Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.

Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.

It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.

I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.

The chapters are very short and very easy to read.

All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!

The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.

Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.

Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.

Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.

It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.

I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.

The chapters are very short and very easy to read.

All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!

The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.

Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.

Simply superb!, 09 Dec 2008
I bought this book ten years ago on a short trip to London and I have read it several times since.

The research must have been strenuous, the psycological analysis is flawless and entirely convincing. A great, great book!

Excellent book but not as good the second time, 09 Dec 2008
I first read this book several years ago when I had first developed an interest in the tudor monarchy, I recall that the first time I read it I couldnt put it down and really enjoyed it. I lent it to a friend who never returned it so I recently purchased a second copy so I could re-read it (I wish I hadnt). The second read was nowhere near as enjoyable as the first time - part of the problem being the surprise element had gone but no blame to the author for that. However I also found the English annoyed me the second time I read it and at times I thought it was slightly patronising toward the reader. But it was a still a good read and I would lend it to anyone (This time I don't expect to get it back)!

A Great Piece of History Come To Life, 26 Nov 2008
Alison Weir has really made history come to life in this fantastic book. The opulent and at times barbaric Tudor age comes vividly to life with the telling of each of Henry VIII's wives' stories. It is all told very movingly and you really feel that you know these women and Henry VIII himself.
If only history were taught like this in schools - I for one would have got a lot more out of it. Highly recommended.

excellent historical read, 16 Oct 2008
This book is very informative and incredibly interesting, from the second i picked it up I was unable to put it down! Alison Weir has a brilliant way of laying down all the facts and explaining which are more reliable accounts of what happened to each of Henry VIII wives. The way Alison Weir writes makes this book accessible to anyone and i reccomend it as a must read for everyone.
I find most interesting how the people of the courts lives are en-twined and how one person actions became the downfall of others. The book also gives you a strong sense on the life of a queen and in respect of how difficult it actually would have been! Being any of henry VIII wifes was no means an easy task!
Excellent!!! if your reading this review now i hope you've already clicked the add to basket button!!!

Brings the Tudors to life, 11 Oct 2008
After watching the TV series the Tudors. I was interested in finding out more about the real events. This book is fantastic I couldn't put it down and will be buying more books by Alison Weir.

Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.

Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.

It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.

I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.

The chapters are very short and very easy to read.

All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!

The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.

Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.

Simply superb!, 09 Dec 2008
I bought this book ten years ago on a short trip to London and I have read it several times since.

The research must have been strenuous, the psycological analysis is flawless and entirely convincing. A great, great book!

Excellent book but not as good the second time, 09 Dec 2008
I first read this book several years ago when I had first developed an interest in the tudor monarchy, I recall that the first time I read it I couldnt put it down and really enjoyed it. I lent it to a friend who never returned it so I recently purchased a second copy so I could re-read it (I wish I hadnt). The second read was nowhere near as enjoyable as the first time - part of the problem being the surprise element had gone but no blame to the author for that. However I also found the English annoyed me the second time I read it and at times I thought it was slightly patronising toward the reader. But it was a still a good read and I would lend it to anyone (This time I don't expect to get it back)!

A Great Piece of History Come To Life, 26 Nov 2008
Alison Weir has really made history come to life in this fantastic book. The opulent and at times barbaric Tudor age comes vividly to life with the telling of each of Henry VIII's wives' stories. It is all told very movingly and you really feel that you know these women and Henry VIII himself.
If only history were taught like this in schools - I for one would have got a lot more out of it. Highly recommended.

excellent historical read, 16 Oct 2008
This book is very informative and incredibly interesting, from the second i picked it up I was unable to put it down! Alison Weir has a brilliant way of laying down all the facts and explaining which are more reliable accounts of what happened to each of Henry VIII wives. The way Alison Weir writes makes this book accessible to anyone and i reccomend it as a must read for everyone.
I find most interesting how the people of the courts lives are en-twined and how one person actions became the downfall of others. The book also gives you a strong sense on the life of a queen and in respect of how difficult it actually would have been! Being any of henry VIII wifes was no means an easy task!
Excellent!!! if your reading this review now i hope you've already clicked the add to basket button!!!

Brings the Tudors to life, 11 Oct 2008
After watching the TV series the Tudors. I was interested in finding out more about the real events. This book is fantastic I couldn't put it down and will be buying more books by Alison Weir.

Readable, engaging, and insightful, 13 Dec 2008
A wonderfully comprehensive review of the period that includes areas that would normally be missed in traditional top-down approaches, such as the experience for ordinary soliders, and those groups at the political periphery.

At the same time, the style is very easy to read, and the material remains engaging through out.

The one flaw is that, at times, the narative of events becomes slightly obscured, which can become a little confusing, meaning that this is a very good book to explore why these events happened if you are already aware of what happened. A glossary of names, due to the number of individuals mentioned, at times several chapters after they are first introduced, would also be a welcome addition.

The people's war, 24 Nov 2008
An Australian has written the best book I have read on our civil war. She tells the story using the accounts and histories of people great and small involved in the most devastating conflict our country had ever experienced. She is very even handed promoting the readers respect for aspects of both Charles and Cromwell, thgough I still conclude the thing the king did best was the way he faced death. One gets a real feel for the times and the horror of war. So much so I skipped some of the accounts of the military surgeons. There are limits to how much real blood and gore this reader can stomach.

It started with Montrose...., 24 Sep 2008
I became interested in the Civil War whilst planning across a trip to Scotland 3 years ago and coming across the book "Montrose - Cavalier in Mourning" - since then I have read other books about Montrose (James Graham) and these lead south to the War in England. Reading Purkiss's book at the moment, 90% through... I would recommend it, one of those 'hard to put down' books and always eager to pick it up again.
As far as facts go, you have to use your own judgement. I intend to make a calendar on paper from 1640 to 1650 and begin to jot down when what event occurred and build up for myself a picture - and then perhaps write my own essay on The Civil War. I will certainly run through Purkiss's book again to help me fill in this calendar.
I started this book by reading the chapters about the battles, then about Charles I and then Cromwell, then starting from the beginning (and jumping the chapters I'd already read).
The English Civil War seems similar to the Chinese 'Cultural Revolution', a kind of mass madness - humans killing humans just for the fun of it - is there a worse or crueller animal?! Perhaps nature's way of saying the population is too large and pruning the numbers cleans up the gene pool, survival of the fittest?! Anyway, reading the book makes one appreciate living in "today's world" (in Britain at least, they're still at it in places like Nigeria & Somalia) and that for food all yer need to do is to pop down to Sainsburys...!
Buy the book - if you don't like it, someone else will be happy to get it for Christmas ;)

A very readable narrative of interesting times, 24 Sep 2008
This is a book aptly summarised by it's title. Buildup to the war is
adequately covered, as it should, but it ends with Charles' head being
chopped off his body. Those interested in the interregnum or restoration
need look elsewhere.

Even though the book aims to give voice to the ordinary people usually
forgotten, this is hardly possible as the sources surviving are already
badly biased. Every individual who could or would leave a written legacy
was a member of the middle-to-upper classes, as the lengthy quotations show. The
author repeatedly states this as an inevitable shortcoming, and tries to
overcome it by including e.g. recorded statements overheard in pubs.

