This is a great book. It should be a model of how historians approach the period. It is full of insightful detail such a quotes, vignettes and illustrations that illustrate Parr's life and her impact on society. The book is wonderful in striking a balance between the author's reflections on Parr's life, framing the historical times to give context and historical detail to support her conclusions.

So many books on the women of the English Renaissance seem to be written by little old ladies in Tropesshire, who rattle on about Virgin Queens, duty and stiff upper lips, that sort of tripe. The "see no evil, hear no evil, write no evil" school of history. Susan James's book is a refreshing departure from all that. I can only hope she takes on Elizabeth I as a subject after this book. A really modern, complete book on Elizabeth that has some semblance to historical reality has yet to be printed.

One, small detail, Susan James believe that Parr's daughter, Mary Seymour died before the age of two. She did not. She was placed in the home of another noble family. If she emails me, pfstreitz@aol.com, I'll tell her where Mary went.

This book has everything in it, from pillage and mayhem, royal murders, romance, sex and violence. And besides that, you're learning information never before published about the Tudor royal family. I thought Kateryn Parr was just a weepy widow who married a king and instead she turns out to be Scarlett O'Hara. What a surprise! A strong and well-presented book. Totally fascinating!

Peter Brears intersperses a thorough examination of Henry VIII's kitchens at Hampton Court with recipes drawn from period sources.

The palace kitchens at Hampton Court were a large-scale industrial enterprise that fed 600-1200 people every day - everyone from the lowliest servant to the King himself. The author does a grand job of describing how the system procured, stored, and prepared immense amounts of raw materials each day.

Interspersed with the description are recipes drawn from contemporary sources that are similiar to what might have been served at the palace. The author also covers Tudor table manners, etiquette, and the ceremony involved in feeding the monarch.

The Bears of Paris is a modern match for Dante's _Inferno_. The poems in this collection give us today's Man-in-the-city in the character of Fatslug dodging the slings and arrows of our fates, often pierced and wounded. Yet the poems reaffirm our essential humanity, the struggle to love and to be loved. While thoroughly rooted in our times, the poems also connect us with events from history, revealing the nature of suffering. Moore takes on the subject of evil and Man's inhumanity to man with Swiftian wit. Miles Moore has a deadly satiric eye for human failings, the interactions of daily life, intended and unintentional cruelties, and yet writes with much empathy of the consequent pain inflicted on the victims. Many of the poems such as "Two Men", "I love Barbie Taylor, T. Mc" and "Dead Boy in the Road at Fredericksburg" deserve to be included in anthologies of the best American poetry. "Dead Boy.." ends with this panoramic fade on the photograph from the Civil War: "Through the millenia the murdered march/ To someone else's tune and memory/ And through some other guy's triumphal arch./ You and they are no one. You're history./ Repeating rifles always bear repeating./ The silent beast that ate you keeps on eating."

This is a fascinating and satisfying collection with poetry that gives us much to ponder.

This is the seventh book in the Queens of England series by the author, a masterful storyteller, who is also known as Victoria Holt to her fans. It is a well-written novel of historical fiction that tells the little known story of Katherine of Valois.

She was a French Princess, daughter of King Charles VI, the gentle, but mad, King of France, and Queen Isabeau, an evil, self-absorbed libertine, who cared little for her children. After the famous battle of Agincourt in which King Henry V of England vanquished France, Katherine found herself married to this warrior king and living in England. She was to become the mother of King Henry VI of England.

Shortly after their son's birth, King Henry V died a premature death. Young Queen Katherine saw their son Henry taken from her to be raised by others. Retiring to the countryside, she fell in love with a Welsh squire, Owen Tudor, who had faithfully served King Henry V, and now served Katherine as part of her household. Theirs was to be an illicit love affair, carried out in secret, as the alternative was to be the recipient of charges of treason.

Try as they might, no amount of secrecy could prevent the vicissitudes of life from raining down upon their happiness. Political intrigue would serve to bring their illicit love to light. It would act as the catalyst for a turning point in history. What happened to Katherine and Owen would give rise in the future to the house of Tudor, one of the greatest dynasties ever to rule England.

