Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII
by David Starkey
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Book Summary Information
Author: David StarkeyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-05-04
ISBN: 0060005505
Number of pages: 880
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book Reviews of Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII
Book Review: I'm Glad I Read The Book Before The Reviews
Summary: 5 Stars
In a strange twist of fate I read this book as a loaner from a neighbor before coming to Amazon to purchase it. I am glad I got to read the book before I read the reviews. Being a relative newcomer to the Henry the VIII and Tudor "movement" if you will I had no prior biases or previous prejudices to hurdle in order to enjoy this book.
After reading some of the reviews I had to double check to see if we were discussing the same work. I was shocked at some of the harshness much of what I found to be editorial opinion,quotes out of context and allusions to a style and attitude I found not to be the case at all. The author takes careful consideration of his work in the foreward. Contrary to the pompous and self-righteous tone expressed by others, he expresses his purpose for writing yet another "Wives" book. With additional, thorough research Starkey shows that some preconceived notions, if not stood on their head are at least challenged. He explains why the book treats the Queens at different lengths based on the available information, the length of their marriages and the respective impacts of each. Alas the 24+ years of Catherine of Aragon will garner more treatment then say the several months of Catherine Howard. He specifically expresses having to suppress the urge to continue writing about Catherine Parr after Henry's death to remain in the context of the book. But for fear of turning this review into another editorial diatribe let's talk about the book.
The book, unlike many others, tells the stories of the Wives themselves. It details the challenges of navigating the complex and cutthroat world of monarchistic Europe, England and Henry's Court. Starkey did his homework. There are thousands of references. In my book the bibliography is over 50 pages long. He incorporates many direct quotes from the writings of the likes of Wolsey, Chapuys, Cavendish, Cromwell, Catherine, Anne and Henry himself. Yet he weaves it all into a quasi-narrative that often reads like a novel and draws the reader in. He uses enough detail to put a cultural context around events that is important for interpreting the mindset and actions of the characters.
What I found refreshing was how each Queen is portrayed. They are shown to have human strengths and weaknesses and their unique qualities are expressed, showing how those characteristics both served them well and led to their demise. The book honestly shows how some of Henry's wives were merely pawns in a mans world but often, especially in the examples Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr, they very much influenced Politics, Religion and Policy, moving and flexing Parliament, England, Rome and sometimes even all of Europe.
Summary of Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII
No one in history had a more eventful career in matrimony than Henry VIII. His marriages were daring and tumultuous, and made instant legends of six very different women. In this remarkable study, David Starkey argues that the king was not a depraved philanderer but someone seeking happiness -- and a son. Knowingly or not, he elevateda group of women to extraordinary heights and changed the way a nation was governed.
Six Wives is a masterful work of history that intimately examines the rituals of diplomacy, marriage, pregnancy, and religion that were part of daily life for women at the Tudor Court. Weaving new facts and fresh interpretations into a spellbinding account of the emotional drama surrounding Henry's six marriages, David Starkey reveals the central role that the queens played in determining policy. With an equally keen eye for romantic and political intrigue, he brilliantly recaptures the story of Henry's wives and the England they ruled.
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