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The Six Wives Of Henry VIII

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( 19,074 ratings, 542 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Lady Antonia Fraser vividly explores the lives, marriages, and political intrigues surrounding the six wives of the infamous English king. The book delves into their personal stories, backgrounds, and the historical context of Tudor England, offering insights into each wife's influence on the king and their own fates amidst the turbulent politics of the era. This historical narrative paints a comprehensive picture of the women who played pivotal roles in Henry's reign.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the Tudor era and want a detailed, engaging exploration of the lives and personalities of Henry VIII's wives. Lady Antonia Fraser brings history to life with rich storytelling that delves into the complex political and personal dynamics of the English court.

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A new edition of Antonia Fraser's biography of Henry VIII's six wives.

Antonia Fraser's bestselling biography of Henry VIII's six wives; a subject of enduring fascination.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Six Wives Of Henry VIII - Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr - have become defined in a popular sense not so much by their lives as by the way these lives ended. But, as Antonia Fraser conclusively proves, they were rich and feisty characters.

They may have been victims of Henry's obsession with a male heir, but they were not willing victims. On the contrary, they displayed considerable strength and intelligence at a time when their sex supposedly possessed little of either.

Inevitably there was great rivalry between them, and there was jealousy too - the desperate jealousy of Queens who found themselves abandoned, but also the sexual jealousy of the King who discovered himself betrayed.

The story Antonia Fraser tells is romantic and cruel, funny and sad, dramatic and enthralling.

Series: WOMEN IN HISTORY

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Lady Antonia Fraser's The Six Wives of Henry VIII is praised for its lively and enjoyable narration, adeptly exploring the comic possibilities within Henry VIII's matrimonial history while maintaining attention to the darker historical context. The book brings the Tudor court vividly to life, emphasizing the individuality and complexity of Henry's wives. Reviewers commend Fraser's thorough research and her ability to make historical figures resonate with contemporary vividness, offering a refreshing perspective by focusing on the wives' points of view rather than solely on Henry himself.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781842126332

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 July 2009

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 41.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 200.0mm

Weight: 465g

Pages: 608

About the Author

Since 1969, Antonia Fraser has written many acclaimed historical works which have been international bestsellers, including Marie Antoinette, Mary Queen of Scots (James Tait Black Memorial Prize), Cromwell: Our Chief of Men, The Six Wives of Henry VIII and The Gunpowder Plot: Terror and Faith in 1605 (St Louis Literary Award; CWA Non-Fiction Gold Dagger). Antonia Fraser was made CBE in 1999, and awarded the Norton Medlicott Medal by the Historical Association in 2000. She is married to the playwright Harold Pinter and lives in London.

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