The book grounds their love story in the context of the period, which saw England as the conqueror of France. It covers that turbulent time in history that saw Joan of Arc rise from the remote French countryside to ensure the crowning of the Dauphin of France as its rightful King. It is a spellbinding account of the struggles between England and France and those who would rule these two countries. It is a book that will be enjoyed by all those with a fondness for well-written, historical fiction.

Dr. Thurley has done a great job with this reference book. A great addition to anyone's personal reference library on Tudor history.

I was in search of a book to read on the long flight home from London and this was the book I chose. What a delight! Alison Weir brought the old English court back to life for me, and I now have a much clearer understanding of the personality of each of Henry VIII's wives, and of Henry himself. As an American, I had little knowledge about the King's break with the Catholic Church of Rome, and never realized that it had a far greater effect on history than just getting Henry a new wife. Our Constitution outlines a clear separation of church and state, and now I know why. A wonderfully written and well researched book! I recommend it for those who love to read history.

In this book, Alison Weir has told not only the story of the six wives, but truly of both King Henry VIII and a backdrop of pre-Elizabethan England. I highly recommend this book to any reader who is going to visit England, particularly London. Weir's thoroughness educates the reader about the significance of the Tower of London and many of the British castles, especially Hampton Court Palace. This book provides an excellent foundation for anyone who is then looking to study Queen Elizabeth and Shakespearean times. It's amazing how she made history SO exciting!

This is perhaps one of the finest biographies of the women who shared their lives with one of the most powerful and fascinating monarchs to have ruled England. Weir devotes the utmost care to each of the six wives of Henry VIII, telling their stories with compassion and giving each an individual voice. Most of the energy of this book is clearly directed on Henry's first two marriages, first to Katherine of Aragon and the divorce that helped to create the Church of England, and his stormy second union with Anne Boleyn, mother of the Great Elizabeth, chronicling her astronomical rise in power and her spectacular fall from grace. Powerful and masterfully written, Weir recreates the fantastical Tudor court and sweeps the reader into this realm effortlessly. Immensely readable and absorbing, this is Alison Weir at her very best. Extremely well researched, I would recommend this book to anyone who is the least bit curious about 16th century society as viewed through the eyes of 6 of the most important women of their time.

I've always had a fascination with Anne Boleyn, but after reading THREADS, I feel like I understand her in a way I never have before. Yes, the book is fiction, but it's obvious that Ms. Gavin did some extensive research to explore the life of this charismatic but unpopular queen. It's so well written and the tale so eloquently spun that you feel it very well could've happened just as it's described. The execution scene in Anne's viewpoint is masterful. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Tudor history, and Anne Boleyn, in particular. I couldn't put it down!

This book is intriguing--from the intrigues of the court of Henry VIII to the intrigues of lives woven together through time and space. Nell Gavin does a superlative job of bringing not only Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII to life, but also the threads of lifetimes remembered from ancient Egypt, to gypsy merchants, to a curious 20th century connection. It full of wisdom and insight--it is a delightful read!

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. Nell Gavin does an excellent job with weaving together the stories of two souls who travel together through time and space to learn important lessons about love, loss and loyalty. The main story is about the life of Anne Boleyn as seen by Anne in her life review after her death on the gallows. Then Anne reviews her many lives with Henry VIII and others from that life as they live again and again together in good times and bad. I highly recommend this book.

The Children of Henry VIII was a wonderful book. Alison Weir gave accurate historical information while keeping the book on a personal level. She really got in touch with the relationships of Henry VIII's four heirs: Prince Edward, his only son; Princess Mary, his daughter by his first wife Katherine of Aragon; Princess Elizabeth, his daughter by his unfortunate wife Anne Boleyn; and Lady Jane Grey, granddaughter of Henry's sister Mary of France. Not only did the book show the relationships between the heirs, but it showed how they related to and got along with important men and women in the era of British history that took place during the reformation. The devoutly Catholic Mary and her faction was hardly a match for the protestant views of Edward, Elizabeth and Jane. The book also shows how the people of England felt about the changes taking place in their homeland while not leaving out the effects of foreign powers on the decisions of the kings, queens and powerful men in Britain at the time. Overall the book was easy to follow although Alison Weir called the same person by different names on several different occasions which made things a little confusing. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in British royalty, other royalty of the era, Holy Roman Popes of the era, and the reformation.

