This is an excellent account of Henry and his many wives. Well researched, very well written - there's hardly a boring passage.

Henry VIII is a fascinating man of history. He took six wives, arranged to exchange one wife for another, murdered two, lost one to childbirth, rejected another and died before he could find a way to get rid of wife six. A man of wit, intelligence, excess and greed. He had an enormous appetite for pleasure, riches and love. You'll feel as if you're reading exceptional fiction but it really happened.

Watching the Tudors on Showtime got me interested in Henry VIII. I purchased this book because of the depth of its research and historical accuracy. It was excellent. I could not put it down. I tend to be more of a fiction reader, when I read for enjoyment. This was as engrossing as any novel.

If you want to read about Henry VIII's six wives, there are more titles out there that you can ever read. A lot of the material is a combination of guesses and conjecture, with a slant toward the prurient. This book, however, is very different. Alison Weir spent a lot of time looking at primary sources from the Tudor period. She obviously did her homework, and her fictionalized historical accounts are likely the closest to the truth that we will ever find.

Unlike most accounts that paint Henry as a man driven by lust, Ms. Weir paints him as a deeply religious man driven by a combination of duty and fear. He truly believes that the fate of the Tudor dynasty depends entirely on the appearance of a legitimate son. Henry had at least one illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, whose last name is a sly poke at his bastard status. (FitzRoy = Son of the King, get it?) As time passed, Henry's sense of duty became magnified and overwhelmed by fear that he would die before a legitimate Tudor prince was born. His son Edward was sick and weak from the beginning, and it was apparent to Henry that he needed a healthy, strong son to take on the mantle of leadership should Edward die. He himself only became king because of the untimely death of his sickly brother, Arthur. His treatment of his wives was based on these twin factors.

Alison Weir takes the dry facts and weaves them into a compelling and interesting narrative, and the tragedy of Henry's relationships with all of the women he encountered becomes stunningly clear. I found the book impossible to put down, and although I knew the bare bones of what happened from history books, I had to keep reading to see what might happen next. This is a wonderful introduction to Ms. Weir's books, and if you read this one, be sure to have the others in your shopping cart. You won't want to waste any time getting your hands on them.

I recieved this book in perfect condition and it came a day before the estimated time of arrival. Thank you.

The book is great so far. I ordered it because its my ex girlfriends favorite book and i trust her taste in books.

What I liked most about this book is also what since distresses me most about films circulating on this topic. Weir so thoroughly researches the profusion of biographic material available (besides Britain, courts throughout Europe had documention on the wives of Henry and him) that it is clear there is no need to fictionalise this fascinating story (you wouldn't even try to imagine it). And although it lends itself so well to a series (or a film) once you have read this book the inaccuracies in (Gregory's, for example) fictionalisions on the screen tend to get annoying. Wonderful book -the story is historic and timeless at the same time. (If you can recommend a good, unembellished biographic DVD, please do.)

The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Wonderful book. Very well written. It has increased my desire to know more about Henry the VIII and his times.

Very informative book! Weir manages to give us a detailed description of the personalities of each of these six queens. What makes this book such a success is that its very easy to read making it impossible to get bored!

I haven't been a big history buff in the past (no pun intended) but after seeing a glimpse of a documentary on Henry VIII, I was curious. This book was GREAT! I simply couldn't put it down and lugged the big book with me on the bus, on planes, etc. In fact, it inspired me to continue reading up on the Tudors. Highly recommended!

Impeccably researched, fantastically written, wonderfully enthralling. Anyone interested in British history, monarchs in general, the tudor period, politics, or anyone who just plain likes gossip will love this book. It was really great.

A friend recommended some of Philipa Gregory's books to me. After reading "The Other Boelyn Girl" I decided to try non-fiction. I would have never dreamed that I would enjoy a big, thick, historial, non-fiction book about 16th century England. However, "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" was fantastic! I could not put this book down! I have ordered Ms. Weir's other books about Lady Jane Grey, Henry VIII's court and Elizabeth. After reading this book, you will look at the Tower of London, Hampton Court, Hever Castle, etc. in a completely different way when in London. You have to hand it to the Brits; they have the most interesting and fascinating history of all.