The methods employed by Purkiss are mostly those of traditional history,
with little explicit theorizing, although she sometimes draws parallels to
more modern cases. Although the book is thematically structured, she
manages to build a very coherent narrative. As far as popular history
goes, this is top class.


Eminently readable, entertaining and informative., 15 Mar 2008
I'm not really a fan of history books. A 'C' in GCSE 15 years ago was good enough for me and I haven't exactly been at the front of the queue in the bookshops to pick up the latest historical offerings. To be honest, I only picked this book up in my local library on a wet Tuesday lunchtime because the local shop had sold out of newspapers; I never expected to get so caught up in it.

The way Purkiss writes is superb: it's like having a super-informed friend explain something to you in a language that is somewhere between typical history book prose and an almost knowing informality (speaking of a contemporary play she writes "It was about love. It was about faith. It was about four hours longer than the audience was used to.")

Don't be fooled into thinking this is history-lite, though. At over 500 pages it is not for the uncommitted reader, but the compelling stories of ordinary folk coupled with the way they are told and the way they ebb and flow with the tide of the Civil War makes it a fascinating and gripping read. The library can have it's copy back: I'm off to buy the hardback.

Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.

Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.

It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.

I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.

The chapters are very short and very easy to read.

All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!

The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.

Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.

Simply superb!, 09 Dec 2008
I bought this book ten years ago on a short trip to London and I have read it several times since.

The research must have been strenuous, the psycological analysis is flawless and entirely convincing. A great, great book!

Excellent book but not as good the second time, 09 Dec 2008
I first read this book several years ago when I had first developed an interest in the tudor monarchy, I recall that the first time I read it I couldnt put it down and really enjoyed it. I lent it to a friend who never returned it so I recently purchased a second copy so I could re-read it (I wish I hadnt). The second read was nowhere near as enjoyable as the first time - part of the problem being the surprise element had gone but no blame to the author for that. However I also found the English annoyed me the second time I read it and at times I thought it was slightly patronising toward the reader. But it was a still a good read and I would lend it to anyone (This time I don't expect to get it back)!

A Great Piece of History Come To Life, 26 Nov 2008
Alison Weir has really made history come to life in this fantastic book. The opulent and at times barbaric Tudor age comes vividly to life with the telling of each of Henry VIII's wives' stories. It is all told very movingly and you really feel that you know these women and Henry VIII himself.
If only history were taught like this in schools - I for one would have got a lot more out of it. Highly recommended.

excellent historical read, 16 Oct 2008
This book is very informative and incredibly interesting, from the second i picked it up I was unable to put it down! Alison Weir has a brilliant way of laying down all the facts and explaining which are more reliable accounts of what happened to each of Henry VIII wives. The way Alison Weir writes makes this book accessible to anyone and i reccomend it as a must read for everyone.
I find most interesting how the people of the courts lives are en-twined and how one person actions became the downfall of others. The book also gives you a strong sense on the life of a queen and in respect of how difficult it actually would have been! Being any of henry VIII wifes was no means an easy task!
Excellent!!! if your reading this review now i hope you've already clicked the add to basket button!!!

Brings the Tudors to life, 11 Oct 2008
After watching the TV series the Tudors. I was interested in finding out more about the real events. This book is fantastic I couldn't put it down and will be buying more books by Alison Weir.

Readable, engaging, and insightful, 13 Dec 2008
A wonderfully comprehensive review of the period that includes areas that would normally be missed in traditional top-down approaches, such as the experience for ordinary soliders, and those groups at the political periphery.

At the same time, the style is very easy to read, and the material remains engaging through out.

The one flaw is that, at times, the narative of events becomes slightly obscured, which can become a little confusing, meaning that this is a very good book to explore why these events happened if you are already aware of what happened. A glossary of names, due to the number of individuals mentioned, at times several chapters after they are first introduced, would also be a welcome addition.

The people's war, 24 Nov 2008
An Australian has written the best book I have read on our civil war. She tells the story using the accounts and histories of people great and small involved in the most devastating conflict our country had ever experienced. She is very even handed promoting the readers respect for aspects of both Charles and Cromwell, thgough I still conclude the thing the king did best was the way he faced death. One gets a real feel for the times and the horror of war. So much so I skipped some of the accounts of the military surgeons. There are limits to how much real blood and gore this reader can stomach.

It started with Montrose...., 24 Sep 2008
I became interested in the Civil War whilst planning across a trip to Scotland 3 years ago and coming across the book "Montrose - Cavalier in Mourning" - since then I have read other books about Montrose (James Graham) and these lead south to the War in England. Reading Purkiss's book at the moment, 90% through... I would recommend it, one of those 'hard to put down' books and always eager to pick it up again.
As far as facts go, you have to use your own judgement. I intend to make a calendar on paper from 1640 to 1650 and begin to jot down when what event occurred and build up for myself a picture - and then perhaps write my own essay on The Civil War. I will certainly run through Purkiss's book again to help me fill in this calendar.
I started this book by reading the chapters about the battles, then about Charles I and then Cromwell, then starting from the beginning (and jumping the chapters I'd already read).
The English Civil War seems similar to the Chinese 'Cultural Revolution', a kind of mass madness - humans killing humans just for the fun of it - is there a worse or crueller animal?! Perhaps nature's way of saying the population is too large and pruning the numbers cleans up the gene pool, survival of the fittest?! Anyway, reading the book makes one appreciate living in "today's world" (in Britain at least, they're still at it in places like Nigeria & Somalia) and that for food all yer need to do is to pop down to Sainsburys...!
Buy the book - if you don't like it, someone else will be happy to get it for Christmas ;)

A very readable narrative of interesting times, 24 Sep 2008
This is a book aptly summarised by it's title. Buildup to the war is
adequately covered, as it should, but it ends with Charles' head being
chopped off his body. Those interested in the interregnum or restoration
need look elsewhere.

Even though the book aims to give voice to the ordinary people usually
forgotten, this is hardly possible as the sources surviving are already
badly biased. Every individual who could or would leave a written legacy
was a member of the middle-to-upper classes, as the lengthy quotations show. The
author repeatedly states this as an inevitable shortcoming, and tries to
overcome it by including e.g. recorded statements overheard in pubs.

The methods employed by Purkiss are mostly those of traditional history,
with little explicit theorizing, although she sometimes draws parallels to
more modern cases. Although the book is thematically structured, she
manages to build a very coherent narrative. As far as popular history
goes, this is top class.


Eminently readable, entertaining and informative., 15 Mar 2008
I'm not really a fan of history books. A 'C' in GCSE 15 years ago was good enough for me and I haven't exactly been at the front of the queue in the bookshops to pick up the latest historical offerings. To be honest, I only picked this book up in my local library on a wet Tuesday lunchtime because the local shop had sold out of newspapers; I never expected to get so caught up in it.

The way Purkiss writes is superb: it's like having a super-informed friend explain something to you in a language that is somewhere between typical history book prose and an almost knowing informality (speaking of a contemporary play she writes "It was about love. It was about faith. It was about four hours longer than the audience was used to.")

Don't be fooled into thinking this is history-lite, though. At over 500 pages it is not for the uncommitted reader, but the compelling stories of ordinary folk coupled with the way they are told and the way they ebb and flow with the tide of the Civil War makes it a fascinating and gripping read. The library can have it's copy back: I'm off to buy the hardback.

