The books of king henry viii and his wives james p. Henry viii, which is widely thought to be shakespeares last completed play, has had a long and interesting stage history, but since the mid19th century a number of critics have doubted that shakespeare was its sole author. Evocatively written in the first person as henry viiis private journals, the novel was the product of fifteen years of meticulous research and five handwritten drafts. Aug 24, 2018 i loved alison weirs biography of henry viii. Wolf hall by hilary mantel, the other boleyn girl by philippa gregory, bring up the bodies. The play focuses on the instabilities of the royal court in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, suggesting farranging. This manuscript, known as the henry viii songbook, was probably compiled around 1518, and includes 20 songs and instrumental pieces ascribed to the kynge h. Works related to persecutions of protestants by henry viii, in foxes book of martyrs at wikisource. The king and his court is an excellent popular biography, written by the first great modern popularizer of the tudor monarchy. This book was initially released in 1962 and then it was republished in 2006 by the arrow books. Hilary mantel won the 41st annual man booker prize on tuesday night for wolf hall, a historical novel about henry viiis court centered on the kings adviser, thomas cromwell. It was the first in the series to be published by the newly renamed publisher eyre methuen.
Phillipa gregory, hillary mantel, antonia fraser, et al. Also have read almost everything else margaret george has written. A brilliantly written and meticulously researched biography of royal family life during englands second tudor monarch san francisco chronicle. King henry viiis love letters to anne boleyn collection. Considering that this is my second time reading it, i can easily call this book a pageturner it unfolds like a carefullycrafted novel. What was the name of the book that henry viii wrote. The six wives of henry viii is an excellent, accessible nonfiction historical biography.
The complete genealogy, the six wives of henry viii, the princes in the tower, the wars of the roses, the children of henry viii, the life of elizabeth i, and eleanor of aquitaine. The six wives of henry viii by alison weir, paperback. Im often asked which books i recommend on anne boleyn, the six wives and henry viii, so i thought it would be helpful to provide you with a book list of ones that i use on a weekly, if not daily, basis including my own. Another well written book of this series is called the kings secret matter. An extraordinary collection of his music is today kept at the british library in london. Thus, the six wives of henry viii definitely lends. The new york times bestselling author of the six wives of henry viii and the war of the roses, historian alison weir crafts fascinating portraits of englands infamous house of tudor line. Henrys book was called assertio septem sacramentorum or defence of the seven sacraments. Richly illustrated 9 pictures, many in colour, it offers more of an overview than detail, but nevertheless provides a great deal of often fascinating information.
Free download or read online the six wives of henry viii pdf epub book. For example, if the reign of henry viii is told as a story, the central figure easily becomes an ogre, moving through a succession of cruel caprices to an unregretted end. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 643 pages and is available in paperback format. The political mingling and the religious conflict that took time during henry viiis reign was interesting to read about. This book describes an interesting account from the lives of the 2 wives of henry viii. Here weir focuses on elizabeth i, also known as the virgin queen, who ascended to the throne at age 25 and never married, yet ruled for 44 years and steered england into its golden age.
Buy a cheap copy of the six wives of henry viii book by alison weir. Historical novel about henry viii wins booker prize the new. For fans of wolf hall, alison weirs new york times bestselling biography of henry viii brilliantly brings to life the king, the court, and the fascinating men and women who vied for its pleasures and rewards. Either annulled, executed, died in childbirth, or widowed, these were the wellknown fates of the six queens during the tempestuous, bloody, and splendid reign of henry viii of england from 1509 to 1547. I dont care for simon prebble as much as for weirs other narrators. Many scenes and splendid speeches were written in a style very similar to that of john fletcher. Historical novel about henry viii wins booker prize the. The lives and fates of king henry viii s legendary six wives are laid bare in a vivid, indepth account that is set against the colorful, tempestuous background of. Selected poems and songs composed by king henry viii, as well as love letters to anne boleyn, and many audio clips. The best books on henry vii five books expert recommendations. He is best known for six marriages and his effort to annul his first marriage, which led to the separation of the church of. And at the books heart is the tragic, magnetic figure of henry vii controlling, paranoid, avaricious, with a. Henry viii was king of england from 1509 until his death in 1547. What is the best and most enjoyable book on henry viii.
Anne boleyn, six wives and henry viii book list the anne. The parents of henry viii king henry vii elizabeth of york the six wives of henry viii queen catherine of aragon queen anne boleyn queen jane seymour queen anne of cleves queen catherine howard queen katherine parr the children of henry viii henry fitzroy, duke of richmond king edward vi queen mary i queen elizabeth i the kings advisors. The second son of king henry vii and elizabeth of york, henry was not heir to the throne until the unexpected death of his elder brother, arthur, in april 1502. Henry was an accomplished lute and organ player, sang, and composed music. The six wives of henry viii audiobook by alison weir. The extent of mores involvement with this project has been a point of contention since its publication. She succeeds masterfully in making henry and his six wives. Henry viii, 14911547, king of england 150947, second son and successor of henry vii. When he wasnt ruling the kingdom or competing against the nobility, he was a musician.
King henry viii of england was born in greenwich palace on june 28, 1491. Free scores by henry viii at the international music score library project imslp free scores by henry viii of england in the choral public domain library choralwiki. The main characters of this history, non fiction story are anne boleyn, thomas more. List of books and articles about henry viii online. This is a triumph of historical writing which will appeal equally to the general reader and the. Early life in his youth he was educated in the new learning of the. Nov 06, 2018 henrys book was called assertio septem sacramentorum or defence of the seven sacraments. Pages in category books by henry viii of england the following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide.
