Henry : virtuous prince

by David Starkey

Paper Book, 2009

Status

Available

Call number

942.052092

Collection

Publication

London : Harper Perennial, 2009.

Description

Bestselling royal historian David Starkey's captivating biography is a radical re-evaluation of Henry VIII, the British monarchy's most enduring icon. Larger than life in every sense, Henry VIII was Britain's most absolute monarch - but he was not born to rule. In this brilliantly readable history, David Starkey follows the promising young prince - a Renaissance man of exceptional musical and athletic talent - as he is thrust into the limelight after the death of his elder brother. His subsequent quest for fame was as obsessive as that of any modern celebrity, and his yearning for a male heir drove him into dangerous territory. The culmination of a lifetime's research, David Starkey's biography is an unforgettable portrait of the man behind the controversies, the prince turned tyrant who continues to tower over history.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member wondersdisciple
Easy Read. A good introduction to Henry and the Tudors.
LibraryThing member PeterClack
This is a stupendous biography of the most important Tudor king. We learn about his upbringing as the spare heir while his older brother Arthur was being groomed in how to administer the country. When he died, having married Katherine of Aragon, Henry had to step into his shoes. This book is
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mainl;y about the training he received in religion, languages, jousting and horsemanship. And politics, though he would have had that training seep hrough his pores simply by living in the court.

This is well worth reading to get all the intricacies of Tudor court politics well laid out. Normally this aspect of his biography is rather confusing. Not so here. OK. You have tio handle a few strange names, but Starkey always makes clear who he is talking about. Which is a refreshing change.

If you want to learn about Henry VIII's reign this is the book to lay the foundation of your knowledge with.
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LibraryThing member bhowell
A very readable history book about the young Henry VIII.
LibraryThing member Elysianfield
I like that the book concentrates in time before Henry became king or seeks divorce from Katherine.
But I find his writing style annoying. It also made me think that does he think he's Henry or his best fiend?
LibraryThing member quiBee
Probably about 2.5 stars for me.

It was interesting to read more about this period. I've mostly read about the older Henry VIII, so it was good to see where that Henry had come from and all the different forces that came into play to make him the ruler he started out to be, with the indications of
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the man he would become.
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LibraryThing member infopt2000
David Starkey unites an easy style with a mastery of the sources and with common sense. He is scrupulous in distinguishing between what we know, what we do not know and what we guess. An excellent and instructive read.
LibraryThing member TanyaRead
Excellent. Lots of actual evidence not just the author claims.

Language

Original publication date

2008

Physical description

20 cm

ISBN

9780007247721

Barcode

91100000176756

DDC/MDS

942.052092
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