Great Harry: A Biography of Henry VIII

by Carolly Erickson

St. Martin's Griffin is proud to reissue acclaimed biographer Carolly Erickson's lives of the Tudor monarchs.

In this full-scale popular biography of Henry VIII, Carolly Erickson re-creates the extravagant life and times of one of history's most complex and fascinating men.

Based on voluminous records of the period, the story of Henry's life covers his troubled youth, his triumphant early reign, and his agonizing old age.

Against the lively backdrop of the Tudor world, with all its splendors and squalors, Carolly Erickson gives us an unforgettable and human portrait of Henry VIII.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Tudor Period, Historical, British Literature, 16th Century

432 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 1997

About the author

Distinguished historian Carolly Erickson is the author of The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette, The First Elizabeth, Great Catherine, Alexandra and many other prize-winning works of fiction and nonfiction. She lives in Hawaii.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/caroll...

Reviews

[Danita M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a junkie when it comes to Tudor England- what a nerd! I really enjoyed this book, and had a hard time putting it down. Much of the information I already knew, but it was told in an accessible, story-like way that drew me in. One night I read it in the bath and when I got out my husband asked "How was your 2 hour bath?" I said "Great! Henry has been married 3 times, and killed 2 of those wives. It has been a busy 2 hours."

[Anna [Floanne] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biografia molto esaustiva sulla vita di questa controversa figura storica, che fu sì un grande sovrano (anche di stazza) ma fu soprattutto un truce misogino, pieno di manie di grandezza e sete di potere. Dal ritratto tracciato dall’autrice, Enrico emerge sin da subito come dotato di grande intelligenza, uno scaltro stratega, ammirato e temuto in tutta Europa. Dedito ai piaceri della vita, amante della caccia e abile in battaglia, è al contempo un abile intrattenitore a Corte e un fervente cattolico, fino a quando i suoi interessi non si scontrano con Roma portando allo scisma e a tutto ciò che ne conseguirà. È a mio avviso impressionante come da sovrano illuminato si sia trasformato in un perfido tiranno negli ultimi anni del suo regno, a discapito delle sue povere mogli - alle quali non riservò certo un trattamento di favore - ma anche di molti dei suoi fidati amici e consiglieri, che non esitò a far giustiziare al minimo sospetto di tradimento. Una lettura interessante e piacevole, ben argomentata da anni di studio. Si percepisce chiaramente che l’autrice conosce in modo molto approfondito questo periodo storico e le figure che lo contraddistinsero.

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm in midst of returning to the Reformation lately, having just finished biographies of Erasmus and Shakespeare (that by Burgess) and being in the middle of one about Thomas More, a subject first seriously pursued at seminary. Most likeable so far has been Erasmus, least Henry VIII.

Henry wasn't always that way. As Erickson presents him, he was quite something as a young man: personable, charming, literate, athletic, even intellectual. Two wives (of six) in, however, in his forties, he'd become a bit of a monster, ending his life as a grossly obese paranoid. This biography presents thus an instance of the corruption of power.

Of course, even at his best Henry lived in and unthinkingly accepted enormous social inequities that he did nothing to ameliorate. Quite the contrary, his personal life style, that of his 'class', was obscenely extravagant, draining the country's resources, while his various wars--against Scotland, Ireland, France and the Hapsburg Empire--and invasions--of Scotland, Ireland and France--cost dearly without material benefit. At the end of his reign, England's currency was devalued, the nation factionalized.

Henry's six marriages receive the attention expected, which is quite a lot, the monarch's personal life and its crises having much public effect. So, too, does his break with Rome, a decision 'overdetermined' by various considerations, only one of which was his desire to annul his first marriage.

My only complaint about this well-written biography is that there's relatively little about economics compared to lengthy descriptions of partying, costume and consumption. That there's so much about the latter is probably based on the available material. But that's no excuse for the meagre treatment of, say, the financial background to the liquidation of religious houses and the break with Rome.

