Henry VIII

Henry VIII is one of the most famous kings of English history. He ruled England from 1509 through 1537, and was responsible for some of the most defining moments of English history. He became heir to the throne at age eleven following the death of his older brother Prince Arthur, and was crowned king when he was only eighteen. He was, according to most historical accounts (including this one) ambitious, duplicitous, intelligent, well-read, and obsessive. His outsized appetites for women, food, pleasure, power, and glory were renowned throughout the known world of the time, as was his equally outsized temper. These larger-than-life aspects of his personality have made Henry a popular subject for biographers, historians, and film-makers for centuries. In this book, however, the author creates a portrait of considerably more depth, depicting Henry as emotionally vulnerable, deeply troubled, and easily obsessed—with religion, with securing his family's...