If you're in the market for a book that gives a thorough account of each wife of Henry VIII, then this is the book for you. Over 600 pages long, this packs together history and great writing. It's written chronologically, from Henry's days before his betrothal to Katherine of Aragon, up to the death of his last wife, Katherine Parr. It flows together perfectly. It's easy to read, to boot. I think my favorite parts were the quotes taken from personal letters, and hand-written accounts by those closest to the royals themselves.

I've never read a book so quickly and with such interest. This is a must read for anyone who has become involved with the Tutors television show.

I love this book and I hated history all through school--even in college. It reads almost like a novel. I can't put it down! It's giving me a new perspective on history and it makes me want to learn even more about other times as well. Now I want to plan a trip to England. I'd recommend this book to any history teacher or a parent who needs to instill an appreciation for history in their students.

This book is an interesting history and chronology of the court of Henry VIII, his love life and court intrigue. No wonder Showtime is doing a show about the Tudors; no fiction writer could make this up. This book helps understand the dilemmas Henry VIII was under, dispel myths about him (and royalty) and creates some new ones.

Ms. Weir does a fantastic job of bringing historical figures to life, telling us about the women behind the names with intelligence and zest. The author is careful to distinguish between fact and fiction, and even more careful to inform the reader about "educated guesses".

Although contains lots of history, still very readable and interesting. I got it because I got hooked on The Tudors on Showtime. The book is better!

After reading all the Philippa Gregory books about Tudor England I became really interested in that period in English history. I wanted to read some non-fiction so I ordered this after reading all the reviews. I was afraid it would be a little dry. Happily it wasn't!! I found it to be a relatively fast read and very interesting! My only criticism would be that Anne Boleyn's section of the book was a little long and drawn out.

Very informative, sometimes a bit wordy but its vey hard to give the details of certain events without explaining what occurances led up to the fact so well worth the read.

Very informative, sometimes a bit wordy but its vey hard to give the details of certain events without explaining what occurances led up to the fact so well worth the read.

As an advocate of Tudor England and an extreme fan of books by this title (see Antonia Fraiser), and having heard all the positive comments about Alison Weir, I picked this book up anxiously anticipating the plethera of valuable information that was sure to come my way. I must say, I was not entirely dissapointed, though there were several faults.

I cannot comprehend how such a respected author and historian could have such clear biases. Weir is clearly of the "Pro-Catherine, Anti-Anne" camp. I see nothing wrong with forming opinions based on logical interpretations of facts, but reading this text gave me the feeling Weir had had initial opionions before writing this book and saught to prove them, instead of approaching the subject matter with a clear and unbiased mind, like one should. Right off the bat we are told Katherine is a kind but slightly misguided "woman of principle" whilst Anne is an overly ambitious woman with a "taste for vengance". What?! Taste for vengance, I thought, that's weird, never heard that one before? But nonethless I continued plowing through, optimistically hoping Weir would explain and elaborate. Alas, she does not. She continues to assert that Katherine was the epitome of good, and inspiringly admirable, but does not approach it from the other side. No evidence is given into the consummation issue, just Katherine's word-which I guess is fine, but not historical scholarship. Katherine is certainly the Victim of The Piece here and she is not given much other description. Anne, on the other hand, was the clear opposite. Weir tells her from the start that Anne was not guilty of incest or adultery, but she was no saint. This I can agree upon wholeheartedly. But then Weir continues to say that Anne was very black, and the Catholics were probably more right about her personality than her friends. Oh!?! I think, confused? This is odd. Oh well, as long as she proves it. But she does not; she uses Spanish and Catholic sources--to prove what Spanish and Catholics said. This is like proving a hypothesis by giving a list of your own thoughts. It makes no sense.

Weir also has the annoying habit of saying a sentence about a person she does not like, and spinning it into a negative light, even if the fact in the sentence wasn't all that negative. For instance, and this is just one example of many, Weir was talking about how Anne Boleyn had a copy of an English Bible, and that she displayed it in her chambers. When read like "Anne had an English Bible"-there is no bias to it. But the way Weir wrote it, and the context it was in, made it sound like this was supposed to be a horrible thing and that should take away from anyone who liked her. The way I read it in Weir's I inwardly rolled my eyes at what a character Anne was, but then thought about it-is that all that bad?