[Lauren Bedson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another tremendous biography by Ms. Erickson. Like Bloody Mary, Great Harry is a vibrant, engaging portrait of life in 1500s England, both the intrigue and lavish splendor of the court, and the violence, ignorance, and squalor of the poor. Ms. Erickson is a master storyteller - King Henry VIII is convincing portrayed as a highly intelligent and ambitious (though flawed) ruler, who is here shown in all his facets and stages - charismatic, handsome, idealistic and beloved in his youth, irascible, peevish, and self-important in his old age, always majestic and awe-inspiring. Hundreds upon hundreds of contemporary quotes are seamlessly woven into this tale, giving it a very rich and authentic flavor of the period and of "Great Harry," as he was called by his adoring subjects in the early years of his reign. A brilliant work, and I can't wait to read more Erickson!

[Giulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biografia accurata del più celebre, amato e odiato sovrano della monarchia britannica, che ripercorre la sua vita dalla nascita alla morte e le cui vicende personali non hanno nulla da invidiare a un'opera di fiction. La Erickson, eccellente esperta della storia della famiglia Tudor, ci conduce in un'epoca fastosa ma anche cruenta senza mai annoiare il lettore e rimanendo sempre fedele alla Storia.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

What truly motivated this man? He is an enigma composed of selfishness, lust, duty, and greatness. We will never really know what he was thinking, but it is fun to puzzle over it.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

La vita di un re leggendario, nel bene e nel male.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Assolutamente non è da considerarsi uno dei mostri della storia. Per i suoi tempi è stato assolutamente in linea con altri re e sovrani

[Abbyofgail · Rating 2 out of 5]

a few observations so far:
this sounds weird, but the consistency of the paper is unpleasant. it's rough but not very thick. with old books the pages are thick, but these pages are thin and for some reason it irks me and distracts me from the content.
i would have liked it if it included chapter titles. it includes exerpts of poems that henry wrote which hint at what the chapter will cover but sometimes that's not enough.
there's a beautiful map of england at the beginning of the book. there's also a map or two within the text, which are helpful.
overall it's well written: engaging, informative without being pedantic (which i find is a big problem on history books in general), and doesn't focus on henry's marital woes. which is very refreshing.

now that i've finished i'm not feeling so generous.
while i appreciated the fact that the author didn't focus so much on Henry's marital woes, there should have been some focus on Henry's marital woes (considering Henry's marital woes were responsible for somewhat important things, like, oh, i don't know, the Church of England). *also, how many times can i say marital woes in one review? marital woes marital woes marital woes. Seven.*
for example, you might think that the downfall of Anne Boleyn would get a fairly sizeable description. in all the books on Tudor England I have read, at least one chapter has been devoted to just the execution of Anne Boleyn. in this book, the downfall (including the accusation process, the trials, and the execution) was described in THREE PARAGRAPHS. she didn't even appear until page 187. this problem extended to the end of the book, which ended so abruptly i felt like i had just turned a corner and ran face first into a wall. the last sentence reads: "The silent reprieve--or was it merely a postponement?--could mean only one thing: the old king was dead, and the duke's fate and England's had passed into new hands." that's it? seriously? usually historical books end with a page or two of analysis, wrapping-up-ness if you will. this was another problem with the book, there was little (if any) analysis of Henry's motives or possible thought processes.

the redeeming factor about this book is that it did give facts that i haven't read in other books on Henry (did you know that when Henry got bored at banquets he threw sugarplums and comfits at his guests?) The same can be said of the pictures--although they were in black and white (boo), there were eight that I had never seen before. I also enjoyed the details about the time period and the physical space (for example, they dealt with the lack of light by putting candles in the middle of silver plates so the reflection would expand the light).

in summation (aka wrapping-up-ness), i would not recommend this book for someone not already very familiar with Henry's life. it provides interesting little known facts, but you will not find information/analysis on the essential aspects of his life that all Tudorphiles should know. save this one until you feel like you know everything about Henry.

[Paula]

As usual, the book is better than the movie (or in this case, the Showtime series). I guess Showtime was worried that people wouldn't believe that H8 was one of the most talented (along with his mastery of the martial arts and horsemanship, he was an accomplished musician and even better dancer) and intelligent (he could debate theology and the details of things like ship construction with the greatest of minds) kings ever, so they whittled him down to size and dumbed down the story for easy digesting. The series is fun as eye candy, but it doesn't even come close to showing H8 and his court in all their lavish excesses of consumption and behavior. A truly fascinating period in English history. Highly recommend this book.

