It was interesting to read a novel about Henry VIII written from his point of view rather than that of his wives.The author is a historian who uses her research to create a very well rounded depiction of Henry and his court,as well as the politics and intrigue of the period.
It’s a very long book which goes into a lot of detail ,but I felt that the second part was quite rushed compared to the first and I wonder whether it would have been better in two parts.The section about Anne of Cleves and Katheryn Howard seemed to have less detail ,but as the author has previously written about each of Henry’s queens, anyone wishing more could go to these books.
The author definitely gets inside Henry’s head and does not depict him as a monster as he obviously didn’t see himself that way.I liked the interaction between Henry and his Fool,Will Somers ,which made him more human than I had seen before.
I would recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a long read about a fascinating historical figure.
Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

I love an Alison Weir book. You know exactly what you're getting from her. A well researched book

This is the second book in a series and I can't imagine that not having read the first book will hinder anyone.

This is a very detailed book that covers an awful lot. We all know that Henry had 6 wives so there will be a lot to write about but I felt as though some of the wives were rushed through which was disappointing.

I love Alison Weir! A great read now giving us Henry’s side of the story. The amount of research that goes in to this must be phenomenal. A brilliant read.

I've always had a fascination with the Tudor court so when I saw Alison Weir had written a book from king Henry the 8ths point of view I had to read it. I am very grateful to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy.

We all know the story of the wives, divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced beheaded survived. This book gives us a rare insight into what was going through his mind when King Henry made those decisions which changed the course of British history forever.I

Don't be put off by the length of this book. It is worth every page. As it was I would have liked to have seen a little more time given to his 4th and 5th wives Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard but as the book is already just under 700 pages long I can understand why the author chose not to spend too long on them.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Alison Weird Tudor court novels

This is great historical fiction made all the better by the fact that you know it has been written by an historian who clearly knows their subject and has done extensive research so you are getting the best of the non-fiction and fiction world,

This book is written from Henry VIIIs perspective and takes you through his life from when he was a young boy through to the end of his reign. It is really interesting to read a book from Henry’s perspective as most books I’ve read before about the Tudor period focus on the story of others with Henry as a supporting character. I think what this book does is take a very relatively well known character from English history and puts his life into context so you understand who Henry was as a person and why he perhaps behaved in the way he did. I think it’s easy to see him as a misogynist tyrant but as with anyone there is always more to the person than that, and this book for me makes him more human. It doesn’t seek to change who he was but it does give you more understanding of the complexities of his life and particularly how as a King he was very isolated and was reliant on the people around him which made him perhaps naive as well as arrogant,

I was a massive fan of he author”s writing and continue to be even more so after having read this. Definitely a recommended read.

We all know the story of Henry V111 and his wives as history has portrayed him but do we know the real man.
Allison Weir in this book has invited us to view a different side to this man. Not someone who disposed of his wives at a whim or through lust but a man who centres his whole life on producing an heir to carry on the Tudor dynasty.
An interesting read which not only encapsulates Henry’s sorrows and joys in his personal life but also the way that he was coerced into terrible decisions by men who were only following their own agenda.

#AlisonWeir could write historical versions of the phone book - and I would be all YES over every written word.
#HenryVIII absolutely mocked the life of his times, made his own rules - killing his wives in the process. And it is FACINATING! This book features Henry as a young boy at court - growing into his inevitable rule. The devious court at play.
Well researched, fascinating, just an enjoyable read.

Henry VIII has always been a rather distant character in Alison Weir's books on his wives - given the wives place at the forefront of the novels, it made sense that their complex, unpredictable and troubled husband would be distant from the reader.
Here, he's at the heart of things - and it makes for compelling reading. Weir offers a complexity and a level of understanding to Henry that, whilst not excusing him for his actions, does give the reader a glimpse into the pressures he may have been under.

Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown by Alison Weir Narrated by Elliot Fitzpatrick was a beautifully written book about Good Olde Henry VIII. If you love these books, this is a book for you and Alison is a fantastic author. This is the second book in the Tudor Rose series. You can be read this as a stand alone book But, I do recommend you read or listen to the first one called Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose which was excellent

This book had the WoW factor. I just fell in love the way Alison describes and writes about Henry VIII. If you love History and about The Tudor's these are books for you.

The Narrator Elliot Fitzpatrick was brilliant from start to finish.

I highly recommend this book. I Loved it

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance copy.

I’m pretty obsessed by the Tudor period of history so was looking forward to read about Henry VIII from his perspective. Famously known for his 6 wives and for his manipulative personality this book looks at the other side of a man who is probably one of the most well known royal figures in British history. The author is notable for her historical novel, based on fact, so you know it’s going to be well written and well researched, that’s a given.

Briefly, when his older brother dies Henry becomes king and marries his brothers widow. But what she, and subsequent wives, are unable to provide him with is a son and heir who outlives him. Henry was a very accomplished man of his time, a scholar, art lover, hunter, archer, musician and a chivalrous man but as he grew older and dissatisfied with his life his cruel side was revealed.

My view before reading this was that he was a self obsessed misogynist. Do I feel differently now? Not really. I think there is unlikely to be anything about Henry VIII that hasn’t already been told but I enjoyed reading things from his position. I thought I knew most of what there was to know about him but the author brought so much to the table that I wasn’t aware of. It certainly made me wonder if he would have been any different had Catherine of Aragon been able to provide him with an heir. An enthralling read.

My thanks to Headline Review for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown’ by Alison Weir.

This is Book 2 in Weir’s Tudor Rose Trilogy following ‘Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose’. It is a work of historical fiction that presents the reign of King Henry (Harry) from his viewpoint. As such it forms a companion to Weir’s excellent Six Tudor Queens series.

Prince Harry was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. This 16th Century Prince Harry was also a ‘spare’, not born to rule. He grows up dreaming of knights and chivalry. Then when his older brother, Arthur, unexpectedly dies, Harry becomes the Prince of Wales and later is crowned King Henry VIII of England.

Harry may rule England by divine right but he is ever conscious of the recent wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster that resulted in his father’s establishment of the Tudor dynasty. Yet until the birth of a male heir ensures the succession, the crown weighs heavy.

The story of King Henry’s six wives is a familiar one and Harry’s mercurial nature has him ever hopeful of finding love and a wife who will provide him with a healthy son. Time and again he meets disappointment. The distress to him and his wives when pregnancies ended in miscarriage, stillbirth, and short lives was palatable and certainly humanised him. Weir’s account highlighted the contrast between the idealistic young prince and his angry and troubled later years, a situation that was likely made worse by the constant pain of his leg that never fully healed after an injury during a joust.

Weir presents Harry as a complex man of many moods. In some ways he is quite naive and appears to be often manipulated by ambitious nobles and advisors at Court. She also presents the complex religious debates of the day in an accessible way. 

I have great trust in Weir’s level of historical accuracy and here she also incorporates lavish descriptions of the buildings, regalia, art objects, entertainments, and the like. It was very vivid and allowed for an immersive experience. I do feel that Weir has improved markedly in recent years as a fiction writer, more willing to enter her subjects’ heads and to express their feelings.

In her Author’s Note Weir writes of her desire to compliment her novels about Henry’s six wives by writing a novel from his point of view. She cites some of her decisions with the text, such as referring to him as Harry throughout. She follows the main text with extra material: a family tree of the English Royal House in 1547, a comprehensive Dramatis Personae, a timeline, and Reading Group Questions.

Overall, an excellent addition to Weir’s Tudor dynasty novels. The final book in the Tudor Rose Trilogy will feature Queen Mary I.

It is an interesting thing to read a book centred around a historical figure you hate. I am sure many people have Opinions about Henry VIII (he is the one historical figure you can pretty much guarantee most people in the UK will know about from school), and I have pretty strong ones. I have done enough research into the area to feel inclined to form one, and it is not a good opinion.