She has, also, frightening double standards when it comes to the wives. When Katherine questions Henry for his affairs, it is not spun, so therefore we think it is perfectly reasonable that she should. But when Anne does it, or "dares to upbraid him for his dalliances" as Weir so eloquently put it, we are reminded that it is typical of Kings to have affairs and it is spun so that Anne seems completely ridiculous. And why is it that when Katherine Parr tries to convert Henry to Lutheranism it is some brave, noble thing, but when Anne does it, Weir makes her seem silly and needing to be put in her place? When Anne "meddles" in state affairs(and usually it is good things she is doing) she is indiscreet and ill fit for Queen ship, but when Katherine of Aragon, Katherine Parr, and Jane Seymour(Jane is labeled a "strong minded matriarch in the making"-completely ridiculous)do the same, they are once again spun into heroic light?


Other than the obvious bias in some of the material, I would say that Weir has done a good job assesing the Queen's and their actions. The writing style is certainly smooth, and she adds a certain zest to the repetive material history majors see over and over again.

As an advocate of Tudor England and an extreme fan of books by this title (see Antonia Fraiser), and having heard all the positive comments about Alison Weir, I picked this book up anxiously anticipating the plethera of valuable information that was sure to come my way. I must say, I was not entirely dissapointed, though there were several faults.

I cannot comprehend how such a respected author and historian could have such clear biases. Weir is clearly of the "Pro-Catherine, Anti-Anne" camp. I see nothing wrong with forming opinions based on logical interpretations of facts, but reading this text gave me the feeling Weir had had initial opionions before writing this book and saught to prove them, instead of approaching the subject matter with a clear and unbiased mind, like one should. Right off the bat we are told Katherine is a kind but slightly misguided "woman of principle" whilst Anne is an overly ambitious woman with a "taste for vengance". What?! Taste for vengance, I thought, that's weird, never heard that one before? But nonethless I continued plowing through, optimistically hoping Weir would explain and elaborate. Alas, she does not. She continues to assert that Katherine was the epitome of good, and inspiringly admirable, but does not approach it from the other side. No evidence is given into the consummation issue, just Katherine's word-which I guess is fine, but there is certainly a double standard here. Anne Boleyn swore she was a virgin quite a few times-but Weir thinks she was not. Why? Because other people said she wasn't. So Why is Katherine to be ultimately trusted merely because she said she was a virgin but Anne is not. If you think about it, it really is the exact same situation. Katherine is certainly the Victim of The Piece here and she is not given much other description. Anne, on the other hand, was the clear opposite. Weir tells her from the start that Anne was not guilty of incest or adultery, but she was no saint. This I can agree upon wholeheartedly. But then Weir continues to say that Anne was very black, and the Catholics were probably more right about her personality than her friends. Oh!?! I think, confused? This is odd. Oh well, as long as she proves it. But she does not; she uses Spanish and Catholic sources--to prove what Spanish and Catholics said. This is like proving a hypothesis by giving a list of your own thoughts. It makes no sense.

Other than the obvious bias in some of the material, I would say that Weir has done a good job assesing the Queen's and their actions. The writing style is certainly smooth, and she adds a certain zest to the repetive material history majors see over and over again.

As an advocate of Tudor England and an extreme fan of books by this title (see Antonia Fraiser and David Starkey), and having heard all the positive comments about Alison Weir, I picked this book up anxiously anticipating the plethera of valuable information that was sure to come my way. I must say, I was not entirely dissapointed, though there were several faults.

