Henry: Model of a Tyrant

by David Starkey

As a young prince, Henry distinguished himself as an accomplished author, poet and musician. A true man of the Renaissance, his shift in character to an all-powerful tyrant is one of the most vivid and significant aspects of British history. David Starkey's biography charts Henry VIII's remarkable story.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2012

About the author

David Starkey is one of Britain's foremost historians, renowned for his commanding expertise on the Tudor period and the English monarchy. A Cambridge scholar, he established his academic reputation with rigorous work on the Tudor court, particularly Henry VIII's privy chamber and the role of faction in politics. His major works include Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII, Elizabeth: Apprenticeship, and Monarchy: From the Middle Ages to Modernity.

A gifted communicator, Starkey became a familiar television presence through documentaries including David Starkey's Monarchy and Henry VIII: Mind of a Tyrant. His style is unapologetically forthright, combining scholarly rigour with bold interpretive claims that challenge received wisdom. He was appointed CBE in 2007 for services to history.