I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
This felt a little to technical and impersonal. I enjoy reading about this time period but sometimes I enjoy having a more intimate view of the period which this lacked.

This is a great look at Tudor England. Written from the perspective of the common man this is a must read for Tudor enthusiasts.

A basic historical non-fiction book that covers the Tudor era but through the lens of the workers. It was dry and boring, but that's just what I've come to find with all books of this genre so it wasn't too disappointing in that regard.

Effects of his actions/trade/war and the England he inherited. More on the land and people then it is him.

This was an enjoyable read! It took a while, I struggled in some parts, probably because I'm not a native speaker but I finished it and I have no regrets!

Hoskins explores the economics and everyday life of the ordinary people (so don't expect a biographies) in Tudor England and he does it by using sources such as diary entering and letters but also stuff like reports from the ambassadors. It was very eye opening for me, especially when it comes to learning about life of a people in villages and towns. It acquires a certain level of knowledge, so if you are new to exploring the amazing times of Tudors, you might want to reconsider picking up this particular book. Or arm yourself with patience. And yes, I say from the experience.

I feel like I learned a lot, but because it contains so much information, this was really slow read and, for me at least, a bit overwhelming. In some parts, it also feels like the authors personal opinion is too strong, like he doesn’t really feel like giving arguments for his criticism and the readers should just trust him on the matter.

All things considered, it completely served its purpose, I wanted to read and learn more about life during the Tudors and I did, which makes me a happy and very grateful reader.

The Age of Plunder
by W. G. Hoskins
Very hard to read, more on statistics that are hinted at being a little bit off. More looking how Henry VIII plundered the church and its finances to cause a boom in his reign. The proceeds end up not helping the subjects of his kingdom until his daughter Elizabeth I was queen.

Originally published in 1976, this is a reissue from Saper Books available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. You can tell from reading how history books have evolved over the past 44 years to a more narrative and people driven style as this is quite a serious academic book driven by meticulously researched statistics. This can be quite dry for the casual reader but would provide an invaluable resource for people looking to complete a history course or research a particular area of the country, especially as Hoskins provides a comprehensive list of all the books and articles he used along with excellent footnotes. Some fascinating points raised about the living standards of the period. Hoskins contrasts the reigns of Henry VII, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, finding Henry VIII very much to be a selfish profligate obsessed with building expensive palaces and fighting useless wars, driving the country into poverty and wasting the lives of the male population sent overseas to fight. I give it 4 stars overall for the research.

Have you ever wondered what everyday life was like in Tudor England? Are you the kind of person for who statistics and data are like candy? Are you a novelist/author who wants to show actual historical fiction instead of "Hollywood" fiction? Then W.G. Hoskins "The Age of Plunder" is for you.

Originally published in 1976, this re-release of Hoskins' book is a marvelous find. I'd seen this book referenced in my college textbooks back in the 90s but was unable to read it then. I'm glad to have done so now. It was absolutely fascinating.

The Age of Plunder is a deep dive into the economics and everyday life of the common people in Tudor England as shown through a wide variety of primary sources including Mustering, Ambassadorial Reports, Diaries, Letters, Bills of Sale, etc. This is not a light read. It is not an easy read. The author in his preface does not claim to be otherwise. This is a book that is intended for those who already have a very solid background in history and critical reasoning. In many places, the writing is very dry.

But don't let that stop you, Hoskins is absolutely unflinching when it comes to the realities of life in Tudor England. There are no rose-colored glasses here. He very clearly finds Henry VIII contemptible. and the system he helped propagate reprehensible and it colors the whole book. Personally, as someone who's spent a lot of time studying Tudor History, I found Hoskins' views refreshing.

As I stated, this can be a dry read. It covers a lot. But it's a great resource, especially if you are looking for a more well rounded view of the world. But, because this book uses a lot of statistics as its primary resource, there aren't a lot of individual stories. It's the story of the people as a whole.

