Look what the postman delivered into my letterbox today…
Henry VIII: Court, church and conflict by David Loades
From Renaissance Prince to bloated monarch, Henry VIII dominated his country and court for almost 40 years. His reign changed the lives of nobles and commoners, priests and laymen, sending shockwaves well beyond England’s shores. Yet this clever and charismatic king survived rebellion, religious turmoil and the enmity of Catholic Europe, manipulating the most powerful – and ambitious – personalities of the age.
As intriguing as its subject, Henry VIIII explores the king’s volatile relations with courtiers, churchmen, advisers and wives. It shows how the larger-than-life ruler wielded his power – at court, in wars, in government, over his nobles, and in his ruthless, politically driven quest for an heir. David Loades draws on a wealth of knowledge of the Tudor period to reveal the man behind the monarch and the lasting legacy of England’s most celebrated king.
I have to say I am rather excited as I have been wanting to read this book for quite a while. It’s been on my UK Amazon wish list for months now but I have never gotten around to ordering it, until last month. I do quite like David Loades as an author. I enjoy his style of writing as it’s very simple and straight to the point. He gives the details and main points and a few other bits and pieces and leaves it at that. I have quite a few of David Loades’ books including “The Boleyns”, “The Six Wives of Henry VIII”, “The Tudor Queens of England” and “Henry VIII”. I have always found his books very compelling and interesting to read and I especially enjoyed his book “The Six Wives of Henry VIII”.
I have noticed however that he does have a tendency to misgive important dates, for example he has often written that Anne Boleyn was executed on the 18th of May rather than the 19th. For me I do not mind this so much as I’m reasonably aware of the important dates during the Tudor history so I don’t reflect on the misdates that Loades sometimes gives. I suppose for a reader new to Tudor history this may be quite misleading.
Still I am very excited to finally have this book in my hot little hands. Now I just have to put it on hold while I read the rest of the Tudor related books in my massive pile of books! Never ending Tudor Fun!
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