I am not quite sure if the book was trying to make the reader believe otherwise, but I did read it as a book about a vain, selfish, spoilt man who could not control his lusts and was too easily given to anger. To me, the book was a tragedy where Henry is the cause of his own misery, dismissing (and executing) the loyal over minor displeasures, leading him to a fraught playing off of sides with no one he could trust around him.

The book stays absolutely within Henry's perspective (the very misogynistic predominant opinion of the time.) I liked how, though you continually have Henry dismissing the women around him as lesser (save those he loves who are "rare examples" but still not equals), it was easy to tell that they were just saying what he wanted to hear, playing to his narrow expectations to get advancement.

HERNY VII; THE HEART AND THE CROWN has impressive scope, following his life from the death of his mother (where the previous book, ELIZABETH OF YORK; THE LAST WHITE ROSE breaks off) all the way to his own death. I enjoyed seeing almost his entire life in one (chonky) book - usually his reign is split across several books. It allowed the tragedy to be more obvious because you see the entire descent into disaster in one go.

When Henry's elder brother Arthur and not much later his mother Queen Elizabeth suddenly die, he must begin to prepare for his task as future king. Henry has his eye set on marrying Arthur's widow Catherine Of Aragon, but his father doesn't want to make an alliance with Spain just yet.

Alison Weir wrote six books about Henry VIII's wives, one about his mother Elizabeth Of York, and now finally gives voice to the larger-than-life figure himself. The book is called The heart and the crown in the UK and the king's pleasure in the US.

This novel covers almost Henry's entire life, from his mother's death to his own end. That isn't easy. Besides six wives, there has to be time for all the intrigues at court, his relationship with Wolsey, More and Cromwell and the complex foreign policy and wars going on.

It's a lot. And that forces Weir to do away with some important events in a few paragraphs. Weir stays truthful to the bulk of the facts - which is why his first two marriages account for half the book and the four others are disposed of in the second half (the last four wives just didn't take a long time). You can feel me coming: there isn't much depth.

I've only read the books of the first three women, but when reading about them I already had problems with how inconsistently Henry was portrayed. I was hoping this book was going to fix that. After all, it's about Henry himself now.

But we get a Henry who barely knows why he does or feels certain things. He is madly in love with his Kate - Catherine Of Aragon - but suddenly he isn't anymore. He passionately falls in love with Anne (which I liked) but already on the first night of their marriage - 7 years later, admittedly - he doubts his choice. Even the love for his Jane came across as strange.

Not to mention how double-minded he's about Thomas More, or his sudden hatred for Cromwell. Weir doesn't answer the questions we all still have today about his motives. Weir does put Henry himself at the steering wheel of the deaths of both Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard (though he doesn't really want the latter dead, but he feels compelled). But the why behind his actions remains unexamined.

In this book, we get a vain, power-hungry and jealous Henry who wants to be worshipped by everyone. Who is sex-crazed and quickly gets over his crushes. And who very much blames the failure to have a son on his wives. Henry is portrayed as a woman-killer and you just don't want that in a book about him, don't you think? Yet while reading, I couldn't help but lose my sympathy.

So should Henry VIII be portrayed as a likeable happy king? No, but this book feels like a huge missed opportunity to give an insight into his emotions and motives.

Still three stars after all? Tudor England was the perfect distraction during my move. For which I want to thank Weir!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loved that it was told from Henry VIII perspective.
Second in the Tudor Rose series.
He could not wait to feel the weight of the crown on his brow.
To be a great king it was essential to look the part and make a display of your magnificence.
He was finding the habit of authority came easily to him.
A new reign, a new era.
It was a big tome of a book at 600 pages.
However Alison’s easy style of writing helps you glide through the book, blending historical fact with the fictionalised feelings of the historical characters.
Brought so much more to life during this coronation week of King Charles III.
Can visualise the momentous occasions in history just like we’ve witnessed at the weekend.
Alison’s level of research is astounding.
I grew to love Henry which I didn’t think I would, seeing him as a youthful happy King, rather than the tyrant he later became.
Really showcased the political intrigue and betrayal of court life, Henry was always wary of who he could trust.
Thoroughly recommend for any historical fiction fan - don’t be put off by the size of the book.
Thanks @alisonweirbooks @headlinepeg & @netgalley for the eARC

