Henry VIII

by David Loades

As a youth, Henry VIII was a magnificent specimen of manhood, and in age a gargantuan wreck, but even in his prime he was never the 'ladies man' which legend, and his own imagination, created. Sexual insecurity undermined him, and gave his will that irascible edge which proved fatal to Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell alike. Henry VIII dominated England during his lifetime and for many years thereafter, as a warrior, as a renaissance Prince, and as Supreme Head of the Church, but his personality is as controversial today as it was then. Professor David Loades has spent most of his life investigating the remains, literary, archival and archaeological, of Henry VIII, and this monumental new biography book is the result. His portrait of Henry is distinctive, he was neither a genius nor a tyrant, but a man 'like any other', except for the extraordinary circumstances in which he found himself.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Tudor Period, Historical, Biography

464 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2011

About the author

David Michael Loades was a British historian who specialised in the Tudor era. After military service in the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1955, Loades studied at the University of Cambridge. In the 1960s and 1970s he taught at the universities of St. Andrews and Durham. From 1980 until 1996 Loades was Professor of History at the University of Wales; after taking emeritus status, Loades served as Honorary Research Professor at the University of Sheffield from 1996 until 2008.

Reviews

[Helene Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review - One of the best biographies of Henry VIII I've read - I think that it covers all of the sentient points and more. All too often, biographies of Henry VIII focus too much on the wives, and the likes of Cromwell and Wolsey, but this doesn't happen here. Yes, these other personalities get their share, but Henry is still always at the forefront. A bit dry in places, but definitely worth a read for anyone interested in this period of history.

General Subject/s? - History / Tudors / Henry VIII / Biography

Recommend? – Yes

Rating - 17/20

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have put 3.5 stars for this book's rating if it was possible.

Really informative with very extensive research. I very much appreciated the documents at the end, which enable us to read the main laws and acts of the period for ourselves.

Excellent introduction to Henry VIII, I would like to read more for in-depth studies of certain aspects of his times. I know that this author has published a lot more books on this period and I will most definitely be interested in them.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a number of reasons for not enjoying this book; not least are the editing errors sprinkled throughout. On the one hand, Loades quotes David Starkey’s huge leap in logic (“…[he] deduced from the similarity in their handwriting that she [Elizabeth of York] personally taught him [Henry] his early letters…”) but on the other hand, seems to have no courage of his convictions (“…although there is no conclusive evidence for this it is possible that she did.”) (p.40). Before Arthur’s death, Henry was being schooled for the church – is it not more likely that his handwriting style was a result of his formal education? Even in today’s world, you can spot similar handwriting in people of a similar age – a reflection on the teaching style of the time.

At times it also appears that the author was paid ‘by the word’ rather than the content of the book. The recurring phrase “[he/she] may, or may not, …” is unnecessary. Surely if there is a possibility that someone “may”, there is a fairly good possibility that they “may not”. It is inferred, and there is no benefit in this kind of elaboration. For example: “She [Catherine Howard] had been brought up in the rambling and ill-disciplined household of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk at Horsham, who may or may not have known what was going on...” (p.292, emphasis mine). Additionally “Arthur was extremely well read being familiar (more or less) with the works of Homer…” (p.41, emphasis also mine).

Loades would also have benefitted from researching works by authors such as John Schofield (“The Rise & Fall of Thomas Cromwell: Henry VIII's Most Faithful Servant” 2008) and therefore avoided the much-out-dated view of Cromwell, Cranmer and Audley being “that triumvirate of evil councillors” (p.281).

Finally, as Secretary of the Richard III Society (Western Australia), I must also point out that the “facts” stated regarding Richard III in the first chapter are also in need of review.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry VIII is and has been an intriguing subject. Though he is mostly known for the schism with the catholic church and as a serial beheader of his wives, this book sheds more light on the complexity of the figure and gives a full account of where he came from, who he was (with all his contradictions) and what his legacy was. This highly readable (even for non historians like myself, its read like a fascinating tale) and well documented book shows also the complexity of interactions in European diplomacy at the time and especially how Henry VIII "was punching above his weight" in European diplomacy. I learned a lot in reading this book and it surely opened my appetite as I'm even more intrigued about this essential period in English history (as the author puts it, Henry VIII "stood on the cusp between medieval and modern England"). I can only recommend this book.

[Sue Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book very hard going and confusing in places.

[Barbara Lynn Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Henry VIII. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in reading more about Henry VIII.

[Marcus Pailing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a great fan of the Tudors, but this was accessible (for the most part) and kept me interested, so it has to be four stars.