Fascinating and entetaining, 01 Nov 2008
This is an excellent book! I've read it dozens of times and it maintains its fascination. Weir's writing style is so fluid and easy to read that I've since bought many other titles written by her.

A pager turner, 07 Sep 2008
I thought this book would be an interesting history, but it turned into a real page turner, even though I knew the ending. The best book I have read on the Tudors, bringing the complex political issues into an easily understandably context with dumbing down the history. If you want an exciting overview of this period read it and enjoy.

Enlightens A Fascinating Period Of English History, 06 Apr 2003
I had previously found the Tudor age rather complicated and a little vague due to the complexed nature of Henry VIII's numerous wives and children.I started to read this book and became absorbed in the intrigue of this period of Tudor England. It provides in depth details of Henry's children and the profound effect their individual lives would have on the political and social developments of the Kingdoms they ruled, be it long or short. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Tudor period and which leads to arguably the greatest sovereign in Elizabeth I that this country has seen.

Very enjoyable and enlightening read on the subject, 26 Nov 2001
This book was very good in tackling subjects which usually get dealt with as a chapter in a book on the individuals. As someone who finds the period fascinating, it was academic enough not to be boring if you know a fair amount about the main characters, but not daunting if you dont. Alison Weir puts the chronology together well, and examines the four characters relationship with each other, how those relationships were manipulated or affected by those into whose care they were entrusted, and their motivations in the actions they took. She also takes a great deal of care in the detail - for example in trying to make a modern diagnosis of the ailments suffered by the characters, and in particular those suffered by Mary in her desire to bear an heir to the throne.
Thoroughly recommended.

Henry's missing heirs, 13 Aug 2001
Alison Weir's preface describes this book as 'a chronicle of the personal lives of four English sovereigns': Edward VI, Jane Grey, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She supplies a useful introductory chapter, sketching the early years of Henry's three surviving children, the offspring of Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour, from birth until the death of their father in January 1547. At this point, the point at which Weir's "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" ended, the author takes up the story of the House of Tudor until the accession of Elizabeth in 1558.

Weir uses a huge variety of primary and secondary source material to produce a panoramic pen-portrait, often vibrant, on occasion softer in hew, of the four monarchs and their courtiers. I particularly admire the author's subtle handling of the reign of 'Bloody Mary', her sympathy for this frequently misunderstood woman in her desire to give England a Catholic heir. This is a carefully written and analytical section of the book. However, for the most part, "Children of England" is straightforward narrative history from which readers with a passion for this period are unlikely to gain very much.

What disappoints me most is the thought of fascinating opportunities missed. "Children of England" is not subtitled "The Successors of Henry VIII". The secondary title of this book is "The Heirs of Henry VIII" which suggests a study of the individuals named in the monarch's will irrespective of whether they succeeded to the throne. Weir explains that Henry 'willed the Crown first to Edward, then to Mary, then to Elizabeth, and lastly to the heirs of his younger sister Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk'. (The descendants of his elder sister Margaret, Queen of Scots were omitted.) At the time of the King's death, there were nine heirs to the throne. Henry's children were followed by Mary Tudor's elder daughter Frances Brandon, wife of the Marquess of Dorset (later Duke of Suffolk), and her three daughters, Ladies Jane, Katherine, and Mary Grey. Mary Tudor's younger daughter, Eleanor was next in line, followed by Lady Margaret Clifford, the only surviving child of her marriage to the Earl of Cumberland. The lives of all these figures, not only those who would wear the Crown, were fashioned by their being named as heirs to Henry VIII.

We meet Frances Brandon only as the abusive mother of Lady Jane, a repellent character who played her part in the Northumberland-Suffolk plot. The young, attractive, and highly eligible woman she had been in the fifteen-thirties is absent from the narrative and she disappears from view after 1554. Only Frances's sudden marriage to Adrian Stokes, in the wake of her husband's beheading is discussed briefly. Weir notes that she bore her former master-of-the-horse three short-lived children, yet her return to Court in the reign of Mary and her survival into the reign of Elizabeth is overlooked. Weir details the betrothal and marriage of Lady Katherine Grey to Lord Herbert, heir of the Earl of Pembroke and its swift annulment when the Northumberland-Suffolk plot collapsed. However, nothing is said of the betrothal of the hunchbacked Mary Grey to Lord Arthur Grey, whose father was an ardent supporter of the Northumberland and Suffolk cause. We hear only that Queen Mary, having secured her rightful position, granted the sisters places at Court and allowances befitting Princesses of the Blood.

To some extent, the problem is inherent in the strict 1547-1558 time span of the narrative. Consider Lady Margaret Clifford. Her marriage to William Stanley, Earl of Derby took place during the reign of Mary in 1555. At this stage, she was fourth in line to the throne after Elizabeth and the remaining Grey sisters. Nowhere does Weir mention Margaret, her mother Eleanor Brandon who died the same year as King Henry, or the politically important Derby match. This branch of the family is not even included in the sparse family tree at the end of the book. The reader cannot appreciate the importance of Margaret Clifford and her descendants without an understanding of the futures of her cousins after the execution of Lady Jane. During the reign of Elizabeth, both Katherine and Mary Grey married without the consent, or knowledge, of the sovereign. Lady Mary died childless in 1578, but her sister had two sons by Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford before her death in 1568. Queen Elizabeth declared the Seymour children to be illegitimate. ('I will have no rascal's son in my seat', she snapped when asked to name Katherine's elder son her successor.) The Grey-Seymour marriage was not validated until 1606. It was therefore small wonder that many looked upon Lady Margaret Clifford as heir presumptive. Indeed, by the fifteen-eighties she had become an object of suspicion to the Queen. According to Margaret, however, her son, Ferdinando Stanley died as a result of loyalty to their Royal cousin. Shortly after succeeding his father as Earl of Derby, Ferdinando rejected a Jesuit project to usurp the Crown, causing one of the perpetrators to be charged with treason. His sudden death in 1594 was widely mooted to be due to poison administered in revenge for his refusal to support the Catholic cause. Ferdinando Stanley left three daughters, the eldest of whom was Anne, Baroness Chandos. It is one of those intriguing 'What if...?' issues. How different would England's history have been if Elizabeth Tudor had adhered to the will of Henry VIII and named the young Lady Chandos her successor rather than James VI of Scots?

Perhaps I am being thoroughly awkward in demanding a book that the author elected not to write! There is little doubt that "Children of England" will encourage readers to explore the Tudor dynasty in greater depth. Nevertheless, she has wasted a glorious opportunity to introduce readers to many vibrant characters among the heirs of Henry VIII. It is an omission I hope Ms Weir will rectify as she consolidates her position as a leading Tudor historian.

Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.

Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.

It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.

I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.

The chapters are very short and very easy to read.

All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!

The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.

Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.

Simply superb!, 09 Dec 2008
I bought this book ten years ago on a short trip to London and I have read it several times since.

The research must have been strenuous, the psycological analysis is flawless and entirely convincing. A great, great book!

Excellent book but not as good the second time, 09 Dec 2008
I first read this book several years ago when I had first developed an interest in the tudor monarchy, I recall that the first time I read it I couldnt put it down and really enjoyed it. I lent it to a friend who never returned it so I recently purchased a second copy so I could re-read it (I wish I hadnt). The second read was nowhere near as enjoyable as the first time - part of the problem being the surprise element had gone but no blame to the author for that. However I also found the English annoyed me the second time I read it and at times I thought it was slightly patronising toward the reader. But it was a still a good read and I would lend it to anyone (This time I don't expect to get it back)!