For those who have read a lot about henry viii or didnt love this book, which book would. The edward the confessor hardback of 1970 lists scarisbricks henry viii as third in. Throughout this book weir not only looks at who henry viii was, the man and the life he lead, but she also paints a detailed, intricate picture of the world in which he lived. Beautifully written, exhaustive in its research, it is a gem. The wellknown english folk song, the kings ballad is in fact written by king henry viii. Henry was the second son of henry vii, first of the tudor line, and elizabeth, daughter of edward iv, first king of the shortlived line of york when his elder brother, arthur, died in 1502, henry became the heir to the throne. Early life in his youth he was educated in the new learning of the renaissance and developed great skill in music and sports. She spends the first part of the book intricately before you read any book about henry viii or his wives i would strongly recommend that you stop and read this book first. The six wives of henry viii b009prie2k i gave the six wives of henry viii five stars when i rated the text version, and im happy to give this audiobook the same, or at least fourandahalf stars. Scarisbricks henry viii remains the standard account, a thorough exploration of the documentary sources, stylishly written and highly readable. He was created prince of wales in 1503, following the death of his elder brother, arthur.
Jun 27, 2019 thomas more was the key counselor of king henry viii of england, who was tried for treason and beheaded in 1535. In 1519, king henry viii started writing the book the defence of the seven sacraments assertio septem sacramentorum, in latin. In this accessible work of brilliant scholarship, alison weir draws on early biographies, letters, memoirs, account. So many people have written books about henry viii and studied that period what makes you so interested in the lesserknown early tudor period. A new and accurate translation of the first book of homers iliad. The autobiography of henry viii was, without a doubt, the best book ive read in a very long time. This famous song, pastyme with good companye, celebrates the joys of princely life such as hunting, singing and dancing. The book itself was written directly from henrys pov in first person, and also from the pov of a personal friend of his, sir william. The six wives of henry viii audiobook listen instantly. He was challenging some of the fundamental princip. The tempestuous, bloody, and splendid reign of henry viii of england 15091547 is one of the most fascinating in all history, not least for his marriage to six extraordinary women. The untold story of henry viiis most faithful servant. Book written by henry viii supporting catholicism answers. This book contains over 100 secular compositions by contemporary tudor composers, 33 of which were written by the king himself.
The standard academic biography is still neville williams henry viii and his court macmillan, 1971. Poems, readings, poetry news and the entire 100year archive of poetry magazine. Six feet tall, powerfully built, and a tireless athlete, huntsman, and dancer, he. Perhaps the most wellregarded book in the series was one of the earliest, appearing in 1968. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes henry viii study guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays. Pdf the six wives of henry viii book by alison weir free.
These famous love letters from king henry viii to anne boleyn are undated. This edition contains an excerpt from alison weir s mary boleyn. In this accessible work of brilliant scholarship, alison weir draws on early biographies, letters, memoirs. I found myself rearrainging my busy schedule to make time to sit and read. Assertio septem sacramentorum is a theological treatise published in 1521, written by king henry viii of england, allegedly with the assistance of thomas more. The book is beautifully and lyrically written, it not only narrates historical events, but gives its. The autobiography of henry viii is the magnificent historical novel that established margaret georges career. List of books and articles about henry viii online research.
May 01, 2001 weirs book outshines all previous studies of henry. He excelled in book learning as well as in the physical exercises of an aristocratic society, and, when in 1509 he ascended the throne, great things were expected of him. The first edition of the novel was published in 1991, and was written by alison weir. The lives and fates of king henry viiis legendary six wives are laid bare in a vivid, indepth account that is set against the colorful, tempestuous background of. Amazing handwritten love notes in the margin of a prayer book between a lovesick henry viii and anne boleyn, as he wooed her, are to be revealed in a new bbc television series. Alison weir is the author of britains royal families. Above all the english reformation and the break with rome are still felt more than four centuries on. Oct 07, 2009 hilary mantel won the 41st annual man booker prize on tuesday night for wolf hall, a historical novel about henry viiis court centered on the kings adviser, thomas cromwell. Martin luther had nailed his 95 thesis to the church door in wittenberg, germany on the 31 october 1517.
He traces the transformation of a young, vulnerable boy, prince henry, into the aggressive teenager who would become henry viii, and of catherine of aragon, his future queen. Weir starts her book at the death of henry vii in 1509 and then begins to paint a portrait of the world in which henry viii ascended to the throne. Philadelphia inquirerhenry viii, renowned for his command of power and celebrated for his intellect, presided over one of the most magnificentand dangerouscourts in. They were found in the vatican library, possibly stolen from anne and sent to the papacy during henry viiis struggle for an annulment of his marriage to katharine of aragon. List of books and articles about henry viii online research library. She lives outside london with her husband and two children. What is the best biography of henry viii and who wrote it. The six wives of henry viii was not as easy a read as i thought it would be. Henry viii was highly respected as a musician and composer. The edward the confessor hardback of 1970 lists scarisbricks henry viii as third in the series, after william i and james i. Amazing hand written love notes in the margin of a prayer book between a lovesick henry viii and anne boleyn, as he wooed her, are to be revealed in a new bbc television series. The six wives of henry viii audiobook, by alison weir.