The Six Wives of Henry VIII
by Alison Weir
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Book Reviews of The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Book Review: A fascinating, engaging account of the Queens of Henry VIII.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always had a soft spot for King Henry VIII's wives and enjoyed reading about them, but never have I come across such a detailed, colorful, and engaging biography of them as this. Alison Weir has done a phenomenal amount of research in compiling this book. She provides us with countless details of the lives of these women, including excerpts from letters written by, addressed to, or about them. She also dispells many of the myths that have grown up around the six Queens. For instance, Anne Boleyn was not the promiscuous wanton she has often been described as, and Jane Seymour may not have been quite as sweet and innocent in nature as most people believed her to be. Coupled with her easy, fluid writing style, this factual detail brings each of the women to life. We get to know them intimately as Weir unlocks their widely varied personalities.Katherine of Aragon (mother of Queen 'Bloody' Mary) was a loving and devoted wife to Henry for 24 years. When he ultimately cast her aside in hopes of finding a more fruitful wife (one who would provide him with a male heir, which Katherine had failed to do), she firmly maintained that she was the King's true wife, the Queen, and always would be. For the rest of her life, she never permitted anyone to call her anything but 'Queen', even though she lived out her last miserable years in a dank, unhealthy estate, with insufficient resources.
Anne Boleyn (mother of Queen Elizabeth I) was an outspoken and ambitious young woman, originally one of Katherine's waiting women. She caught the King's attention and Henry developed an overwhelming passion for her. His desire to rid himself of Katherine and marry Anne ultimately led the King to break with the Roman Catholic Church, something scandalous and unthinkable to most of his contemporaries. Unfortunately for her, Anne lacked sufficient discretion, and her political oponents found it all too easy to lay upon her false accusations that would result in her execution.
Henry once said that he loved Jane Seymour best of all his wives, perhaps because she succeeded where his other wives had failed - she gave Henry his heir, Edward VI. But Jane, much loved by many Englanders, did not occupy the position of Queen for long. Shortly after the birth of her son, she succumbed to infection and died. Henry remembered her as his favorite for the rest of his life, and ordered that he be buried at her side when he died.
Anne of Cleves, the shortest-lasting of Henry's Queens, was ultimately the most successful of the six women. Henry arranged to marry the German princess based solely on seeing one portrait of her. This portrait, however, had exaggerated her appearance, and when the King saw his new wife he was repulsed. He immediately sought a way out of the marriage. Anne could have faced a grimmer fate, except that she was cheerfully compliant where Katherine had been stubborn. The marriage was annulled with ease and the King, grateful for her cooperation, provided Anne with property, funds, and a title as his honorary sister.
Henry's next wife was not so fortunate. Katherine Howard was was only a young girl when she married the King, who thought of her as 'a rose without a thorn.' In Katherine, he found a way to recapture his youth. But Katherine was young and silly, and worst of all, sexually promiscuous. When the king found out, he was shattered, and Katherine soon followed in the footsteps of her predecessor and cousin, Anne Boleyn, and was executed before the age of 17.
Katherine Parr, Henry's sixth and final wife, served a different function than those who had come before her. By this time the aging King was in failing health and exceedingly fat. Katherine became more of a nursemaid for him, as well as a companion with whom he could converse. Within a few years, the King died, leaving Katherine a widow, free and in charge of her own fate. She re-married and had a daughter by her new husband, but died shortly afterward.
The book is long, but well worth the read. Weir has done an extraordinary job of introducing us to these vibrant, diverse women. The book is full of information, facts, quotes - but the writing is very digestible and flows smoothly. Henry's first two wives are given the most attention - Katherine because she lasted the longest, and Anne because she has been saddled with such an infamous reputation. The other wives are not described in so much detail, but we still get to know them quite well. Weir takes us through the entire lives of these women, from their childhood and time before marrying the king, through the ends of their lives (which, in the cases of Anne of Cleves and Katherine Parr, extended beyond the King's own death).
Included in the book are several black and white images - mostly paintings of Henry, his family, his advisors, and of course, his wives. I would have liked to see these printed in color, but they are nice enough as is. At the back of the book, Weir has included genealogical tables of England's royal dynasties, the Tudor family, and each of Henry's wives. This is an extremely helpful reference for keeping track of the connections between various nobles that involved in the lives of the King and the women he married. 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII' was a great read, and I would highly recommend it.
