This book focuses more on reproduction, as opposed to child-rearing, than I expected. The book isn’t for me, but I’m sure others will enjoy it.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Before reading Raising the Tudors, I knew very little about the medical knowledge of the Tudor era, so I found this book fascinating. Stephanie Kline explains the four humours and how every aspect of health and illness was categorized within this framework, which was eye-opening for me. I was also surprised to learn that the clitoris was “discovered” by an Italian physician in 1559—one of many intriguing facts throughout the book.

The book takes the reader through the entire life cycle in the Tudor age, from birth and childhood to childbearing and parenting, giving a vivid picture of what everyday health and family life looked like at the time.

I highly recommend Raising the Tudors to anyone curious about this period. You don’t need any prior knowledge of the Tudors to enjoy and follow along—it’s accessible, informative, and engaging.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley and Pen and Sword History Publishing Company for allowing me access to an advanced copy of Raising the Tudors by Stephanie Kline. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was incredibly interesting to read about the history of motherhood in the Tudor Period. I always wondered what family life was like during that period, but most of the books that I find about the Tudor period are about the monarchs and their life. I was thrilled when I saw this book pop up in Netgalley. Kline did a fantastic job depicting the entire Lifecyle of a mother from the conception of a child all the way to becoming grandparents. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading about Tudor History or just History in general. I would give this book a five out of five stars.

Stephanie Kline, Raising the Tudors Motherhood in Sixteenth-Century England, Pen & Sword | Pen & Sword History, June 2025.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pen & Sword, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Although there are detailed sightings as well as glimpses of the Tudors with whom we have become familiar, this book is about the many other mothers of varying ranks, wealth, and contributors to the economy and social structure in the Tudor period. Stephanie Kline provides an insightful narrative about these women; their male counterparts; and the medical system, its philosophies and implementation in a patriarchal world. Her acknowledgement, early in the book, of the material she has used is a bonus – no searching to find out if the information that vies with ‘common knowledge’ can be verified. We know that she has used primary sources. As we read, we can also see how she has used them to valuable effect. This is an instructive, engaging, and valuable read, providing information about the period Kline covers and importantly, raising questions and responses about mothering that extend beyond the Tudor world.

The first part of the book is a mine of information about the medical ideas and practices that informed doctors and midwives and their patients in the Tudor period. It is not particularly unusual to find that women were seen as secondary to men but is fascinating to learn about the detail. It is unusual to be told that in this period, pregnant women’s husbands were advised by the medical profession to be dutiful. An example of a husband not fulfilling his role in preparation for the birth is in a letter from the wife to her husband’s mother expressing concern. A later example, shows a father conveying his distress that his daughter is not being adequately cared for. It is also remarkable to be shown that the numbers of women dying in childbirth was not the picture we have been led to believe (although the increase after the introduction of male physicians to replace midwives makes familiar reading) Kline has the research to challenge understood ideas about motherhood and medicine. At the same time, her work supports much of what has been understood of the period and the treatment of women. An important outcome of reading these chapters is recognising that significant opportunities for further understandings of the past exist, Kline’s research serving a doubly valuable purpose.

Pregnancy, its symptoms, diet, demands and impact for members of all classes, is covered. Although the letters which accompany these chapters are not from working class women, Kline introduces material to provide some idea of the way in which pregnancy influenced working women’s lives. Motherhood is treated similarly, with acknowledgement of the differences women from different classes would have experienced its impact. However, at the heart of motherhood in the Tudor period was an understanding of its importance, and although in a patriarchal structure, the role it gave women. Women had, by embracing motherhood, done their duty: they had met society’s expectations. For those who could not, life was hard, as observed though royalty with the wives of Henry Vlll, and for working class women as shown by Kline’s research. Preparation for birth was also fraught because of the possibility of accusations of murder for a stillborn birth. Mothers experienced a combination of joy and fear as the material proof of the baby’s welcome was gathered. Whatever the status of the mother and the luxurious nature of the clothing and equipment, it needed to be adequate to ward off such accusations. Birth practices are covered, including the way in which caesarean births were considered - a way to save the baby after a mother’s death, or, as suggested by some fearless practitioners, a way to save both.

Motherhood extends beyond the bearing and rearing of young children, and Kline does justice to this period of Tudor women’s lives. She brings a warmth and understanding of the Tudor mother and her care for her children throughout the book. However, nowhere is it so apparent as in these later chapters where the reader can almost see the child being rocked to sleep, alas often after ingestion and an application of opium (at that time not recognised as dangerous). Kline ensures that the modern reader understands the lack of information that led to this effort to calm a teething child as well as representing Tudor mothers as loving and caring for their children. She depicts the family day, beginning with a mother’s early rising and preparation for feeding her family, the role of education and religion, and the instillation of acceptable male and female behaviour. At the same time, she makes the reader privy to debates which arose around birth practices, breastfeeding, and child rearing during the period.

The wealth of information does not stop with the ending of the narrative. The book concludes with notes, a bibliography of primary and secondary sources, an index, and portraits of families, images of child equipment, anatomical works, portraits of pregnant women proudly displaying their girth, complete with lengthy explanations. Raising the Tudors Motherhood in Sixteenth-Century England is engaging and illuminating. It is a book to be savoured.