I cannot comprehend how such a respected author and historian could have such clear biases. Weir is clearly of the "Pro-Catherine, Anti-Anne" camp. I see nothing wrong with forming opinions based on logical interpretations of facts, but reading this text gave me the feeling Weir had had initial opionions before writing this book and saught to prove them, instead of approaching the subject matter with a clear and unbiased mind, like one should. Right off the bat we are told Katherine is a kind but slightly misguided "woman of principle" whilst Anne is an overly ambitious woman with a "taste for vengance". What?! Taste for vengance, I thought, that's weird, never heard that one before? But nonethless I continued plowing through, optimistically hoping Weir would explain and elaborate. Alas, she does not. She continues to assert that Katherine was the epitome of good, and inspiringly admirable, but does not approach it from the other side. Did she consummate her marraige with Arthur? one might ask, and Weir answers it, with a crisp and solid "No." and that is the end of that. Weir makes no mention that if she had then she would have been sent home in disgrace and made to marry someone much below her rank, so therefore giving her and her advisors cause for lying. Katherine is certainly the Victim of The Piece here and she is not given much other description. Anne, on the other hand, was the clear opposite. Weir tells her from the start that Anne was not guilty of incest or adultery, but she was no saint. This I can agree upon wholeheartedly. But then Weir continues to say that Anne was very black, and the Catholics were probably more right about her personality than her friends. Oh!?! I think, confused? This is odd. Oh well, as long as she proves it. But she does not; she continually uses Spanish and Catholic souces to describe her personality, never making mention of the Anne that her friends loved and talked about. She trusts these almost certainly innacurrate sources, the majority of whom had never even met Anne, and the rest who would not recognize her as Queen. Why should these pictures of Anne be trusted over the ones she knew best?

Other than the obvious bias in some of the material, I would say that Weir has done a good job assesing the Queen's and their actions. The writing style is certainly smooth, and she adds a certain zest to the repetive material history majors see over and over again.

As an advocate of Tudor England and an extreme fan of books by this title (see Antonia Fraiser and David Starkey), and having heard all the positive comments about Alison Weir, I picked this book up anxiously anticipating the plethera of valuable information that was sure to come my way. I must say, I was not entirely dissapointed, though there were several faults.

I cannot comprehend how such a respected author and historian could have such clear biases. Weir is clearly of the "Pro-Catherine, Anti-Anne" camp. I see nothing wrong with forming opinions based on logical interpretations of facts, but reading this text gave me the feeling Weir had had initial opionions before writing this book and saught to prove them, instead of approaching the subject matter with a clear and unbiased mind, like one should. Right off the bat we are told Katherine is a kind but slightly misguided "woman of principle" whilst Anne is an overly ambitious woman with a "taste for vengance". What?! Taste for vengance, I thought, that's weird, never heard that one before? But nonethless I continued plowing through, optimistically hoping Weir would explain and elaborate. Alas, she does not. She continues to assert that Katherine was the epitome of good, and inspiringly admirable, but does not approach it from the other side. Did she consummate her marraige with Arthur? one might ask, and Weir answers it, with a crisp and solid "No." and that is the end of that. Weir makes no mention that if she had then she would have been sent home in disgrace and made to marry someone much below her rank, so therefore giving her and her advisors cause for lying. Katherine is certainly the Victim of The Piece here and she is not given much other description. Anne, on the other hand, was the clear opposite. Weir tells her from the start that Anne was not guilty of incest or adultery, but she was no saint. This I can agree upon wholeheartedly. But then Weir continues to say that Anne was very black, and the Catholics were probably more right about her personality than her friends. Oh!?! I think, confused? This is odd. Oh well, as long as she proves it. But she does not; she continually uses Spanish and Catholic souces to describe her personality, never making mention of the Anne that her friends loved and talked about. She trusts these almost certainly innacurrate sources, the majority of whom had never even met Anne, and the rest who would not recognize her as Queen. Why should these pictures of Anne be trusted over the ones she knew best?

Other than the obvious bias in some of the material, I would say that Weir has done a good job assesing the Queen's and their actions. The writing style is certainly smooth, and she adds a certain zest to the repetive material history majors see over and over again.

This book is great - very readable and engaging, yet factual. In fact, this is one book to use when deciding how true to actual events other books and DVDs are. Alison Weir is a first-rate writer - and historian. I like her even better than David Starkey, whom I've heard she counts as a mentor.

I stumbled onto this book seven years ago. I was 24 years old and not even remotely interested in anything having to do with history. This book changed everything. Alison Wier is a genius. She brings history to life. Antonia Frasier's biography is good, but Alison Weir's is better. So so sooo much better...

Antonia Fraser, David Starkey and Alison Weir wrote books on the six ladies who were (un)lucky enough to marry Henry VIII of England. And while Starkey's & Fraser's books are a delight I think the definite version is that of Tudor veteran Alison Weir. Written in an engaging & yet professional style you are caught up in the world of Tudor England. I especially loved the chapters on Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon. This also includes several pages of pictures & illustrations which are an amazing addition to the fabulous read provided by this book. Buy it, read it & enjoy!

