What do you think?
Rate this book
Charles Brandon: Henry VIII's Closest Friend
We don’t really consider Henry VIII to have had friends. Subjects, cronies, dutiful wives and ministers of state, perhaps, but not friends. In truth, Henry was a very sociable person and craved genuine relationships. Charles Brandon, the son of Henry VII’s standard-bearer at the battle of Bosworth, was to be Henry VIII’s closest friend and companion for his entire life. Brandon held a succession of important offices in Henry’s royal household, and the king trusted him with some of the dirtiest jobs at the Tudor court. Henry even forgave Brandon for marrying in secret the king’s favourite sister, Mary, the widowed queen of France.Yet Brandon’s life was by no means free from misadventure. His marriage to Mary initially angered the king, and his relationship with Anne Boleyn was fraught. Some of his many military campaigns disappointed Henry, and he was suspected of passing secrets to the French. Steven Gunn explains how Brandon not only survived these downturns of fortune and managed to retain the king’s friendship, but also how he steadily increased his own power, wealth and standing at the Tudor court. When Charles died in 1545, Henry ordered him laid to rest in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where the king would end up himself a mere eighteen months after the death of his one true friend.
287 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 2015
8 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 27, 2020
A really useful book with there being so few biographies on Charles. However, the text was written in a bit of a dry way - as in the reader was not hooked. If you want to be hooked, this is probably not for you. The purpose of me reading this wasn’t to be hooked, but to learn and research Charles Brandon - for that purpose, this book certainly delivered. What an excellent study!
April 11, 2016
Very well researched, but I found the book quite hard going in parts. There is a lot of concentration on the finances of the Duke, and the book assumes the reader is already well-versed in Tudor history and the events of the Tudor court. Even though I am well-versed, I have to admit that I struggled through parts of this book. I have given four stars as it is very well researched, but its definitely not for the beginner in Tudor history.
October 29, 2020
Very disappointing.
February 19, 2016
Summary:
We don’t really consider Henry VIII to have had friends, rather subjects, cronies and dutiful wives and ministers of state. But Henry was a very sociable person and craved genuine relationships. Charles Brandon, the son of Henry VII’s standard-bearer at the Battle of Bosworth, was to be his closest friend and companion for his entire life. They met at his father’s court, where Charles was a dashing jouster, and Charles would hold a succession of important offices in the royal household. Henry VIII trusted Charles with some of the dirtiest jobs at the Tudor court, clearing out Katherine of Aragon’s household and negotiating with Anne of Cleves over her divorce from the king. Henry also forgave him for marrying in secret his favourite sister, Mary, the widowed Queen of France. Yet Brandon’s life was by no means free from misadventure. His marriage to Mary initially angered the king, and his relationship with Anne Boleyn was fraught. Some of his many military campaigns disappointed Henry with their retreats and mutinies and he was suspected of passing secrets to the French. Steven Gunn explains how Brandon not only survived these vicissitudes of fortune and managed to retain the king’s friendship, but steadily increased his own power, wealth and standing. When Charles died in 1545, Henry ordered him laid to rest in St George’s Chapel in Windsor, where Henry had buried his favourite wife, Jane Seymour, and where he would end up himself a mere eighteen months after his one true friend.
Summary courtesy of Amberley Books.
My Thoughts:
I searched online to see if there were other books on Charles Brandon. A book written in the later part of the 19th century has been developed into a Kindle edition and is currently free.
When Knighthood was in Flower or, the Love Story of Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor the King's Sister, and Happening in the Reign of His August Majesty King Henry the Eighth by Charles Major. This work focuses on the romance and relationship between Charles and Mary.
A second book is set for release in June 2016: The Tudor Brandons: Mary and Charles-Henry VIII's Nearest and Dearest by Sarah-Beth Watkins. This work also focuses on the relationship between Charles and Mary.
The book written by Steven Gunn, Charles Brandon: Henry VIII"s Closest Friend, gives a view of the life and achievements of Charles Brandon. I believe Steven Gunn's book is a stand-alone, because it portrays the full scope of Charles Brandon's life.
While reading Charles Brandon, I was amazed at his ability to be ambitious in marriage choices, increasing wealth, and court offices. However, his ambitions never outshone Henry. What I mean is Charles Brandon was foremost Henry's loyal subject and friend, then his own ambitions were met. Yes, there was the rousing anger from Henry after Charles and Mary Tudor married, but Henry forgave Charles and their close relationship continued. Mistakes were made by Charles in military actions, but over-all the two men remained on good terms.
After Charles died, Henry honored Charles by burying him at St George's Chapel in Windsor, near Jane Seymour, Henry's beloved third wife.
Charles Brandon's life was fascinating. He was privileged to be Henry's one true and loyal friend. Charles lived a long life in service to the king. I believe Charles Brandon has been over-looked as a strong historical figure during the Tudor era. He was imperfect, yet he knew how to appease and honor Henry.