When I was in primary school, the Tudor period was one of my favourite periods to learn about. It remains so, but unfortunately my knowledge is still not particularly thorough, so I was looking forward to reading Henry VIII: The Heart And The Crown. It's interesting that Weir has chosen to write from Henry's perspective as it gives the reader the opportunity to look at some of the reasons behind his behaviour, which at times appears rash and rude. The author is very good at building multidimensional characters and I really appreciated being able to sympathise (or otherwise) with them.

Alison Weir is extremely knowledgeable and she uses this knowledge to create an engaging and very descriptive story. Her attention to detail is phenomenal and I enjoyed learning about some of the disputes and extracurricular activities, which gave more context to the events of the period, but were (probably quite rightly!) omitted in my primary school lessons.

I must admit to feeling slightly overwhelmed by the length of the novel; however I completely understand that without the length the author would not be able to build such a comprehensive picture of Henry VIII's reign.

This is the second book in the Tudor Rose trilogy. The first one told the story of Elizabeth of York – Henry VIII’s mother (which I absolutely adored!) and this one is all about the man himself.

The story starts when Henry is a young boy and his beloved mother dies, following complications after giving birth. His mother’s death had huge implications on his life as he loved and respected her dearly.

Following his betrothal to Katherine of Aragon, Henry had to wait a good few years before he could marry her. In that period, he fell in love with Katherine, but the relationship with his father, Henry VII, deteriorated. His father was a strict man and Henry couldn’t please him, no matter what he did.

After six long years, when King Henry VII died, Henry became King and could marry Katherine. He had such high hopes for this marriage, however, the strain of pregnancies, still births and miscarriages has taken its toll on Katherine. She became more pious and there was a distance between them.

Henry VIII began to look elsewhere. He found happiness in the arms of Anne Boleyn. This book wonderfully portrayed Henry’s obsession with Anne. She was a selfish and spoilt woman, however, she couldn’t give him a son, therefore she had to go. I did have a feeling that the accusations against her were false and Henry just needed an excuse to get rid of her.

Then came the other marriages to Jane Seymour (who did give birth to a healthy son, Edward, but died days later), Anna of Cleves (annulled as he found her deeply unattractive), Katheryn Howard (she was accused of treason and sentenced to death), and Katharine Parr (who outlived him).

In this book, Alison Weir tried to portray Henry in a more humane light, rather than just a tyrant. When Henry first became King, he was generous and liked to throw lavish parties. He loved to participate in jousts and hunts, and in his spare time he would write songs.

However, the Great Matter (the period when he was seeking annulment from Katherine of Aragon) changed him. He became short tempered and impatient. He was also obsessed with having a male heir; he even said that females couldn’t be rules as they were ‘too feeble minded’. I did feel that he treated women as commodities, he only needed them so they could give him sons.

I can’t wait for the last book in this trilogy.

Thank you to Headline for approving my NetGalley request to read and review this title.

Love Alison Weir's well researched historical account of Henry VIII mixed with the fictionalisdd account of conversation & thoughts. Makes history so readable.

Henry VIII:The Heart and the Crown Alison Weir

5 stars

I have read many of Alison Weir’s books many years ago and have always enjoyed the way she brings history to life and really takes you into the Tudor World.

I have read the books on Henry’s reign from the point of view of his 6 wives but this time this book is from Henry’s point of view. He has always been a fascinating character mainly due to his 6 wives and the way the whole Church of England came into being in his reign.

However this book shows the human side of Henry, I have always thought that if only he and Katherine of Aragon could have had a male heir history would have been so different. I was not aware that Katherine had 8 stillborn births or babies that only lived for a short while. The book shows how happy they both were in their marriage and it was only the lack of a male heir that caused all the turmoil.

