The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir

The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir draws on contemporary sources to tell the story of Henry VIII’s six wives, Catherine of Aragon (mother of Mary, annulled), Anne Boleyn (mother of Elizabeth, executed), Jane Seymour (mother of Edward VI, died due to childbirth), Anne of Cleves (annulled), Catherine Howard (executed), and Catherine Parr (marriage ended when he died). The book is very long and very in-depth, but the stories are told in a way that draws the reader in and holds attention. Most interesting is that although Henry VIII was adamant he have multiple male heirs and disapproved of women ruling, his one legitimate son never ruled in his own right since he died at just 15, but his daughters are still remembered today, one for how bloody her reign was and the other for the great era she presided over. I highly recommend this book to anyone with any interest in medieval England or Henry VIII.

5 (out of 5) Stars

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