[Andrew Canfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Harry tells the life story of King Henry VIII, an individual whose public and personal lives were both consequential and frequently intertwined. Author Carrolly Erickson created an exceptionally readable rendering of the British king’s reign, a task admittedly made easier by the controversial nature of his decision making.

Henry’s changes to England’s religious life featured him making the king, and not the pope, the primary earthly individual to observant Christians. While in obvious ways sixteenth century England broke with Catholicism under his reign, in other ways he maintained a lot of church tradition and stopped short of fully embracing Protestantism. The changes Henry instituted caused a lot of confusion and resentment among English laypeople, and this combined with a frequently questionable moral compass cost him support among his subjects.

The well-documented marriages to six women part takes up the bulk of the book’s second half. The first shows a different side of Henry VIII; his diplomatic skills intermittently exercised with Francis I of France and the Holy Roman leader Charles V, a love of jousting and attainment of physical feats, a sharp intellect frequently being put to productive use all make appearances. The vengeful, bitter post-1520s (and post-Catherine of Aragon) Henry contrasts sharply with the fun loving entertainer found at the book’s outset.

The falling out with Catherine of Aragon, primarily over her inability to provide a male heir, sets the stage for a succession of failed, largely loveless marriages. This first was perhaps the most consequential of Henry’s failed romances, as he went through with the nullification without the blessing of Rome, a break with the pope and Catholic Church which put England in league with the nascent Protestant movement just then being kindled by Henry’s contemporary Martin Luther.

A willingness to abandon a spouse once another female in the court caught Henry’s eye-and the lengths the king would sink to in order to grasp at the flimsiest of excuses to be rid of her-made the story a dark one to read about. From Catherine, who did give birth to the future Queen Mary, he moves on to Anne Boleyn, a marriage which produces a daughter Elizabeth (a future queen as well) but also sufficient wrath to end in her execution.

Jane Seymour would be third up, a union which lasted barely a year but at least had a natural conclusion: it ended when she died due to complications after giving birth to the future king Edward VI.

The next marriage, to Anne of Cleves, was almost over before it began. Having been betrothed to the Germanic duchess before even meeting her, Henry was let down with her looks immediately upon seeing her in person (a fact he rudely took no pain to conceal). It did not help this particular Anne’s case that she could not converse in English. Henry Tudor seemed to be looking for a way out of marrying her from the first day he met her in England, and it feels a tad anti-climactic that he finds a technicality on which to dissolve the marriage several months later.

And yet Anne of Cleves got off lightly compared to the fifth spouse (Catherine Howard) who is wed to Henry in 1540. What seems promising ends with prison and decapitation when alleged indiscretions come to light, yet another sad and deadly chapter in the king’s love life. Through it all he frequently proves a far from faithful spouse, an ironic circumstance given his penchant for blowing up when a wife proves less than one hundred percent faithful. His sixth and final wife, Katherine Parr, provides him with a marriage which seems to contain more dignity and fewer dramatic situations (thought not zero) than those which came before it.

Erickson writes fluidly about each of these unfortunate marital trials. She could have spend more time delving further into lurid details, but she provides readers with enough of a sketch to get the gist of all six women and their relationship to Henry Tudor.

There are some supporting characters who help keep the story moving. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey provides counsel to Henry prior to, like many of the king’s wives, experiencing a reversal of fortune in terms of remaining in royal favor. Thomas Cromwell is another right hand man of the king who also meets a sorrowful fate when he fails to stay in Henry’s good graces. The second half of Great Harry is essentially one long chronicling of men and women experiencing pain, imprisonment, and death on the Tudor king’s whim.

Erickson has created an excellent account of King Henry VIII, and it is about a balanced of a book as readers could expect about an individual who, in his personal life at least, was not the least bit shy about engaging in treachery. His mistreatment of the women in his life was something the author could have gratuitously bashed the king on, but she instead just provides the facts and lets readers come to their own conclusions on this matter.

The marital negativity is balanced somewhat by accounts of his willingness to lead English troops into battle against the French himself, and discussions of his curious interest in medicine reveal a different side of this book's subject. A well-rounded and well-written book, Great Harry is certainly worth taking the time to read.

