Henry viii books biography

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    9 Best Books On Henry VIII

    &#;Throughout the centuries, Henry has been praised and reviled, but he has never been ignored.&#;

    King Henry VIII was King of England from 22 April until his death in Succeeding his father King Henry VII as the second monarch in the House of Tudor, he took the throne as a handsome and athletic young man with a keen passion for music, hunting and religion.

    However, his obsession with leaving behind a male heir led to England’s split from the Catholic Church as he struggled to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Following his divorce from Catherine, Henry VIII went on to marry five more wives, two of whom were ultimately beheaded. In addition to these infamous marital incidents, Henry was also known for his gluttonous diet, which further solidified his reputation as one of England&#;s most notorious rulers. Join us here at What We Reading as we run you through the best Henry VIII books! 

    The Autobiography Of Henry VIII &#; Margaret George

    King Henry VIII is the most notorious monarch in British history. The Autobiography of Henry VIII is the timeless run through how England’s most beloved prince became one of Europe’s most tyrannical rulers from Margaret George.

    Told from the perspective of Henry, with the occasional interjection from his court fool, Will Somers, George paints a vivid picture of Tudor England and its reigning monarch. She explores how Henry grew from a brash and handsome young man with a love for the arts into a paranoid glutton whose desire for a male heir would completely sever the country’s ties to the Catholic Church. 

    The Six Wives Of Henry VIII &#; Alison Weir

    Henry VIII’s love affairs changed the entire landscape of religion in the British Isles and helped shape European politics. In The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Alison Weir utilises biographies, reports, memoirs and personal letters to bring these different women to life. From the ambitions of Anne Boleyn to the astute Cath

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    • Henry VIII biography recommendation?

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    Henry VIII biography recommendation?

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    1japaul22

    Does anyone have a recommendation for a biography of Henry VIII? In a quick amazon search, I found mainly books about his many wives and would prefer something more focused on him. Also, I've not liked Alison Weir's books so I'm not interested in her book, the 6 Wives of Henry VIII.

    THanks for any suggestions!

    5HarmlessTed

    Nice one!

    So, if you are not interested in Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII let me recommend:

    The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir, or, alternatively, Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII.

    But seriously, for a solid overview of Henry VIII try Henry VIII by John Joseph Scarisbrick.

    Ted

    6Booksloth

    #5 My mistake, I meant by Antonia Fraser. It would be so great to be perfect.

    7jfetting

    The Antonia Fraser book about the wives really is fantastic, if you ever should someday want to read a book about them. It's very comprehensive, but still interesting. I really like her style.

    8japaul22

    Thanks, everyone! A lot of those just went on my TBR list.

    9Diane-bpcb

    I've heard that Jasper Ridley's bio of Henry VIII is good--though I haven't read it myself.

    The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers

    July 13,
    As someone who is fascinated by all things Tudor, I was so excited to begin this book written by Margaret George. It is a lengthy prospect at over pages, but I rather enjoy lengthy books, so unless that is a deterrent for you, I suggest you read this if you have any interest at all in the history of British Royalty.

    It is noted that the author spent an enormous amount of time and effort on this (including 5 drafts and 15 years of in depth research), and it shows.

    The book is rich in detail, and is written from Henry's own viewpoint, based on his journals.

    There are a lot of books about Henry VIII, and we all know about his 8 wives and their fates. We know about his enormous ego, and in his later years, his enormous and unhealthy self.

    A man who loved being in power, who loved to be loved and adored by any female who caught his fancy, and a man who dismantled an entire and powerful church when it refused to grant him a divorce from his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, who was his brother's widow when he married her. He sought the divorce so he could marry his love, Anne Boleyn, and we know what fate awaited her.

    It fascinated me to read of the historical events of which I was so familiar - but from Henry's own viewpoint. Naturally, some things had to be "filled in" so to speak by the author as not everything has been recorded, so that was to be expected. After all, there is no way to really know what the court jester said at any given time. (No Facebook :D )

    For everything he had at his fingertips - the ultimate power, riches, castles, women, jewels, lands, ships - Henry VIII could not have been truly happy. I say this because he really never knew who he could trust because, of course, everyone appeared one way to his face but might be working against him behind the scenes. He was constantly on alert, and I would assume that would be mighty tiresome and frustrating. No one dared

    Henry VIII: King and Court

    "WEIR'S BOOK OUTSHINES ALL PREVIOUS STUDIES OF HENRY. Beautifully written, exhaustive in its research, it is a gem. . . . She succeeds masterfully in making Henry and his six wives . . . come alive for the reader."
    "-Philadelphia Inquirer
    Henry VIII, renowned for his command of power and celebrated for his intellect, presided over one of the most magnificent-and dangerous-courts in Renaissance Europe. Never before has a detailed, personal biography of this charismatic monarch been set against the cultural, social, and political background of his glittering court. Now Alison Weir, author of the finest royal chronicles of our time, brings to vibrant life the turbulent, complex figure of the King. Packed with colorful description, meticulous in historical detail, rich in pageantry, intrigue, passion, and luxury, Weir brilliantly renders King Henry VIII, his court, and the fascinating men and women who vied for its pleasures and rewards. The result is an absolutely spellbinding read.