Alison Weir's book is emmensly readable; her prose reads like a novel. This means that her carefully researched account of the Tudor children is accessable to a much wider readership than alot of historical biographies. Lively and sensitive, the narrative really captures the feel of late 16th century England. By focusing on the private side of her subjects, distant and legendary monarchs become human; Edward the Fourth, Mary the First (Bloody Mary), Elizabeth the First, and Lady Jane Grey. As children, they were coddled, banished, abused, seduced, saw loved ones jailed and executed; they were used as pawns by those around them vying for power. Makes today's Royal Family look like the Cleavers! If you like to immerse yourself in history this book is a must. Even if you think you don't like history, this book will probably change your mind. This is the first of Weir's books I've read; I can't wait to get my hands on the others.

Alison Weir's second book regarding the Tudor monarchy is as great as her first, The Wives of Henry VIII. Although Weir touches upon all of Henry VIII's children as well as his niece, Lady Jane Grey, the majority of this book delves into the life of Queen Mary I. Wier discusses the short reign of Henry VIII's only son, Edward VI as well as the 9 days reign of Lady Jane Grey; however the book focuses on Mary, and ends at her death and the accession of Queen Elizabeth.

Mary was a Catholic like her mother Katherine of Aragon. She tried so hard to bring Catholism back to England that she has gone into history as earning the nickname "Bloody Mary." Mary burned about 300 heretics in her short five year reign. Mary was portrayed as being merciful, but resorted to flexing her control as she had so many people against her.

Weir again introduced the reader to the importance of alliances and marriges of monarchs during the 16th century as well as the importance of religion. This book is an easy to read narrative of the politics of accession to the English throne after the death of Henry VIII and the adult life of Queen Mary I. Weir takes the reader into more depth of Elizabeth's reign in her book, The Life of Elizabeth I.

Although it is not necessary for the reader to have read The Wives of Henry VIII in order to enjoy this book, it does help the reader in understanding the genuine hate Mary had for Elizabeth because of Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn.

This is another wonderful chapter of The Tudors.

The triple threat of Elizabeth Longford, Antonia Fraser and Flora Fraser (Mother, Daughter & Grandaughter)have been providing us with readable yet fairly scholarly biographies for decades. All of them are well researched and certainly admired by historians and non-academics alike. This particular book is a handy all-in-one guide to Henry VIII and his six wives. It is by necessity, rather shallow, as his marital woes had and have very important ramifications, and this volume cannot begin to address these issues in depth. Overall, a great read about a fascinating man at a fascinating time. In truth, the women are not nearly as well fleshed out, with the notable exception of Katherine of Aragon, largely because their stories just were not as important as that of their husband to contemporary writers, so their lives are not as well documented. The extent 16th c. materials have been mined for individuals biographies of each woman, and they do each deserve their own book. (Many such have been written, even about poor Catherine Howard.) This is a good book for a first look at Tudor England. I like Lady Antonia and all her biographies, and those of her mother and daughter. I just wish she would stop writing those shabby mysteries.

I love English history, especially the period from King Edward IV's reign through the Tudors. I am also a big Antonia Fraser fan. So, before I picked up this history of King Henry's hapless wives, I knew I would enjoy it. And I am not disappointed at all.

Ms. Fraser writes with great elegance, and her usual wit, about the five women who married Henry VIII and how their lives impacted their times and history. She also describes each of these complex women, their unique characters as individuals, (not just as wives to a king), their motivations and ambitions. She outlines the ascent and decline of each of the women and how they related to one another, their peers and families...and to the King.

Much of the book is about Catherine of Aragon, but that is to be expected. She was married to Henry for 24 years, and prior to their marriage, she was wed to his older brother Arthur, a cause for future problems for the realm and much heartbreak for Catherine. Queen Catherine is portrayed most sympathetically, and that is my inclination also. She was a noble lady, raised to serve as Queen, who loved Henry, almost as much as she loved the Catholic Church, which he was to break away from and use against his wife and their daughter Mary. I have always wondered how Henry's character, his country and history would have changed if Catherine had born him a healthy son. Catherine was a strong woman of great faith, and nothing she ever did justified the treatment she received. One of the most poignant sentences in history, is one of Catherine's last. As she lay dying, she dictated a letter to the husband who had so ruthlessly abandoned her. She bid her scribe to write: "Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things. Farewell."