Book Review: History as romantic drama
Summary: 4 Stars
This is one of the more entertaining histories that I have read for some time. It is able to provide an insight into the mechanics of history.Henry the eight was the younger brother of Arthur Tudor. It had been expected that Arthur would rule England, and a marriage had been arranged by Arthur's father to Catherine the daughter of the Spanish King. Arthur went through the ceremony of marriage but died probably before consummating he marriage. Catherine was a beautiful woman and she had a sound knowledge of religious literature. Henry fell in love with her and his father arranged a dispensation which allowed him to marry her. Henry the seventh was notoriously stingy and some say it was to avoid him returning the dowry. Henry's father died soon after and Henry now ascended the throne as Henry the VIII. A number of histories have painted Henry in an unfavorable light. Yet he was a person who was clearly intelligent he wrote a book which defended the faith and he wrote music. One of his songs "Green sleeves" is still played today.
Catherine was unable to give birth to a male heir. Henry also had some setbacks as a King. His vision of kingship was to be successful in war. France and Austria were antagonists at this time and Henry tried to ally with Austria to sieve French territory. He failed in his enterprises.
It would seem clear that he started to believe that God was punishing him for his marriage. He believed that it may have breached the biblical injunction which precludes the marriage of a wife of a brother. These beliefs occurred at the same time he met Ann Bolyn a beautiful and intelligent woman. Ann was woman who also had the strength of character not to become the kings mistress. Henry requested a divorce from Rome so that he could be free of his sin and at the same time marry his beloved. The Pope refused to grant him a divorce.
This book illustrates how Henry at this time started to brood and to lose faith in the authority of the Pope. How could the vicar of God force him to continue in a marriage that was an offence to God. Thomas Cromwell the person responsible for Henry's break from Rome clearly used the situation to suggest that Henry should place himself at the head of the English Church. He further suggested the confiscation and sale of the monasteries land. By selling the land of the monasteries revenue would be raised for the crown but also the nobles which bought the land would be implicated in Henry's decision. They would thus support him against the attempts of the Pope to remove him. Thus was born the English reformation.
This book is interesting as it combines the human drama with a realistic examination of the political and religious issues around the break with Rome.
After the break Ann Bolyn did not last long. Henry had her executed and his life then began to decline. He only achieved a measure of happiness with two more of his wives, with two more of his wives, one who died and the other who outlived him. He died a fat overweight and embittered man.
Book Review: Alison Weir's finest work, but I disagree with her sympathetic view of Henry VIII.
Summary: 5 Stars
Ms Weir has written many fascinating books, but this is arguably her best. The Six Wives of Henry VIII is an exceptionally written biography of King Henry's many wives. The book is divided into three parts. The first begins with Katherine of Aragon and proceeds with Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour. Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Katherine Parr are discussed in part three.
I have read many books on the Tudor period. I admit that Anne Boleyn books are my favorite read, but Alison Weir's account of all six wives was enthralling as any Boleyn book I have ever read. Her easy-to-read and vivid manner of writing will make you breeze through this 600 page book.
While the book is about Henry's six wives, the author argues that certain events helped shape the image of the wife-murdering tyrant that many think of today when they hear the name Henry VIII. Alison Weir believes Katherine of Aragon's stubborness in fruitlessly clinging to her marriage and Anne Boleyn arrogance contributed to King Henry's malevolent character. The author reminds the readers of the importance of judging Henry VIII's actions through sixteenth-century standards. Was it not his job to provide male heirs to his kingdom? If one views the events that transpired in that manner, one may almost find themselves sympathizing with Henry VIII. Almost!
Look at the facts. Katherine of Aragon was unable to provide male heirs, her successor also failed. Jane Seymour died shortly after child birth leaving the King with one boy who may or may not survive to adulthood. (Skipped Anne of Cleves for now) Katherine Howard was guilty of adultery and provided the King with a valid excuse for her execution. Anne of Cleves, however, was set aside without the King knowing if she was capable of providing male heirs. If judged by sixteenth-century standards, Henry VIII did his country a great disservice by casting aside a queen simply because he found her unappealing. How many kings before him sired heirs with women they found unattractive? Too many to count! In a further attempt to humanize Henry VIII, Alison Weir also states that the Jane Seymour considered King Henry a loving husband. She may not have felt the same had she lived longer. Same goes for Katherine Parr. The author claims the King refused to believe ill of his Queen without adequate proof. Katherine had quite a close call. The King was certainly forgiving, which I doubt had been the case if he had been younger and in better health.
