The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Antonia Fraser > Reviews

Advantages: Well written, interesting stories
Disadvantages: More focus on the wives and less on Henry, but perhaps that's not possible!

...is a wonderful account of the lives of the six women who married the controversial Tudor king. Fraser has written extensively on many subjects, but is particularly interested in British royal history. Her writing is clear and accessible, and almost invariably interesting. Fraser says 'the six women have become defined in a popular sense not so much by their lives as by the way these lives ended.' Largely, they became identified (as most historical ... Read review

Advantages: Fascinating history that's accessible to everyone
Disadvantages: It's a very big book...

...graduates - they're aimed at the common man or woman who wishes to learn about lives and times gone by. The vocabularly is well within the average man's understanding and we are given plenty of descriptions, details and explanations surrounding key events without getting bogged down by trivial and unimportant details as some historical writers seem to do. Most importantly, Antonia Fraser nearly always remains unbiased and only expresses an informed ... Read review

Advantages: Very well-researched
Disadvantages: None

...mind would say know when the King decided he wanted to marry her. The woman's views counted for nothing when there was her whole family to think about. Fall foul of the King and everyone suffered, as some found out when their sister/niece/daughter the queen fell out of favour with her husband. This is a very enjoyable book which, once started, is very hard to put down. ... Read review

Advantages: Amazingly rich in detail, easily accessible
Disadvantages: Ever so slightly Henry dominated

...has to be one of the best biographies I've ever read on Henry VIII's wives. Antonia Fraser takes them out of their conventional stereotypes and re-creates them for a new generation of readers as individual women in their own right. The language is easily accessible to all who care to pick up the book and read it, and is rich is descriptions of the times in which these women lived. The book explores the women's personalities, as well as their relationship ... Read review