For a nonfiction historical account, this book is amazingly captivating. I bought it to take on vacation and found myself picking it up every time I had 5 minutes to read. I've read about this period from a variety of nonfiction and fictional accounts, and found it interesting where they don't line up. Weir does an excellent job of pointing out these discrepancies, giving different viewpoints, supporting documentation, and rationale for her choice. I felt her treatment of Katherine Howard was a bit judgemental, but on the whole, her characterizations derived from the facts served to make the book emotionally involving and significantly added to its readability. This is the best account I've read of the period, both from a factual and readability perspective, and one of Weir's best as well. You won't be disappointed.

I bought Alison Weir's THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII to read at the beach. I thought it would be helpful to have a refresher course on Henry VIII and his ladies from one of the best popular historical writers and scholars. I could hardly put this book down. It is excellent and surpasses most novels in readability and intrigue. Since Henry was married to Katherine of Aragon the longest, there is more about her and I learned more than ever before about that stubborn, passionate, implacable queen. Henry seemed to have so much guilt attached to his marriage with her that one concludes that she was, as he himself said "buxom" in the bedchamber. She was a saint but also a woman. When Anne Boleyn enters the story, one tragedy unfolds after another. However, Weir did not explore all of the sufferings the English people experienced due to Henry's dissolution of the monasteries and break with Rome. I got more of a sense of Jane Seymour's personality from this book, and Anne of Cleves as well. I thought the treatment of Katherine Howard was too conventional, with the same old story of the slutty adulterous. Weir claims that Katherine became sexually active at age 12 or 13. I would not call that being sexually active, I call it being molested or raped. She was a child, for heaven's sake, and whatever happened to her, it may have contributed to some of her later behaviors. I felt sorry for Katherine Parr, who survived Henry only to be made to suffer by her true love, Thomas Seymour. An overall fantastic book - highly recommended!

I became entirely absorbed in this book from the moment i turned the first page. Besides the Bible it is the best book I have ever read!!!

Marina Kushner
Author
The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do about It

Alison Weir is a master at turning historical information into well-versed, readable material. I bought this book and could not put it down for two weeks. We all learn such skewed facts about Henry VIII through ill-informed resources. Weir's unbiased, often shockingly truthful account of this period really opened my eyes to what it must have been like to live in King Henry's court. I can't recommend this book enough!

This really is a decent, informative book on such a complex man and the women who shared his life. My only complaint is that the author focused too much on Ann Boleyn and not enough on the other wives. Still a good book, though!

I am a fan of historical fiction, with many books focusing on the women in the time of King Henry VIII. After so much historical fiction, I decided to get my facts straight. This book was fantastic. Though some parts are a little long (the waiting for the annulment of Henry's first marriage) this book is well-written and easy to understand. It was so much fun to learn so much about Henry and his wives. While I was familiar with Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, I enjoyed learning more about Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, and the last two Katherines. This book was great, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a historically accurate account of King Henry and his wives. (The photos in the book were an added bonus.)

One of the best, if not the best, books written. Weir wrote about the six wives of Henry VIII in one book instead of six books. It may be thick, but it goes by quickly. It doesn't get old and boring like most books do. Any reader can see the heartbreak Katherine of Aragon and her daughter, Mary, go through. Mary goes through quite a bit of heartbreak when her father discards her mother. Elizabeth gets slightly better treatment.

This is the best history I've read on the subject, and I would recommend any one read it who is interested in the goings-on of the English monarchy in the 16th century. Henry VIII has been protrayed time and again as a wanton,lusting glutton. The bottom line is that he was desperate for a male heir, and he would do anything to have a son. Personnally, I was amazed that he didn't just legitimize his son, the Duke of Richmond. But, then history would have turned out entirely different.

Reads very easy. Contains loads of interesting pictures. If you are interested in Henry and his wives this is must have.

