Six Wives of Henry VIII

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing and interesting read...but very very hard to read
Review: I have always had a fascination with everything Tudor, and this book only fueled my passion further. This book contains all the precious morsels of knowledge that Tudor fanatics crave, but the writer's erratic style and organization makes it a struggle to get through and not feel completely tied into knots. Weir will begin to talk about something, and let the narrative be lead out of chronological, (or logical) order. She will mention names and titles flippantly, which leaves you thoroughly confused and constantly looking in the index. This is not necessary for most history books, but this book seems to be quite a difficult read because attention was not given to the little details like organization and clarity. Often, the same phrases will be used over and over again within two pages, at one point a whole sentence is practically duplicated on another page. The writing is not the best ever, however it is made up for sufficiently by all the facts and painstaking research it includes. Also, I am really convinced that Weir has a bias against Anne Boleyn. The chapter on this wife is very critical of her and presents her in an unfavorable light; Weir is content to discredit sources that were bias towards her and embrace the sources that are just a much biased against her. However, the book only loses one star because ALL the information that you are given is impeccable, and there is nothing that can discredit this aspect. I would recommend "The Wives of Henry VIII" by Antonia Fraser for a book that is jam packed with (maybe not as many) facts and is much better written. If you care more about details, records and a barrage of sources, look to this book. However, do not hesitate to look elsewhere to find a good read about the 6 wives of Henry VIII, and perhaps only refer to this book on subject matters you want more information on. Great facts, terrible organization, but I am glad that I have learned so much about this subject matter.

Rating:
Summary: Alison Weir or the Seventh Queen of Tudor England
Review: From "the" authority of Tudor England, "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" truly grasps in a very vivid style the continuous challenges, tribulations, manipulations and vicissitudes that each queen had to negotiate in order to survive. The book is downright brilliant; it is history, but reads like a novel. The prose is colorful and exquisitely worded. Yet two aspects sort of got me thinking: (a) the almost detachment of Thomas More during the course of passing the Act of Succession and (b) the lack of evidence on Anne Boleyn's adultery case. If I had to bestow a description to each queen, I would call Katherine of Aragón the most virtuous, Anne Boleyn the most dangerous, Jane Seymour the most fulfilling, Anne of Cleves the most pragmatic, Katherine Howard the most reckless and Katherine Parr as the most universal. In all, a masterful job.

Rating:
Summary: Another solid read from Alison Weir
Review: The only other book I've read from Alison Weir is the Children of Henry the VIII. This book (like "Children") was a fascinating read. The author clearly has sympathy for the wives but does not dismiss Henry as "a womanizer who got rid of his wives on personal whim". The only thing I disliked about this book was the authors detail on which surviving portraits are there of each wife and ones that have been falsly attributed to them. As I can't look at the pictures in question I really don't care!!!! All in all I would heartily recommend both the "Six Wives" and "Children" to any history buff.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: I could not put this book down. This book provides a thorough history of not only each wife of King Henry, but also a history of Henry and England itself during the period. The book is easy to follow, laid out in chronological order. The book also addresses the issues from the wive's point of view. Very engrossing, an incredible read that made history very vibrant and alive.

Rating:
Summary: History as romantic drama
Review: This is one of the more entertaining histories that I have read for some time. It is able to provide an insight into the mechanics of history.

Henry the eight was the younger brother of Arthur Tudor. It had been expected that Arthur would rule England, and a marriage had been arranged by Arthur's father to Catherine the daughter of the Spanish King. Arthur went through the ceremony of marriage but died probably before consummating he marriage. Catherine was a beautiful woman and she had a sound knowledge of religious literature. Henry fell in love with her and his father arranged a dispensation which allowed him to marry her. Henry the seventh was notoriously stingy and some say it was to avoid him returning the dowry. Henry's father died soon after and Henry now ascended the throne as Henry the VIII. A number of histories have painted Henry in an unfavorable light. Yet he was a person who was clearly intelligent he wrote a book which defended the faith and he wrote music. One of his songs "Green sleeves" is still played today.

Catherine was unable to give birth to a male heir. Henry also had some setbacks as a King. His vision of kingship was to be successful in war. France and Austria were antagonists at this time and Henry tried to ally with Austria to sieve French territory. He failed in his enterprises.