A Great Piece of History Come To Life, 26 Nov 2008
Alison Weir has really made history come to life in this fantastic book. The opulent and at times barbaric Tudor age comes vividly to life with the telling of each of Henry VIII's wives' stories. It is all told very movingly and you really feel that you know these women and Henry VIII himself.
If only history were taught like this in schools - I for one would have got a lot more out of it. Highly recommended.

excellent historical read, 16 Oct 2008
This book is very informative and incredibly interesting, from the second i picked it up I was unable to put it down! Alison Weir has a brilliant way of laying down all the facts and explaining which are more reliable accounts of what happened to each of Henry VIII wives. The way Alison Weir writes makes this book accessible to anyone and i reccomend it as a must read for everyone.
I find most interesting how the people of the courts lives are en-twined and how one person actions became the downfall of others. The book also gives you a strong sense on the life of a queen and in respect of how difficult it actually would have been! Being any of henry VIII wifes was no means an easy task!
Excellent!!! if your reading this review now i hope you've already clicked the add to basket button!!!

Brings the Tudors to life, 11 Oct 2008
After watching the TV series the Tudors. I was interested in finding out more about the real events. This book is fantastic I couldn't put it down and will be buying more books by Alison Weir.

Readable, engaging, and insightful, 13 Dec 2008
A wonderfully comprehensive review of the period that includes areas that would normally be missed in traditional top-down approaches, such as the experience for ordinary soliders, and those groups at the political periphery.

At the same time, the style is very easy to read, and the material remains engaging through out.

The one flaw is that, at times, the narative of events becomes slightly obscured, which can become a little confusing, meaning that this is a very good book to explore why these events happened if you are already aware of what happened. A glossary of names, due to the number of individuals mentioned, at times several chapters after they are first introduced, would also be a welcome addition.

The people's war, 24 Nov 2008
An Australian has written the best book I have read on our civil war. She tells the story using the accounts and histories of people great and small involved in the most devastating conflict our country had ever experienced. She is very even handed promoting the readers respect for aspects of both Charles and Cromwell, thgough I still conclude the thing the king did best was the way he faced death. One gets a real feel for the times and the horror of war. So much so I skipped some of the accounts of the military surgeons. There are limits to how much real blood and gore this reader can stomach.

It started with Montrose...., 24 Sep 2008
I became interested in the Civil War whilst planning across a trip to Scotland 3 years ago and coming across the book "Montrose - Cavalier in Mourning" - since then I have read other books about Montrose (James Graham) and these lead south to the War in England. Reading Purkiss's book at the moment, 90% through... I would recommend it, one of those 'hard to put down' books and always eager to pick it up again.
As far as facts go, you have to use your own judgement. I intend to make a calendar on paper from 1640 to 1650 and begin to jot down when what event occurred and build up for myself a picture - and then perhaps write my own essay on The Civil War. I will certainly run through Purkiss's book again to help me fill in this calendar.
I started this book by reading the chapters about the battles, then about Charles I and then Cromwell, then starting from the beginning (and jumping the chapters I'd already read).
The English Civil War seems similar to the Chinese 'Cultural Revolution', a kind of mass madness - humans killing humans just for the fun of it - is there a worse or crueller animal?! Perhaps nature's way of saying the population is too large and pruning the numbers cleans up the gene pool, survival of the fittest?! Anyway, reading the book makes one appreciate living in "today's world" (in Britain at least, they're still at it in places like Nigeria & Somalia) and that for food all yer need to do is to pop down to Sainsburys...!
Buy the book - if you don't like it, someone else will be happy to get it for Christmas ;)

A very readable narrative of interesting times, 24 Sep 2008
This is a book aptly summarised by it's title. Buildup to the war is
adequately covered, as it should, but it ends with Charles' head being
chopped off his body. Those interested in the interregnum or restoration
need look elsewhere.

Even though the book aims to give voice to the ordinary people usually
forgotten, this is hardly possible as the sources surviving are already
badly biased. Every individual who could or would leave a written legacy
was a member of the middle-to-upper classes, as the lengthy quotations show. The
author repeatedly states this as an inevitable shortcoming, and tries to
overcome it by including e.g. recorded statements overheard in pubs.

The methods employed by Purkiss are mostly those of traditional history,
with little explicit theorizing, although she sometimes draws parallels to
more modern cases. Although the book is thematically structured, she
manages to build a very coherent narrative. As far as popular history
goes, this is top class.


Eminently readable, entertaining and informative., 15 Mar 2008
I'm not really a fan of history books. A 'C' in GCSE 15 years ago was good enough for me and I haven't exactly been at the front of the queue in the bookshops to pick up the latest historical offerings. To be honest, I only picked this book up in my local library on a wet Tuesday lunchtime because the local shop had sold out of newspapers; I never expected to get so caught up in it.

The way Purkiss writes is superb: it's like having a super-informed friend explain something to you in a language that is somewhere between typical history book prose and an almost knowing informality (speaking of a contemporary play she writes "It was about love. It was about faith. It was about four hours longer than the audience was used to.")

Don't be fooled into thinking this is history-lite, though. At over 500 pages it is not for the uncommitted reader, but the compelling stories of ordinary folk coupled with the way they are told and the way they ebb and flow with the tide of the Civil War makes it a fascinating and gripping read. The library can have it's copy back: I'm off to buy the hardback.

Fascinating and entetaining, 01 Nov 2008
This is an excellent book! I've read it dozens of times and it maintains its fascination. Weir's writing style is so fluid and easy to read that I've since bought many other titles written by her.

A pager turner, 07 Sep 2008
I thought this book would be an interesting history, but it turned into a real page turner, even though I knew the ending. The best book I have read on the Tudors, bringing the complex political issues into an easily understandably context with dumbing down the history. If you want an exciting overview of this period read it and enjoy.

Enlightens A Fascinating Period Of English History, 06 Apr 2003
I had previously found the Tudor age rather complicated and a little vague due to the complexed nature of Henry VIII's numerous wives and children.I started to read this book and became absorbed in the intrigue of this period of Tudor England. It provides in depth details of Henry's children and the profound effect their individual lives would have on the political and social developments of the Kingdoms they ruled, be it long or short. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Tudor period and which leads to arguably the greatest sovereign in Elizabeth I that this country has seen.

Very enjoyable and enlightening read on the subject, 26 Nov 2001
This book was very good in tackling subjects which usually get dealt with as a chapter in a book on the individuals. As someone who finds the period fascinating, it was academic enough not to be boring if you know a fair amount about the main characters, but not daunting if you dont. Alison Weir puts the chronology together well, and examines the four characters relationship with each other, how those relationships were manipulated or affected by those into whose care they were entrusted, and their motivations in the actions they took. She also takes a great deal of care in the detail - for example in trying to make a modern diagnosis of the ailments suffered by the characters, and in particular those suffered by Mary in her desire to bear an heir to the throne.
Thoroughly recommended.

