Books like Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII by Amy Licence

A new biography of Anne Boleyn that reexamines her life, court experiences, and relationship with Henry VIII through a comprehensive study of Tudor sources.

Alison Weir examines the four heirs left to Henry VIII—Edward, Mary, Elizabeth, and Jane Grey—revealing their relationships and roles in Tudor history, and how they shaped the succession and legacy of the dynasty.

No one in history had a more eventful career in matrimony than Henry VIII. His marriages were daring and tumultuous, and made instant legends of six very different women. In this remarkable study, David Starkey argues that the king was not a depraved philanderer but someone seeking happiness -- and a son. Knowingly or not, he elevated a group of women to extraordinary heights and changed the way a nation was governed.Six Wives is a masterful work of history that intimately examines the rituals of diplomacy, marriage, pregnancy, and religion that were part of daily life for women at the Tudor Court. Weaving new facts and fresh interpretations into a spellbinding account of the emotional drama surrounding Henry's six marriages, David Starkey reveals the central role that the queens played in determining policy. With an equally keen eye for romantic and political intrigue, he brilliantly recaptures the story of Henry's wives and the England they ruled.

A new, authoritative biography of Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, that reassesses her motives, social milieu, and the courtly forces that led to her execution.