Great Harry

by Carolly Erickson

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671400177
• ISBN13: 9780671400170
• Release Date: January 1980
• Publisher: Summit Books
• Length: 428 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Well Written, Fascinating Book

If you're a British history fan, you'll enjoy this book. It's a detailed biography of Henry VIII, and paints an interesting picture of life in medieval times. Henry VIII was clearly a complex, arrogant, spoiled, and, on many levels, insecure person. There is a lot of information in this book, and the author has presented it in an easy to read, entertaining style.

Best biog of Henry I've read

Yes, yes, yes! Terrific book. It provides the political and sociological background to Henry's reign as a whole, not limiting itself to the marriages, in vibrant, readable style. Unusually, Erickson starts in Henry's childhood, giving portraits of his parents, Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, as well as his paternal (Lancastrian) grandmother, the dynastic powerhouse that was Margaret Beaufort. Each of the 45 shortish chapters contributes to the continuum of a life, rather than just the shenanigans with the famous six spouses and various mistresses. Henry's complex psychology is judiciously handled. Plus, the knotty sixteenth-century European and Church politics are rendered crystal clear. Below I give, within the context of the six marriages, some of the less familiar material that graces this book: 1) Katherine of Aragon - Henry's bright youthfulness, her difficult pregnancies, Henry's ambitions and campaigns in France, including the Battle of the Spurs, the Field of the Cloth of Gold. 2) Anne Boleyn - plague in England and the imprisonment of Pope Clement VII by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, creating difficulties in obtaining Henry's divorce. 3) Jane Seymour - the Northern uprising known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. After her death, Henry's brutal executions of his Yorkist cousins the Courtenays and Poles, who had arguably superior claims to the throne. 4) Anne of Cleves - Henry's search for a politically expedient marriage and his eventual alliance with Lutheran countries. 5) Katherine Howard - how fever almost killed Henry's son (the eventual Edward VI) shortly before Henry discovered Katherine's adultery. Also, Henry's PR tour of the north. 6) Katherine Parr - Henry's miserable old age and the attempts by courtiers to get Parr condemned for heresy. There is much more here, especially on the magnificent lifestyle, making this an entertainng, enlightening book to savour. Highest recommendation.

History up close

Erickson demonstrates her profound knowledge of the Tudor era in England through the amazing variety of details she fits into her easy and engaging narrative of the life of one of England's most loved but notorious kings. The reader learns about the perosn, the monarch, his family and his country, and how all were intertwined. The development of Henry, second son not meant to inherit the throne, into Great Harry, fearless and fearsome king who practically destroyed his kingdom to get his own way are beautifully chronicled and bristles with personal touches. It's high drama and well worth it.

A Great Biography

Carolly Erickson's Tudor and Stuart biographies are all splendid affairs. "Great Harry" attacks the personality of this man and the issues with which he graplled in a compelling and well-researched fashion without ever losing the reader's attention. Henry VIII was as big and grand as the Tudor age and this book captures both well. I also recommend Erickson's other biographies, especially "The First Elizabeth," about Henry and Anne Boylen's (she was the second wife, the first to lose her head) daughter. Truly one of the best popular historians writing about this period.

Gives a great picture of the man and his times.

The book showed a different side of Henry VIII, not just thestereotype of the cruel, evil, lecherous king. A great picture of hisearly life and his life with Catherine of Aragon is given, along with the difficulties he faced while on the throne throughout his life. It showed how loved and admired he was through his life (at least until the last part of his life) and gives another perspective of the heir-to-the-throne problem.