Henry: Virtuous Prince

Henry: Virtuous Prince

by David Starkey (Author)

Synopsis

The first instalment of the highly anticipated biography of Henry VIII, written by one of the UK's most popular, established and exciting historians. Published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Henry's accession to the throne, 'Henry: Virtuous Prince' is a radical re-evaluation of the monarchy's most enduring icon. Henry VIII was Britain's most powerful monarch, yet he was not born to rule. Thrust into the limelight after the sudden death of his elder brother, Prince Arthur, Henry ascended the throne in 1509, marking the beginning of a reign that altered the course of English history. In his youth Henry was highly intelligent, athletic and musically talented. He excelled in Latin and Mathematics and was an accomplished musician. On his accession to the throne, aged just seventeen, after the tumultuous rule of his father, he provided England with hope of a new beginning. Nobody could have foreseen how radical Henry's rule would prove to be. Often overshadowed by the bloody saga of his six marriages, his reign has left a lasting legacy. An absolute monarch, Henry's quest for fame was as obsessive as any modern celebrity.His fierce battles against Papal authority mark one of the most dramatic and defining moments in the history of Britain. Yet his early life was insecure. The Tudor regime was viewed by many as rule by usurpers and the dark shadows of the Wars of the Roses often threatened to tear England apart once more. The culmination of a lifetime's research, David Starkey gives a radical and unforgettable portrait of the man behind the icon; the Renaissance prince turned tyrant, who continues to tower over history.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 413
Edition: SA ed
Publisher: HarperPress
Published: 01 Oct 2008

ISBN 10: 0007292635
ISBN 13: 9780007292639

Media Reviews

'Starkey is a wonderfully lucid writer.' Independent

'Starkey has the mind of an historian but the eye of a court painter.' Peter Ackroyd, The Times

Praise for `Monarchy':

`Excellent...the really crucial events in the history of the British Monarchy since the Middle Ages are assessed with authority, wisdom and wit...This is Starkey at his fluent and entertaining best.' Sunday Telegraph

`This book...is vivid, lucid and engaging...his judgements delivered with quasi-Pontifical assurance are often acute...a very enjoyable book.' Daily Telegraph

`David Starkey tours England's monarchical horizon with gusto.' Sunday Times

Author Bio
David Starkey is Honorary Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and the author of many books including `Elizabeth'; `Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII' and `Monarchy: England and Her Rulers from the Tudors to the Windsors'. He is a winner of the WH Smith Prize and the Norton Medlicott Medal for Services to History presented by Britain's Historical Association. He is a well-known TV and radio personality. He was made a CBE in 2007. He lives in London.