Henry VIII: King and Court

I love the Tudor period of history. So much so, I cannot even count the number of books I own and have read over the years. I always learn something new. This book, (and frankly everything that Alison Weir has written that I have read thus far) has blown me completely away by the sheer amount of information she has packed in to not only this volume, but all the rest as well. Many would consider this book alone to be a "Life's Work", yet she's written a dozen or so Tudor books that are of the same caliber whether historical or fictional. Even if you're not a history buff, you will still appreciate reading even the minutiae of detail into Henry's daily life and his struggles of managing an unmanageable court. Why? Because she makes even the minutiae a fun read. This is the factual account, not her "novel" of Henry (which is just as spectacular). Never in my life have I continued reading the reference notes at the end of a book, until now. Her reference notes give one so much further interesting information and open up a whole new world of the Tudors to pursue on your own afterward.I have looked at Henry from so many angles and I still cannot decide where to land at the end of the day. We cannot view his morality/immorality by today's standards. It just cannot be done. He did at the time, what he did because of the era he lived in, under a "specter" we cannot understand today (i.e. a female ruler as a successor). I try to understand that he was desperate for a son. Evidence shows there were quite a few "lost children" that just could not survive the womb (albeit, he did eventually have 2 sons again, by different women). This leads me to believe it was Harry that carried a genetic defect, that caused so many in-utero miscarriages, and not his various wives (unless they were all Rh Negative, which I doubt). At the end he does have my sympathy (despite everything being laid down to being the "women's fault" when miscarriage (or SIDS) happened), but because there was not the medical expertise we have today of diagnosing problems with the fetus' ahead of time, and possibly saving them). It too, may have saved a few of his wives lives (or not, he wasn't known for taking the blame). The rest of it? I leave to God and his mercy to sort out Henry's final destination.In any event, Alison Weir deserves the highest accolades possible for her work on Henry VIII and his shambles of a family tree. She certainly earned every single one them. Don't hesitate, just buy. I promise you will enjoy.

I always enjoy Alison Weir's biographies; they are scrupulously researched, her arguments are based on that research and her conclusions are carefully drawn and fair. She is sure of her stance, but is flexible enough admit doubts. In "Henry VIII: The King and His Court," Weir has dug even deeper into a subject about which she has written many times -- the brilliant Tudors who reigned over Britain's flowering rennaissance. Here she offers up an amazing amount of detail on not only the King and his six wives, but also on the astonishing array of people who made up his court, conselors and companions. Among other things, Weir credits Henry with introducing humanist teachings and philosophy to England, limning him as a great scholar, musician, athlete, scientist, author and patron of the arts. And yes, she does point out that he aged into a splendid and cruel tyrant, bankrupting the country with needless wars and very conscipuous consumption most often meant to impress royal rulers across Europe with lavish gestures and costly entertainments. All this glory and grandure was for a tiny elite; Henry most often ignoredthe growing restlessness of his mostly impoverished subjects, as he revolutionized religion in his realm to suit his dynastic needs. "The King and His Court" shines a bright light on the details on every aspect of the lives of the great and noble (and the occasional confection creator, armorer, or gifted craftsman). We learn what they wore, how they amused themselves, what and how they ate, who slept with whom, their innovations in architecture, art, dance, religion practices, how much this all cost (the sums are staggering) and much more. While all of this gossipy detail is delicious, and Henry's story of marital woes and his quest for an heir always makes a good read, what this book is outstanding in Weir's fully realized portraits of the remarkable denizens of Henry's court, from the humanist scholar Erasmus, to the martyred Thomas Moore, to the genius of the artist Holbein, to that cunning intriguer, Cardinal Wolsey. The richness of character, the fullsomeness and variety of information, the unstinting portrait of the complex Henry all add up to an enormously rewarding book. To read this book is to gain a whole new understanding of one of the most important chapters in Britain's royal history. Read this wonderful book to learn that Henry made it fashionable to sleep in a nightshirt, liked to concoct his own tonics and nostrums, was one of Europe's greatest dancers, was a talented composer and player of many instruments, and was a recognized and dedicated fashionista with a daring color sense...and, yes, how he dealt with those six wives, good, bad, sad and tragic.

wanted to know about Henry Vlll's court and those of other kings of that era. If you are a fan of shows such as "Game of Thrones", "The Tudors", or any period piece involving castles, palaces, knights, ladies, etc, this book gives a greater understanding of the realities of court life. It also dispels many of the misunderstandings of this monarch. While not exactly a "thrilling page turner" it goes into great detail of the day to day goings on and the many people who toiled to keep the kings and queens well looked after. a Real book for the historian or casual reader who wants to know how politics, religion, scheming, favors, all fit in with daily lives. It does get a bit slow at times, but all one need do is skip to a different chapter, as this book need not be read consecutively.

I have this book on Audible and have listened to it multiple times. I do like owning a hard copy too. I was excited to buy this historical history book by Alison Weir. There is so much more regarding Tudor life than the public actually know. Alison has clearly done masses of research and shares it with the reader. Henry generally gets a bad rap and your view of him will certainly change after you have read this book.

Molto dettagliato.... Forse troppo! Sapere quanti piatti possiede Enrico VIII non è indispensabile. Un libro denso sulla vita a corte che aiuta a capire il periodo Tudor.

Excellent book.It vividly details the way the King and the aristocracy lived in those days and the kind of taste they had in matter of architecture

Very good read she is a good author

Very detailed information on Henry VIII world, set in a story format, so easy to read and not dull historical tome.