Henry VIII

Now in a third edition, this seminal text has been updated to provide an insightful and original portrait of one of England’s most unforgettable monarchs and the many paradoxes of his character and reign.

Henry was a Renaissance prince whose Court dazzled with artistic display; yet he was also a savage adversary who ruthlessly crushed all those who opposed him. Five centuries after his reign, he continues to fascinate, always evading easy characterisation. Wooding locates Henry VIII firmly in the context of the English Renaissance and the fierce currents of religious change that characterized the early Reformation, as well as exploring the historiographical debates that have surrounded him and his reign. This third edition includes new material on Henrician encounters with Wales and Ireland, the gendered dynamics of Court politics, and the religious experiments which made England a test case for what was happening elsewhere in Europe. The final chapter offers a comprehensive consideration of Henry VIII’s legacy, his remembered presence in the reigns of his three children, and his place in popular culture to this day.

Henry VIII provides a fresh portrayal of Henry’s character and reign, cutting away the misleading mythology that surrounds him and instead presenting a vivid account of this passionate, wilful, intelligent, and destructive king. With colour illustrations and up-to-date suggestions for further reading, this compelling biography remains essential reading for all early modern students.