When I purchased this book, I was skeptical because I thought it might be another dull book about English history. I was absolutely wrong - this is a great book! Weir does a great job of telling this story. It is not six separate biographies. Instead, Weir weaves the story of each wife around the life of Henry VIII. Ann of Cleves is a particulary sad story, and she comes across as the most likable of Henry's wives. On the other hand, Ann Boleyn is portrayed as a scheming, ill-tempered snob who constantly meddles in the affairs of state, which ultimately leads to her unfortunate death. Henry is accurately portrayed as a controlling and sometimes distant husband and father. You won't be disappointed in this book - it's one of Weir's best works.

I bought this book to do my mid term for my History class. The author gives views of how the wives of King Henry VIII lived in those time. This is better than a soap Opera!

Okay, I almost hate to admit that I've read this book through several times, but this is only because some people might find this kind of reading too scholarly. Having said that, I LOVE this book. These women are all incredibly fascinating, and Weir takes these historical figures and shows us that they were real women with pride, feelings, motives, and faults. I wouldn't have ever guessed that I could enjoy a historical biography to this extent, but here I am recommending this (and Weir's other works) HIGHLY. I've read several of her other books (see her work under the last name of Plowden, also), and have been pulled in just as strongly with each book. One of her other books about Lady Jane Grey is phenomenal, and I'm currently reading through her work on Elizabeth I.

You won't regret picking this one up, and I doubt you'll be able to put it down. Pick a rainy weekend when you not only want to be entertained but would like to learn something in the process, and you won't be disappointed!!!

Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII is quite possibly one of most engaging books I've read dealing with Tudor history. I'm no expert on the Tudor period, but I know enough to realize that Weir did her fair share of research. In the past I had mainly concentrated on reading about Anne Boleyn(she being the most famous of Henry's wives), and had not taken the time to study the other wives. This book endeared me very much to Catherine of Aragon and Kathryn Howard; it was an excellent experience.

Weir's text is written in such a way that it can be understood by someone who is a beginner in Tudor history, thus making it very accessible in a way that other writers sometimes are not. For instance, David Starkey's text on Henry's six wives is an excellent source of information, but I find his writing style a bit stuffy(no offense to any Starkey fans).

I highly recommend this book to anyone. Read it--you don't know what you're missing!

Another testament to Weir's hard work and writing style, this book is chock full of relevant research to support the tale woven about each of Henry VIII's six wives. I'm not one to read non-fiction but my interest in British history has led me to Weir's books and I was not disappointed. A large portion of the book is dedicated to the stories of Henry's first wives (Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn) but that is not to say that the other four were skimmed over. On the contrary, I was given a good look at each of these women and what attracted them to the King and to the people. The book flowed well and was not difficult to read at all. A pleasure, overall!

This is a great introduction to Henry VIII's harem. It is easily accessible and helps the reader connect some often-confusing sequences. While not favorable of the King, it is a good report of the women around him.

A very fascinating read. So superlatively and richly written I felt that I was transported back in time. Colorful characters, intrigue, murder, politics--I could put it down. I will read this book again. Fantastic!

I love English history, especially the period from King Edward IV's reign through the Tudor's. Henry VIII was one of the most powerful monarchs in British history, who ruled England in unprecedented splendor. He has long been one of my favorite historical characters, as have three of his six wives, Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Parr. For better and for worse, he was certainly a larger than life figure. (quite literally so - at his death, he was obese). I know of very few fictional personages who are as complex and fascinating as this man, (and the women who attracted him). Born to Elizabeth of York and King Henry VII on June 28, 1491 in Greenwich Palace. Henry was a second son and not expected to rule. But rule he did. He became heir to the throne on the death of his elder brother, Prince Arthur, in 1502, and succeeded in 1509. Sir Thomas More once said of him, "If a lion knew his strength, it were hard for any man to hold him."

Henry was highly intelligent, and, as a youth, quite athletic. Described by a contemporary: "He speaks good French, Latin and Spanish; is very religious; heard three masses daily when he hunted ... He is extremely fond of hunting, and never takes that diversion without tiring eight or ten horses ... He is also fond of tennis." He wrote books and composed music, and was a lavish patron of the arts. As the author of a best-selling book, which went through 20 editions in England and Europe, attacking Martin Luther and supporting the Roman Catholic Church, Henry was given the title "Defender of the Faith" in 1521 by the Pope.