This is the kind of book I would recommend be used in upper level college courses (I would have loved this book in my 500-level course on Tudor England for example.) It's also a good resources for anyone doing editing/historical advising on stories set in the time. I'd recommend this book to authors writing in the time, especially if they want get out of Hampton Court and into the streets and the fields.

Honestly, I enjoyed this book. And because it sets the expectation early that this is not going to be a light non-fiction read, I don't feel I need to ding it for not being accessible to the average reader.

So I'm happy to give this:

Five stars.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley. Thank you to Sapere Books for letting me read it!

Originally published in 1976, The Age of Plunder is a well-researched history focusing on the social and economic history of Henry VIII's reign.

The author makes no apologies for the heavy use of statistics and charts. Many readers of history may prefer this style of writing, but it's not for me.

This books is a great reference for those studying the period.

life from the perspective of the common man is often overlooked in historical books but it is the common man that makes life possible for the ruling elite. There needs to be more books of this type.

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The Age of Plunder: The England of Henry VIII, 1500-47 by W. G. Hoskins analyzes how Tudor England was viewed from the trenches, by the people we never hear about, not by the movers and shakers.

I have been waiting to read a book like The Age of Plunder: The England of Henry VIII, 1500-47 by W. G. Hoskins for a long time. In all my reading about history, and historical fiction, one of the things I always wonder is how the world felt, smelled, looked to someone who is simply living their lives, trying to make it to the end of every day safely and maybe something to eat.

This book is filled with technical detail, but also analysis of first hand sources, mainly of foreign ambassadors, of what England was like during the times. Much of the information is dry, especially that taken from financial ledgers, but it does provide insight to those interested in the time.

Mr. Hoskins takes familiar aspects of the age, and peels them back to look at how people functioned within England, and within their own villages. The author goes even further to write about how the micro and macro economics were organized (if you can even call them “organized”), and who were the winners and losers of policies.
Spoiler: much like today, those who have the gold made the rules and, more often than not, were the winners of their own policies.

So if Henry VIII’s England was a cesspool of corruption, and plundering, geared towards the keeping the majority of the population living as wage slaves, how did they survive?
The author does go into detail how did the poor survived, during good times and bad, which seem to come in a row of years of bad harvests, drought, or worst – both at the same time.

Mr. Hoskins obviously does not like Henry VIII’s policies, and pegs him as one of the worst English heads of state in history. frankly, I don’t know enough (and probably never will) to argue, but he does make a very persuasive argument, and fascinating read as well.

This is a republished book, originally written in the 70s, although it has stood the test of time very well, having been written by one of the masters of English local history. In it the author explores facets of life for the ordinary man - such as trade, occupations, living conditions and the impact of economic factors like war and poor harvests.

It is a thorough text book, although the author does let his prejudice (particularly against Edward VI) shine through quite strongly. There is a little repetition in part, but generally speaking it is a solid text showing factors of life for the ordinary man in Henry's England. I was perhaps a little disappointed that he did not drill down a further level, to the personal. There is a lot of information about particular villages and towns where records are extant, leading to generalisations and a lot of statistical information. He also has plenty to say about the dissolution of the monasteries (The Great Plunder).

An interesting read, with some really exceptional nuggets of information uncovered.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Age of Plunder is a minutely detailed account of the little things that made up Tudor Life. If you're writing a historical fic and want to know how much a carpenter paid for rent, this is the book for you.

As this book is minutely detailed, it can be a dry read. But for research purposes, it's an invaluable resource. I can't imagine how much effort Hoskins put in to collect and organize the resources into a clear picture of Tudor daily life.

This book is great for the historical reader who likes detailed facts instead of story. Whilst I found The Age of Plunder informative it read more like a report than a non fiction book. I like my non fiction history to tell the story of people. This is more about the economics of the Tudor period. If that is of particular interest to you then I strongly recommend this book.

As a lover of historical fiction especially the Tudor years, I found this book a little on the nonfiction side for my tastes. It seemed historically accurate, though, and written with a deep knowledge of the field. It delves deeply into the events of the times including the plague, the dissolution of the monasteries of England, etc. All in all, a good book, albeit more historical than fiction.

