The women who wed Henry VIII are remembered mainly for the ways their royal marriages ended: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived...
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Apr 21, 2011
Ptreick
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Okay, so a month ago I gave in and starting Netflixing "The Tudors." For reasons I can't even explain, I've been completely drawn into this world. Last week I had some kind of food poisoning and in my state of delirium/vertigo I had strange nightmares about beheadings, childbirth, etc. On Tuesday at our beer-induced trivia night I was waiting on pins and needles for a Henry VIII question to pop up, but nada.
Anyway, this book gave me some verification that the series has his More...
Anyway, this book gave me some verification that the series has his More...
Jul 17, 2011
Kim
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Mar 14, 2010
Brigid
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The more I thought about the content of this book, the less I liked it. It purports itself as a "feminist reinterpretation" of Henry VIII's collection of wives. However, because the author does not make more than a handful of references to source material, the reader does not feel the presence of Andrea Dworkin, Gloria Steinem or Adrienne Rich. We hear, instead, the voice of the author herself passing judgments that, though not all that controversial, do not ring of researched or infor
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Dec 04, 2008
Colleen
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Eh. It's kind of interesting, but it was supposed to be some groundbreaking feminist take on the wives of Henry VIII...besides focusing on THEM rather than HIM, I didn't see anything in the book as a radical new feminist reinterpretation.
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Aug 06, 2011
Elisabeth
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Divorced, Beheaded, Survived is an easy, quick read and would serve as a good introduction to Henry VIII and his six wives. However, the book is short on the meaty historical details. The book's thesis is feminism, not history, but unfortunately it is light on the feminist perspective as well. I saw only a few points, mainly related to Katherine Howard, that hadn't been previously covered in the traditional biographies. Readers already familiar with the Tudors aren't likely to find this book
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Jan 06, 2012
Chris
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Oct 11, 2011
Jenn (Booksessed)
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Okay, I should preface by saying that I am a history junkie, and that Tudor England is my drug of choice. Seriously, it’s like my crack. I know all the major players, I know how most historians view each person, I know who participated in who’s downfall. I’m the person to go to for any Tudor related question. I’m also the person who loved the tv show The Tudors because of all the sexy men but grumbled about the historical accuracies, mostly due to the timeline. Also, I love the Spanish Ambasador
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Dec 24, 2009
Talkingtowalls
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I don't read a whole lot of history, but I generally enjoy it when I do. This I had a really exceptional time with. The writing was clear with very few digressions, which is great for someone (me) who doesn't have a really solid background in British History. I would have sometimes like a little more detail, but I really can't complain. I thought this was a very fair feminist interpretation (of course even when reading the most flattering biographys I've always felt that "king Hal" was
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Dec 24, 2009
Meaghan
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This book was feminist claptrap. The author is not a trained historian and her feminist bias was obvious throughout this book. All the women were GOOD, and all the men were BAD, and Lindsey went to great lengths to show them as being this way all the time, and made up flimsy excuses when the women (rather than the men) behaved badly. She excused Catherine Howard's adultery on the grounds that her life would have been "unbearable" if she couldn't get all the sex she wanted. She also com
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May 29, 2009
Kara
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This book provides a fascinating in-depth exploration of the personalities and history behind each of Henry VIII's wives, something which is rarely taught in history class. I enjoyed it immensely, despite reading it during a time when I was not particularly enthusiastic about history.
(I am adding it now, despite reading it in early high school, because it became topical last week and I would like to re-read it ;^)
(I am adding it now, despite reading it in early high school, because it became topical last week and I would like to re-read it ;^)
Dec 02, 2010
Aoife
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This is a great one to pick up after you've seen Showtime's version of Tudor England, to set things back in balance. It is a fun, relatively quick read, and while the research is quite well-done it does not at all read like an academic book. Much ink has been spilled about the six women Henry married (and who he as often as not destroyed as well) but this is a fresh take on the "wives" and one that you won't want to miss if you enjoy reading about this period of history.
