Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII: David Starkey

[ysbel]

I just found an electronic version of David Starkey's book, 'Six Wives:the Queens of Henry VIII' on Google Books.

I've just read a few pages but it seems fascinating. Starkey takes a less favorable view of Catherine of Aragon than other authors although its difficult for me to tell whether he actually claimed that Catherine lied when she said her first marriage wasn't consummated.

The detail of the letters and first hand accounts that he reports is simply fascinating to the royal enthusiast. The negotiations between Henry VII and Ferdinand of Aragon to bring Catherine of Aragon to England seemed tedious and fraught with all sorts of political interference and the description of Catherine's household and its warring factions among the two camps and how the household was received by the English gives an inside glimpse into the private lives of the royals.

As I mentioned above, he does not seem to like Catherine of Aragon. He takes pains to mention that when Catherine and her first husband, Arthur, seemed to spontaneously turn to the crowd after they were married that the crowds called out in cheer for Arthur and the King, not Catherine.

Starkey also hosted a TV program based on his books and they can be found on YouTube.

YouTube - Katherine of Aragon's marriage to Prince Arthur

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McY2y...eature=related

YouTube - David Starkey on Anne Boleyn - Part One

YouTube - David Starkey on Anne Boleyn - Part Two

YouTube - David Starkey on Jane Seymour -- 1/2

YouTube - David Starkey on Jane Seymour -- 2/2

YouTube - David Starkey on Anne of Cleves -- 1/3

YouTube - David Starkey on Anne of Cleves - part 2/3

YouTube - David Starkey on Anne of Cleves -- part 3/3

YouTube - David Starkey on Katherine Howard - Part one

YouTube - David Starkey on Katherine Howard -- Part two

YouTube - David Starkey on Katherine Parr -- Part one

YouTube - David Starkey on Katherine Parr -- Part two

[Warren]

I finished reading this book just a few weeks ago and can heartily recommend it. It has some fine detail of Tudor royal ceremonial especially in regard to the wedding of Arthur and Catherine of Aragon. Starkey often displays an arch sense of humour and is at pains to document his sources and discuss where prevailing opinions originated. The bulk of the book concentrates on the Spanish Alliance, Catherine of Aragon, the machinations of the divorce proceedings and Anne Boleyn. The material on the other wives is a lot thinner, probably because they are less significant in historical terms and/or less is known about them.

Overall, a great introduction to the power of the Tudors and the Court of Henry VIII.

[Empress]

There was another book that I read years ago about the six wives of Henry VIII and for the life of me I can't remember who wrote it. I think though that on the recommendation of Warren I shall have to take myself off to amazon now... Much to my husbands displeasure I am sure... Good thing he has free shipping on amazon!

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by Empress

There was another book that I read years ago about the six wives of Henry VIII and for the life of me I can't remember who wrote it. I think though that on the recommendation of Warren I shall have to take myself off to amazon now... Much to my husbands displeasure I am sure... Good thing he has free shipping on amazon!

I also remember reading at least one book a while ago but I don't recall the author. I'm just wondering if the Starkey book is in one of my to-read piles or if I shall be joining you at Amazon.

[ysbel]

Yes, well I may have to get the book also. The electronic version on Google Books is highly irritating because it leaves out certain pages.

I agree, Warren, on the splendid detail of Catherine of Aragon's first wedding. Most intriguing was that the Princess rode astride a horse sidesaddle on the opposite side than the English was accustomed to. They were not even accustomed to a lady riding in a procession on horseback. In her Spanish clothes, she must have looked an unusual and exotic creature.

[Warren]

What I didn't know about until reading Starkey was the existence of "The Royal Book" where all the fine points of royal ceremonial were laid out in detail. I understand the book survives (probably in Windsor Castle). Another revelation was the theatrical vision, planning, organising and logistics skills of the courtiers when it came to putting on a grand show (which I've mentioned in the Tudor Wedding thread). We say today that the British have a great talent for ceremonial but it appears the Tudors had it down to a fine art.

The darker side is the utter ruthlessness of the power-plays at Court, when playing for power was playing for keeps, but always subject to the King's whim and the shifting sands of domestic politics and Continental alliances. Getting involved in this game was certainly not for the faint-hearted. Even the Pope, who we imagine to be a figure of some stature, had to be very careful who he offended, or who he could afford to offend the least, trying to balance the competing pressures from various Kings and the Emperor.

[attaininggrace]

Both Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser have written books on the six wives. I have the Starkey book because I was writing a novel about one of the wives! I am afraid that I just used it for research but I will certainly read it properly now. (My novel is not finished and, unfortunately, many people have had the same idea recently.)

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I didn't really enjoy Starkey's book OR his series...he basically paints Anne Boleyn as some kind of Protestant martyr(staunch defender of the Gospel) and in his book he accuses Catherine of Aragon of lying about her virginity when she married Henry VIII...which allowed Pope Julius to grant the dispensation for the marriage in the first place.

Where is the evidence for this? He is saying that this deeply religious woman who wore harsh wool under her regal finery as penance and who was a member of the Third Order of St Francis took communion and almost drove England to the brink of civil war based on a lie...that her famous impassioned plea to during the Blackfriars divorce hearing was nothing but theater??.

Antonia Fraser and Alison Weir's works on the wives of Henry VIII are far superior to Starkey's in my opinion.

[Menarue]

I believe that Catherine of Aragon was a truthful and devout woman and would never have lied.
Anne Boleyn was ambitious and was willing to sacrifice anyone who came near to thwarting this ambition, but she was executed for crimes she didn´t commit.

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Originally Posted by Menarue

I believe that Catherine of Aragon was a truthful and devout woman and would never have lied.
Anne Boleyn was ambitious and was willing to sacrifice anyone who came near to thwarting this ambition, but she was executed for crimes she didn´t commit.

I completely agree. Anne Boleyn was a coldly ambitious woman who treated many people badly during her rise , but she was very badly treated at the end of her life. I don't believe for a minute that she was guilty of adultery or witchcraft and her courage at the end was remarkable.

I like and admire Catherine of Aragon more than Anne, but Anne did not deserve to die.

[Grace Angel]

I liked the book, the style he writes it in keeps you turning the page. It's my favorite of the joint bios on Henry's wives for that reason, although not neccasarily the author's views on Henry's wives. I thought that the book by Antonia Fraser on Henry's wives comes second to this book, and last of all I would put Weir's book on Henry's wives which I read last summer and found boring. Starkey's book is entertaining although quite long.