Henry VIII [Hardcover]

Jasper Ridley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 26, 1985

Henry VIII is portrayed against a background of pageantry and colour of a true Renaissance prince. His enormous appetite for life in most of its forms helps establish him as the most formidable King that has ever sat on the English throne.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jasper Ridley FRSL is a distinguished historical author whose Henry VIII and Elizabeth I are published in the US by PPI. They now join the Penguin Classic Biography list. Other books by the author include Thomas Cranmer, Lord Palmerston, Garibaldi and Napoleon III and Eugenie. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (July 26, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670806994
• ISBN-13: 978-0670806997
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #430,491 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > British > King Henry VIII

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Bio of Henry VIII, October 5, 2006

By 

Sharon A. Hutchinson ""It is the time you... (Toms River, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Henry VIII (Penguin Classic Biography) (Paperback)

Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. When I first received this book and saw how HUGE it was (and in small print, yet), I thought I was in for a long, tedious and boring read. In other words, the kind of book that you start but it becomes harder and harder to keep reading until you finally give up way before the ending.

To my surprise, this book engrossed my attention from day one and became impossible to put down. Jasper Ridley has done a masterful job of giving us a very detailed biography of one of the most memorable kings in history. Unlike so many other books about Henry, Ridley refuses to monopolize the subject matter with sensationalistic details revolving around Henry's wives. Instead, he concentrates on the much more important religious, political and social aspects of his reign.

I think this book captures the true essence of Henry VIII--a tyrant, selfish, arrogant, and demanding. A person who in almost every instance was able to manipulate people into doing his dirty work for him. An individual who could play tennis with a subject he considered a "friend", such as Thomas More, and then easily have this bosom companion executed without nary a shred of remorse whenever it would serve Henry's advantage to do so. One of Henry's most popular practices was to sail the Thames surrounded by women and fawning courtiers while a former close advisor, friend etc. was being executed. This king was a master of disguise, making it appear that he had little or nothing to do with distasteful events and absenting himself from the controversy at hand.

The author mentions early on that, in effect, while gazing at the famous Holbein portrait of Henry VIII in all his glory, people were mesmerized by the majesty as portrayed in the painting. What they did not notice were the hard, unfeeling and pig-like eyes that were barely visible in the already bloated face. If the eyes indeed are the "windows of the soul", Henry was a very cruel individual indeed.

Although his reign was extremely productive in many ways, such as his interest in solidifying England as a naval power, the most striking aspect is, of course, the religious break with Rome. Here too, Henry waffles back and forth as the winds blow. To say this was an achievement is merely subjective; it began a period of intense religious misunderstandings which resulted in the deaths of untold innocent people who refused to accept this or that form of religious belief and worship. As such, I cannot classify Henry's break with Rome as a positive issue. I am not religious, and therefore perhaps not qualified to judge this. But the results of this action are being felt well into modern times. It is a subjective issue as to whether this extreme action on his part set his country and Europe on the right course.

As initially stated, do not be put off by the size of this book. It will engage your attention and provide a picture of Henry (essentially minus the much touted wife leaping) that probably comes closest to what this famous monarch was actually like.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating biography of a ruthless king, April 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Henry VIII (Hardcover)

Jasper Ridley's bio of Henry VIII, if nothing else, suggests to me that executioners must have had a steady employment during early 16th-century England. In Ridley's biography, England's formative king is essentially a psychopath, and the country became Protestant, not because of any doctrinal attachment to the Reformation, but as a consequence of political machinations and goals on Henry's part. This, in fact, is one of the book's great strengths; Ridley is rare among biographers in his thorough attention to and excellent summary of the thicket of political events surrounding Tudor England, and this book does an excellent job of explaining these intricacies. Especially fascinating was the depiction of the conflict between Henry and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Henry would have probably gotten the papal annulment that he wanted to dissolve his marriage to Katharine of Aragon, if only Charles had not effectively controlled the pope and been such a bitter enemy of Henry's; then Henry would have found no need to break from the Catholic Church, and history would be entirely different! For a Renaissance monarch, Henry seems more to resemble one of the 20th century's bloodthirsty dictators in this book. While the depiction initially surprised me, Ridley backs up his claims with such excellent documentation and use of primary sources (which I was able to check), that he definitely has a point! A fascinating bio.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ridley is a genius, May 21, 2003

By 

Jurgen W. Schulze (PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Henry VIII (Hardcover)

Yet again, J Ridley takes the reader on a remarkable journey, guiding you through the maze of factual background without ever letting your hand go. His mastery of the English language and notable training as a barrister make him the best narrator of the century.