readability that I’m sure readers will appreciate. You can purchase “Elizabethan Rebellions” from Pen & Sword Books, and other major retailers now! Make sure to follow Helene, Pen & Sword, and the other fantastic history and book lovers also taking part in this book tour!
@ames_reads
Thank you to @penswordbooks and @tudorblogger for providing me with a copy of this book to review! After a helpful preface, each chapter takes an essay format & could really be read as a standalone commentary on that particular plot / rebellion if there was one that you were specifically interested in, especially given the detail of information.The author examines plots / rebellions prior to and during Elizabeth’s reign of 1588 – 1603. I appreciated the way the narrative was handled, the author adds a personal touch to what can seem quite remote events by considering how Elizabeth may have viewed things based on her previous life experiences and social context. There was no bias and the reader is left free to make up their own mind without overbearing opinion. I really did learn a lot from reading this book – it was particularly interesting to read about the social history of feudalism in the North, as well as the legislative changes and their links to the plots / rebellions. Whilst I was gripped, one aspect I struggled with was the jumping in time throughout the narrative. The author clearly has a wealth of knowledge, and this book may be easier for those who have a grasp on this area of history rather than anyone coming in a bit blank like me! Overall, this was a very interesting read – there was just a lot of information to take in! If you are going into this one not knowing too much on the topic, I would just take it as separate essays and read one chapter at a time with a break in between so you can digest and retain all of the info.
@historywithkel
Thank you to Pen and Sword for sending me a copy to read and review for the #ElizabethanRebellions book tour. Elizabethan Rebellions: Conspiracy, Intrigue and Treason by Helene Harrison gives a fascinating and very informative insight into the Catholic rebellions during Elizabeth I’s reign. This book details five of the rebellions, which are the Northern Rising of 1569, Ridolfi Plot of 1571, Throckmorton Plot of 1583, Babington Plot of 1586, and the Essex Rebellion of 1601. Separated into several chapters, Helene goes into detail about each of the five plots, who instigated them and their reasonings behind them, namely because she was a Protestant Queen and they wanted to put Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne because she was Catholic and partly because Mary Queen of Scots who had spent many years imprisoned and wanted her freedom. The only rebellion that didn’t involve Mary Queen of Scots was the Essex Rebellion of 1601, which had involved Robert Devereux, the 2nd Earl of Essex. I went into this book hardly knowing anything about any of these rebellions and plots which took place during Elizabeth I’s reign, and it was a fascinating and insightful read. This book is intriguing and very well researched and written. I enjoyed reading it and learning more about these plots that took place and I recommend it to anyone who loves Tudor History and anyone who wants to get into learning more about the history of the Tudor’s. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
@georgi_lvs_books
It’s my stop on the book tour for #ElizabethanRebellions hosted by @penswordbooks and written by @tudorblogger. 2023 seems to be the year for me being ADDICTED to anything Tudor related and this is one book to add to your TBR! Helene discusses the five rebellions that happened during Elizabeth’s reign. She has done a lot of research! My favourite rebellion to read about was the Babington Plot in 1586. A must read if you enjoy reading about History and the Tudor era. “Elizabeth understood threats to her throne, and she acted to make sure her throne and her power were safe.” On another note completely, Helene is such a wonderful and lovely person. She has always made an effort to chat with me and she is currently writing her next book which I cannot wait to get my hands on!
@historic_rabbithole
Elizabeth I’s reign has been written about in many biographies and can be seen in plays and on tv and film. This book does not cover her full reign but instead examines the major rebellions that Elizabeth faced. Elizabeth’s Rebellions were not all isolated incidents apart from previous and future reigns. Her grandfather, father and siblings all had to content with rebellions seeking to oust them from the throne and the book looks at these attempts as well, giving a well rounded look into Tudor rebellions. The book is an easy read and more overview than deep study so very accessible and enjoyable to all type of reader. Great for all Tudor lovers. I think this book has came at a perfect time with the protests around the coronation of our new King. He might not be facing a Tudor rebellion, but the monarchy 420 years after Elizabeth’s death is still on shaky ground.