Jul 06, 2011
Astrid
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This nonfiction book is a lively summary of the lives of Henry VIII's wives. Even though I have read a lot of Tudor period historical fiction and many of Alison Weir's nonfiction books, I find I sometimes get lost in the dates, friends, foes, politics and religious factions of the times, but this book makes many of those details easy to remember and understand. Karen Lindsey's feminist reinterpretation is an interesting view of the period. Recommended for Tudor history fans.
Aug 17, 2009
Krissa
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One of the most fluidly-written and intriguing accounts of H8's wives; rather than a narrative of his life and the women as they came into it, Lindsey goes through the life story, pressures and motivations of each of his six wives and follows through on their stories. Engaging and well-written; I've read it twice.
Jul 15, 2011
Eva-Lani
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Before reading this book I had only a very superficial knowledge of Henry VIII and his wives. This book was not only gave me a better understanding of that era but also gave me a captivating story to indulge in. I loved her analysis of all the wives, especially Katherine Howard. The way Lindsey described the wives and the personalities of the wives made them real and tangible people for me.
Jan 02, 2011
Katie
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I think I'm due for a reread on this one. When I first read it, I wasn't particularly impressed, and my rating is based on that. However, I was in junior high or high school at the time, and I think I've learned a lot in college that could impact my opinion of the book.
Jan 26, 2011
Janine
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Obviously I would love this book. It did put an interesting twist on contemporary interpretations of his wives. Anne Boleyn is still my favorite. I mean, come on, the woman practically started the Protestant Reformation.
Sep 27, 2009
Tara
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For a history book, this was extremely readable. Really enjoyed the focus on the wives and how their lives led them to become married to Henry VIII, rather than reading another book about Henry's motivations with the wives as an always tragic sidenote.
Jan 28, 2009
Kara
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One of my favorite biographies of Henry's wives. I don't always agree with Lindsey, but she really makes you think about things from a different perspective.
Jul 26, 2011
2009- A easily readable account of of Henry and his numerous wives, overall a good introduction to the subject. Didn't seem that ""feminist"" to me however.
Oct 01, 2010
Maryedith
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One of the best I've read on the wives of Henry VIII (and I've read lots). It gives the political views but isn't dry and dull.
Apr 02, 2008
Emily
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A good quick read for those interested in Henry VIII and English history. Most historical non-fiction is so long-winded that ones tends to forget almost anything they learned through the book, but the author kept her facts brief and had an interesting modern day spin on a lot of topics brought up. I do think her some of her interpretations were a bit far-fetched, but overall a quick and interesting read on those poor women who fell victim to Henry VIII.
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Aug 26, 2008
Carah
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A very insightful, intriguing book, telling the stories of history's most famous wives from a new perspective: of women with minds of their own and not as pawns of their men. Not always completely convincing, it is still a thought-provoking point of view. Lindsey had well-researched arguments and wrote intelligently.
Aug 17, 2008
Marit
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She manages to tell quite a story while relating a series of facts. She has her own opinion of the characters and motivations of historical figures, but she does not alter or leave out important facts to make her own views fit history. Engrossing and enlightening.
Apr 01, 2008
Sue
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Interesting 'mini-biographies' of each of Henry's wives. However, I found it to be more of a 'you go girl' approach than a feminist reinterpretation of these women. Still, its a fun, quick read.
Feb 02, 2008
Alex
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I actually read this for a history class, but it read more like a romance novel. Anyone interested in learning a little bit more Early Modern British history, this is an easy intro.
Nov 19, 2008
Cerese
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I love that this has to be called a "feminist reinterpretation" when in fact it is an amazing insight by a woman historian. Perhaps more valid than any mans interpretation.
Apr 06, 2008
Robfussell
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Henry de ocho is a big fat liar.
side note: first book i read that had feminist theme. Please disregard any previous rush limbaugh novels.
side note: first book i read that had feminist theme. Please disregard any previous rush limbaugh novels.
Oct 03, 2010
Samantha
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This book was awful. I completely disagreed with everything it said. Since when does feminist have to mean man-hating?
Feb 13, 2008
Aram
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it's pretty far off
but i dont care, it's a wacky story about king and all his women...
very entertaining...
but i dont care, it's a wacky story about king and all his women...
very entertaining...
Mar 12, 2008
Elizabeth
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Jerry Springer wishes he could have had Henry VIII and the rest of the Tudor clan on his show.
