Customer Reviews

King's Fool: A Notorious King, His Six Wives, and the One Man Who Knew All Their Secrets

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King's Fool is a story about Will Somers, a shy boy from Shropshire who becomes jester, friend and confidante to one of the most extraordinary of monarchs, King Henry VIII. Narrated by Will himself, we are given a special glimpse into the King Henry that only he knew.

A chance meeting with King Henry was all it took for the King to take a liking to Somers and offer him to join his court. Will was a well-rounded man - honest, compassionate and loyal - he fastly became a member of the royal family and was well-liked by the court. If at first the title of jester didn't appeal to him, he quickly changed his mind when told of all the perks - jesters had free reign (sorry - bad pun) over court and could pretty much blend in anywhere. Will was jester throughout all of Henry's marriages and provides us with an unbiased account of all six debacles, as well as, the relationship between Henry and his children.

What I liked best about this book was the relationship between Will and King Henry. Will was probably the only true friend Henry ever had. I really enjoyed seeing the hidden side of Henry, the not so arrogant side - when he becomes Henry the man, not Henry the king. Henry the man is much more likable! In the very least, it made me have a bit of sympathy for Henry - it's not a life I would've wanted.

All in all I really liked this novel - Barnes is an excellent writer and manages to fit a lot of life into 300 pages, but for me I wished it had been longer. If after reading this book, you're itching to get more in-depth with Henry VIII, then I suggest Margaret George's The Autobiography of Henry VIII as told by his fool, Will Somers. This is very similar to King's Fool, albeit in reader's digest form, as George's novel is over 1000 pages.

Will Somers' life started out as a simple one, living and working in the country with his family. However, circumstances led to Will getting the attention of the most important man in England at the time... King Henry VIII. Will soon finds himself in a dubious position of power. As the KING'S FOOL, he has unprecedented access to the notorious king but all Will craves is the love of one woman. Will's tale is one of love lost and gained as he recounts the history of King Henry VIII and his six wives through the eyes of the KING'S FOOL.

KING'S FOOL is a reissue of a 1959 book that clearly stands the test of time. Margaret Campbell Barnes' knowledge and attention to historical detail is both meticulous and entertaining. What a brilliant concept to bring us the story of King Henry VIII through his fool, a man constantly in close contact with the King! Assuredly, Will Somers had access to many of the King's inner thoughts and was the one man in the court who could safely mock the King... and yet he could also bring a smile to a man racked with turmoil and doubts.

Margaret Campbell Barnes intertwines the historical details of the events transpiring at court with the simple desires of his fool. The love story of Will is a beautiful one and keeps KING'S FOOL from being simply another retelling of history. Instead, Margaret Campbell Barnes injects an air of humility and straightforwardness to a time period most famous for its intrigues.

Will Somers is an excellent choice for the narrator. His humble beginnings give an excellent contrast to the excesses of court while still providing some perspective on the inner thoughts of King Henry VIII. Margaret Campbell Barnes provides readers with a different view of King Henry VIII and she does a solid job at backing up her interpretation of this fascinating historical era. King Henry VIII is often vilified for his role in history but through Will's eyes we see an almost tragic figure. KING'S FOOL is brilliant!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

First Line: I was Shropshire born, essentially a country lad, brought up to take my place among the new middle class which Tudor rule begat.

Thus begins the brilliant tale of Will Somers, King Henry VIII's court jester. First published in 1959 by renowned historical novelist Margaret Campbell Barnes, I wondered why on earth I'd never heard of her before. This is a remarkable insider tale of the Tudor court, told by "a common man" who little thought that saying yes to King Henry would give him a front-row seat to history.

Will Somers arrives at court and learns to care deeply for Queen Catherine and Princess Mary before the besotted Henry decides to divorce his wife and marry Anne Boleyn. It is a sign of Somers' intelligence that he knows how to go with the flow and keep his opinions to himself. As a result, he lives to see Elizabeth on the throne, artists include him in paintings with the king, and Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth both leave him annuities. Not bad for a Shropshire lad!

It would be easy to say that Somers' greatest gifts lay with his humor and wit, but after reading King's Fool, I would say that his forbearance and forgiveness outweighed them:

"I found myself slipping into his mind, though it was so utterly different from my own. Almost tenderly, I picked up the bedgown which had fallen to the floor and draped it welcomingly across his chair before the fire. Memories and disgusts of the last few turbulent years receded, and for some reason or other I found myself smiling at the recollection of my Uncle Tobias's comic visit to Court, and of Henry's kindness to him."


