Tag: “The Tudors”

A visible difference

This Mail on Sunday interview with Jonathan Rhys Meyers is sadly, mostly about his current personal problems. However, one or two paragraphs towards the end, should be of interest: But it was his lead role in TV drama The Tudors, as the criminally charismatic Henry VIII, that made everyone take note, even though Rhys Meyers… Continue reading A visible difference

The anachronism that wasn’t

This article lists a few errors in two current popular drama series but its criticisms are not as authoritative as they may seem. On “Victoria”, it quotes Professor Jane Ridley, who is a leading expert on that monarch and is a descendant of one of England’s first married bishops, and A.N. Wilson on several points. However,… Continue reading The anachronism that wasn’t

TUDOR HISTORY: FACT OR FICTION? – PART 1

Once upon a time, I had a history teacher who asked his class, “What do you believe about [X]?” We wrote down our answers. He collected them. And then he asked, “Why do you believe what you believe?” We discussed. In only a few minutes we had reached a conclusion: “Our parents, our religious leaders,… Continue reading TUDOR HISTORY: FACT OR FICTION? – PART 1

Boiling a cook alive – Enlightened penal policy under Henry VIII

It is well known that John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, was one of the principal opponents of Henry VIII’s attempt to divorce Catherine of Aragon. The boiling to death of his cook for the alleged crime of attempting to poison him is less familiar. The facts are that a number of people in the bishop’s… Continue reading Boiling a cook alive – Enlightened penal policy under Henry VIII

A Strange Tale from the Reign of Henry VIII

The following is based on information found in The Reign of Henry VIII, by James Anthony Froude. A book originally published in 1909. Sir William and Sir George Neville were brothers of Lord Latimer – the same Latimer who was husband to the famous Catherine Parr. They were arrested on mere suspicion – possibly because… Continue reading A Strange Tale from the Reign of Henry VIII

Why do people still hate Richard III?

There is an argument in some quarters that Ricardians are “nutters”, “obsessives” and a lot of other ruder words. There is an element of truth in this, given that virtually all human activity beyond eating, sex and sleeping is inherently pointless. Unless one is part of the enthusiasm, it is equally hard to understand why… Continue reading Why do people still hate Richard III?

Whatever happened to Henry Pole the Younger? (2011)

I am not sure that every Ricardian will have survived watching the first two series of BBC2’s “The Tudors”, as first mentioned here, with its historical anachronisms, miscasting in some roles, confused chronology and obsession with bedroom scenes. Nevertheless, the third series is showing signs of improvement, particularly with its focus on the Pole family.… Continue reading Whatever happened to Henry Pole the Younger? (2011)

A Plantagenet on television (2009)

BBC2’s “The Tudors” is back and series three has seen a resumption of the anachronisms. In 1536-7, Pope Paul III is seen referring to Reginald Pole as “Father”. John has confirmed my belief that Pole did not become a priest until 1557 but was a deacon or even a sub-deacon when Paul III created him… Continue reading A Plantagenet on television (2009)