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Summary: Henry was Human after all
Review: Margaret George has produced a story that is strangely compelling as one discovers the intrigues behind Henry's actions. Allowing for poetic licence , it is fascinating to imagine what made Henry act the way he did in getting rid of his various wives. From the suggestion that his first marraige to Katherine of Aragon was not "legal", to the adultery of Anne, to the sorrow of Jane, who it seems he loved so very much, to the lust for Catherine Howard, through the mistake of Ann of Cleeves to the happiness found with Katherine Parr. Little things stick out, like the suggestion of incest by one of the wives (subsequently beheaded), to another, going to the trouble of having the "beheading" block brought to her cell the night before her death, as she wanted to practice placing her head in the correct place! My son said on visit to the Tower some years ago, it was a dangerous business being a King or a Queen in those days. This book certainly illustrates the point as far as being a queen. The book brings a very human touch to a person who was literally larger than life and who had such a profound affect on English history. I have no hesitation in recommending this novel as being a very worthwhile read
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Summary: I couldn't put it down!
Review: After reading Mary, Queen of Scots, I knew I wanted to read every book written by this magnificent author! Her writing style draws you into the day-to-day lives of her subjects, leaving you to feel as if you personally knew the characters. Weeks after completing the book details still come to mind. The sign of a truly gifted author!I can't say I particularly liked, or disliked, the man Henry VIII. In my opinion, he was an emotionally insecure man, longing to find love, looking in all the wrong places. As heir to the throne, Henry was taken from his mother's arms during infancy to be groomed and educated by a surrogate family. His rare and treasured moments with his mother left him wanting for "motherly love". He sought this love in emotionally unhealthy ways, often letting his "lower brain" dictate to his "upper brain"...if you know what I mean! When a present marriage inconvenienced him, he simply had it absolved or, in 2 of his marriages, found reason to behead his wives. Personally, I can't argue the 2 executions...both wives were admitted adulterers, and therefore got their due. I lost the ability to respect Henry VIII when he sought to end his first marriage, which included declaring his daughter from that marriage to be illegitimate. What a horrible thing to do just because someone else "strikes your fancy". No wonder Mary, his first daughter, went on in history to be known as "Bloody Mary"! What an emotionally distraught life she had! Henry was emotionally immature and at the same time an extremely sensitive man. He was also very naive to the ways of women...a deadly combination to happiness. He was fortunate, however, in that his 3rd marriage to Jane Seymour seemed to provide both of them true happiness, but for such a short period of time (she died shortly after delivering him a son). By the 4th marriage, and knowing 2 more were coming, it was hard to muster anything but pity for a man who could have provided so much in a relationship, given his sensitivities, yet chose a lustful path...all the while daily laboring over "God's wishes". All in all he seemed a selfish, confused, immature, overly sensitive man with many faults...yet I couldn't help but feel sorrow and compassion for him. My recommendation? THIS BOOK WILL NOT DISAPPOINT YOU! IT IS A GREAT BOOK, FULL OF INTERESTING FACTS AND DETAILS! DON'T LET THE LENGTH OF IT SCARE YOU...YOU WILL FLY THREW THIS BOOK! IT'S THAT GOOD! Can't wait to start her book on Cleopatra tomorrow!
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Summary: Enchanting look in Henry VIII
Review: For anyone who is interested in history, this is a must read. Henry VIII has captured many imaginations, with his many wives and complete severance from teh church. Margaret George's The Autobiography of HEnry VIII is a fascinating read. IT is told through Henry's journals, starting from when he was a boy into his adult life. He is handed the crown at a young age, an age when most are just learning to be adults. MOst are familiar with Henry's story, his marriage to Katherine of Aragon and his sick love for Anne Bolyen that forced him to split off from the Catholic Faith and name himself the pope. What we didn't know is what Henry was really like. Yes, this is fiction, but it certainly reads as history. Obviously there was meticulous attention to detail and George did an enormous amout of research. Henry VIII is portrayed as just a man, with fallacies and inadequicies. He is unable to produce an heir, yet continues to marry in hopes of getting one. He is arrogant and yet unsure of himself. He falls in love quickly, yet is blind to all the faults in himself. It is a blazing portrait of one of histories most famous monarchs. Though extremely long, definetly worth the time.
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Summary: A fascinating view of Tudor England
Review: Not at all put off by the extravagant length of this novel, this was, in fact, my second reading. The life of Henry VIII is remarkable in its historical perspective: his break with the auspices of the Roman Church changed the course of history. As well, in his new role as Delegate of God on Earth, Henry uses his power to grant himself the dissolution of his marriage to his Spanish Queen, Katherine of Aragon. This very act establishes a precedent for divorce, endangering wives who could be put aside by their husbands. Until Henry's pronouncement, marriage has been a sacrament and inviolable. However, the desperate Henry needs a legitimate male heir, a living heir. Katherine has indeed produced boys, but none of them survive, leaving the king without issue. The strength of the English Crown dictates the need for a male heir to continue the dynasty. A brilliant politician, Henry seems the fool in his romantic yearnings for the love of young women. While it is true that he needs a son, he is also singular in his pursuit of any woman he desires, driven by his lust, particularly for Anne Boleyn. She manages to remain chaste for almost 5 years until their marriage, when she is finally crowned Queen, albeit unpopular with the citizens. Thus the impetus of Henry's first and second marriage set the pace for the following marriages. Once set upon his frantic quest, ostensibly for a son, Henry moves from woman to woman, each choice more aberrant. At the bottom of this behavior is Henry's inability to tolerate any situation requiring patience, especially regarding the fulfillment of romance, accustomed to immediate gratification of his every need, surrounded by a constantly fawning court. His marriage to Katherine of Aragon is the longest, followed by a five year courtship of Anne Boleyn, all the while sparring with the Pope in Rome. Aside from his weakness for women, Henry VIII is an extraordinary king, a brilliant strategist and a powerful personality. His break with the Roman Church changes the future of England, establishing the Church of England, with Henry as God's delegate. The Tudor line is so vested in power that two of his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth rule after his death. Well researched and beautifully written, George has given us an England brimming with details and a real sense of the majesty and mayhem of Henry's reign. The occasional footnote by Henry's "fool" adds a bit of levity to Henry's pomposity and histrionics. A thoroughly satisfying journey into the heart of Tudor England.