Not only do the characters come to life in this book, it is so filled with historical detail that I felt as though Somers was not the only person with a front-row seat to history. I have read dozens of books on Tudor England, both fiction and non-fiction. I rank King's Fool among the very best of them. I still can't believe that I'd never heard of Margaret Campbell Barnes, and I certainly will be looking for her other titles.

Will Somers has a talent for mimicry, and on a visit to Henry VIII's court with his merchant master, Somers captures the king's eye with his unerring mimicry of the most powerful members of the latter's circle. Instantly, Somers becomes the king's fool -- having no idea of what the new job entails, what the boundaries are between a jest that the volatile king will appreciate and one that goes too far, or even of the power politics of the court. This is an intriguing and slightly different look at the Tudors, from the perspective of an outsider, and it's a welcome change from the profusion of novels of late focusing on the king's wives. Somers watches the tragedies of the Tudor court from a unique position -- at once on the sidelines and yet, as he becomes increasingly part of 'the family', as someone whose life and whose feelings are affected by the upheavals in the king's personal life and in the kingdom as it moves inexorably away from Catholicism and toward what becomes the Church of England.

Margaret Campbell Barnes wrote most of her novels more than half a century ago, and many have been out of print for decades, so it's a pleasure to see them coming back on to bookstore shelves. To some, however, her narrative style may seem a bit old-fashioned; that doesn't bother me particularly, although her rather sentimental attitude to her subjects (Will Somers rarely seems terrified by Henry, even in his latter years -- and was Henry really as lovable as the author sees him as being in via the eyes of his fool; someone more sinned against than sinning??) is a bit implausible. Still, the result is a gentle, soft-edged view of the Tudors and the England they created. The saving grace is that it's accompanied by a good dollop of historical accuracy -- while some of the romantic attitudes may be anachronistic, Barnes has a good command of the time period.

I am very hopeful that Sourcebooks won't stop re-releasing Barnes's books once the Tudor titles are all out. Indeed, some of her best books are still out there -- particularly those which, like this title, see the events of the day and royal figures through the eyes of the people around them, more 'ordinary folks'. In "Mary of Carisbrooke", the tensions between Royalists and Cromwell's Roundheads are explored through the eyes and experiences of a young woman who lives at the castle where Charles I is imprisoned before his execution; the restoration of Charles II is seen through the eyes of Frances Stuart, his distant cousin and (possibly??) one of his mistresses, a great beauty of the era, in Lady on the Coin. In The King's Bed, Barnes explores the issue of loyalties and the lingering tension in the early years of Henry VII's rule after he defeated Richard III at Bosworth, through the eyes of a young couple, one of them the illegitimate son of Richard. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a grittier (and much, much longer) book including Somers and his view of Henry VIII, there's Margaret George's debut (and IMO still her best) novel, The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers

Margaret Campbell Barnes (1891-1962) was an English author of British royal history. "King's Fool" is a 1959 novel. It is a story told in the first person by Will Somers. a Shropshire lad,who became the court jester at the royally decadent court of Henry VIII (who reigned from 1509-46). The novel deals in detail with the love affair between Will and the lovely Joanna Fermor. Joanna is the daughter of Richard Fermor a wealthy landowner who employs Will. Will is noticed by the robust merry monarch on a visit to London and serves Henry VIII for several years as fool, confidant and friend.
The novel discusses all six wives of Henry VIII:
1. Catherine of Aragaon Catherine was wed to Prince Arthur the older brother of Henry., When he died she was married to Henry. Henry divorced her because she failed to produce a male heir to the throne. Henry was involved in a torrid love affair with Anne Boleyn. Catherine's daughter Mary became Queen of England in 1553.
2. Ann Boleyn-She was Henry's second wife. She failed to produce a male heir though she did give birth to Queen Elizabeth I. She was beheaded for infidelity by decreee of Henry.
3. Jane Seymour of Wolf Hall was Henry's third mate. She gave birth to Edward VI dying shortly afterwards.
4. Anne of Cleves was called the "Flemish mare" when Henry saw her in the flesh. He executed his Chancellor Thomas Cromwell for setting up the marital alliance. Anne was allowed to live in England and was know of us as the King's Sister.
5. Katherine Howard was the callow, sex mad young girl who wed Henry. She was executed for having lovers including Thomas Culpepper one of Henry's young noblemen who assisted him in his duties.
Katherine Parr was a twice widowed woman who was Henry's last wife. When he died she wed Thomas Seymour.
Margaret Campbell Barnes is worth reading because:
a. She has an elegant writing style highly detailed and descrptive of life in Tudor England.
b. She has done her historical research to give a realistic picture of life during the reign of Henry VIII.
c. Her use of Will Somers as the first person narrative allows the reader to get a different perspective of how we view Henry, his wives and his court.
d. Fascinating characters including Thomas Cromwell; Thomas More, Thomas Cranmer and other colorful court figures.
King's Fool is a fine historical novel which will provide hours of enjoyment for those persons who enjoy this
genre.