I disagree with Ms Weir's attempt to create a more sympathetic view of King Henry, but the book was still fascinating. I had no problems with the material concerning the king's six wives. All the information provided was well-researched and as in all her books extremely readable. If you want to learn more about King Henry VIII wives without purchasing separate biogrpahies on each woman, this is the book to buy.
Book Review: The other halves of Henry the Eighth
Summary: 5 Stars
In this excellent, thoroughly researched and well-presented history, Alison Weir brings us up close and personal to six women who shared the life of one of England's greatest kings. From his first wife, Katherine of Aragón, the Spanish princess to whom he was happily married for 24 years until her failure to produce a male heir to the throne led him to throw her on the dump heap, to Katherine Parr, who managed to survive his temperamental outbursts and suspicion and who ultimately buried him, Weir shows us these women not only as queens and consorts, but as women with distinct personalities and characteristics which helped some to survive while dooming others.
The first two wives are presented in greatest detail; we see Katherine of Aragón, devoutly Catholic, not only suffering private agony as a soon-to-be discarded wife about to be thrown over for a younger and more attractive woman, but genuinely concerned that Henry is jeopardizing his immortal soul by divorce and remarriage; and Anne Boleyn, whose one great accomplishment was producing the greatest monarch in English history, Elizabeth I; headstrong, devious, fatally impulsive, rising out of nowhere to the pinnacle of success and ending her days on the execution block. In shorter chapters we also see Jane Seymour, the great love of Henry's life, giving him his only son and dying tragically young; his rebound marriage to Anne of Cleves, whom he loathed at first sight, dumping her for Katherine Howard, a teenage airhead who lost her head on the block for adultery right under the king's nose; and Katherine Parr, amiable, level-headed, sensible enough to put up with the aging king's increasing suspicion and cruelty by keeping a low profile, and ultimately, along with Anne of Cleves, surviving him.
As a matter of fact, for this reader the most interesting of the six wives was Anne of Cleves, generally dismissed in the history books as a klutz with a passing resemblance to a horse, whose only crime was succeeding Henry's most beloved consort. Anne may not have been a raving beauty, but it's to Henry's discredit that he was unable to appreciate her as a gracious, good-natured, sensible woman, a good stepmother to his three children. Well regarded and respected by the extended royal family, she ended her days as the most successful of the six wives, rich, independent, and generally content. Weir brings 16th century England vibrantly to life, through the lives of these six remarkable women.
Judy Lind
Book Review: Bedtime tricks....
Summary: 5 Stars
If we women can learn anything from Anne Boylyn it is this, don't ever tell your husband that you know some interesting ways to have sex. Poor Anne Boylyn. She waited many years to marry Henry and then lasted a mere 1,000 days on the throne. Before she left, she managed to bear Henry a few children including a two sons who died in infancy. Elizabeth probably survived because she was Anne's first child. Weir suggests that Anne was troubled by a particular fertility problem that afflicts some women--a negative blood factor. This factor may have been the cause of the spontaneous abortion of one baby and the death shortly after birth of another. Detail of this sort sets Weir apart from other historians. She tells the tale of Henry and his six wives from the women's standpoint. Some historians could care less about the trials of these women as they dealt with infertility and infecundity yet this issue was a central factor affecting Henry's behavior. For goodness sake, a kingdom was thrown into civil war because a series of women could not conceive and carry to term a male child. Weir thinks it's important to delve into the medical angles as well as all the other personal angles affecting these relationships.
WIVES follows the trials and tribulations of the six women who became Mrs. Henry. Most of us are familiar with the women who bore Henry heirs: Katherine, Anne, and Jane Seymour--but what of the other three. Henry's fouth wife was the ill-fated Catherine Howard (Anne Boylyn's first cousin--what was it about these femme fatales??) who had her head removed after she was discovered with another man. Next came a continental wife Anne of Cleves who is reputed to have had a foul body odor (she did not like to bathe). Last came queen Katherine Parr, who became a real mother to Mary, Elizabeth, and Edward and survived Henry. Anne later married a man she loved and died in childbirth which leads one to speculate that perhaps King Henry became impotent at the end of his reign. But of course, it is never the king's fault if his wife cannot conceive.