Fabulous in every respect

A truly great history. A must read for anyone interested in the 16th century history of Europe.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Everything the school textbook never told you

If you could sum up The Six Wives of Henry VIII in three words, what would they be?

Informative, humorous, well researched

Who was your favorite character and why?

I've always had a soft spot for Anna of Cleaves just because she's always been the cast aside one, jammed between the dead mother and the flighty young girl.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's far to big to listen to in one go, but it's very engaging to listen too how ever many sessions it takes to reach the end.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

A great insight into the wives of Henry VIII

If you could sum up The Six Wives of Henry VIII in three words, what would they be?

Detailed, informative, entertaining

What other book might you compare The Six Wives of Henry VIII to, and why?

-

What does Simon Prebble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He has great intonation

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

A great way to learn the real story behind each of the wives of Henry VIII! The listener is led through the marriages in chronological order (the main focus naturally being on Catherine of Aragon and Ann Boleyn). The author provides excellent detail of the period and a real insight into the life of a queen and a noble lady in the 1500s. The reader is left with the distinct feeling that both the King and his Queens are at various points both player and played with the church and establishment pulling most of the strings. A worthy listen.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

The the lives of the wives of Henry VIII laid bare.

I thought I knew the stories of the wives of Henry VIII but this history had shown me I’ve hardly scratched the surface of the lives they led. This is a fascinating insight, not only to the women themselves, but into the period in which they lived, the court and it’s intrigues and the players on the medieval stage that surrounded them. This is a history, not a novel, and as such has been deeply researched to be factually accurate. Who knew that Catherine of Aragon was treat so terribly after Arthur died and before she married Henry? Who knew that far from being “elderly” when she married him, Katherine Parr was barely into her thirties and that after Henry died she had a child, a girl she called Mary, before dying of fever? This history is a treasure trove of information that will delight anyone with a liking for the period. It is not a stiff and stuffy read, the narrative is straightforward and very easy to follow. The narrator has a clear voice and precise style although some place name pronunciation should have been checked before recording eg Alnwick, the seat of the Dukes of Northumberland is pronounced “annic” Overall I would highly recommend this book, not just to those who enjoy history but to book groups to try something different. Brilliant.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A really good listen

I loved everything about this series. The narrator was brilliant. I would recommend this book

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Annoying mistakes

A fascinating history but somewhat annoying rendition. Throughout Thomas Cranmer was called ‘Cramner’, and Wriothesley also pronounced incorrectly - my understanding is that it should be pronounced Risley - and I’m sure there were plenty of other examples too. Surprising that these facts were not correct

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Made for a good listen.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - If you are interested in Henry VIII, then in my opinion this book is a staple read/listen.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Katherine Howard's downfall and execution.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

History at it's best.

What made the experience of listening to The Six Wives of Henry VIII the most enjoyable?

Have read a lot about this period but this version was very interesting. Back to school.

What did you like best about this story?

It is closest to what I think would have happened. Excellent writing.

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

Very nice voice.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A must see.

Any additional comments?

So many versions of this period in history. This was a good one.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

very listenable

so much detail and presented in a lively manner. I've learned a great deal from this book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent timeline

Excellent coverage of this period, well narrated in an engaging style. Would recommend this audio book

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!