Tudor women's experiences with marriage, childbirth, and raising children varied depending on their social class, economic circumstances, and cultural expectations.

*Nobility and Royal:*
- Arranged marriages were common, often for political or financial gain.
- Women managed large households, overseeing servants and ensuring the smooth operation of the estate.
- Childbirth was often attended by skilled midwives and physicians.
- Children were often sent to wet nurses or servants for care, with mothers playing a more supervisory role.

*Middle Class:*
- Marriages were often more consensual, with women having some input in choosing their partners.
- Women managed smaller households, balancing domestic duties with childcare.
- Childbirth was often attended by midwives or experienced female relatives.
- Mothers played a more hands-on role in childcare, with help from servants or older children.

*Lower Class:*
- Marriages were often informal, with couples living together without formal ceremony.
- Women worked alongside their husbands, contributing to the family income through domestic industries like spinning or weaving.
- Childbirth was often attended by female neighbours or relatives.
- Mothers cared for children while working, often with older children helping with childcare.

*Common experiences:*
- High infant mortality rates and limited medical care made childbirth and childcare challenging.
- Women played a crucial role in managing households and raising children.
- Marriage and childbirth were closely tied to women's social status and economic security.

Common child-rearing practices included strict discipline, limited emotional display, and teaching social hierarchy and expectations.
- *Nobility/gentry*: Inheritance of titles and lands, and responsibility.
- *Middle class*: Emphasis on education, trade, and commerce.
- *Lower class*: Contributing to family income and learning practical skills.

Older women had these roles:
- Providing guidance, wisdom, and emotional support
- Helping with childcare and managing family relationships
- Preserving family traditions and stories
- Influencing family decisions, such as education and marriage

Raising the Tudors: Motherhood in Sixteenth-Century England by Stephanie Kline

This book was written more like a dissertation then a traditional book but was fascinating none the less. It explores motherhood in 16th century England, specifically the roles and expectations of Tudor women.

In the 16th century, all women were expected to have children, and raise them to strict religious and society standards. Many women at that time spent more than half their lives having and raising children.

What stuck out to me was the lack of understanding physicians had about female reproductive anatomy, the process of conception, the experience of childbirth and the after effects.

Thank you Stephanie Kline for partnering with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

In stores August 25th 2025

This book was not quite what I was expecting with some vivid details of the Tudor sex life that led up to Motherhood. It was actually fascinating as it shattered some perceptions that I held about life back then. In some case, they were quite modern in some of their ideas although the whole man- woman dynamic was obviously skewed towards the males. Other than baby machines women were not valued particularly but the Tudor approach to making those babies was surprising.

Much of the book is filled with stories and quotes of people of the time. Mostly it covers royal and high born although there are some anecdotes from more of the merchant class. It was eye-opening and interesting to see how the Tudor people lived as it pertains to women and children.
Well researched with lots of quotations. Four purrs and two paws up.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for letting me have access to this ARC.

This is a very interesting read if you are interested in the tudors! It unique because not many tudor books focus on the women and how they lived their lives as regular people

'Raising the Tudors' takes a closer look at the role of women in the 16th century. Topics such as marriage, having children and raising children are covered. This book gives you a completely different impression of the Tudor period.
The book takes you on a wonderful journey through a different era. The writing style makes it easy to follow and get through the book. A must-read for fans of British history!

‘The business of making children in the Tudor period, on fact, often involved explicit instruction's, grim warnings and a fair number of eccentric theories about the human body and the process of conception.’

An interesting read!

To be a woman and raising a family during the Tudor period reads like a horror novel!

A must read for history and Tudor readers.

Interesting and engaging!! Learning more about the child rearing practices of the rich and famous in the Tudor Dynasty was very cool!

Raising the Tudors is a fascinating deep dive into both raising children and motherhood in Tudor England. I love when history books take a new and interesting angle to common topics of time period. I feel like medieval childhood and being a mother in the Tudor world were both severely overlooked before this book. This is well written and meticulously researched book that brings light to this interesting topic with surprising variety in social class. Though it does still focus heavily on the upper classes of Tudor England, it has a surprising amount of detail about lower class mothers and children. My one major complaint was that, though it is well written, it lacked any strong or engaging narrative style that made parts feel a bit harder to get through. I would highly recommend this book, especially to those, like me, who love the Tudor period.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish this book. I stopped reading in chapter two. I have read a lot about the Tudor line so am generally interested in reading about them. However I couldn’t get into reading this book, it was too much information at one time. I couldn’t stay engaged. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys reading nonfiction.

Stephanie Kline did her research. An in depth and approachable look i to the lives of women in the sixteenth century. Impeccably written, engaging, and an intriguing non-fiction book. I learned a lot and loved adding to my knowledge of this time period.