Henry's missing heirs, 13 Aug 2001
Alison Weir's preface describes this book as 'a chronicle of the personal lives of four English sovereigns': Edward VI, Jane Grey, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She supplies a useful introductory chapter, sketching the early years of Henry's three surviving children, the offspring of Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour, from birth until the death of their father in January 1547. At this point, the point at which Weir's "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" ended, the author takes up the story of the House of Tudor until the accession of Elizabeth in 1558.

Weir uses a huge variety of primary and secondary source material to produce a panoramic pen-portrait, often vibrant, on occasion softer in hew, of the four monarchs and their courtiers. I particularly admire the author's subtle handling of the reign of 'Bloody Mary', her sympathy for this frequently misunderstood woman in her desire to give England a Catholic heir. This is a carefully written and analytical section of the book. However, for the most part, "Children of England" is straightforward narrative history from which readers with a passion for this period are unlikely to gain very much.

What disappoints me most is the thought of fascinating opportunities missed. "Children of England" is not subtitled "The Successors of Henry VIII". The secondary title of this book is "The Heirs of Henry VIII" which suggests a study of the individuals named in the monarch's will irrespective of whether they succeeded to the throne. Weir explains that Henry 'willed the Crown first to Edward, then to Mary, then to Elizabeth, and lastly to the heirs of his younger sister Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk'. (The descendants of his elder sister Margaret, Queen of Scots were omitted.) At the time of the King's death, there were nine heirs to the throne. Henry's children were followed by Mary Tudor's elder daughter Frances Brandon, wife of the Marquess of Dorset (later Duke of Suffolk), and her three daughters, Ladies Jane, Katherine, and Mary Grey. Mary Tudor's younger daughter, Eleanor was next in line, followed by Lady Margaret Clifford, the only surviving child of her marriage to the Earl of Cumberland. The lives of all these figures, not only those who would wear the Crown, were fashioned by their being named as heirs to Henry VIII.

We meet Frances Brandon only as the abusive mother of Lady Jane, a repellent character who played her part in the Northumberland-Suffolk plot. The young, attractive, and highly eligible woman she had been in the fifteen-thirties is absent from the narrative and she disappears from view after 1554. Only Frances's sudden marriage to Adrian Stokes, in the wake of her husband's beheading is discussed briefly. Weir notes that she bore her former master-of-the-horse three short-lived children, yet her return to Court in the reign of Mary and her survival into the reign of Elizabeth is overlooked. Weir details the betrothal and marriage of Lady Katherine Grey to Lord Herbert, heir of the Earl of Pembroke and its swift annulment when the Northumberland-Suffolk plot collapsed. However, nothing is said of the betrothal of the hunchbacked Mary Grey to Lord Arthur Grey, whose father was an ardent supporter of the Northumberland and Suffolk cause. We hear only that Queen Mary, having secured her rightful position, granted the sisters places at Court and allowances befitting Princesses of the Blood.

To some extent, the problem is inherent in the strict 1547-1558 time span of the narrative. Consider Lady Margaret Clifford. Her marriage to William Stanley, Earl of Derby took place during the reign of Mary in 1555. At this stage, she was fourth in line to the throne after Elizabeth and the remaining Grey sisters. Nowhere does Weir mention Margaret, her mother Eleanor Brandon who died the same year as King Henry, or the politically important Derby match. This branch of the family is not even included in the sparse family tree at the end of the book. The reader cannot appreciate the importance of Margaret Clifford and her descendants without an understanding of the futures of her cousins after the execution of Lady Jane. During the reign of Elizabeth, both Katherine and Mary Grey married without the consent, or knowledge, of the sovereign. Lady Mary died childless in 1578, but her sister had two sons by Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford before her death in 1568. Queen Elizabeth declared the Seymour children to be illegitimate. ('I will have no rascal's son in my seat', she snapped when asked to name Katherine's elder son her successor.) The Grey-Seymour marriage was not validated until 1606. It was therefore small wonder that many looked upon Lady Margaret Clifford as heir presumptive. Indeed, by the fifteen-eighties she had become an object of suspicion to the Queen. According to Margaret, however, her son, Ferdinando Stanley died as a result of loyalty to their Royal cousin. Shortly after succeeding his father as Earl of Derby, Ferdinando rejected a Jesuit project to usurp the Crown, causing one of the perpetrators to be charged with treason. His sudden death in 1594 was widely mooted to be due to poison administered in revenge for his refusal to support the Catholic cause. Ferdinando Stanley left three daughters, the eldest of whom was Anne, Baroness Chandos. It is one of those intriguing 'What if...?' issues. How different would England's history have been if Elizabeth Tudor had adhered to the will of Henry VIII and named the young Lady Chandos her successor rather than James VI of Scots?

Perhaps I am being thoroughly awkward in demanding a book that the author elected not to write! There is little doubt that "Children of England" will encourage readers to explore the Tudor dynasty in greater depth. Nevertheless, she has wasted a glorious opportunity to introduce readers to many vibrant characters among the heirs of Henry VIII. It is an omission I hope Ms Weir will rectify as she consolidates her position as a leading Tudor historian.

The Rise and Fall of an English Moses, 30 Dec 2008
Love him or loathe him, Oliver Cromwell was an extraordinary individual whose personality embodied many contradictions. 350 years after his death, his reputation still provokes controversy; so much so, in fact, that the relic of his severed head had to be buried in secret at Cambridge University.

Jonathan Fitzgibbons' book examines the provenance of this gruesome relic, charting its fluctuating fortunes, and showing how they mirror the changes that have come about in Cromwell's reputation over succeeding generations. The author even includes an assessment of some of the more fanciful interpretations of Cromwell to be found on film and television.

Personally, I would have liked the author to have gone further concerning the Curse of Cromwell (perhaps drawing attention to recent demands by British MPs for the demolition of the Thorneycroft statue outside Parliament) but it's a peach of a book, and one that I wish I'd written myself.

Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.

Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.

It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.

I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.

The chapters are very short and very easy to read.

All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!

The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.

Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.

Simply superb!, 09 Dec 2008
I bought this book ten years ago on a short trip to London and I have read it several times since.

The research must have been strenuous, the psycological analysis is flawless and entirely convincing. A great, great book!

Excellent book but not as good the second time, 09 Dec 2008
I first read this book several years ago when I had first developed an interest in the tudor monarchy, I recall that the first time I read it I couldnt put it down and really enjoyed it. I lent it to a friend who never returned it so I recently purchased a second copy so I could re-read it (I wish I hadnt). The second read was nowhere near as enjoyable as the first time - part of the problem being the surprise element had gone but no blame to the author for that. However I also found the English annoyed me the second time I read it and at times I thought it was slightly patronising toward the reader. But it was a still a good read and I would lend it to anyone (This time I don't expect to get it back)!

A Great Piece of History Come To Life, 26 Nov 2008
Alison Weir has really made history come to life in this fantastic book. The opulent and at times barbaric Tudor age comes vividly to life with the telling of each of Henry VIII's wives' stories. It is all told very movingly and you really feel that you know these women and Henry VIII himself.
If only history were taught like this in schools - I for one would have got a lot more out of it. Highly recommended.

excellent historical read, 16 Oct 2008
This book is very informative and incredibly interesting, from the second i picked it up I was unable to put it down! Alison Weir has a brilliant way of laying down all the facts and explaining which are more reliable accounts of what happened to each of Henry VIII wives. The way Alison Weir writes makes this book accessible to anyone and i reccomend it as a must read for everyone.
I find most interesting how the people of the courts lives are en-twined and how one person actions became the downfall of others. The book also gives you a strong sense on the life of a queen and in respect of how difficult it actually would have been! Being any of henry VIII wifes was no means an easy task!
Excellent!!! if your reading this review now i hope you've already clicked the add to basket button!!!

