Are there any good books on Henry VIII,his wives,and children?

[Lolita]

I have always had a fascination with these Tudors and there is still so much i don't know about them

do you guys know any good and accurate biographies on these fascinating subjects?

[Kimberly]

Ummmm yes :-)
Starkey; Six Wives of Henry VIII
Fraser;   Six Wives of Henry VIII
Weir;     Six Wives of Henry VIII
I have all three but prefer Starkey.

The life and death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives.
There is a new bio about Catherine Parr and also one about Margaret and Mary rose (The tumultuous lives of the sisters of Henry VIII or something)- anybody read this one? I have  read conflicting reviews about it!
Back later, am afraid to say I am watching Big Brother (hangs head in shame).

[Puppylove]

In my opinion Weir's book had flashes of brilliance but was desperately in need of a good editor. The book crams in lots of detail and fleshes out the various queens' personalities, but is a rambling mess in the process. (Has anyone read her Jane Grey novel? Recommended or not?) Starkey's book reads more "professionally," and so comes off a little drier.

How does Fraser's compare?



 

[Kimberly]

Fraser's is ok but it is the earliest of the three, prefer Starkey's

[halen]

I have always had a fascination with these Tudors and there is still so much i don't know about them

do you guys know any good and accurate biographies on these fascinating subjects?

These aren't books, but great movies to watch on the Tudors--Elizabeth R, with the great, Dame  Glenda Jackson, Elizabeth, with the goddess of English acting, Dame Helen Mirren--, Elizabeth, with Cate Blanchett--not historically accurate, but her acting is superb, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, with Keith Mitchell--a masterful performance and brilliant movie.

The list goes on and on...Anne of A Thousand Days, with Richard Burton, A Man for All Seasons, Paul Schofield.

You can either rent them at your local Video store, or the library--or purchase them from Amazon

Louise

[mcdnab]

For me of the ones mentioned Starkey is my personal favourite ( but that's probably coloured by the fact its a more recent read than the Fraser - i have to say that i am not too fond of the weir although i quite enjoyed her book on the children the name of which escapes me).  Starkey is particularly good on Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn which given that those two marriages account for 27 years of Henry's reign is what you'd expect - but its a heavy read if you've no knowledge at all of the subject!

I have to say i quite enjoyed Maria Perry's book on Henry's two sisters - though i think she captures Margaret of Scotland far better than Mary but that might be simply that after her marriage to Charles Brandon Mary's life is slightly less fascinating to me!  Although i might have enjoyed it because it was a welcome antidote to the numerous and never ending "new" biographies of Henry VIII, (his wives) and ELizabeth I - of all the most recent i most enjoyed the one that compares Elizabeth and Mary Stuart (sisters queens in one isle or some such is the title) - though not perhaps for those who like to romanticise that fake Royal Martyr Mary of Scots! (g)

Because unusually the Tudor left a plethora of state papers and correspondence that has survived they are perhaps the most written about Royal Family in English  - so you shouldn't have any problem finding decent stuff on them....though most authors are desperate to find some missing little details very few do!  You shouldn't have many problems getting hold of any of them whereever you are in the world!
 
tim

[Kimberly]

Thanks for that Mcdnab, I will get hold of the Perry book.
As for the Elizabeth and Mary book (do you mean the one by Dunn?). I found it terribly dry. Fraser's book on Mary Queen of Scots is the best I have read.

[mcdnab]

Yes it was the Dunn the minute you mentioned the name i remembered - i didn't find it that dry i must be honest - but different tastes and all that!  I thought it rather good - to be honest i find anything on Mary a bit frustrating cos she is so irritating!!  The Fraser is very good i'd be interested how you find the perry cos the reviews were mixed i found it interesting though as so little has been done on the two sisters outisde the realms of romantic fiction.


tim

[Lucien]

I have always had a fascination with these Tudors and there is still so much i don't know about them

do you guys know any good and accurate biographies on these fascinating subjects?

I would suggest;"The Autobiography of Henry VIII With Notes by His Fool,Will Somers" by Margaret George.

[Kimberly]

Oooh yes darling Lucien, fabulous work of fiction but extremely well researched and well written to boot, love it.

[Lucien]

Oooh yes darling Lucien, fabulous work of fiction but extremely well researched and well written to boot, love it.

Oh I know,oh thou sweetheart of the Forum,but like you say it is such a fantastic book,has to be mentioned.
And then there's this,although it has,not all that much,to do with the Tudors alone,it needs a place here on the forum,so I seek "refuge" in this thread.

Hugo Vickers new book on St.George Chapel,Windsor,marvellous,and the proceeds go to the chapel.A must have.
http://www.hugovickers.co.uk/LatestNews.htm?nav=latestnews

[SavingNAOTMAA]

[Rhiannon]

There is a new book coming out in Feb ... Fiction...
Anne Boleyn: Henry VIII's Obsession
by Elizabeth Norton

I have Starkey's and found it jumped around a lot. He may be one of the best for information but his writting leaves something to be desired in my opinion. If you want hard facts he is the best though.

[Romanov_fan]

I read Starkey's book and actually enjoyed his writing. His book is very long, but if you can read it, well worth it.

[noodle2121]

Has anyone read Carolly Erickson's, Anne Boleyn??  What did you think of it? I absolutely loved her biography on the Russian Empress Alexandra, and am hoping Anne B's is just as good!