Tudor Rose: A Reference Book
By Taniko
Hosted by King Henry the VIII and two of his wives, Tudor Rose is a regal-looking Reference Book set in England, 1485 – 1603, the period of Tudor ascendancy to the throne of England. Topics of current interest include famous and notorious women (including the pirate, Grace O’Malley, Bess of Hardwick, and Catherine of Aragon); theatre and acting companies of the period; the Boleyn family (there was more than just Anne). Speaking of Anne, there’s even a special topic for losing one’s head.
The Table and the Trencher topic is currently underutilized, but there are some fascinating posts relating to the history of marchpane (marzipan), and royal feasts.
The book encourages discussion and social amenities; simply posting from Wikipedia is strongly frowned upon. Writing articles and citing sources, without extensive reliance on quotations is rightfully encouraged. People may use information gathered here, and discussed here, to make their period roleplay more appropriate. There’s a topic for general reference material – articles that don’t fit into set topics, but which have been developed by the writers here for roleplay and informational use. Silken Thomas, an Irish rebel, and his fate at the hands of the English was a totally-unknown chapter to me before the writing of this article. There’s a very fine discussion of the invasion of the Spanish Armada.
Drop in, and treat yourself to an elegant yet dynamic setting: the inhabitants of this time-segment of the British Isles are friendly and will allow you to keep your head. Most discussions aren’t fast-paced, but this allows for thought and consideration – quality over quantity. The only disappointment is that under the topic “Bear Baiting and Other Entertainments”, no one has quite gotten around to discussing bear baiting. But give them time!
