The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Alison Weir

Book cover for The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Book cover for The Six Wives of Henry VIII

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Alison Weir

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Description
The tempestuous, bloody, and splendid reign of Henry VIII of England (1509-1547) is one of the most fascinating in all history, not least for his marriage to six extraordinary women. In this accessible work of brilliant scholarship, Alison Weir draws on early biographies, letters, memoirs, account books, and diplomatic reports to bring these women to life. Catherine of Aragon emerges as a staunch though misguided woman of principle; Anne Boleyn, an ambitious adventuress with a penchant for vengeance; Jane Seymour, a strong-minded matriarch in the making; Anne of Cleves, a good-natured and innocent woman naively unaware of the court intrigues that determined her fate; Catherine Howard, an empty-headed wanton; and Catherine Parr, a warm-blooded bluestocking who survived King Henry to marry a fourth time.

Critical Reviews

"Enthralling . . . The panorama of royal family life as it meshed with politics, dynastic needs and history is rich, vivid and . . . gripping."--Chicago Tribune

"Brilliantly written and meticulously researched . . . Alison Weir is adept at bringing to life these historical figures."--San Francisco Chronicle

"Impeccable research . . . Entertaining . . . The story of England's second Tudor monarch and his rather sordid marital life has been told often. But never has it been told as well. . . . [The Six Wives of Henry VIII] combines the accessibility of a popular history with the highest standards of a scholarly thesis."--Detroit News

"The wives of possibly England's greatest monarch were as varied as they were many, as this compelling biography reveals. . . . Alison Weir has a wonderful way of bringing them and history alive. A joy to read from cover to cover."--Manchester Evening News

"At last we have the truth about Henry VIII's wives. This book is as reliable and scholarly as it is readable and, thank goodness, it is unpartisan. It does justice to these very different ladies with their varying fortunes."--A. L. Rowse, The Evening Standard

"The story of King Henry VIII and his unlucky wives has been told before, but the scope and depth of Weir's research provide a wealth of detail missing from many other narrative histories about the Tudors."--Publishers Weekly

"An exquisite treatment, sure to become a classic."--Booklist

"A story that has been reviewed before, but not with the depth of this coverage. New research and details enrich a comprehensive yet lively survey of not just Henry's wives, but the Tudor period's colorful figureheads."--Bookwatch

"Informative, erudite and entertaining . . . Steeped in the Tudor Court's pageantry, politics and sexual intrigue."--Bookworld Reviews

"Well researched and at time beautifully written . . . [This] work unquestionably is the finest exercise in collective biography focusing on Henry's wives."--Library Journal

"A handsome and well-researched study of an endlessly fascinating period."--Kansas City Star

Publishing Information

Publisher: Grove Press
Pub date: 2000-03-10
Length: 656 pages

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