In each era throughout history, we see how men and women adapt to the struggles and triumphs of the age. Take, for example, the 16th century, primarily in Tudor England. It was a time of great religious changes and dynamic rulers who would change the course of European history forever. While men had the most power, except for a handful of women, the majority of women struggled to survive each stage of life. So, what was life truly like for Tudor women? Elizabeth Norton explores this topic in her book, “The Lives of Tudor Women.”

I have been wanting to read this particular book for years. I have enjoyed the previous books that I have read by Elizabeth Norton, so when I saw she wrote a book about Tudor women, I knew I wanted to read it. 

Norton begins by explaining how this book would be broken down in her preface, which has one of my favorite introductory paragraphs in any book. This book is divided into sections that correspond with the Seven Ages of Man, which was made famous by William Shakespeare. These ages are: the infant, the schoolboy, the lover, the soldier, the justice of the peace, the ageing retiree, and the infirm elder. Obviously, with the lives of 16th-century women, these ages are altered a bit, especially for the soldier and the justice of the peace, but the premise remains the same. Each section focuses on one of these ages and the different aspects of life during that period in a person’s life. Norton also features small snippets of extra information that don’t fit into the narrative of the chapter, but are fascinating. 

The main characters, who are the main focus in this book, are a collection of stories of women from royals to rebels. Two Elizabeth Tudors bookmark the book, one will die as a child while the other became one of the most important rulers in European history, Queen Elizabeth I. We also get to see the stories of Elizabeth and Anne Boleyn, a prophetess, Elizabeth Barton, a businesswoman named Katherine Fenkyll, the widow Cecily Burbage, the heretic Anne Askew, a rebel named Margaret Cheyne, and an expatriate named Jane Dormer. These stories and the other smaller tales paint a picture of what it meant to be a female in Tudor England.

This was another delightful book by Elizabeth Norton. While I did know some of the stories and the information featured in this book, other stories were brand new and thrilling to read about. Norton breathed new life into women’s history during the 16th century with this book. If you want a fresh approach to Tudor England with new women to learn about, I highly recommend you read “The Lives of Tudor Women” by Elizabeth Norton.