Originally written in 1975 and republished in 2020, this scholarly book discusses the ins and outs of anything statistical relating to life in the 1500s.

It is very scholarly and assumes a decent knowledge of British geography and general history.

It is not for the casual reader, but for the serious history buff. It is very dry and not very anecdotal. As long as you are looking for this kind of book, you will be very pleased.

From the publisher: Henry VIII is one of the most famous monarchs to have ruled England.

Yet, what was life like for those that he ruled?

How were they impacted by the wars with France, his marital disasters and the religious Reformation that his chief ministers implemented?

The Age of Plunder does not dwell upon the lives of political and religious leaders such as Wolsey, Cromwell and Cranmer, but instead provides a vivid depiction of Tudor England from the perspective of those who tended the crops, sat at the looms and worked in the mines.

“The scholarship is as sound, the sympathy as warm and the judgments as pugnacious as ever." New Statesman

“This is a provocative and stimulating book, packed with statistical information, but saved from indigestibility by well-chosen and unusual examples drawn from the author’s vast knowledge of local history.” The Agricultural History Review

In this book W. G. Hoskins reveals how inhabitants of early sixteenth century England were witnesses to the greatest act of plunder since the Norman Conquest, but this time by the native governing class.

*****
The Age of Plunder by W.G. Hoskins is a look at the economic state of the Henrican world of Tudor England. Unlike most books written about this monarch, it focuses on the lives the people in his kingdom. The stories of how Henry's decisions effected his realm will catch your attention. The divide between privilege and poverty was obscene. The book is somewhat long, dry and academic and is aimed for a scholarly reader. If you are looking for a book about his wives and his court, this is not for you. However, if you want a book centered upon day-to-day life in the world of Henry VIII, and how his economy set the stage for his daughter Elizabeth I, eventually Great Britain and the ascent of the British Empire, then this book is for you. It's a book that can be utilised for reference and scholastic purposes, and for that reasons I rate it four stars.

Having just read Hilary Mantel's The Mirror & The Light I was more than ready for some Tudor non-fiction!

I really enjoyed this book - it's very much facts and figures, almost school textbook style read - and there are some fascinating insights on the population figures, pestilence and disease - which feels much more significant in this current time of lockdown and virus!

There is a great deal of economic detail and it gives you much more of an understanding of what was actually going on across the country during the reign of Henry VIII specifically.

If you're looking for an easy relaxing read - this isn't it - but it is a challenging and educational one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere Books for enabling me to read this book in return for a fair and honest review.

Review- Hoskins applies a beautiful writing method to the seemingly familiar Tudor Age, moving back the surface to look at how this society functioned, how it was organised, who gained, who lost, how much money the rich had, how badly off the poor were, how the poor survived during times of food scarcity, and how the `New Men' plundered and gained during an era when there was plundering to be done on a scale undreamt of since the Norman Conquest. The untidy governance of Henry VI's reign, in which his greedy men ran the government for their own personal gain, got large sums from it, pretty much the money of the country suffered and sparked the Wars of the Roses, in which who knows the number of people died? It looks like the less privileged members of society had a pretty rough deal most of the time, and the Tudor dictatorship at least ensured that the nobility, and eventually the clergy too, could not behave as feudal magnates who were above the law (as evinced by the fates of the Duke of Buckingham ). The author agues his case with so much detail that others might concur with his scathing assessment of Henry VIII's reign. Even if your opinions don't match it's such a magisterial work of history that you'll enjoy it though I feel it could have been a little more brief, as in point to point and at times certain elaborations made it difficult to complete.
I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the E-arc.

This is very clearly the result of much research. It did take me a while to read as it very much an academic source but I enjoyed reading about the economy during the time of Henry VIII. Mostly we hear about his marriages so this was intriguing, I was especially interested in reading about the ownership of land during the time and the trades in different parts of Britain.

Definitely recommend this to anyone with an interest in the Tudor era from an academic point of view.