"The second half of Henry's reign was dominated by two major issues, very important for the future of England and the monarchy: the succession and the Protestant Reformation, which led to the formation of the Church of England." Women and the role they played in the King's life, impacted many of his policies and actions - but the Protestant Reformation and the succession, in particular, had their roots in Henry's relationships with women. He was perhaps England's most infamous monarch, especially when it came to matters of lust, love, marriage, and the unusually cruel and ruthless ways he invented to terminate soured relationships. He was married to six distinctly different women. Author Alison Weir chronicles Henry VIII's metamorphosis from vibrant young prince to despotic, paranoid old king through his marital history, in this richly detailed and meticulously researched composite biography. She has used many public records, diaries, diplomatic sources, and personal letters of the early 1500's to offer a comprehensive, factual version of the private and public lives of Henry VIII and his wives.

Ms. Weir writes, with great elegance, wit and insight, about each of the women, and how their lives impacted their times and history. She also describes each of these complex women, their unique characters as individuals, (not just as consorts to a king), their motivations and ambitions. She outlines their ascent and decline, and how they related to one another, their peers and families...and to their husband.

Catherine of Aragon dominates the first part of the book, but that is to be expected. She was married to Henry for 24 years, and prior to their marriage, she was wed to his older brother Arthur, a cause for future problems for the realm and much heartbreak for Catherine. Queen Catherine is portrayed most sympathetically, and that is my inclination also. She was a noble lady, raised to serve as Queen, who loved her husband, almost as much as she loved God and the Catholic Church. I have always wondered how Henry's character, his country and history would have changed if Catherine had born him a healthy son. One of the most poignant sentences in history, is one of Catherine's last. As she lay dying, she dictated a letter to the husband who had so ruthlessly abandoned her. She bid her scribe to write: "Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things. Farewell."

Anne Boleyn was an extremely well-educated, and very independent young woman, especially given the times. And Henry was obsessed with the idea of possessing her. Anne played his obsession to the hilt. Her complex and ambitious nature, as well as the politics of her downfall, are portrayed with great skill by Ms. Weir. Anne never bore Henry his longed for son, but she was the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, a truly great monarch.

Poor Jane Seymour's mild manner was a temporary, but welcome, relief to Henry after his relationship with and marriage to Anne. However Queen Jane's narrative is brief, as was her life. She died after birthing Henry's only living son. Henry once said that he loved Jane Seymour best of all his wives, (she never really argued with him or expressed differing points of view), and he was buried by her side.

Anne of Cleves, perhaps the most politically astute of Henry's wives, certainly the one with the best survival skills, was thrilled to be cast-off and allowed to keep her head.

Unfortunately, the naive and beautiful Katherine Howard, Henry's "blushing rose without a thorn" went the way of Anne Boleyn, because of promiscuity, lack of savvy, and church politics.

And Catherine Parr, a woman of extraordinary intellect, was one of only eight women whose writings were published during the reign of Henry and his father. She was fortunate to become aware of a plot against her before she met the same end as Queens Anne and Katherine.

As a backdrop to these personal dramas and matters of state, the author draws a lavish portrait of court life with its moral and political intrigues. She details the struggle for international power, and clearly explains England's break with Rome and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

This is a superb and very readable history, that has been meticulously researched. I have read three histories of King Henry VIII, his reign and his wives, and this is by far the best. I highly recommend it.
JANA

I love English history, especially the period from King Edward IV's reign through the Tudor's. Henry VIII was one of the most powerful monarchs in British history, who ruled England in unprecedented splendor. He has long been one of my favorite historical characters, as have three of his six wives, Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Parr. For better and for worse, he was certainly a larger than life figure. (quite literally so - at his death, he was obese). I know of very few fictional personages who are as complex and fascinating as this man, (and the women who attracted him). Born to Elizabeth of York and King Henry VII on June 28, 1491 in Greenwich Palace. Henry was a second son and not expected to rule. But rule he did. He became heir to the throne on the death of his elder brother, Prince Arthur, in 1502, and succeeded in 1509. Sir Thomas More once said of him, "If a lion knew his strength, it were hard for any man to hold him."