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Summary: Henry VIII in "Romancing The Throne"
Review: If you are interested in the adventures of Henry VIII or you enjoy thick, historical novels, you will probably want to read this book. Margaret George is a good genre novelist and has done gobs of research, but she does not show us the mind of Henry as vividly as some of the great historians, like Antonia Fraser, or Alison Weir. Part of the problem, I think, is the gimmick of autobiography--Henry never sounds convincingly English. It is as if you went to see Anne of a Thousand Days, and instead of Richard Burton playing Henry, its Tom Hanks. George does better with the character of Will Somers, whose critical comments intrude on Henry's "manuscript" from time to time. She also does a pretty fair job of explaining a long and complicated span of English history. Character development tends to be limited to Henry and his six wives and several mistresses, but that is part of the historical romance genre. The important men in Henry's life: Wolsey, More, Cromwell, Cranmer, come off as cardboard sticks. ( I would have loved to have seen more of the inscrutable Cranmer--now THERE'S a novel for you.)
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Summary: My Favorite Book...Ever
Review: I love to read, and am literally almost never without a book. But I have to honestly say that this book is the one I am continually reaching for, and that is a tribute to Margaret George's brilliantly evocative writing.
King Henry VIII was certainly no saint. He was, however, a tremendously charismatic, intelligent and powerful man who has been remembered mostly for having 6 different wives. Margaret George takes an empathetic look at the public and private life of this man by creating an utterly believable "journal" of this controversial king.
Each of the characters are fleshed out brilliantly, allowing the reader not only a you-are-there view of the subject but also revealing the humanity of every person who came within Henry's circle. And the star of the book, of course, is the King himself, who comes across as surprisingly likeable, even as he descends into the obese, bitter, tormented man of historical legends. There were several times when I was completely amazed at the authors beautiful writing...the last few chapters are very touching and almost heartbreaking.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough...it's filled with truly human characterizations, colorful scenes of love, lust and war, and succeeds in "humanizing" a legendary royal icon. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. Bravo, Margaret George!
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Summary: Good FICTION
Review: I read this book, after reading Philippa Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl". (Excellent, BTW). This seemed like the next obvious book to read. I did enjoy it very much, with the following comments: 1. It is, after all, fiction. George does a wonderful job of drawing us in to Henry's character, yet still remaining somewhat balanced, by letting us see peeks of what others thought of Henry. Hearing his FICTIONAL perspective of events, was interesting. 2. I emphasize fiction, only because I don't like the subtitle being called an autobiography. It is not. George does a good job setting us in the time and place, describing historical events, figures, and extrapolating what may have occurred, but it is fiction, not an autobiography. 3. I found the first 2/3rds of the book better than the last third. I'm not sure if this is because the events interested me more, or if I got tired of Henry's whining, or both. I did find the Anne Boleyn period to be fascinating. For another view (also historical fiction) read "The Other Boleyn Girl". 4. I found his relationship with Thomas More to be fascinating. I would have liked to have heard more about the men in his life, in addition to the women. I also enjoyed his relationship with Katherine Parr, his final wife. In summary, George does an admirable job of getting the reader acquainted with the time period, the history, and the people around Henry VIII. I recommend this to anyone with interest in historical England.
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Summary: Henry the Eighth finally becomes real to the reader
Review: This novel of historical fiction remains one of the best dealing with the age of Henry VIII. He becomes a real person in this novel and no longer just a famous painting by Hans Holbien. It is a book filled with deep detail and colorful language, yet remains a book the casual historical buff would enjoy. I have read all of George's novels and everyone is well worth the reader's time.
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Summary: A Must Read!!
Review: This was an absolutely amazing book! I just recently became absorbed with the lives of Henry VIII and his wives. After reading multiple books on the wives, from their perspectives as well as omnipotent perspectives, I decided to take a look at what Henry himself might have been thinking. Wow! It was amazing. I love that Margaret George tore apart the most common myths about this king, and revealed what was probably a very accurate picture of his thoughts.
Margaret George is an amazing author, all of her books are marvelous. Read them all, but start with Henry VIII!!!!
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Summary: A Royal Way With Women
Review: Okay, this book showed how women were treated in the Middle Ages and that it was definitley the right way to treat women in those days, but not today. I liked Henry VIII and like they say on television, "It's good to be the king!" This guy definitely had some issues with women but he had the power to do what he wanted. Now I am not going to say that beheading women is the right thing to do by any means because that is totally wrong in all cases. Henry did show his power with England, the Catholic Church, his priests, and women in a way that some people would object to but he got the job done. England is a better place because of Henry VIII instead of the namby-pamby Tony Blair that they have now. I liked the book and while I do not hold Henry as a roll model, I certainly think that being King is a good thing.
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