The Tudor dynasty reigned over one of the most dynamic periods in English history, witnessing religious reformation and global exploration as England transformed from an isolated medieval kingdom into a major player on the world stage. In this illustrated history, Jane Bingham introduces the complex personalities behind this powerful family, from penny-pinching Henry VII, who took the crown in 1485 after defeating Richard III on Bosworth Field, though profligate, wife-hungry Henry VIII; the religious persecutions of "Bloody" Mary I; and the remarkable 44-year reign of her sister, Elizabeth I.