David Starkey's The Six Wives Of Henry VIII - The Complete Series [DVD] [2002]

I'd recommend that his books act as the perfect companion to, if you want to view it this way, as the movie version of the story of Henry VIII. A turbulent King, who shakes up the nature of the country never to be the same again, and driven by the lack of a successor to the throne, goes through several wives, before eventually becoming driven by greed and vice.

As a ex-A Level student of the Tudor period, I originally came to the series as revision for my study. Not only is it essential viewing for anyone studying the period for history, it is probably the definitive study of Henry VIII in visual form. The re-enactment of Tudor times serves as background to Starkey's detailed and enlightening anaylsis.

DVD extras are few sadly, but a commentary would defy the point, and the clearance rights on including any other documentaries on Henry VII would serve to detract from the quality of this product. Perhaps as an extension to this four part documentary is the "Burning Convictions" episode of A History Of Britain by Simon Schama, which shows the consequence of Henry's upturning of the church

Told in a very engaging and no nonsense tone, making very complicated and unintelligable source material, a favourite of primary and secondary school history (When I was at school) leap of the page and into your imaginantion.

Its laid out in order of wife, with a full episode devoted to Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour.

The series is introduced by David, and he guides the veiwer along with anecdotes and quotes taken from the source material, which give a depth to the historic figures, allowing you to empathise and perhaps understand their motivations and actions.

Before the material seemed a little dry, and devoid of interest, with the figure of Henry VIII a comic and perhaps comical character. But here all the people are portrayed as ordinary people (In the aristocratic sense) with flaws and vices, but also with feelings and emotions, i.e like us.

An extremely factual and interesting series, recommended to adults as well as children. David Starkey is the history teacher you wish you'd had at school.

The series is informative, well supported by elaborate costumes, filmed using a variety of excellent and appropriate locations and filled with detailed factual accounts and intriguing thoughts on a number of knotty questions. What was the truth behind this claim or that plot?

I will certainly be using this set to enhance my history lessons, ten minutes here and a couple of scenes there to ensure students understand what the court of Tudor England may have looked like. Fully recommended, Starkey is a senior historian who is both fascinating to professionals but enjoyed by a much wider audience as his book sales and TV audiences suggest.