Amy McElroy

About me!

Amy is a writer focusing on the Tudor era. Amy’s first book, Educating the Tudors, was published in January 2023. The second, Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era, is due to be published in February 2024.

Amy is currently working on her third book, Mary Tudor, Queen of France. Her fourth book is based on Desiderius Erasmus.

Amy spends much of her time reading and researching. She publishes reviews on her blog and has been a guest on other blogs and podcasts, including Talking Tudors.

If you’d like to get in touch with Amy, please use the contact page or find her on social media.

Educating the Tudors

Educating the Tudors

Education during the Tudor era was a privilege and took many forms, including schools, colleges, and apprenticeships. Those responsible for delivering education came from a variety of backgrounds, from the humble parish priest to the most famed poet-laureates of the day. Curriculums varied according to wealth, gender and geography. The wealthy could afford the very best of tutors and could study as much or as little as they chose whilst the poorer members of society could only grasp at opportunities in the hopes of providing themselves with a better future.

The Tudors were educated during a time when the Renaissance was sweeping across Europe, and Henry VIII became known as a Renaissance Prince, but what did his education consist of? Who were his tutors? How did his education differ from that of his elder brother, Prince Arthur, and how did Henry’s education change upon the death of his brother? There is no doubt Henry was provided with an excellent education, particularly in comparison to his sisters, Margaret and Mary. Henry’s own education would go on to influence his decisions of tutors for his own children. Who had the privilege of teaching Henry’s children, and did they dare to use corporal punishment?

Educating the Tudors seeks to answer all of these questions, delving into the education of all classes, the subjects they studied, educational establishments, and those who taught them.

Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era

Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era

Women in the Tudor age are often overshadowed by their male counterparts. Even those of royalty were deemed inferior to males. Whilst women may have been classed as the inferior gender, women played a vital role in Tudor society.

As daughters, mothers, and wives, they were expected to be obedient to the man of the household, but how effective would those households be without the influence of women?

Many opportunities, including much formal education and professions, were closed to women, their early years spent imitating their mothers before learning to run a household in preparation for marriage. Once married, their responsibilities would vary greatly according to their social status and rank. Widowhood left some in vulnerable conditions, while for others, it enabled them to make a life for themselves and become independent in a largely patriarchal society.

Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era aims to look at the roles of women across all backgrounds and how expectations of them differed during the various stages of life.

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