The shadow of the tower: Henry VII and his England,: Background to the BBC tv series

'The Shadow of the Tower' is a 13-part BBC TV series about the reign of Henry VII. But what was it like to live in England in the fifteenth century? What sort of person was Henry, and who were the people who played leading roles during his reign?

In this background study Joan Macalpine provides the answers to such questions. In an easy style she introduces the reader to fifteenth-century England and sketches in Henry's upbringing until, at the age of 28, he won the crown from Richard III at Bosworth. She then describes the major events of the reign as Henry struggled to create a firm dynasty after the chaos of the Wars of the Roses.

The book includes 8 pages of illustrations and there are also 2 maps, a genealogical tree and a chronology.