Rating: 
Summary: Well done
Review: The Autobiography of Henry VIII was, without a doubt, THE best book I've read in a very long time. I was taken aback by the size of the book (900+ pages), but it is an engrossing and riveting read. I found myself rearrainging my busy schedule to make time to sit and read. At first, I was happy that I had so much to read, but as it went further, I found myself wishing that this story could go on indefinitely; that I would never have to come to the end.Ms. George has done a remarkable job on this subject. She has gained a loyal reader in me. I am going to buy her other two books in print and I pray that she considers writing the autobiography of both Mary Tudor and Elizabeth Tudor, as I would love to read her interpretation of this intriguing family. (Can you see how some of the 16th century prose is sneaking into my writing?) Since finishing the book, I have been on a Tudor quest; one that was started years ago, when in grade school, I first became aquainted with the Tudor family through the BBC miniseries of The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R. Do yourself a favor: Buy this book, send the kids and the husband to his folks' house for a few days, gather up your wooly blankets, comfortable chair and hot chocolate and treat yourself well by losing yourself in 16th century England.
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Summary: Almost 1000 pages.... and not one was a waste!
Review: Very good! It feels as if stormy King Hal is in the room telling the story himself.
Rating:
Summary: A Solid Introduction to Tudor England
Review: Margaret George has proven herself to be one of the best historical fiction writers of our day. This novel soars; one experiences all the highs and lows of King Henry VIII's life. From his birth as a 'mere second son' to his death, you are transported to Tudor England. Although some of the interpretations of controversial issues are ones with which the informed historian may disagree, as a novel it makes no pretense of representing definitive fact. A novel at its best leaves one with a thirst for more- be it a continuation or a deeper understanding and knowledge of its subject matter. This book does that with impressive aplomb. It is an enrapturing indulgance, and the time spent between its covers is time well spent.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable and revealing way to learn about Henry VIII
Review: This book takes an interesting approach to historical fiction, telling the story of Henry VIII through his own eyes via a journal that he supposedly wrote looking back on his life. The book, at over 900 pages, goes from his childhood as a second son, his reign, his break from the Pope without repudiating Catholicism, his marriage to 6 women (and his beheading of two of them for adultry), his desperate attempts to have a male heir, and through to his death (the details of which are filled in by his fool, who supposedly found the journal). The book places most of its emphasis on Henry's relationships with his wives and, to a lesser extent, the effect he had on the role of religion and the Crown. It focuses less on his reign, the politics of the time, or his military activities. I found the first-person journal style an enjoyable way to learn about Henry VIII and his rule. It certainly made the events of his life more understandable and, although he doesn't exactly come out seeming like a saint, he is a sympathetic character who had his vanities and weaknesses, not that surprising in someone with so much power combined with such a passionate nature. There were times when I would have liked more commentary from Will, his fool, to give perspective on Henry's views, though I suppose learning everything through his eyes gave some insight into how hard it is for a King to hear the truth, since few people are willing to speak unkindly to him. (Ironically, it seemed that his "fool" was one of the few people who would speak straight to him.) I should say that I knew next to nothing about Henry VIII's rule before I read the book, and I think Margaret George assumes the reader knows at least the basics about his rule and what happened afterward. Still, it was helpful to learn about the growth of Protestantism during his reign and how he inadvertantly helped it by breaking from the Pope, even when he remained Catholic and against Protestant thinking. It also wasn't hard to figure out how his relationships with his various wives would have been interpreted by the common people and later by history. Compared with Sharon Kay Penman's novels, this one lacked the kind of details about the day-to-day living that helps bring historical fiction alive for me, and necessarily, didn't provide an understanding of a variety of characters in different roles. I missed that, and I still much prefer Penman's story-telling style. Still, this was enjoyable and instructive and well worth a read.
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Summary: A deep inside into Henry's egoistic mind...
Review: To explain why why he did that, not only recite what - this makes this book stand out from numerous books about Henry VIII. It shows transformation from enlightened youthful "sun-king", pride of the nation, to debilitaed obese woman-hater. I personally has never been attracted to this immense (both literally and figuratively speaking) figure of English history, but now I'm not repelled any more, because I can understand (although never accept)how his mind was working, how he justified own deeds. The story is told in first person, so with all its self-pity, prejudice and bias. This is a thrilling tour into king's psyche - distant, beautiful mother, always distracted father, web of intrigues from the start, first love and knightly ardor for the Spanish princess, happy marriage turning into disaster (by eternal fear of princes to die without a progeny), the resta is history... To judge this man because he has outlived 5 of his 6 wives would be unwise. We see his women through his eyes: alluring witch Anne (what was she like in life? I'm afraid we'll never know), submissive "grey mouse" Jane, starlett-type Katherine, who whets lust of an ageing king, wife-nurse Katherine Parr... This book brings out pity for him - one of the greatest kings, killing without (seeming) remorse, ruled by passion, perfectly described by author's spectacular pen. He left us wiht Bloody Mary and Good Queen Bess - by far imprints of their mothers...
