Annette Ranald's Blog: Annette's History Reads - Posts Tagged "david-starkey"
BOOK REVIEW-Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII, by David Starkey
Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIIIIn the last few years, we've had our fair share of Henry VIII and family. With one miniseries (The Tudors on Showtime), two movies on Elizabeth, and one on Anne Boleyn (the Other Boleyn Girl), we think we know the story by heart and there's nothing more we want (care) to see. While I could do a whole post about the historical inaccuracies in those programs, and probably will someday, this is a book review and I'm focusing on David Starkey's SIx Wives of Henry VIII.
There have been many narratives of the lives of these women. Antonia Frasier has a book about Katherine, Anne, Jane, Anne, Catherine, and Katherine, as does Allison Weir. So I expected another book about these women to tell me something new. This does not. In fact, if anything, Starkey's rundown on the six wives is a barebones narrative that provides details with little connection, and none of the background and drama that makes one want to care about these women. Starkey is a television personality who often appears on programs in Britain dealing with the monarchy, history, and British politics. I've seen him on some documentaries, which is why I expected a lot more from his writing. I didn't get it.
As if the story needs retelling, here it goes. Henry VIII was king of England from 1509-1547. When he ascended the throne, he married his brother's widow, Katherine of Aragon, a Spanish princess. She was royal, the was pretty at the time, she was there. Katherine tried her best but after about six pregnancies only managed to have one child, the future Mary I. Henry, bored with Katherine and desperate, began to look elsewhere for companionship and a woman with a potential to bear him a son. Enter Anne Boleyn. After a lengthy nullity suit (it wasn't a divorce in the modern sense of the term), which split the Church of England from the Catholic Church, Henry married Anne, who was carrying his child.
This child turned out to be another girl, the future Elizabeth I. After two or three more failed pregnancies, Henry (or his minion Cromwell), found a reason to send Anne to the block as Henry turned to Jane Seymour. Jane died days after providing Henry with the future Edward VI, and after about three years of mourning (moping about his sorry luck with women), Henry married a German princess, Anne of Cleves. The marriage was doomed from the get-go, spawning centuries of debate about Anne's looks and what turned Henry off on their wedding night, but this too was a nullification (not a divorce in the strictest sense). Anne escaped with her head and a golden parachute of property and lovely parting gifts.
True to form, Henry had already settled on a young damsel at his court, Katherine Howard, who was the only one of his six wives to do him wrong. Catherine had a past with a man named Francis Dereham, and she was flirting with a Gentleman of Henry's chamber, Tom Culpepper. Cromwell was dragged out of the Tower of London to fix this mess, and this marriage, too, was nullified. Then both Catherine and Cromwell were beheaded. After another period of moping, Henry settled on twice-widowed Katherine Parr, but almost had her beheaded/burned for heresy until she, very smart woman, saved herself by getting on his good side in a super fast hurry. Henry died a miserable death, and was survived by his three children, all of whom become English monarchs, and two of his wives, who were deuced lucky!
If you've just managed to get through the above, you've essentially read Starkey's book. There's little of he reasons while all this came about, and the drama amongst the minor players that went into the rise and fall of each of these women. If all you're seeking is a rundown on the Tudors, this book is for you. But, if you're wanting the rich drama of the movies and miniseries, but with accurate history instead, go to Fraser and Weir.
There have been many narratives of the lives of these women. Antonia Frasier has a book about Katherine, Anne, Jane, Anne, Catherine, and Katherine, as does Allison Weir. So I expected another book about these women to tell me something new. This does not. In fact, if anything, Starkey's rundown on the six wives is a barebones narrative that provides details with little connection, and none of the background and drama that makes one want to care about these women. Starkey is a television personality who often appears on programs in Britain dealing with the monarchy, history, and British politics. I've seen him on some documentaries, which is why I expected a lot more from his writing. I didn't get it.
As if the story needs retelling, here it goes. Henry VIII was king of England from 1509-1547. When he ascended the throne, he married his brother's widow, Katherine of Aragon, a Spanish princess. She was royal, the was pretty at the time, she was there. Katherine tried her best but after about six pregnancies only managed to have one child, the future Mary I. Henry, bored with Katherine and desperate, began to look elsewhere for companionship and a woman with a potential to bear him a son. Enter Anne Boleyn. After a lengthy nullity suit (it wasn't a divorce in the modern sense of the term), which split the Church of England from the Catholic Church, Henry married Anne, who was carrying his child.
This child turned out to be another girl, the future Elizabeth I. After two or three more failed pregnancies, Henry (or his minion Cromwell), found a reason to send Anne to the block as Henry turned to Jane Seymour. Jane died days after providing Henry with the future Edward VI, and after about three years of mourning (moping about his sorry luck with women), Henry married a German princess, Anne of Cleves. The marriage was doomed from the get-go, spawning centuries of debate about Anne's looks and what turned Henry off on their wedding night, but this too was a nullification (not a divorce in the strictest sense). Anne escaped with her head and a golden parachute of property and lovely parting gifts.
True to form, Henry had already settled on a young damsel at his court, Katherine Howard, who was the only one of his six wives to do him wrong. Catherine had a past with a man named Francis Dereham, and she was flirting with a Gentleman of Henry's chamber, Tom Culpepper. Cromwell was dragged out of the Tower of London to fix this mess, and this marriage, too, was nullified. Then both Catherine and Cromwell were beheaded. After another period of moping, Henry settled on twice-widowed Katherine Parr, but almost had her beheaded/burned for heresy until she, very smart woman, saved herself by getting on his good side in a super fast hurry. Henry died a miserable death, and was survived by his three children, all of whom become English monarchs, and two of his wives, who were deuced lucky!
If you've just managed to get through the above, you've essentially read Starkey's book. There's little of he reasons while all this came about, and the drama amongst the minor players that went into the rise and fall of each of these women. If all you're seeking is a rundown on the Tudors, this book is for you. But, if you're wanting the rich drama of the movies and miniseries, but with accurate history instead, go to Fraser and Weir.
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I enjoy reading and writing about history. I've loved history all my life and read a ton of books. Now, I'll share a few of them with you. I also want to take you along with me in this new and strange
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