-Andrew Canfield Denver, Colorado

[Karen Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave the facts in a different way

[Cathy DuPont · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my...I remember it as being very detailed but got through it although it took me forever...well, not f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry VIII was born in England in 1491. His parents were Elizabeth of York and Henry VII. He was given a lot of appointments during childhood, including Constable of Dover Castle, Earl Marshall of England, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Knight of the Bath, and Duke of York. He was also appointed to the Order of the Garter. He attained the throne at age 17, marrying his bother's widow, Catherine of Aragon. Together, they had one child, Mary I. (They had other children that were either stillborn or died in infancy.) He also had an illegitimate child with his mistress, Henry FitzRoy. Of course, he did away with Catherine in favor of his second wife, Anne Boleyn, who provided him with one daughter as well. Elizabeth I was not even three when her mother was executed and her father took a third wife. Jane Seymour gave Henry a legitimate son and heir, Edward VI, but she died soon after as a result of childbirth complications. His fourth wife was Anne of Cleves, who he seemed to like as a person, but was not attracted to. He had that marriage annulled, though they did seem to remain friendly. He instead set his sights on Catherine Howard, who he had executed for her behavior. His final wife was Catherine Parr, who outlived him.

As far as his policies and activities as a monarch, he seemed to like the policy of politically motivated executions. He had quite a few of his father's advisors and ministers executed for high treason. He had issues with France and the Habsburgs, annexed Wales, he had several monasteries and shrines destroyed, was excommunicated from the Catholic Church, which he had broken from, and went to war with Scotland. His war with religion, especially around the time when he wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon in favor of Anne Boleyn, is one of the things that he is most well known for. (Aside from the fact that he had six wives and liked having people beheaded.)

Another interesting set of theories and facts surround his health. It is known that he suffered an accident while jousting in 1536. Historians have suggested that the accident could have caused a traumatic brain injury, which could explain his mood swings and fits of rage. While they did use helmets, the helmets were not built in a way that would prevent traumatic brain injuries from happening. It is also suggested that this jousting accident caused the wound on his leg that doctors could never get to heal. It was always ulcerated and infected, which probably also did not help his temper. It has also been suggested in several works that he suffered from gout, syphilis, McLeod Syndrome, and may have been Kell positive. At any rate, he was certainly obese and certainly suffered from boils and other issues. He died in 1547 at age 55.

I checked this book out from the library some time ago, but I found a copy at my local used book store so I bought it. I have nearly all of the other books by the writer, so I figured I needed it for my personal library. I am currently in the process of downsizing in an effort to get moved, but I am not parting with this set of books. I enjoy Carolly Erickson's work. She does a great job conveying the story of the person she is writing about, and her research is well done. I thought this book was interesting and informative, and I am glad to have it.

[Rachele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non sono rimasta colpita da quest'opera. La prima parte si legge bene e descrive la famiglia di Enrico, la sua infanzia all'ombra del fratello Arturo e poi la sua salita al trono e il matrimonio con Caterina d'Aragona, ma poi la scrittrice si perde troppo, a mio avviso, a parlare di battaglie, della questione religiosa, dei problemi dello Stato inglese e diventa tutto pesante. Le moglie sono trattate con un capitolo e via e anche, per esempio, il processo ad Anna Bolena e Catherine son trattati con superficialità. Insomma, ha dato spazio a elementi che potevano essere liquidati in meno capitoli e interessarsi di più alle moglie di Enrico e ai suoi sentimenti, al suo vero essere. Da questa lettura si capisce che Enrico è portato ad essere irracondo perché sta invecchiando ed è un frutto della senilità e delle pustole che ha sulla gamba, ma secondo me Enrico è qualcosa di più di un vecchio pazzo: era una persona sola, circondata da gente opportunista, che si doveva mostrare forte e alzare la voce per non farsi mettere i piedi in testa. Di alcune morti si pente, perché come tutti noi capisce il valore di una persona solo quando non c'è più. Enrico è nato nell'epoca sbagliata: doveva vivere nel Medioevo, perché era profondamente segnato dai valori cavallereschi di onore, fedeltà, ed amor cortese che ormai nel Rinascimento non esistevano più. Per lui era fondamentale rispettare la parola data e per questo si arrabbiava tantissimo quando o Francesco I o Carlo V non rispettavano i patti, perché era come venir meno al proprio onore e lui non riusciva a capacitarsene. Inoltre amava i tornei, che gli consentivano di immergersi in questo mondo fatato e poteva sentirsi vivo e in forma.

