Rating: 
Summary: Captivating!
Review: This is the 1st book I read about Henry VIII and I highly recommend it to others. For a novice about Tudor England (which I no longer am thanks to M. George) you can't pick up a better book to get started about this period. I've read numerous books about Henry VIII, his wives and his children since. This book is not only a good "entertainment", it's pretty true to the facts, informative and gives the reader a wonderful view into Henry's world from his point of view. M. George makes no apologies here and the reader is left to make their own judgement. A wonderful book--you'll want to read more after this one!
Rating:
Summary: For those who love historical fiction and need accuracy
Review: Maragret George is the best historical fiction novelist of our time. Never have I read a book with such detail. You get all the wonderful facts without the boring college-textbook-droning. George weaves a complete story of what Henry the Eigth was like, what motivated him, and who he was as a person. I personally enjoyed, Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles much more but this is still one of the best books I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Informative Fiction
Review: My knowledge of Tudor England is certainly not comprehensive, but this book appears to have been very thoroughly researched and to be very solidly based on the factual information that has come down to us. Of course, being a work of fiction, the author has taken the liberty of putting her own interpretation on the facts and supplying private thoughts and words as she thinks appropriate. Nevertheless, the reader can probably learn as much about Henry and his times from this book as from a casual perusal of the historical record.In many ways, this is a dark book. Henry was a complex man, and dangerous to get close to. A number of those closest to him lost their heads. Life was relatively short in those days anyway, though, and I found myself feeling for Henry by the end. In a very superstitious age, he was driven by his own inner demons. And it is apalling how superstitious these people were. There was a strong tendency to attribute every significant event as an act of God. Given the misfortunes that dogged his life, Henry was often left to wonder what he had done to offend his "God". Hence, he can convince himself that his marriage to Katherine of Aragon was incestuous when there was no hope of her giving him a son, despite many years together and the possibility that she was one of the few who really loved him. Later, he is able to convince himself that Anne Boleyn is a "witch". Disagreeable she might have been. She comes across as vain, selfish, greedy and vengeful. But, she certainly wasn't directly responsible for any of the deaths and illnesses in Henry's family. Nor is it likely that hismarriages were provoking angry responses from any vengeful deities. If you have any interest in the life and times of Henry VIII, then you should definitely read this book. Even if you don't have any special interest here, this is an excellent book. It gives a very human and compassionate look into the life of a remarkable man. It's quite long, but it never bored me, and the quality of the writing and level of scholarship behind this work are outstanding. Although he will infuriate you at times, you will understand and appreciate him in the end.
Rating:
Summary: Seeing it from Henry's view...
Review: After reading The First Elizabeth, and Mistress Anne by Carolly Erickson..which told the story from their viewpoints, it was interesting to read what seemed to be Henry's take on the same incidents. I was able to see how each character could tell a different side to the same event. I felt like I wanted to get Henry and Anne in a room together and say, "Now listen..." You should also check out the Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George
Rating:
Summary: Still reading...but great so far
Review: I am still reading this book, and I'm more than halfway through it, but I love it so far. It could not be better written, or more interesting. I greatly recomend this book to anyone that likes biographies or enjoys history.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but...
Review: While the subject matter, is, without question, interesting, the book, at times, was a bit trite. The style was not one that I particularly enjoyed, however, there was so much information to be absorbed, that I could not put it down. I didn't feel it was really a page-turner, until, of course, the bits with an execution, or a new wife appeared. I did not feel any compassion towards Henry, though, and it gave me a new grasp on his madness. If you are interested in learning a bit about the period, read it, if you are looking for a real page-turner, this is not really a book to look to.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed reviews...
Review: I had very mixed feelings about this book, and it actually made it quite difficult to put "stars" on it. Looking at it as a novel it's quite good. Ms. George has obviously researched her subject well. I read the book through very rapidly, and given its rather intimidating bulk, that says a lot about the way it's written. It's entertaining. So, as a novel, I'd give it 5 stars. On the other hand, I've been reading a lot of historical fiction lately, including books by Sharon Kaye Penman and Dorothy Dunnett. After reading those wonderfully rendered tales, Margaret George's book feels "flat." It seems to be missing a certain something - an air of authenticity, perhaps. I guess since it's called an "Autobiography," I expected to "hear" the tone of the book differently. As historical fiction, I'd rate the book 2 - 3 stars. It's worth the read, and it does actually make you think about Henry VIII's character in a different light.
Rating:
Summary: The Autobiography of Henry V111th.
Review: This is a wonderful book, one which I read some years ago and was unable to find again until recently. It puts Henry in what I believe to be the correct light, ie. he was not a deliberately cruel, selfish man, but someone, who through circumstance, was lead, mainly unwillingly, into the worst excesses. He was certainly a very strong character, but did retain a certain amount of naivety, whereby he allowed himself to be manipulated, mainly by Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell. His strong streak of conscience often intruded but he was quite often able to satisfy this by finding some allusion in religious teaching and twisting it to suit the circumstances, thus justifying his often cruel and unjust actions. I believe that Margaret George did a marvellous job in bringing out this side of Henry's nature. All the main events in this novel are stricly factual, as far as is known, and a great deal IS known about Tudor England. It makes for an excellent read and brings the life and times of the XV1th. Century to vibrant life. Don't miss it, buy it and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: The best of Margaret George
Review: Margaret George has three historical novels in print, Henry VIII, Mary - Queen of Scots, and Cleopatra. All are wonderful reads, but in Henry VIII she hits the pinnacle. This is an enthralling book which takes you back to the 16th century in all its splendor. Magnificently hefty, Henry VIII fills every page with artful words and one heck of a story. There are a handful of authors whose newest works I eagerly wait upon. Margaret George is one of them. And, The Autobiography of Henry VIII holds a very dear position among the 500+ historical and historically-based books in my library. Read it. You'll be thankful that you did.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: I had never heard anything remotely nice about Henry before I read this book. It is a compassionate look at the life of a most hated man in history. It leads you down a most fascinating and bumpy road through his 6 wives, many dead babies, and the birth of his surviving children, Mary, Elizabeth, and Edward. The letters at the beginning by Will move slow for the start of a book-I skipped completely over them. I loved this book-it has turned my interest toward this age an people dramatically
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