Politics and Nation

David Loades is Emeritus Professor of the University of Wales and Honorary Research Professor of the University o0f Sheffield. He taught at the universities of St Andrews and Durham before moving to the University of Wales, Bangor in 1980 as Professor of History. His previous books include Mary Tudor: A Life (1989), The Tudor Court (1986) and Tudor Government (1997).

"A subtle and persuasive narrative, lucidly and judiciously presented. The work is a continuously interesting narrative of two centuries in transition." The Times (review of the previous edition)

• Preface to the Fifth Edition. Preface to the Fourth Edition.Preface to the Third Edition.Introduction.Part I: The Eclipse of the Medieval Monarchy, 1450-1521:.1. The Lack of Governance.2. The Collapse of Obedience.3. The Restoration of Authority.4. The Foundation of the Tudor Monarchy.Part II: The Establishment and Testing of the Tudor Monarchy, 1521-1570:.5. The Administration of Cardinal Wolsey.6. Thomas Cromwell and the Crisis of Authority.7. Henry VIII and his Legacy.8. Religious Reaction and the Spanish Marriage.9. A New Queen and a New Identity.Part III: The Decline of the Tudor Monarchy, 1571-1629:.10. The Years of Stability.11. The Stresses of War.12. The New King and the Old Problems.13. The Ascendancy of the Duke of Buckingham.Part IV: The Collapse of Traditional Government, 1630-1660:.14. The Failure of Communication.15. Constitutional Stalemate and Civil War.16. The Fall of the Monarchy, and Military Dictatorship.Historiographical Appendix.Notes.Select Bibliography.Index.