Title: Henry VIII: The Heart and The Crown
Author: Alison Weir
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Headline Review
Pages: 640
Release Date: 11 May 2023
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Hello fellow book lovers! Today I'm sharing my review for Henry VIII: The Heart and The Crown —the second book in Alison Weir’s Tudor Rose series, which is just as detailed and well written as the first (that follows Henry’s mother Elizabeth of York.)
And once again expertly blends historical fact with a deft, fictionalised rendering of the innermost thoughts, feelings (as well as loves and grievances) of the infamous King Henry VIII.
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling author of the Six Tudor Queens series explores the private side of the legendary king Henry VIII and his dramatic and violent reign in this extraordinary historical novel.
Having completed her Six Tudor Queens series of novels on the wives of Henry VIII, extensively researched and written from each queen’s point of view, Alison Weir now gives Henry himself a voice, telling the story of his remarkable thirty-six-year reign and his six marriages.
Young Henry began his rule as a magnificent and chivalrous Renaissance prince who embodied every virtue. He had all the qualities to make a triumph of his rule, yet we remember only the violence. Henry famously broke with the Pope, founding the Church of England and launching a religious revolution that divided his kingdom. He beheaded two of his wives and cast aside two others. He died a suspicious, obese, disease-riddled tyrant, old before his time. His reign is remembered as one of dangerous intrigue and bloodshed—and yet the truth is far more complex.
The King’s Pleasure brings to life the idealistic monarch who expanded Parliament, founded the Royal Navy, modernized medical training, composed music and poetry, and patronized the arts. A passionate man in search of true love, he was stymied by the imperative to produce a male heir, as much a victim of circumstance as his unhappy wives. Had fate been kinder to him, the history of England would have been very different.
Here is the story of the private man. To his contemporaries, he was a great king, a legend in his own lifetime. And he left an extraordinary legacy—a modern Britain.
Review
I was genuinely surprised by how nuanced and compelling Alison Weir’s Henry was. And really enjoyed getting to see just how different this happy, youthful and chivalrous young king Henry was in comparison to the resentful, jealous and irrational tyrant he later became.
It’s an incredibly realistic and humanising portrayal, that really showcased the political power-struggles at play during the time, and how woefully ill-prepared Henry was in navigating the power hungry and scheming fishbowl of court life.
I was also impressed with the level of historical accuracy (which should come as no surprise at this point as Weir is a Tudor expert) and cannot believe how much I didn’t know about this era of history—particularly when it came to the amount of miscarriages his wives experienced and the emotional toll that had (both on them and Henry.)
I did really enjoy this, however, at well over 600 pages I was expecting the pacing to be a little swifter (especially in the first half of the book.)
But, I do admit the sumptuous and vividly detailed descriptions (particularly of major events such as The Field of the Cloth of Gold) did make up for it. And the visually immersive feast for the senses that Weir has woven, will definitely have history buffs salivating from the sensory overload.
If you’re even remotely interested in Tudor era Historical fiction (or historical fiction in general) then you absolutely must give this a read!
Also huge thank you to Headline/ Headline Review for the physical arc.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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