Henry was highly intelligent, and, as a youth, quite athletic. Described by a contemporary: "He speaks good French, Latin and Spanish; is very religious; heard three masses daily when he hunted ... He is extremely fond of hunting, and never takes that diversion without tiring eight or ten horses ... He is also fond of tennis." He wrote books and composed music, and was a lavish patron of the arts. As the author of a best-selling book, which went through 20 editions in England and Europe, attacking Martin Luther and supporting the Roman Catholic Church, Henry was given the title "Defender of the Faith" in 1521 by the Pope.

"The second half of Henry's reign was dominated by two major issues, very important for the future of England and the monarchy: the succession and the Protestant Reformation, which led to the formation of the Church of England." Women and the role they played in the King's life, impacted many of his policies and actions - but the Protestant Reformation and the succession, in particular, had their roots in Henry's relationships with women. He was perhaps England's most infamous monarch, especially when it came to matters of lust, love, marriage, and the unusually cruel and ruthless ways he invented to terminate soured relationships. He was married to six distinctly different women. Author Alison Weir chronicles Henry VIII's metamorphosis from vibrant young prince to despotic, paranoid old king through his marital history, in this richly detailed and meticulously researched composite biography. She has used many public records, diaries, diplomatic sources, and personal letters of the early 1500's to offer a comprehensive, factual version of the private and public lives of Henry VIII and his wives.

Ms. Weir writes, with great elegance, wit and insight, about each of the women, and how their lives impacted their times and history. She also describes each of these complex women, their unique characters as individuals, (not just as consorts to a king), their motivations and ambitions. She outlines their ascent and decline, and how they related to one another, their peers and families...and to their husband.

Catherine of Aragon dominates the first part of the book, but that is to be expected. She was married to Henry for 24 years, and prior to their marriage, she was wed to his older brother Arthur, a cause for future problems for the realm and much heartbreak for Catherine. Queen Catherine is portrayed most sympathetically, and that is my inclination also. She was a noble lady, raised to serve as Queen, who loved her husband, almost as much as she loved God and the Catholic Church. I have always wondered how Henry's character, his country and history would have changed if Catherine had born him a healthy son. One of the most poignant sentences in history, is one of Catherine's last. As she lay dying, she dictated a letter to the husband who had so ruthlessly abandoned her. She bid her scribe to write: "Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things. Farewell."

Anne Boleyn was an extremely well-educated, and very independent young woman, especially given the times. And Henry was obsessed with the idea of possessing her. Anne played his obsession to the hilt. Her complex and ambitious nature, as well as the politics of her downfall, are portrayed with great skill by Ms. Weir. Anne never bore Henry his longed for son, but she was the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, a truly great monarch.

Poor Jane Seymour's mild manner was a temporary, but welcome, relief to Henry after his relationship with and marriage to Anne. However Queen Jane's narrative is brief, as was her life. She died after birthing Henry's only living son. Henry once said that he loved Jane Seymour best of all his wives, (she never really argued with him or expressed differing points of view), and he was buried by her side.

Anne of Cleves, perhaps the most politically astute of Henry's wives, certainly the one with the best survival skills, was thrilled to be cast-off and allowed to keep her head.

Unfortunately, the naive and beautiful Katherine Howard, Henry's "blushing rose without a thorn" went the way of Anne Boleyn, because of promiscuity, lack of savvy, and church politics.

And Catherine Parr, a woman of extraordinary intellect, was one of only eight women whose writings were published during the reign of Henry and his father. She was fortunate to become aware of a plot against her before she met the same end as Queens Anne and Katherine.

As a backdrop to these personal dramas and matters of state, the author draws a lavish portrait of court life with its moral and political intrigues. She details the struggle for international power, and clearly explains England's break with Rome and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

This is a superb and very readable history, that has been meticulously researched. I have read three histories of King Henry VIII, his reign and his wives, and this is by far the best. I highly recommend it.
JANA

I find myself wanting to know the detailed accounts of historical figures, and then finding the process of reading the account a painful laborous process.

No so with this book, the author is to be well congratulated for tackling such a well known figure, and also such a complex tale with aplomb. I've tried to read other authors on the same subjects, but this book is so well written that I haven't found it's equal.

Through letters, journals and personal accounts, she takes us back into time, and makes these men and woman live for us again. Don't let the sheer volume of this book intimidate you! It has a lot to say, look forward to the journey.