The other thing that was clearly exposed in this book was the difficulties Henry had in keeping his courtiers on side. He had his favourites but almost all through his life there was in fighting and everyone was vying for his favour. At the end of the day despite him being a king his life was full of tragedy, some of it his own making but also many events were not his fault. Alison Weir is still at the top of her game when it comes to Tudor history and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this era of British history.


Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley


Henry VIII:The Heart and the Crown Alison Weir

5 stars

I have read many of Alison Weir’s books many years ago and have always enjoyed the way she brings history to life and really takes you into the Tudor World.

I have read the books on Henry’s reign from the point of view of his 6 wives but this time this book is from Henry’s point of view. He has always been a fascinating character mainly due to his 6 wives and the way the whole Church of England came into being in his reign.

However this book shows the human side of Henry, I have always thought that if only he and Katherine of Aragon could have had a male heir history would have been so different. I was not aware that Katherine had 8 stillborn births or babies that only lived for a short while. The book shows how happy they both were in their marriage and it was only the lack of a male heir that caused all the turmoil.

The other thing that was clearly exposed in this book was the difficulties Henry had in keeping his courtiers on side. He had his favourites but almost all through his life there was in fighting and everyone was vying for his favour. At the end of the day despite him being a king his life was full of tragedy, some of it his own making but also many events were not his fault. Alison Weir is still at the top of her game when it comes to Tudor history and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this era of British history.


Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

I am always eager to read new books about the Tudor court and to learn new facts. This book introduces some lesser known details about King Henry the eight, his childhood friends, and how they proved their loyalty to him, his love for women, chivalrous and courtly love, the idea of defending the fairer sex, was probably due to having been brought up by strong female family members.
Henry loved the Arts, Scientific theories and Philosophy, Languages, he embraced learning and invited the greatest scholars of those times to his court, where he would enjoy long discussions with them. He didn’t enjoy the paperwork involved in State matters, he was sporty, loved hunting, archery and gaming. Rich clothes and jewellery, generous to worthy causes and sensitive to those who were loyal to him. He was willing to fight to maintain England’s status and power, but , he knew that a strong Kingdom depended upon a son and heir apparent, and he was painfully conscious that he had failed in that he only had an illegitimate son.at this time.
The plight of Katherine of Aragon is sympathetically described, the grief and torment of miscarriages and so many still born and barely lived children must have been heart breaking, that great suffering cannot be underestimated, no wonder she became more pious.
Anne Boleyn is introduced gradually. She only produced a daughter, Elizabeth, the affection she might have shown her daughter is best realised by the fact that Queen Elizabeth treasured a ring, that enclosed a picture of her late mother throughout her long reign.
A familiar story, but a more human, emotional man is revealed. Full of faults, but extreme cruelty came to the fore in later life. The Golden Prince was a hard ideal to live up to.
My thanks to Netgalley and Headline Review the publishers,for my advance digital copy, freely given in return for my honest review. I will leave a copy of this to Goodreads and Amazon UK.

We all know the story of Henry VIII and his Six Wives but most often the story is told from the perspective of the wronged wives. In this account, historian, Alison Weir brings us Henry's point of view, from his early days as a charismatic young king, to the irascible, and malevolent, old man who struck terror into the hearts of his people. Blending historical fact, with fiction, this book continues the Tudor Rose trilogy which began with The Last White Rose: A Novel of Elizabeth of York.

In Henry VIII : The Heart and the Crown, Alison Weir uses her considerable knowledge of the Tudor period to bring us this very personal look at Henry's life and his relationships, not just with his wives but also with those courtiers, and noblemen, who made up his coterie of advisors. And as you would expect from a historian who has written extensively about the Tudor age, the writing feels beautifully authentic, from the detailed descriptions of the clothes worn, the sumptuous foods eaten, and the lively entertainment which provided light relief in a court which was so often fraught with scandalous danger and political intrigue.

Coming in at over 700 pages, it takes quite an investment in time, however, the story is so well told that the pages almost turned themselves and I was soon back in time to the court of this infamous King who was never destined to be King of England however, the untimely death of his older brother, Arthur, meant that this spare went on to become one of the most notorious Kings in English history.