@bookshelf_wonders
I rate this 5 Stars. Thank you yet again to @penswordbooks for another magical tour! It has been wonderful! I’m most definitely in my History reading era. I’m absolutely loving historical books at the moment and @tudorblogger has written this fabulous one! I really enjoyed learning about Elizabeth I and her reign in the Tudor era. I enjoyed reading about the Rebellions and their plot against her. I honestly didn’t know much about the Tudors apart from Henry VIII, so this was another great learning experience for me! I absolutely loved it. There was lots of information in this book but I loved it. It’s brilliantly written and I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The cover is gorgeous and aesthetically pleasing.
@tattooedliteraryresearcher
Firstly, thanks to @penswordbooks for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review. One thing I love about reading @tudorblogger’s books is that you can tell she’s a passionate historian who puts a lot of time and effort into her writing: this book was no different. Although I felt I had some knowledge of Elizabeth I, Harrison’s book has shown me how little I actually knew about the various rebellions that plagued Elizabeth I’s reign. I felt a lot of sympathy for Elizabeth as she had to deal with rebellions against her throughout her entire reign (and she was the longest reigning Tudor monarch). The last rebellion against her was in 1601 (just two years before her death), so these rebellions lasted not only her reign, but the majority of her life. It shows her resilience and strength to deal with these constant threats, but also how these issues caused her to question who to trust. I was aware that certain rebellions against Elizabeth involved Mary Queen of Scots and Catholics, but this book increased my knowledge and made me aware these elements were a lot more prominent than you realise. For anyone who loves general Tudor history this book would be great for you as not only did it discuss Elizabeth in great detail, but it also gave a lot of information about other people during the period. For example, I never knew that it was a possibility that Mary Boleyn’s children were fathered by Henry VIII during their affair, or that Mary Queen of Scots was arguably kidnapped and raped by Bothwell and her marriage to him was to protect her reputation. These moments really added to the book. Overall, a great book and, although it’s obviously well researched, it reads more as an overview so it’s informative, but not overly complex which makes the read more enjoyable.
@historywithmegs
Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to @penswordbooks for sending me this copy to read and review! #ad #gifted. As stated on the cover, this book takes the reader on a journey into the depths of intrigue surrounding rebellion and dissent during the reign of Elizabeth I. Usefully, the scene is set very well by the author, who details earlier rebellions of the Tudor era in a helpful but succinct way. I thought that this was a real strength of the book and although I was familiar with the earlier risings it was nice to have a little refresher! The major plots and rebellions of Elizabeth’s reign are covered in appropriate detail throughout the text, with chapters dedicated to The Northern Rising of 1569, The Ridolfi Plot of 1571, The Throckmorton Plot of 1583, The Babington Plot of 1586, and the Essex Rebellion of 1601. I particularly enjoyed the writing on the Essex Rebellion as an interesting lesson in some late-Tudor history. Although Harrison’s examination of these episodes is in depth, her writing style means that the book is really accessible and easy to read, whether you’re familiar with the territory or are learning about the events for the first time. This is a must read for Tudor history lovers and I know I will be coming back to it time and time again as a useful reference book. It’s also one of those books that you can dip in and out of quite easily which is always nice if you’re going through a busy period of life!
@historywithrosie
I really enjoyed this book! Well worth a read especially if you enjoy Tudor history! It was interesting to learn about an aspect of Tudor history I didn’t know too much about! Plus who doesn’t love a bit of treason and conspiracy? If you’re a fan of Tudor History or enjoy reading about rebellions then you’ll find this a fascinating read – I’m not the biggest Tudor fan and I really enjoyed it! Make sure to go purchase it via @penswordbooks and follow @tudorblogger for more Tudor history!
Tudor Blogger 