Throughout history, women have had one major job: giving birth and raising future generations. Each new generation had different ways of dealing with childbirth and raising children, and the Tudors were no exception. While the Tudors lived in the 16th century, the joys and fears of being a mother were similar to those of the modern age. However, the way women approached different stages of life in the 16th century is unique compared to the ways of modern women. So, how did Tudor women approach motherhood? Stephanie Kline hopes to answer this question in her latest book, “Raising the Tudors: Motherhood in Sixteenth-Century England.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I enjoy looking at different aspects of Tudor life, so when I saw the title of this book, it was an appealing concept.

Kline begins by explaining how women did not have many options for life other than marriage and a religious life. In the male-dominated world, women were destined to become wives and mothers. Kline’s book examines a Tudor woman’s life, from menstruation to menopause, covering marriage, pregnancy, and raising children. It is quite a lot of information to include in one book, but Kline does it with such care and attention to detail.

What Kline does extremely well is balance the stories she includes of women from all walks of life with what men and women were writing about during this time about women’s health. We get to see how much the Four Humours Theory affected every aspect of a woman’s life and her health, which included what recipes they would use to help their child. The pregnant portraits and the way women dealt with their pregnancies mirror the modern age with pregnancy photo shoots and special diets for both mother and child. While methods like confinement are drastically different than the 21st century, it is the love and care for a family that remains the same over centuries.

Overall, I found this book quite interesting, with stories and facts about the lives of Tudor women, from the time they transitioned from a girl to a woman until they died. I think the only thing I wanted was more stories of women from the middle and lower classes to get a better picture of how the different classes dealt with motherhood in their unique ways. I think if you want a solid book as an introduction to Tudor motherhood, I recommend you read, “Raising the Tudors: Motherhood in Sixteenth-Century England” by Stephanie Kline.

I adored "Raising the Tudors" by Stephanie Kline. Its no secret that I love learning about women's history, so obviously this was right up my alley.

The book covers everything, and I mean, everything you may need to know about motherhood in the tudor era. While there are sections about the parenting phase, the book start much earlier and ends well beyond.

We start the journey from the very beginning. No, not the pregnancy. Even before that.

We start with a general understanding of how the tudors approached women health and fertility, then, cover marriage and the marital duties. For pregnancy, the book covers everything from finding out about the little tudor growing in the womb all the way to feeding it 'goats' claws dredged in powder, either crushed into a drink or consumed in pottage'.

Fear not, for the book, then, follows the growing tudor from infancy to adulthood as their mother now turns into a grandmother.

Every time I told myself I would sit down for a page or two, I find myself having read 20 or more. It's very accessible and comprehensive.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for anyone interested in women history or the tudor era!

3.5 Stars. This was a very interesting look into a surprisingly underrepresented group from history, mothers. Despite being a huge part of history, everyone has one after all, research into mothers as a group is lacking. With this book, author Stephanie Kline attempts to fill that gap in regards to the Tudor period in England. Following women throughout their lives, from childhood to marriage to motherhood and beyond, Kline explores the daily life of mothers from royalty to commoner, including a fascinating look into the medical practices of the day. Overall a very well written and interesting look into motherhood for the Tudors.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the book!

Raising the Tudors is one of the most beautifully researched and emotionally resonant Tudor history books I’ve read in ages. Stephanie Kline shines a necessary light on a topic that has too often been overshadowed by dynastic drama and political intrigue: the intimate, powerful, and often heartbreaking experience of motherhood in sixteenth-century England.

What makes this book stand out is how it honors the full spectrum of motherhood — not just among the highborn and royal, but across social classes. From the medical misunderstandings of female anatomy to the daily realities of childbirth, discipline, education, and maternal bonds, Kline gives voice to the lived experiences of Tudor women with empathy and clarity. It's not just a historical study — it’s a deeply human portrait of life, loss, duty, and care.

I especially appreciated the chapters on motherhood in older age and how women’s roles shifted as their children grew. There’s so much more depth to Tudor motherhood than just birthing heirs or dying in childbed, and Kline handles these narratives with grace and insight. I learned so much, but I also felt a genuine emotional connection to the women in these pages — not something every history book manages to achieve.

Thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for the ARC. Every title you publish is a gift to readers like me who crave both substance and storytelling — and this one felt like something really special.

This book was SO interesting and I’ve never read anything of its like in relation to my previous Tudor readings. I absolutely love reading about the Tudors and Tudor history, and from this angle, the angle of Women’s health, birth, upbringings etc… it made for super interesting reading.

It was written really well too and well researched. It’s amazing to get a glimpse into the times and such an intimate part of their lives. I took this book with me on holiday and it was a great read keeping me company on the train (& train delays!). It was more than easy to get through a few chapters at a time and it flew by.

Raising the Tudors reveals intimidate details of the women of the time, from conception, pregnancy, child to teenage years and subsequent adulthood and marriage. These insights were great to read and the accompanying images at the back were well appreciated too. It’s a great book for any history and Tudor era fan!

Raising the Tudors is such an interesting and informative book covering a wide range of topics concerned with raising children in Tudor times. The book is thorough and well researched and helps to place what we know about Tudor practices in the context of the medical, scientific and religious beliefs of the time.
Raising the Tudors is an excellent book to add to any Tudor enthusiast’s bookshelves.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pen and Sword books for the chance to read and review.