Steven Gunn has presented a well-rounded view of Charles Brandon. I feel the strongest impression of Charles has been seen through his actions and reactions, the ability to carefully balance ambition and loyal service, and in his legacy as Henry's faithful friend.
Source: Free copy from Amberley in exchange for a review.
Rating: 4 stars for very good.
We don’t really consider Henry VIII to have had friends, rather subjects, cronies and dutiful wives and ministers of state. But Henry was a very sociable person and craved genuine relationships. Charles Brandon, the son of Henry VII’s standard-bearer at the Battle of Bosworth, was to be his closest friend and companion for his entire life. They met at his father’s court, where Charles was a dashing jouster, and Charles would hold a succession of important offices in the royal household. Henry VIII trusted Charles with some of the dirtiest jobs at the Tudor court, clearing out Katherine of Aragon’s household and negotiating with Anne of Cleves over her divorce from the king. Henry also forgave him for marrying in secret his favourite sister, Mary, the widowed Queen of France. Yet Brandon’s life was by no means free from misadventure. His marriage to Mary initially angered the king, and his relationship with Anne Boleyn was fraught. Some of his many military campaigns disappointed Henry with their retreats and mutinies and he was suspected of passing secrets to the French. Steven Gunn explains how Brandon not only survived these vicissitudes of fortune and managed to retain the king’s friendship, but steadily increased his own power, wealth and standing. When Charles died in 1545, Henry ordered him laid to rest in St George’s Chapel in Windsor, where Henry had buried his favourite wife, Jane Seymour, and where he would end up himself a mere eighteen months after his one true friend.
Summary courtesy of Amberley Books.
My Thoughts:
I searched online to see if there were other books on Charles Brandon. A book written in the later part of the 19th century has been developed into a Kindle edition and is currently free.
When Knighthood was in Flower or, the Love Story of Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor the King's Sister, and Happening in the Reign of His August Majesty King Henry the Eighth by Charles Major. This work focuses on the romance and relationship between Charles and Mary.
A second book is set for release in June 2016: The Tudor Brandons: Mary and Charles-Henry VIII's Nearest and Dearest by Sarah-Beth Watkins. This work also focuses on the relationship between Charles and Mary.
The book written by Steven Gunn, Charles Brandon: Henry VIII"s Closest Friend, gives a view of the life and achievements of Charles Brandon. I believe Steven Gunn's book is a stand-alone, because it portrays the full scope of Charles Brandon's life.
While reading Charles Brandon, I was amazed at his ability to be ambitious in marriage choices, increasing wealth, and court offices. However, his ambitions never outshone Henry. What I mean is Charles Brandon was foremost Henry's loyal subject and friend, then his own ambitions were met. Yes, there was the rousing anger from Henry after Charles and Mary Tudor married, but Henry forgave Charles and their close relationship continued. Mistakes were made by Charles in military actions, but over-all the two men remained on good terms.
After Charles died, Henry honored Charles by burying him at St George's Chapel in Windsor, near Jane Seymour, Henry's beloved third wife.
Charles Brandon's life was fascinating. He was privileged to be Henry's one true and loyal friend. Charles lived a long life in service to the king. I believe Charles Brandon has been over-looked as a strong historical figure during the Tudor era. He was imperfect, yet he knew how to appease and honor Henry.
Steven Gunn has presented a well-rounded view of Charles Brandon. I feel the strongest impression of Charles has been seen through his actions and reactions, the ability to carefully balance ambition and loyal service, and in his legacy as Henry's faithful friend.
Source: Free copy from Amberley in exchange for a review.
Rating: 4 stars for very good.
October 14, 2024
I'm not sure I know of another biography of Charles Brandon; fortunately this one is excellent. A thoughtful, well researched, and detailed account of the life of Henry's friend. It reveals a lot about life at Henry's court, and the trials, obligations, and pursuits of a court noble of high status. Brandon was apparently a much more complex and textured individual than either the hero of the "romantic" love story between him and King Henry's sister or the rapaciously ambitious bully of report.
I thought some of the placements of family trees (Brandon's is complicated, and the complications are important) were inconvenient, and the index sometimes perplexing. There are good color plates. Some of the medieval inheritance and land-holding terms may need looking up.
My impression is that for a scholarly book, this biography was relatively easy to read, and never lacked for interest. Very much recommended for the reader interested in the Tudor court.
I thought some of the placements of family trees (Brandon's is complicated, and the complications are important) were inconvenient, and the index sometimes perplexing. There are good color plates. Some of the medieval inheritance and land-holding terms may need looking up.
My impression is that for a scholarly book, this biography was relatively easy to read, and never lacked for interest. Very much recommended for the reader interested in the Tudor court.
January 27, 2018
Strong biography of a man who managed to survive almost all of Henry VIII's reign before dying in his bed of a natural but unexpected death. It requires a good knowledge of Tudor History, and not only the most glamorous aspects of it all. My main reproach is the lack of focus on his relationships with Henry VIII, his wives, the courtiers (safe for Norfolk and Cromwell) and his own family!
The writing is a bit dry.
The writing is a bit dry.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews