Review: Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders: Simnel, Warbeck, and Warwick

 I was privileged to be sent an advance review copy of Nathen Amin's new book, Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders: Simnel, Warbeck, and Warwick.

This book will be published in hardback on 15 April 2021 and is available for pre-order from Amberley Books and Amazon

When I say privileged, the first thing to point out is that this is a sumptuous hardback edition with what I think is a gorgeous cover.

The second thing to point out is that this is an exceptional exploration of the characters who in one way or another were pretenders to the the throne and who plagued Henry VII for a number of years.

I studied this period at school for my History 'A' Level when I was 16 and 17, and that's quite a long time ago. So it was wonderful to get reacquainted with Simnel, Warbeck and Warwick, although it turns out that I had both forgotten and never learned quite a lot about these men.

The author tells a riveting story, and his writing style is light and accessible. He sets the book out in a logical and helpful way, introducing each character as they join the narrative, so that we receive the background information we require and then the story moves forward again.

I knew, as it transpires, only the bare bones of each case and this book provides the richest detail. I had not really appreciated just how long, for example, Perkin Warbeck was a thorn in Henry VII's side. I also thought it was 'fact' that Henry's wife had recognised Warbeck as her brother Richard when it seems that actually there is no evidence that the two ever met.

Effective use is made of primary sources throughout, and the author never presumes to press his beliefs on the reader, instead presenting the evidence and allowing us to make up our minds about the pretenders' true identities although, it has to be said, the case for Simnel and Warbeck lying about who they were seems overwhelmingly convincing. But wherever the author gives us his opinion he backs it up with documentary evidence. 

Mr Amin has a flair for writing about historical characters in such a way that we feel connected to their lives. He speculates on how they might have felt at various points, but he is not sentimental and he is clear to state, where pertinent, when we have no evidence of their reactions to particular events or circumstances.

My impression is of a solid work of history, thoroughly researched and well presented, lifted by intelligent 'asides' and shrewd reasoning.