Anne Boleyn is an extremely well-educated woman, and very independent, especially given the times. And Henry is obsessed with the idea of possessing her. Anne plays his obsession to the hilt. Fraser describes her complex and ambitious nature, as well as the politics of her downfall, with great skill. Poor Jane Seymour's mild manner was a temporary, but welcome, relief to Henry after Anne. However Queen Jane's narrative is brief, as was her life. She died after birthing Henry's only living son.

Anne of Cleves, perhaps the most politically astute of Henry's wives, certainly the one with the best survival skills, was thrilled to be cast-off and allowed to keep her head.

Unfortunately, the naive and beautiful Katherine Howard, Henry's "blushing rose without a thorn" went the way of Anne Boleyn, because of promiscuity, lack of savvy, and church politics.

Catherine Parr, a woman of extraordinary intellect, was one of only eight women whose writings were published during the reign of Henry and his father. She was fortunate to become aware of a plot against her before she met the same end as Queens Anne and Katherine.

Ms. Fraser draws a lavish portrait of court life with its moral and political intrigues. She details the struggle for international power, and clearly explains England's break with Rome and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

This is a superb and very readable history, that has been meticulously researched. I highly recommend it.

I have always been fascinated by English history, particularly Henry VIII. Fraser did not disappoint. Usually I find history books dry and dull. I was initially put off by the length of the book, but the author writes so well that I couldn't put the book down. She makes it seem more like a novel than a history text. I felt like I was right there with each of Henry VIII's wives. The book is meticulously researched, and she clearly shows the differences between the women in the King's life, and helps the reader to understand his motives. All the events are put in context of the sociopolitcal landscape of the times. As a result, I found myself seeing how complex the King was and not being able to hate him, even though I hated his actions. I highly reccommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of the British monarchy.

Catherine of Aragorn and Ann Boleyn (wives 1 & 2) dominate this book, but for good reason. Lindsey's research and analysis, particularly in the case of Ann Boleyn should be required reading for those people (read: majority) that remember her as a homewrecker or whore. It is truly a pleasure to read about these women who stood up for their convictions in a time when to do so meant they may be dishonored.

I don't object to the title of the book either. I do feel that it is a feminist representation. Although many women will read this book using the values and rights we have today, had Lindsey presented this book from the same perspective as many before her, we may not feel as warmly/sympathetic while reading the text.

No retelling of Tudor history would be complete without a look into the 6 doomed lives of Henry VIII's wives. Lindsey manages to combine both fact and opinion in this interesting book. Divorced, Beheaded, Survived reads like any other biography, except it adds a feminist twist on many famous events. Famous names include Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Princess Mary. The story is well researched and accurately depicts royal life; from the plotting, betrayals, and constant struggle for the throne. It also contains quotes from the characters themselves. The only downside is, that in her rush to detail female suffering, Lindsey does stretch the story a bit far. She often strays from the subject of the queens to other independent women. The story also tends to babble on at times. Overall, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived is an appealing, informative book.

Author Lindsey does a fine job of describing the Tudor time period and what being a women meant during that time. All of the wives are examined in detailed, with Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn standing out compared to the others. Especially Catherine who is portrayed as a very sympathetic character, with her unwavering love for her husband, no matter how fouly he has treated her. But it is not this undeserving love on her part which makes her stand out. Of all of the wivesm Catherine defied him most openly and with such bravery and conviction that she seems the most modern of the wives. Henry VIII is not dealt with kindly but he does not seem to deserve any kind of credit for his treatment of these women. His cold and calculating manner with Anne Boleyn is hard to fathom.

The title of the book is a little misleading. While clearly a critique of the manner in which these women were treated, it is also clear that many women of this time led enriching and productive lives. The text is lively and flows very smoothly. After reading this book, I feel that I have a much better understanding of the time period.