:: Oh, Look, A Tumbleweed ::

:: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 ::

THE "AUTOBIOGRAPHY" OF KING HENRY VIII ****
By Margaret George
-George does something very smart in this story: She makes it close to 1000 pages. It is not a book you pick up because you want to read it for the heck of it, this is a real commitment. George spent close to 15 years researching and writing this book, and it pays off because it is fantastic. She gets inside Henry's head to chronicle his saga from birth to death, and even a little after death.
The addition of Will Somers is a genius idea because he gives insight into some of the things that were going on at the time. In this manner, you can understand what Henry is talking about. For instance, Henry did not attend either Anne Boleyn's (That bitch) or Catherine Howard's (That slut) execution. Because of this, George has Will Somers provide a description of the executions.
The book hardly falters, and that is only when the book becomes political. Sadly, the most interesting thing about Henry are his relationships. Eight women, count 'em, eight, were lovers to this man. Six of them married him.
In any case, most of the last 100 pages is political. His relationship with Katherine Parr is tossed aside, which is unfourtunate because it is one of the more interesting. Does the book make you aware of how Henry handled his politics and his country? Yes, and it does it in a way that is not overly educational. Unlike The Shipping News where the author is blantantly trying to educate the reader about Newfoundland, this book does it in a way that isn't obtrusive to the subject. You learn, don't get me wrong, I'm now an unofficial expert on Henry, but it's an entertaining kind of learning. One that you can do on summer vacation.
The wives take up the brunt of the story, and they all are very different. Katherine of Aragon is the first. She cannot grant Henry a child (Just one out of EIGHT survives) and when Henry grows infatuated with Anne Boleyn, the saga of dismantling the English Church system begins, and it is the most interesting political movement this book presents. Henry literally executes people who will not agree to sign an Oath stating the marriage to Katherine is invalid. (I won't say exactly why Henry believes the marriage is invalid. Read and find out) He makes himself the head of the English Church system so he can grant his divorce.
Next is Anne Boleyn, who celebrates in Katherine's death and abuses her power as queen and, in short, has Henry wrapped around her fingers. Only when he becomes paranoid and realizes all that are standing in Anne's way of becoming a true superpower in England does his mood change, and he works her sex appeal against her, and the rest, as they say, is history (Or decapitation. I've actually seen the spot where Anne was executed. Very, very creepy, indeed)
Next is the one wife who i truly think Henry loved: Jane Seymour. When Jane dies, Henry is emotionally devastated and begins to destroy his life. This is when he rebels against God from taking his wife away from him. This is when he sacks the monastaries where the monks live and executes them. It's a compelling chapter in his life, and the saddest. I cried when Jane Seymour dies.
Then Anne of Cleves, the smartest of the six. She is used as a pawn for Germany to establish good ties with England, and to marry Henry. However, she is ugly and old, and Henry and Anne agree to separate (Partially because Henry has met Catherine Howard), but Anne will still get the benefits of being Queen, she just won't be queen. He even considers appointing Anne to a court posistion. They remain best friends, and Anne survives the longest of the six wives.
Then the slut herself. Catherine Howard doesn't last long as Queen. She is a slut, and does not behave as a queen should. Off goes her head. (Coincedentally, she was executed at the same spot as Anne Boleyn, her cousin. I tell you, creepy)
Katherine Parr is the most sensible of the queens, but even she narrowly escapes execution after Henry finds her in an affair. She tutors his son, Edward, heir to the throne.
An excellent book. Read it and enjoy it

:: Nick Tuesday, July 22, 2003 [+] ::