Brings the Tudors to life, 11 Oct 2008
After watching the TV series the Tudors. I was interested in finding out more about the real events. This book is fantastic I couldn't put it down and will be buying more books by Alison Weir.

Readable, engaging, and insightful, 13 Dec 2008
A wonderfully comprehensive review of the period that includes areas that would normally be missed in traditional top-down approaches, such as the experience for ordinary soliders, and those groups at the political periphery.

At the same time, the style is very easy to read, and the material remains engaging through out.

The one flaw is that, at times, the narative of events becomes slightly obscured, which can become a little confusing, meaning that this is a very good book to explore why these events happened if you are already aware of what happened. A glossary of names, due to the number of individuals mentioned, at times several chapters after they are first introduced, would also be a welcome addition.

The people's war, 24 Nov 2008
An Australian has written the best book I have read on our civil war. She tells the story using the accounts and histories of people great and small involved in the most devastating conflict our country had ever experienced. She is very even handed promoting the readers respect for aspects of both Charles and Cromwell, thgough I still conclude the thing the king did best was the way he faced death. One gets a real feel for the times and the horror of war. So much so I skipped some of the accounts of the military surgeons. There are limits to how much real blood and gore this reader can stomach.

It started with Montrose...., 24 Sep 2008
I became interested in the Civil War whilst planning across a trip to Scotland 3 years ago and coming across the book "Montrose - Cavalier in Mourning" - since then I have read other books about Montrose (James Graham) and these lead south to the War in England. Reading Purkiss's book at the moment, 90% through... I would recommend it, one of those 'hard to put down' books and always eager to pick it up again.
As far as facts go, you have to use your own judgement. I intend to make a calendar on paper from 1640 to 1650 and begin to jot down when what event occurred and build up for myself a picture - and then perhaps write my own essay on The Civil War. I will certainly run through Purkiss's book again to help me fill in this calendar.
I started this book by reading the chapters about the battles, then about Charles I and then Cromwell, then starting from the beginning (and jumping the chapters I'd already read).
The English Civil War seems similar to the Chinese 'Cultural Revolution', a kind of mass madness - humans killing humans just for the fun of it - is there a worse or crueller animal?! Perhaps nature's way of saying the population is too large and pruning the numbers cleans up the gene pool, survival of the fittest?! Anyway, reading the book makes one appreciate living in "today's world" (in Britain at least, they're still at it in places like Nigeria & Somalia) and that for food all yer need to do is to pop down to Sainsburys...!
Buy the book - if you don't like it, someone else will be happy to get it for Christmas ;)

A very readable narrative of interesting times, 24 Sep 2008
This is a book aptly summarised by it's title. Buildup to the war is
adequately covered, as it should, but it ends with Charles' head being
chopped off his body. Those interested in the interregnum or restoration
need look elsewhere.

Even though the book aims to give voice to the ordinary people usually
forgotten, this is hardly possible as the sources surviving are already
badly biased. Every individual who could or would leave a written legacy
was a member of the middle-to-upper classes, as the lengthy quotations show. The
author repeatedly states this as an inevitable shortcoming, and tries to
overcome it by including e.g. recorded statements overheard in pubs.

The methods employed by Purkiss are mostly those of traditional history,
with little explicit theorizing, although she sometimes draws parallels to
more modern cases. Although the book is thematically structured, she
manages to build a very coherent narrative. As far as popular history
goes, this is top class.


Eminently readable, entertaining and informative., 15 Mar 2008
I'm not really a fan of history books. A 'C' in GCSE 15 years ago was good enough for me and I haven't exactly been at the front of the queue in the bookshops to pick up the latest historical offerings. To be honest, I only picked this book up in my local library on a wet Tuesday lunchtime because the local shop had sold out of newspapers; I never expected to get so caught up in it.

The way Purkiss writes is superb: it's like having a super-informed friend explain something to you in a language that is somewhere between typical history book prose and an almost knowing informality (speaking of a contemporary play she writes "It was about love. It was about faith. It was about four hours longer than the audience was used to.")

Don't be fooled into thinking this is history-lite, though. At over 500 pages it is not for the uncommitted reader, but the compelling stories of ordinary folk coupled with the way they are told and the way they ebb and flow with the tide of the Civil War makes it a fascinating and gripping read. The library can have it's copy back: I'm off to buy the hardback.

Fascinating and entetaining, 01 Nov 2008
This is an excellent book! I've read it dozens of times and it maintains its fascination. Weir's writing style is so fluid and easy to read that I've since bought many other titles written by her.

A pager turner, 07 Sep 2008
I thought this book would be an interesting history, but it turned into a real page turner, even though I knew the ending. The best book I have read on the Tudors, bringing the complex political issues into an easily understandably context with dumbing down the history. If you want an exciting overview of this period read it and enjoy.

Enlightens A Fascinating Period Of English History, 06 Apr 2003
I had previously found the Tudor age rather complicated and a little vague due to the complexed nature of Henry VIII's numerous wives and children.I started to read this book and became absorbed in the intrigue of this period of Tudor England. It provides in depth details of Henry's children and the profound effect their individual lives would have on the political and social developments of the Kingdoms they ruled, be it long or short. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Tudor period and which leads to arguably the greatest sovereign in Elizabeth I that this country has seen.

Very enjoyable and enlightening read on the subject, 26 Nov 2001
This book was very good in tackling subjects which usually get dealt with as a chapter in a book on the individuals. As someone who finds the period fascinating, it was academic enough not to be boring if you know a fair amount about the main characters, but not daunting if you dont. Alison Weir puts the chronology together well, and examines the four characters relationship with each other, how those relationships were manipulated or affected by those into whose care they were entrusted, and their motivations in the actions they took. She also takes a great deal of care in the detail - for example in trying to make a modern diagnosis of the ailments suffered by the characters, and in particular those suffered by Mary in her desire to bear an heir to the throne.
Thoroughly recommended.

Henry's missing heirs, 13 Aug 2001
Alison Weir's preface describes this book as 'a chronicle of the personal lives of four English sovereigns': Edward VI, Jane Grey, Mary I and Elizabeth I. She supplies a useful introductory chapter, sketching the early years of Henry's three surviving children, the offspring of Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour, from birth until the death of their father in January 1547. At this point, the point at which Weir's "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" ended, the author takes up the story of the House of Tudor until the accession of Elizabeth in 1558.

Weir uses a huge variety of primary and secondary source material to produce a panoramic pen-portrait, often vibrant, on occasion softer in hew, of the four monarchs and their courtiers. I particularly admire the author's subtle handling of the reign of 'Bloody Mary', her sympathy for this frequently misunderstood woman in her desire to give England a Catholic heir. This is a carefully written and analytical section of the book. However, for the most part, "Children of England" is straightforward narrative history from which readers with a passion for this period are unlikely to gain very much.

