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Six Wives

The Queens of Henry VIII

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Six Wives

By: David Starkey
Narrated by: Patricia Hodge
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About this listen

What makes a man marry six times? Was Henry VIII a voracious philanderer? On the contrary, says Dr David Starkey, the King was seeking happiness – as well as hoping for a son.

The first of his wives was Catherine of Aragon, the pious Catholic princess who suffered years of miscarriages and still births and yet failed to produce a male heir.

As Henry VIII's interest shifted from her powerful Hapsburg relations and drifted towards France, so began his obsession with the pretty Lutheran Anne Boleyn.

Jane Seymour's submissiveness was in contrast to Anne's vampish style – and Henry married her on the day of Anne's execution. Jane died soon after giving birth to the longed-for son.

There followed a farcical 'beauty contest' which ended in the short marriage of the now grossly overweight Henry to 'the mare of Flanders', Anne of Cleves.

The final part of Six Wives contrasts the two Catherines – Catherine Howard, the flirty child whose adulteries made a fool of the ageing King, and Catherine Parr, the shrewd, religiously radical bluestocking.

 Europe Gender Studies Politics & Activism Renaissance Royalty Social Sciences

Critic reviews

Praise for Elizabeth

‘The best account in English of the early years of Elizabeth… must be one of the most zestful pieces of history written in the last few years… The result is a racy read and first rate history.’ Evening Standard

‘Both thrills and convinces… Indeed this is very much Elizabeth for our times’ Independent

‘Fresh and lively… vividly told… He sets before us not only the woman behind the throne but the girl behind the woman’ Sunday Times
All stars
Most relevant
An absolutely riveting text. I was ignorant of King Henry and his wives but now am able to think outside the box. This text gives emoyional, psychological, historical contexts to events.

Brilliant Histriography

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I have always known Henry VIII had six wives, but my knowledge ended there. I could not remember their order, who was beheaded, or who suvived, let alone how long each marriage lasted. Thanks to this book all is now a lot clearer, and my desire to learn more 'history' has been wetted. Not that it is an easy book, it assumes some knowledge of historical terms and dates and names fly at you with amazing and sometimes bewildering regularity. I found regular visits to a well known on-line encyclopaedia, both necessary and helpful and was in need of family trees to keep track of everyone as well! My only minor concern is that quotes are taken from still existing letters from the period written obviously in 'old' english, the author also uses this 'old' english to reconstruct conversations and I could not therefore always tell what was factual and what was supposition. Overall an enjoyable and educational read..........now what did happen to Mary and Edward?

I now know a lot more!

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Unlike most historical books on Henry VIII wives, Starkey's book focuses proportionately on each wife. Most people who study Henry, often know about the first three wives in some detail. I was particularly impressed with the detail of the last three. oh, and of course, David Starkey's subtle British humour appears too.

A fascinating read

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As always even abridged David Starkey's words are a good combination of informed without being patronising. The only issue I had with this recording is the insitence of mispronouncing the name Wriothesley. I kept shouting Risley at the recording.

Six Wives of Henry VIII

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This Henry the eighth book was very interesting and informative.
Anyone who is interested in Henry it is worth a iisten I enjoyed it very much

This Henry the eighth book

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