Yes, I know, ol' Henry the VIII and his surplus of wives has been a bit overdone as of late. But this one was originally published in 1959 and Barnes knew what she was doing here.

The tale is told by Will Somers, a man who had a remarkably well-documented career as the King's fool from early in Henry's reign all the way through to his death. (Sound familiar? Margaret George used a similar idea for her 1986 novel, Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers.)

The result is a compelling, highly readable portrait of a man who, in his early years, was truly and legitimately concerned with the production of a male heir. He emerges as a man, not the legend: a remarkable and accomplished man who had his fair share of weaknesses and faults.

Intertwined with Henry's story is a compelling look at Will Somers himself. From his humble beginnings as a lowly farmboy of no significance to his incredible rise at court, the King's fool himself is a fascinating character and well worth the read here.

I've wanted to learn more about Will Somers since reading Philippa Gregory's books about the women in Henry VIII's life. How interesting it would have been to be within Henry VIII's inner circle, but not to be considered a threat by such a powerful man.

Will Somers was in just such a position. Born in Shropshire, England Will Somers was the only son, only child actually, of a churchman father and a Welsh mother, she died of the plague when Will was only four. Will had pretty happy life until his beautiful singing voice broke at 14; his father taught the choiristers and this seemed to be their big connection. Soon after, Will moves in with his Uncle Tobias, a farmer. On his uncles farm is where Will Somers meets Richard Fermor, a wool merchant. Meeting and becoming part of the household of Master Fermor is only the first of some very big events in the life of Will Somers.

I have read many works of historical fiction by Margaret Campbell Barnes and this is one of my very favorites. Ms. Barnes is a very accomplished author of novels set in this era who is gifted with an exceptional ability to capture real-sounding period dialogue without sounding stilted or stagy, as well as to condense many years into a short span without losing anything important or seeming rushed. This particular work is told as a memoir of Will Somers, lifelong companion to Henry VIII in the role of court jester, a position which afforded him an insider's view of the tumult of the Tudor court. The book is actually more about Will himself which is quite acceptable as his own "personal" (if fictional) story is heart-warming enough on its own. I ended up feeling warmth and affection toward very many characters met in these pages, most of whom are historical personages. Barnes' retelling of familiar events, particularly the parade of failed marriages as Henry becomes more and more desperate to sire an heir, still seems fresh as narrated by one who witnessed them first hand and personally knew the players. This is by no means a ponderous work, but is rather a charming and delightful "up close and personal" scoop lovingly told by a witty, kind and personable fellow whose stories I knew I would miss hearing after finishing the last page. Not a major 5-star masterpiece, but nonetheless merits high marks.

My favorite era and never read a book specifically about Will before. Enjoyed every page.

This is the first novel I've read by Margaret Campbell Barnes and I found it to be an easy and enjoyable read. I thought it was well written and interesting. The history is painted in broad strokes and seen through the sympathetic eyes of Will Somers, King Henry VIII's fool.

I enjoyed Will's first person narrative and the relationship between Henry and his fool. But my favorite part of the book was reading about Will's life and relationships. I particularly enjoyed his relationship with his first master Richard Fermor, Richard's daughter Joanna and their parish priest Father Thayne. I would have liked more details about all of them and I would have liked it if Barnes had written another fifty or a hundred pages of this story.

I thought it was an easy read and a unique perspective showing the human side of Henry Tudor. I liked it but I'm not sure that it will be one that will stay with me for very long now that I've finished it.