Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If you’ve ever wanted to get into Tudor history but didn’t know where to start… this is your guide.
The Tudor era has everything: drama, scandal, political intrigue, ambition, betrayal—and yes, beheadings. In this video, I’m sharing the best Tudor books to start with, whether you’re brand new to this period or looking to dive deeper into historical fiction and nonfiction.
These are the books that made me completely obsessed with the Tudors—and the ones I think will hook you too.
I’ll chat about:
beginner-friendly Tudor history books.
immersive historical fiction set in the Tudor court.
where to start with Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Elizabeth I.
which books are actually worth your time.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the Tudor book options out there, I’ve got you. Start here.
Books mentioned (listed according to the author's last name):
Tudors by Peter Ackroyd
The Sixth Wife by Suzannah Dunn
Queen of Subtleties by Suzannah Dunn
Elizabeth the Great by Elizabeth Jenkins
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom
0:00 intro
1:03 why I love the Tudors
7:20 mood 1
11:56 mood 2
14:34 mood 3
17:26 mood 4
20:08 mood 5
22:21 mood 6
word salad:
Tudor books, Tudor history books, historical fiction Tudor, Anne Boleyn books, Henry VIII books, Elizabeth I books, where to start Tudor history, beginner history books, historical book recommendations, booktube recommendations, Tudor era reading guide
Makeup used:
Hannah Louise Poston X Salt New York saltnewyork.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoph11sTSWTtHEC29jmbZOj9FJRr_zNY9j-lwPrR4n_qhlAS5BR3
Amuse me in my inbox - rachelle.e.swearingen (at) gmail.com
Befriend me on Goodreads -goodreads.com/user/show/139310469-shelly-swearingen
Drop by on Instagram - Shellyish
If you’ve ever wanted to get into Tudor history but didn’t know where to start… this is your guide.
The Tudor era has everything: drama, scandal, political intrigue, ambition, betrayal—and yes, beheadings. In this video, I’m sharing the best Tudor books to start with, whether you’re brand new to this period or looking to dive deeper into historical fiction and nonfiction.
These are the books that made me completely obsessed with the Tudors—and the ones I think will hook you too.
I’ll chat about:
beginner-friendly Tudor history books.
immersive historical fiction set in the Tudor court.
where to start with Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Elizabeth I.
which books are actually worth your time.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the Tudor book options out there, I’ve got you. Start here.
Books mentioned (listed according to the author's last name):
Tudors by Peter Ackroyd
The Sixth Wife by Suzannah Dunn
Queen of Subtleties by Suzannah Dunn
Elizabeth the Great by Elizabeth Jenkins
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom
0:00 intro
1:03 why I love the Tudors
7:20 mood 1
11:56 mood 2
14:34 mood 3
17:26 mood 4
20:08 mood 5
22:21 mood 6
word salad:
Tudor books, Tudor history books, historical fiction Tudor, Anne Boleyn books, Henry VIII books, Elizabeth I books, where to start Tudor history, beginner history books, historical book recommendations, booktube recommendations, Tudor era reading guide
Makeup used:
Hannah Louise Poston X Salt New York saltnewyork.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoph11sTSWTtHEC29jmbZOj9FJRr_zNY9j-lwPrR4n_qhlAS5BR3
Amuse me in my inbox - rachelle.e.swearingen (at) gmail.com
Befriend me on Goodreads -goodreads.com/user/show/139310469-shelly-swearingen
Drop by on Instagram - Shellyish
