In the Lion's Court: Power, Ambition and Sudden Death in the Reign of Henry VIII

In the last few years Henry seems to have become a popular subject for television and novels; most presenting him as a sympathetic figure, balked of true love. Wilson paints him as those who knew him best saw him, as a vicious tyrant. This is a refreshing (in the literal sense of the word) perspective. How did Henry rule, what did he expect from his chief ministers, how did they fulfill his wishes (and manage to fulfill their own) and what happened when they failed their royal master...these are the questions tackled here. A considerable amount of attention is devoted to the role that religion played at court. This is not a biography of Henry VIII, nor a history of Henry's life and times. The book presupposes the reader's knowledge of the highpoints of Henry's life and reign. It is not an overview of the Tudor period, and does not provide "a day in the life" perspective. It is not recommended for the reader who does not already know the general outline of the Tudor period. For those who do know, it provides excellent detail and reasoned perspective absent from more general works.

I've continued to check this book out of the library until I finally decided to buy a copy for my personal reference. Wilson uses primary accounts quite well and convincingly to practically examine the political affairs of Henry VIII's court. It has some surprising perspectives that aren't usually associated with Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, and the notorious Thomas Howard. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone that has an enjoyment of Tudor England because the figures covered in this book were what put the Tudors on the European map. Wilson makes a pretty convincing argument to remember Henry's six thomases sooner than his six wives.

I recently read Alison Weir's "Henry VIII: The King And His Court" and it was interesting to read Derek Wilson's book covering Henry's reign, but looked at from a different perspective. Ms. Weir concentrated more on people and personalities, especially Henry's wives. Mr. Wilson chose to concentrate more on politics and religion. Both books are rewarding and since the approach taken by each author is different you get a fuller picture of the times by reading both.I suppose the main thought you are left with after reading Mr. Wilson's book is what a precarious existence anyone connected with Henry's court led! We are not just talking about his wives but anyone involved in the political or religious life of the court. As Henry got older and his once robust health began to deteriorate he became very moody and unpredictable. Both Wilson and Weir make the point that Henry was very athletic up until he was about 40 years old or so. He was a very vain man and could not accept his physical decline. He was also used to getting his own way and couldn't tolerate it when his desires and wishes were thwarted. He could be genial one moment and lash out verbally or physically the next. He could be ruthless if he felt that you couldn't give him what he wanted. In that case you were disposable- as several wives found out, as well as people such as Thomas Wolsey and Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell. You come away wondering why anyone would marry this man or choose to work for him. It was like being next to a ticking timebomb.....One example will suffice to show that there were seemingly no limits to Henry's ruthlessness. When he was intent on having his son as his heir he wanted his daughter Mary (by Catherine of Aragon) to assure him that she would not "give any trouble" about the succession. He sent over Thomas Cromwell and the Duke of Norfolk to play "good cop, bad cop". Cromwell was the "good cop" and when it became clear that his approach wasn't doing the trick, Norfolk screamed at Mary and told her that if "she were his daughter he would smash her head against the wall until it was as soft as a boiled apple".Violent times they were, and filled with violent people. Henry, without flinching, would allow the burning of "heretics", including digging up someone found after death to have been a "heretic" and having the corpse burned. You could be sent to the Tower of London at the drop of a hat, and be in constant fear that it was not only your hat that might drop off....Try both of these books, as they complement each ther nicely and are in no way redundant. I don't think you will be disappointed!

England's King Henry VIII has already been extensively discussed in various books as well as portrayed in a number of plays and films. Why another book? In his Introduction, Wilson acknowledges that much attention has been devoted to Henry's six wives (Three Catherines, two Annes, and a Jane) and shares this mnemonic:"Divorced, beheaded, died,Divorced, beheaded, survived."and then observes: "I propose a different set of relationships which I believe offers a more illuminating approach to the court and government of Henry VIII. Specifically, Wilson focuses his primary attention on six Thomases: Wolsey, More, Cromwell, Howard, Wriothesley, and Cramner. "I can even suggest an alternative mortuary mnemonic, although one admittedly not so trippingly off the tongue.Died, beheaded, beheaded,Self-slaughtered, burned, survived."Henry's VIII's relationships with all six serve as the basis of Wilson's narrative. There were lions in London at that time ("the King's Beasts") housed in the Tower menagerie and a major tourist attraction. More once compared the king's court to a lion pit "in which the magnificent and deadly king of beasts held sway."Of the six, More interests me the most. One of my favorite plays and films is A Man for All Seasons. (In the film, More is brilliantly portrayed by Paul Scofield.) In both, Robert Bolt focuses on More's rectitude which threatens and infuriates Henry and eventually results in More's execution. Thus presented, More is a tragic but noble political victim and religious martyr, later canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. He is no less admirable as portrayed by Wilson but, in my opinion, is much more complicated than Bolt and others suggest. For years, More skillfully navigated his way through a court ("a lion pit") characterized by what Wilson refers to as its "seamy realities": "The royal entourage was a vicious, squirming world of competing ambitions and petty feuds, guilty secrets and salacious prudery,. Courtiers, vulnerable to threats and bribes, could be induced to perjure themselves, to exaggerate amorous incidents which were innocent in the context of stylised chivalric convention, to indulge personal vendettas....Over all these momentous happenings looms the larger-than-life figure of Henry VIII, powerful and capricious yet always an enigma." In certain respects, this book reads as if it were a novel. It has a compelling narrative, dozens of unique characters, all manner of conflicts and intrigues which create great tension throughout, and a number of themes such as power, ambition, loyalty, betrayal, piety, terror, and (for most of the main characters) ignominious death. Wilson draws upon a wealth of primary sources to ensure the validity of his historical facts. However, some readers may question his interpretation of those facts. (A non-historian, I consider myself unqualified to do so.) Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Alison Weir's Henry VIII as well as The Six Wives of

Just finished the above book and found it very interesting. It tells the story of six men, all with the first name of Thomas, and what they did during the reign of Henry Vlll. It is definitely not a book for someone who has no idea of the Tudor court and only remembers that Henry had six wives. These wives are only mentioned in passing, except for Anne Boleyn who rates a few more pages, and will be a disappointment to those expecting an easy read.It looks at the men behind the throne and how they maneuvered themselves into positions of great power at whatever cost. Great detail and simply fascinating. Some of it is a little hard going, but those passages don't last long. I really liked it when Mr Wilson compared 500 years ago with what happens today. Not much has changed!