It would seem clear that he started to believe that God was punishing him for his marriage. He believed that it may have breached the biblical injunction which precludes the marriage of a wife of a brother. These beliefs occurred at the same time he met Ann Bolyn a beautiful and intelligent woman. Ann was woman who also had the strength of character not to become the kings mistress. Henry requested a divorce from Rome so that he could be free of his sin and at the same time marry his beloved. The Pope refused to grant him a divorce.

This book illustrates how Henry at this time started to brood and to lose faith in the authority of the Pope. How could the vicar of God force him to continue in a marriage that was an offence to God. Thomas Cromwell the person responsible for Henry's break from Rome clearly used the situation to suggest that Henry should place himself at the head of the English Church. He further suggested the confiscation and sale of the monasteries land. By selling the land of the monasteries revenue would be raised for the crown but also the nobles which bought the land would be implicated in Henry's decision. They would thus support him against the attempts of the Pope to remove him. Thus was born the English reformation.

This book is interesting as it combines the human drama with a realistic examination of the political and religious issues around the break with Rome.

After the break Ann Bolyn did not last long. Henry had her executed and his life then began to decline. He only achieved a measure of happiness with two more of his wives, with two more of his wives, one who died and the other who outlived him. He died a fat overweight and embittered man.

Rating:
Summary: The Beginning of a Wonderful Tudor Cycle
Review: Alison Weir has a fine start to a marvelous cycle of history books of the Tudor reign of Henry VIII and his wives and children. The actual beginning of this cycle would be Ms. Weir's book on the Wars of the Roses but this is the true start of the series that looks at the personal lives of the reigning Tudors. This book, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, is a fat and delicious book that brings these very different women to life for the reader. It is the way the author has of drawing the personality out of the sources that is the most rewarding aspect of this book. History lives and is exciting because the reader feels the life within the history. Alison Weir is a marvelous writer and makes the past both exciting and accesible. A fine book of history and a wonderful place to spend a few entertaining hours.

Rating:
Summary: Non-Fiction can be as exciting as Fiction!
Review: In this book, Alison Weir has told not only the story of the six wives, but truly of both King Henry VIII and a backdrop of pre-Elizabethan England. I highly recommend this book to any reader who is going to visit England, particularly London. Weir's thoroughness educates the reader about the significance of the Tower of London and many of the British castles, especially Hampton Court Palace. This book provides an excellent foundation for anyone who is then looking to study Queen Elizabeth and Shakespearean times. It's amazing how she made history SO exciting!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent writer, excellent story
Review: Alison Weir is a captivating author! This book is so well written, it's hard to put down. Weir brings all of the characters to life and provides a new window into the life and times of Henry VIII. There is also a center insert with portraits of all of the main characters, so that we may put a face with the names and personalities. Furthermore, she does a fantastic job of citing her sources throughout the book, so there's never any question about where her information came from.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a MUST-HAVE for period actors!
Review: I have been participating in Tudor-period Renaissance fairs for over 10 years now. This requires sometimes intensive research into the lives major (or minor) figures of the time, and I have yet to find a better all-around source than this book. The criticism that the information is presented rather dryly at times is accurate, but this is not a novel! The rarity with which the author takes literary license is a strength in a resource book, not a weakness. The text is detailed, and supported by direct quotes from communication between the main figures of Tudor court life, including Cardinal Wolsey, Eustache Chapuy, Cromwell, and others. I would highly recommend this book as a principle source for anyone researching the Tudor period in England.

Rating:
Summary: An Engaging Study
Review: Alison Weir has put together here a very fine and detailed study of one of the most fascinating personages in the history of the British Monarchy - Henry VIII. This book is a wonderfully detailed history of each of his wives. Each of these six women are presented with clear and surprisingly fascinating glimpses into their lives. Especially interesting was the story of Catherine of Aragon, King Henry's first wife - a steadfast and quite formidable woman. It tells of Henry's divorce from her - an act which she and the Catholic Church refused to acknowledge. From this point, however, the book seems to take on the more meticulous voice of a term paper - a sort of pounding-out of factual information. Perhaps this is due to the fact that once the King marries Anne Boleyn, his 2nd wife, the history becomes packed with dramatic events, rolling one after the other. This, I suppose, would leave very little chance to reflect on the charactors of any of the remaining five wives. I shall say this much for this book, however: It is rich in information - and for anyone who - like myself - is fascinated by the history of England - this book is a must!