[Sephreadstoo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ho letto molte biografie di Carolly Erickson e questa mi ha decisamente delusa.
Da una biografia mi aspetto non solo di conoscere il personaggio storico in questione ma anche il periodo storico e l'ambiente in cui ha vissuto: in questo libro, i primi due capitoli (Enrico giovane e presa al potere) sono densi di particolari su usi e costumi, cosa che non si verifica negli ultimi due (età matura e vecchiaia).
Trovo soprattutto sconcertante che la questione dello scisma della chiesa inglese sia trattata in poche pagine, ridotte ad un semplice "Enrico VIII voleva divorziare, il papa glielo negava", che è quanto di più superficiale possa essere addotta come ragione. La scissione è stata soprattutto una scelta politica e avrei voluto che fosse più approfondita o comunque più oggettivamente trattata.
Paradossalmente, la scissione è spiegata meglio nella biografia di Elisabetta I della stessa Erickson, ma di certo ci si aspetta che questo delicato argomento sia eviscerato nella biografia del suo artefice e non solo in quella dei suoi discendenti.

[Marge Congress · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read about any Tudor ruler, the author brings together masses of information about societal, cultural, anthropological, and historical facts to make the story seem alive. We get to read about the foods served at banquets, how it is prepared, carved, served. What people wore (in great detail). We learn from multiple sources how people reacted to the things done during his reign. We can almost see every person. We get to go into depth about some political and religious dealings, and certainly about battles. The latter went too far at the end of the book, but the logistics needed to bring an army to France is mind boggling. I so enjoyed this book and hope to find the others she has written.

[Costanza Marzucchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sontuosa biografia del famoso Enrico VIII. Carolly Erikson, avvalendosi di una documentazione solida e di rilievo, ha realizzato uno studio sistematico della figura del celebre sovrano, compiendo uno sforzo notevole nel rappresentare una personalità complessa e densa di sfaccettature, senza eludere le ambiguità che il re ha saputo manifestare nel corso del suo regno. Insieme alle altre biografie sui Tudor, caratterizzate da un contenuto solido ed una prosa scorrevole, l'autrice continua a confermarsi come una delle migliori scrittrici di saggistica storica in circolazione.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on Henry VIII

Well written and interesting book that takes a close look at Great Harry From a young man to his end of life with lots of details that bring the court alive. Recommend to those that e enjoy Tudor history.

[Neil Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very detailed and fascinating account of King Henry VIII, life at court, the political affairs of the time, Henry's private life and much more. Well worth reading for anyone who is interested in history.

[alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

alcuni periodi sono troppo lunghi e questo ha reso la lettura un pochino pesante. Inoltre, mi è come sembrato che le prime mogli fossero trattate con più interesse rispetto alle altre, la loro storia etc è stata descritta più in dettaglio. Oltre a questi due fattori, ottima biografia

[Paolo Nardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://speloncalibro.blogspot.it/2008...

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read!

Very easy to enjoy the author's style. Historical accuracy paired with human emotions. Reading history is always a fascinating way to travel to new places.

[Jaan Liitmäe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lets face it, there is much better written stuff available about different English kings, but it will do if You are after Henry VIII specifically.

[Kat Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant read. Am looking forward to reading Bloody Mary

[One Sentence Audio Critic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typical of Carolly Erickson, this is as engaging as fiction while it is a meticulously detailed nonfiction history of King Henry VIII.

[Catsbooksandcoffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolut læseværdig, også for dem, der i forvejen kender lidt til historien

[FRANCESCA CARLA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imperdibile.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely wonderful. An in depth look at Henry that for once does not focus almost exclusively on his wives, but on his politics and his religion and his kingship. It was fascinating.

[Mary Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dense tome by someone who clearly knows what he’s talking about, this was a well-researched by hard-to-get-through read. I felt like I was listening to a lecture more than a book most of the time. But learned a lot!