What disappoints me most is the thought of fascinating opportunities missed. "Children of England" is not subtitled "The Successors of Henry VIII". The secondary title of this book is "The Heirs of Henry VIII" which suggests a study of the individuals named in the monarch's will irrespective of whether they succeeded to the throne. Weir explains that Henry 'willed the Crown first to Edward, then to Mary, then to Elizabeth, and lastly to the heirs of his younger sister Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk'. (The descendants of his elder sister Margaret, Queen of Scots were omitted.) At the time of the King's death, there were nine heirs to the throne. Henry's children were followed by Mary Tudor's elder daughter Frances Brandon, wife of the Marquess of Dorset (later Duke of Suffolk), and her three daughters, Ladies Jane, Katherine, and Mary Grey. Mary Tudor's younger daughter, Eleanor was next in line, followed by Lady Margaret Clifford, the only surviving child of her marriage to the Earl of Cumberland. The lives of all these figures, not only those who would wear the Crown, were fashioned by their being named as heirs to Henry VIII.

We meet Frances Brandon only as the abusive mother of Lady Jane, a repellent character who played her part in the Northumberland-Suffolk plot. The young, attractive, and highly eligible woman she had been in the fifteen-thirties is absent from the narrative and she disappears from view after 1554. Only Frances's sudden marriage to Adrian Stokes, in the wake of her husband's beheading is discussed briefly. Weir notes that she bore her former master-of-the-horse three short-lived children, yet her return to Court in the reign of Mary and her survival into the reign of Elizabeth is overlooked. Weir details the betrothal and marriage of Lady Katherine Grey to Lord Herbert, heir of the Earl of Pembroke and its swift annulment when the Northumberland-Suffolk plot collapsed. However, nothing is said of the betrothal of the hunchbacked Mary Grey to Lord Arthur Grey, whose father was an ardent supporter of the Northumberland and Suffolk cause. We hear only that Queen Mary, having secured her rightful position, granted the sisters places at Court and allowances befitting Princesses of the Blood.

To some extent, the problem is inherent in the strict 1547-1558 time span of the narrative. Consider Lady Margaret Clifford. Her marriage to William Stanley, Earl of Derby took place during the reign of Mary in 1555. At this stage, she was fourth in line to the throne after Elizabeth and the remaining Grey sisters. Nowhere does Weir mention Margaret, her mother Eleanor Brandon who died the same year as King Henry, or the politically important Derby match. This branch of the family is not even included in the sparse family tree at the end of the book. The reader cannot appreciate the importance of Margaret Clifford and her descendants without an understanding of the futures of her cousins after the execution of Lady Jane. During the reign of Elizabeth, both Katherine and Mary Grey married without the consent, or knowledge, of the sovereign. Lady Mary died childless in 1578, but her sister had two sons by Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford before her death in 1568. Queen Elizabeth declared the Seymour children to be illegitimate. ('I will have no rascal's son in my seat', she snapped when asked to name Katherine's elder son her successor.) The Grey-Seymour marriage was not validated until 1606. It was therefore small wonder that many looked upon Lady Margaret Clifford as heir presumptive. Indeed, by the fifteen-eighties she had become an object of suspicion to the Queen. According to Margaret, however, her son, Ferdinando Stanley died as a result of loyalty to their Royal cousin. Shortly after succeeding his father as Earl of Derby, Ferdinando rejected a Jesuit project to usurp the Crown, causing one of the perpetrators to be charged with treason. His sudden death in 1594 was widely mooted to be due to poison administered in revenge for his refusal to support the Catholic cause. Ferdinando Stanley left three daughters, the eldest of whom was Anne, Baroness Chandos. It is one of those intriguing 'What if...?' issues. How different would England's history have been if Elizabeth Tudor had adhered to the will of Henry VIII and named the young Lady Chandos her successor rather than James VI of Scots?

Perhaps I am being thoroughly awkward in demanding a book that the author elected not to write! There is little doubt that "Children of England" will encourage readers to explore the Tudor dynasty in greater depth. Nevertheless, she has wasted a glorious opportunity to introduce readers to many vibrant characters among the heirs of Henry VIII. It is an omission I hope Ms Weir will rectify as she consolidates her position as a leading Tudor historian.

The Rise and Fall of an English Moses, 30 Dec 2008
Love him or loathe him, Oliver Cromwell was an extraordinary individual whose personality embodied many contradictions. 350 years after his death, his reputation still provokes controversy; so much so, in fact, that the relic of his severed head had to be buried in secret at Cambridge University.

Jonathan Fitzgibbons' book examines the provenance of this gruesome relic, charting its fluctuating fortunes, and showing how they mirror the changes that have come about in Cromwell's reputation over succeeding generations. The author even includes an assessment of some of the more fanciful interpretations of Cromwell to be found on film and television.

Personally, I would have liked the author to have gone further concerning the Curse of Cromwell (perhaps drawing attention to recent demands by British MPs for the demolition of the Thorneycroft statue outside Parliament) but it's a peach of a book, and one that I wish I'd written myself.


An extremely interesting and refreshing approach to a well known story. , 19 Aug 2007
David Starkey's work on the six wives of Henry VIII is a unique biography on these six women. Starkey, unlike some other historians who have approached the same subject, has not reiterated an already well known story, but instead has set out to question the common conceptions of these women whilst also rejecting the need to become too revisionist. This mixture is best observed in the portrayal of the first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Catherine's virtuous position that has been rewarded to her by her devoted fans is questioned and Starkey reveals a more pragmatic and human perception of her. She was a woman of faults, capable of lying (as highlighted in her letter to her father Ferdinand after her first failed pregnancy), capable of immense pride and stubbornness and he accept the traditional idea that Catherine believed her position to be the rightful one.

Starkey goes on to challenge more misconceptions, for example the portrayal of Catherine Parr. Was she really this nurse figure that Victorian historian Agnes Strickland loved to promote? Oddly enough, she wasn't in the sense that Strickland meant. Parr was an intelligent woman, so intelligent that when she realised Henry's jealousy over her cleverness and the conservative's factions plot to overthrow her, she played the `submissive wife' card, declared that as a woman she didn't know better and submitted to Henry. Starkey manages to describe this change without making Katherine appear as a woman who compromised her intelligence, but as a woman who know how to survive.

The portrayal which I couldn't completely agree on was Starkey's view of Anne Boleyn. He certainly highlighted her intelligence, and unlike some other biographies in the six wives (like Weir's), he notes her level of knowledge about the divorce proceedings and her political achievements. However his views on Anne's relationship with the Princess Mary are questionable. Instead of showing how Anne and Mary equally despised each other, both made poor comments towards one another and how it was understandable why both disliked each other, he places more blame on Anne and relies far too much on Chapuy's accounts for her relationship with Mary. Chapuys, the Spanish ambassador, whose contemporary accounts are very valuable to us, was undoubtedly biased and hated Anne. His accusations have often proven to be false (like how he liked to declare that Anne and Henry's marriage had broken up long before it had and suspecting Anne of poisoning Catherine in Jan 1536), so relying on his claims of what Anne was doing to Mary is unfair and of course does not highlight what Mary was saying back at Anne.

Starkey does come up with several interesting and probable theories, one of which is the issue of Henry and Anne's first marriage. Starkey argues that Anne, who had denied Henry sexual intercourse throughout the duration of their courtship, would not have given in to his demands unless she and undergone some form of a binding ceremony with him. And Edward Hall, the councillor mentions that Anne and Henry were married in Dover on the 14th Nov 1532 and later again in the same month. This goes against the traditional idea that Henry and Anne married after she became pregnant sometime in Dec 1532. It's a very plausible argument and it makes sense that Anne would only give in to him once they had married.

