Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A total joy, 17 Sep 2001
By A Customer
I have read this book 3 times now and I know I will read it again. It is totally gripping and the character portrayals of the King and his court are thoroughly convincing. Some of the most poignant moments made me want to weep, as when Henry hears of the death of Katherine of Aragon, and mourns her (and the boy he used to be), realising she was the "wife of his youth" and one of the last people who could remember him as a young king, full of good health and promise for the future. His agony when he discovers the adultery of Catherine Howard is equally moving. The court comes and goes (Wolsey, More,Brandon, Cromwell all have their moment and are gone) but Henry lingers on, the golden youth transformed into the sick old man. The book is historically accurate and sometimes unbearably moving. Ms George has done a stunning job in portraying our most famous, and yet perhaps little-understood monarch, not as a monster but as a charismatic and sometimes misguided human being.
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24 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Henry from Henry`s point of view for a change!, 8 Oct 2004
I am an avid reader, so for me to say that this is the best book I have ever read means it`s something special. It is sometimes difficult to remember that this is a novel rather than a genuine autobiography, the feel of the writing is so real. The historical detail is accurate, due no doubt to the huge amount of research carried out by the author, (over 300 books!). This book makes you consider the complicated life of Henry VIII from his point of view, rather from the point of view of a bystander, and makes you consider that the decisions he made in his life were perhaps more influenced by other people, (Wolsey, Cromwell for example), than first thought - `the power behind the throne` perhaps? The fact that this book is a little over 900 pages in length is another bonus. If, like me, you are a fast reader, sometimes the story is over almost before it has begun. In this case you have something to savour. I simply could not put it down, I read it at home, at the dentists, at the hospital and in the car while my husband was in a shop!. It takes you back to Tudor England and makes you want to stay! It is totally addictive! All in all a delightful book which is wonderful value for money. Highly recommended.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent-- almost 5 stars, 1 Jan 2008
I first read this book when it originally was published and absolutely loved it. In fact, I recommended it to everyone I knew. I don't remember how I came upon it, but I was fascinated with the idea of learning more about Henry VIII in an entertaining way such as this.
The length of this book is what makes it so much fun. Often when I find a good book, it's over way too soon. Not so with The Autobiography of Henry VIII. Additionally, I didn't know much about this King except what everyone knows--that he had two of his wives killed and that he was not an empathetic character.
Not true. Being able to see things (albeit, this is fiction) from his point of view made him very empathetic. And, I learned that the people loved this King for much of his reign.
Margaret George's story made this era so interesting for me, that I have since read many more novels and nonfiction books on the subject. Now that I have read much more on the subject, I realize that the author was not entirely accurate and that much of what she used in her novel has been found to be false by many other historians. Still, I heartily recommend The Autobiography of Henry VIII since it's entirely entertaining and such a good introduction to this time period.
Read this first, and then read Mary, Queen of Scots. They are both so enjoyable and so meaty, you will not be disappointed. I do not recommend The Memoirs of Cleopatra, however-- it's been sitting half-read on my bookshelves since it came out, and was not nearly as entertaining as these two.
Addendum: I wanted to add that, in retrospect, I do think that the author may have been a bit forgiving of King Henry. She gives him the benefit of the doubt at every turn. For example, in this novel, Henry really believes that Ann Boleyn had a sixth finger and seems convinced of her witchery. History has convinced most of us that she may have had a small stub or something, but that it was likely Henry didn't truly believe that she was a witch or that she was unfaithful with her brother or anyone. So, events such as this are treated as if Henry truly believes he alone is the victim. This may be true-- we'll never know with certaintly-- but it's also a bit unlikely. At different points, he may have had some evil intent.
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