Description
Book SynopsisA revolutionary slice-of-life biography of one of England's most fascinating monarchs
Trade Review"The paradox of Henry VIII is brilliantly unravelled by Suzannah Lipscomb as she reveals the multiple nightmares of the King's annus horribilis. -- Peter Furtado, former Editor of History Today
"Fresh and lively, historically accurate and also entertaining... gives a chatty, original, readable and engaging account of the personal and political transformation of the man, the kingdom and the legend" -- Lucy Wooding, TLS
"A bold and original attempt to unravel one of the great mysteries of English history: how, when and why Henry VIII changes from a handsome Prince Charming into a fat and loathsome Bluebeard." -- David Starkey, author of Henry: Virtuous Prince and Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII
Table of ContentsContents
Acknowledgments 9
Illustrations 11
Preface 13
PART ONE – Setting the Scene 17
Prologue 19
Chapter 1. The Change 23
Chapter 2. Young Henry 27
Chapter 3. The Divorce 36
Chapter 4. 1536 and All That 43
PART TWO – The Crisis of Masculinity 47
Chapter 5. A Wife’s Death 50
Chapter 6. The King’s Honour 55
Chapter 7. The Fall of Anne Boleyn 65
Chapter 8. A Dearth of Heirs 90
Chapter 9. Masculinity and Image 95
PART THREE – The King’s Religion 105
Chapter 10. The Reformation in England 109
Chapter 11. 1536: The Church Established 113
Chapter 12. The Role of Henry VIII in Later Reformation 126
Chapter 13. Henry VIII’s Theology 136
Chapter 14. The Aftermath of the Reformation 141
PART FOUR – Henry the Tyrant 145
Chapter 15. The Pilgrimage of Grace 149
Chapter 16. The Mouldwarp Prophecy 172
Chapter 17. Courtly Dissent 178
Chapter 18. Did Henry VIII Become a Tyrant? 183
Epilogue 204
Appendix 1 Timeline of 1536 210
Appendix 2 Henry VIII’s Wives 212
Appendix 3 The Cost of Living in Henry VIII’s Reign 213
Notes 216
Further Reading 231
Index 234
