An Accidental History of Tudor England

Trade Paperback

From Daily Life to Sudden Death

A new history of the Tudor world, told by uncovering ordinary people's grizzly fatal accidents.

There is untold history of Tudor England - the history of the several million subjects of their famous kings and queens. What did ordinary people do all day, in their homes, their work, their leisure and travel? An Accidental History of Tudor England explores the history of everyday life, and everyday death.

Here we learn that fatal accidents were much more likely to take place during the agricultural peak season, with cart crashes, dangerous harvesting techniques, horse tramplings and windmill manglings all as major causes. We learn of bear attacks in north Oxford and a bowls-on-ice-incident on the Thames. We learn that casualties of the dissolution of the monasteries began with one unfortunate soul being struck by the falling piece of a bell tower. A brilliantly original insight into Tudor social history, this book puts ordinary people back into the big picture of Tudor England, bringing their world to life.