Tudors:

Histories of the Unexpected not only presents a new way of thinking about the past, but also reveals the world around us as never before.

The monarchs of the Tudor period are among some of the most well-known figures in British history. John Guy presents a compelling and fascinating exploration of the Tudors in the new edition of this Very Short Introduction.

This brand new series explores some of the most secretive and dangerous global underworld societies and their counter-culture dogmas. It’s a murky, mysterious mixture of sectarian cults, fanatical religious groups, esoteric societies and political militants - all of them seeking to shape and influence the world we know today…

Tony begins by looking at life during the reign of Tudor king Henry VIII. Tony talks about the role of executioner Thomas Grimes, and reveals how Richard Roose rose from pot washer to being the cook for the Bishop of Rochester.

As Henry VIII's court painter, Hans Holbein witnessed and recorded the most notorious era in English history. He painted most of the major characters of the age and created the famous image of the king himself that everyone today still recognises. But who really was Holbein? Where did he come from? And what were the dark and unsettling secrets hidden in his art? Waldemar Januszczak looks at the life and work of an artist who became famous for bringing the Tudor age to life, but who could have been so many other things.