Starkey's work on the downfall of Katherine Howard is excellent, especially his work on the testimony of Thomas Culpepper, who was accused of committing adultery with Katherine whilst she was Queen. Starkey's conclusion as to their relationship is brilliant and I completely agree that whilst Katherine led an indiscreet life before marriage, the possibility of her committing adultery with Culpepper were slim and even they were found guilty on intent to commit adultery rather than actual committing the act.
Anne of Cleves is dealt with briefly as is Jane Seymour, although in both cases their different personal faiths and their importance to the conservative or reformist factions in court is well examined.

Personally, I think that Starkey's work on the six wives of Henry VIII is the best I have read so far on these well documented and unfortunate women. Starkey like Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser wishes to tell us this important story, but unlike the other two, he is not attempting to merely reiterate the already known and is prepared to make excellent theories and back them up with careful researched evidence. Unlike Weir, he does not attempt to show an overwhelming bias towards one wife and attempts to show their respected faults and qualities. The main problem of the book is that it would have been nice to have had more on the last four wives, yet in fairness Starkey has identified that the beginning of the remarkable, dramatic changes within sixteenth century English society and in Henry VIII himself, occurred under his first two marriages and therefore much more observance needs to be paid to them. Henry also had longer relationships with Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn and as this book wishes to focus on the women at the time when they were in Henry VIII's life, then again it makes sense more time is allocated to the first two. Overall it's a superb piece of work that is accessible for all and if you are going to read one piece of work on the six wives, then I really recommend you pick this one!

Well-researched but too compartmentalised, 13 Apr 2007
I found this hard going. While Starkey's research is admittedly admirable, what I found very strange about this book is that he completely compartmentalises each of the wives, as though they existed entirely separately from each other. For instance, in the section on Catherine of Aragon, there is NO mention of Anne Boleyn, even once you get to the parts about the divorce, etc. I found this frankly peculiar, and more than a little frustrating and irritating. Anne was a member of Catherine's court; Catherine knew exactly who she was, and that she was the one her husband was leaving her for. I don't see how you can explore Catherine's story with any humanity and depth without going into these relationships, which were of such wrenching impact at the time.

Similarly, I felt that while the political aspects of each wife's reign were gone into in great detail, there was a lack of the personal which for me made the book much duller and dryer than expected. I greatly preferred Antonia Fraser's treatment of this subject.

A book for new-comers and experts, 05 Aug 2004
I have always been fascinated by the story of the Tudor dynasty, and pride myself on having read most books currently available on the subject. I was somewhat apprehensive about reading Starkey's examination of the six fascinating women who were married (however briefly) to Henry VIII. But I needn't have been. This was historical scholarship at its best.

Starkey cannot be accused of romanticising history, and he successfully blows apart some of the more cherished romantic anecdotes surrounding Henry's queens. It transpires that Henry probably didn't nickname his fifth wife his "rose without a thorn" and that Catherine Parr, his sixth, certainly didn't act as a nurse to her ailing husband. Starkey is similarly unprepared to prop-up misconceptions and stereotypes. He refuses to present Catherine of Aragon as a saint, despite the best efforts of numerous other historians and novelists to present Henry's first wife as a perfect wife, mother, queen and Christian. Rather, Starkey shows Catherine to have been admirable, politically-important and dignified; but he also shows that she could be deceitful, incalcitrant and naive.

Anne Boleyn (to whom most of the book is devoted) emerges as a more likeable individual than she does in Alison Weir's narratives. Anne's political and religious impact is the main focus of Starkey's narrative but he also reveals Anne's charisma, intelligence and style (even if he also relates how she could be a temperamental drama queen when she wanted to be!) Starkey also manages to construct a new (and more convincing) timetable for Henry's affair with Anne, and persuasively argues that Henry had a much larger part to play in Lord Percy's enforced marriage than previously believed.

Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves do not occupy an inordinate a mount of space in this book (Starkey admits as much himself in the introduction, claiming that space is going to be given according to each wife's importance.) Jane emerges as a somewhat pretentious, haughty, cold and uninteresting individual; whilst Anne of Cleves seems pleasant but none too bright.

The weakest section is probably that on Catherine Howard. Although the book does shed new light on Catherine's legendary "romance" with Thomas Culpepper, it can at times become a bit silly in its attempts to react against Victorian values culminating in Starkey's view that we can see a kind of "virtue in promiscuity." It also seems that too much intelligence and cunning is accredited to Catherine who was, essentially, an ordinary if thoughtless young woman.

The section on Catherine Parr is illuminating and enjoyable to read. Catherine is shown to have been religiously-motivated, courageous and quick-witted; not the dull bluestocking of popular myth.

Politically, there hasn't been a study which explores the six wives' role better. Neither Weir, Loades, Lindsey or Fraser's books explore the impact Henry's wives had on society, religion and government to the same extent as Starkey does. Furthermore, Starkey also has a real feel for personality and the six queens are liberated from their stereotypes and emerge as far more believable human beings than they do in many other historical books. Starkey's narrative cannot be faulted on bias either, unlike the works of Weir or slipshod scholarship, like those of Carolly Erickson. The book is enjoyable, superbly written and illuminating. Both experts and new-comers to the Tudor era should read Starkey's wonderful "Six Wives".

The women behind one of the most well known British Kings, 29 Mar 2004
I'm a student of Ancient History and Egyptology rather than British History. However, it is British History which has always been my first 'love'.

The first account I ever read about Henry and his wives was in the Horrible History series (Cruel Kings and Mean Queens - which, by the way, I would recommend to everyone, child or adult), when I was quite young (perhaps about 8yrs?). It was, by no mean, my favourite aspect at the time. I didn't have a favourite British monarch back then.

And I don't now.

However, I came across this recently and decided to buy it. I was intrigued by these women (amongst others in history) and thought to myself "why not learn more?"

I'm glad I made that decision, for while I have not read anything else other than this and some brief articles about Henry's queens, I found it very thorough. It deals with everything, from the personal intimate details to the fully political (and public) aspects of their lives.

It begins with Catherine of Aragon (I've decided to use the spelling in the book for all the names!), a strong Catholic woman (who you can't help but have some admiration for). Anne Boleyn follows - an equally strong 'Protestant' (who I really didn't like at first for her treatment of Catherine, but I did eventually). You may find yourself thinking of Anne's downfall before you get there in a kind of smug way, but then feeling a little ashamed when it comes to the crunch. These personalities and characteristics are reflected in their daughters (Mary and Elizabeth respectively). Starkey devotes over half of the book to Catherine and Anne.

Poor Jane who follows seems a bit boring in comparison to her striking predecessors, as does Anne of Cleves (who becomes Henry's 'sister'). Catherine Howard livens things up a bit as does Catherine Parr after her (who also goes a bit too far with her religious views for Henry's liking).

Starkey also peppers his work with eerie comments, such as "in a few months, she would be dead". (I don't know if that one is actually there, but you get the picture!)

I would thoroughly recommend this book to absolutely anyone who is even remotely interested in Henry's wives - you will not be disappointed!