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IT is told through Henry's journals, starting from when he was a boy into his adult life. He is handed the crown at a young age, an age when most are just learning to be adults. MOst are familiar with Henry's story, his marriage to Katherine of Aragon and his sick love for Anne Bolyen that forced him to split off from the Catholic Faith and name himself the pope. What we didn't know is what Henry was really like. Yes, this is fiction, but it certainly reads as history. Obviously there was meticulous attention to detail and George did an enormous amout of research.

Henry VIII is portrayed as just a man, with fallacies and inadequicies. He is unable to produce an heir, yet continues to marry in hopes of getting one. He is arrogant and yet unsure of himself. He falls in love quickly, yet is blind to all the faults in himself. It is a blazing portrait of one of histories most famous monarchs. Though extremely long, definetly worth the time.


My Favorite Book...Ever   April 5, 2004
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I love to read, and am literally almost never without a book. But I have to honestly say that this book is the one I am continually reaching for, and that is a tribute to Margaret George's brilliantly evocative writing.
King Henry VIII was certainly no saint. He was, however, a tremendously charismatic, intelligent and powerful man who has been remembered mostly for having 6 different wives. Margaret George takes an empathetic look at the public and private life of this man by creating an utterly believable "journal" of this controversial king.
Each of the characters are fleshed out brilliantly, allowing the reader not only a you-are-there view of the subject but also revealing the humanity of every person who came within Henry's circle. And the star of the book, of course, is the King himself, who comes across as surprisingly likeable, even as he descends into the obese, bitter, tormented man of historical legends. There were several times when I was completely amazed at the authors beautiful writing...the last few chapters are very touching and almost heartbreaking.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough...it's filled with truly human characterizations, colorful scenes of love, lust and war, and succeeds in "humanizing" a legendary royal icon. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. Bravo, Margaret George!


Good FICTION   October 31, 2003
I read this book, after reading Philippa Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl". (Excellent, BTW). This seemed like the next obvious book to read. I did enjoy it very much, with the following comments:

1. It is, after all, fiction. George does a wonderful job of drawing us in to Henry's character, yet still remaining somewhat balanced, by letting us see peeks of what others thought of Henry. Hearing his FICTIONAL perspective of events, was interesting.

2. I emphasize fiction, only because I don't like the subtitle being called an autobiography. It is not. George does a good job setting us in the time and place, describing historical events, figures, and extrapolating what may have occurred, but it is fiction, not an autobiography.

3. I found the first 2/3rds of the book better than the last third. I'm not sure if this is because the events interested me more, or if I got tired of Henry's whining, or both. I did find the Anne Boleyn period to be fascinating. For another view (also historical fiction) read "The Other Boleyn Girl".

4. I found his relationship with Thomas More to be fascinating. I would have liked to have heard more about the men in his life, in addition to the women. I also enjoyed his relationship with Katherine Parr, his final wife.

In summary, George does an admirable job of getting the reader acquainted with the time period, the history, and the people around Henry VIII. I recommend this to anyone with interest in historical England.