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Summary: Great portrait of a humane Henry VIII!
Review: Margaret George took a story that has been told numerous times before and breathed a new life into it. Having Henry VIII's story from Henry's point of view was a stroke of genius. Many books have speculated about what motivated Henry to do the things that he did (breaking with Catholicism, having so many wives and disposing of them, same goes for his ministers Wosley and Cromwell and etc.) but Margaret George actually goes inside Henry's head. The portrait she paints is that of a vain but vulnderable man who wants greatness and cherishes the simpe things in life: like having a picnic with friends or hunting. From a vigorous man full of hope Henry slowly turns into a mass of flesh, full of regrets and reflection. Henry presents the circumstances of his life as being beyond his control and he has to act the part of the king throughout, which means making hard choices. Margaret George makes Henry sound so convincing that by the time he sends that person or other to their death, the reader feels sorry for Henry instead of the real vicitim. Although it is a nice sentiment, making Henry a victim of circumstances seems to be an easy way out. But on the other hand, that is probably how he WOULD see himself. The comments by Will Sommers are very cleverly combined with Henry's narrative and provides well as a reality check. All in all, this is a great achievement. The 800+ pages flew by as I became emersed in Henry's story. Of all the books I read by Margaret George, this is the best. I do have one comment: Anne Boleyn's demise was not as well done as everything else in the novel. Her being a witch and mass murderess lies on a shaky foundation and it seems Henry was too eager to jump to conclusions. However, no other reason for his being disenchanted with her is hinted at.
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Summary: a devil NOT in disguise... a completely complex man
Review: i know she was trying to speak as henry would have; trying to explain why he did what he did, his motives, fears, beliefs... sure he felt he was doing what god had ordained him to do but i still left the novel with this feeling that he only fell back on god to justify what he otherwise felt was wrong... he began to hate katherine of aragon and to further his own cause broke with rome in order to grant himself the divorce he sought... he made laws to justify each of his actions so that he could go ahead and carry them out, rather than see what the law permitted and using that as his guide, as when he redefined the word treason which ultimately led him to execute his own friend thomas more... how could anyone feel sympathy for such a man... who always made new laws, twisted old ones and killed people anyways... nonetheless, this book is outstanding... it takes one away from their surroundings and transports them to 'court' ... i felt like i was in another world, another time and place... i breathed in every word, and let it swish around in my mind as a wine conneiseiur swishes around the sip of wine in his mouth... breathing in the aroma and letting it engulf my taste buds, only i didn't spit it out afterwards... margaret george writes in a style that makes me want to go back to england and touch what henry touched, see what henry saw and feel the magic and grandeur of a bygone time... this book belongs to no single class of readers... it's a must read for anyone who considers themselves literate... i will read it again someday... perhaps outside windsor castle on a fine summers day... thanks margaret
Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: Best read for a long time, would be great if the author could continue on with the history of his children
Rating:
Summary: Good book on Henry VIII
Review: This is a really good book told from Henry's viewpoint. The author really makes Henry come alive as a human being with many of the same feelings as the rest of us and not a monster that is the common depiction of him. The descriptions are so good of court life and the political situations of the sixteenth century that you feel like you are right there! I would highly recommend this book for anyone who likes historical fiction. I have read the other books by Margaret George. This is my favorite. This is a long book and I would recommend taking your time with it to absorb all the fantastic details of the Tudor period.
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Summary: History as Soap Opera
Review: Lots of people obviously love this book, but I cannot agree. Henry comes over as a man addicted to love. While everyone around him is engaged in lusty promiscuity Henry alone has a romantic view of sex, expecting a transcendental experience. Affairs of state, foreign policy, even his creation of the Church of England all fade into the background when compared to his naive romanticism. Henry just doesn't ring true. However accepting this I was reading the book as a history of Henry's times when very basic factual errors started me doubting the books worth in this respect. For example talking of the siege which lost the Knights of Saint John the island of Rhodes she says that Suileman actualy escorted the Knights to their new home in Malta. Infact the order wandered around Europe for years trying to persuade various monarchs to grant them a place to live. It was around ten years after the siege that the King of Spain gave them Malta. The story of the Knights of Malta is so well known that an error like this casts doubt on the worth of the rest of her research. Neither as a novel or as a popular history does this book succeed.
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