This comprehensive and detailed book explores each of the lives of the Tudor king with great insight and offers new life into their characters.
Having paid a recent visit to the National Portrait Gallery’s recent and excellent Six Lives exhibition focusing on the lives of Henry VIII’s wives, which left me wanting to delve into their lives and the impact that they had, this comprehensive and of course well researched book is well worth a read as follow up.
Spending a plentiful amount of time on each queen and as well as focusing on their roles as queen and how it differed from persona to persona, Alison Weir’s way in which she brings each of them to life is really quite compelling and makes the book difficult to put down.
While the sheet amount of history that is covered during this book is extraordinary and to some could in fact be overwhelming, Weir shows a delicacy of touch that ensures that it is accessible to all readers – no matter how knowledgeable about the subject they are.
Naturally, the level of research that went into this is clear to see – there is a great element of fact and examination of a variety of theories that have existed around each of the queens. There is great analysis of the King’s ‘Great Matter’ aka the long drawn out divorce proceedings between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon or the way in which the case against Anne Boleyn was constructed. But for me the sections uncovering the lives of Anne of Cleeves
Sadly some of the other queens such as Katherine Howard and Jane Seymour don’t quite have as much time dedicated to them- in Katherine Howard’s case it is somewhat understandable given any reference to her was hastily removed during her spectacular fall from grace. But in contrast given that Jane Seymour was his most beloved wife it would have been interesting to place a bit more focus on her and her background.
This being said, each of the queens personalities and virtuous traits as well as flaws are really effectively brought to the forefront – that shows how and why Henry valued them and fell in love with them. But equally the way the politics of court was used to influence the king’s thoughts and opinions towards his wife at the time is equally heartbreaking to read – no matter what their personality was like.
Each queen is written about with great sympathy and respect by Weir depending on their circumstances which makes this an interesting read from a modern perspective.
Overall, no matter how familiar you are with the Tudor era, this book is well worth a read to make you re-evaluate the Tudor period and its queens in a new way.
By Emma Clarendon
The Six Wives of Henry VIII is available to buy now .
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