Sign in with Facebook
Jodi's Reviews > Henry VIII: And the Men Who Made Him
Henry VIII: And the Men Who Made Him
by
by
Tracy Borman's Henry VIII and the Men Who Made Him offers a unique premise. Rather than focusing on Henry’s larger-than-life personality and his many marriages, Borman shifts the spotlight to the advisors, confidants, and rivals who influenced his decisions, shaped his reign and his larger-than-life personality.
Figures like Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, and Thomas Cromwell the dynamic players in the often-dangerous political climate. The rise and fall of men as powerful as these and as vital to Henry as his fool, Will Somers, and Court painter, Hans Holbein, were fully aware of Henry’s volatile nature and shifting priorities (comrades became execution victims). The men serving Henry did not always juggle their political ambition and personal loyalty successfully in this era of domestic and international change.
This reviewer appreciated Borman’s accessible writing style and was very pleased to see more academic rigor and bibliographic citations than in some more recent titles. Unfortunately, she still conveys information as fact with no support (see below) and she bit off a tad too much. Perhaps she could have highlighted the men who served Henry the longest, or even during a set time period of his reign and delved into their histories deeper. It seemed a bit too detailed over some areas (a lot of descriptions of Henry, his ‘Great Matter,� and the role of Chapuys the Spanish Ambassador) and vague in others—to the point of it seemed as if men’s names and actions were inserted in a page just to be sure to cover them. Also, we saw Henry’s huge personality (his charm, his cruelty) and its effect on the relationships around him, but not always how the men made him.
Just two examples of speculation with no support:
Do we know that Henry “was painfully aware of how far he was from achieving the vision of kingship that he had confidently embraced at the beginning of his reign� p 177
On page 195 Borman says that “Wolsey was quietly working against the annulment�. Where is the proof? What did he do besides “firmly believe� that Henry staying with Catherine was the best option?
Figures like Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, and Thomas Cromwell the dynamic players in the often-dangerous political climate. The rise and fall of men as powerful as these and as vital to Henry as his fool, Will Somers, and Court painter, Hans Holbein, were fully aware of Henry’s volatile nature and shifting priorities (comrades became execution victims). The men serving Henry did not always juggle their political ambition and personal loyalty successfully in this era of domestic and international change.
This reviewer appreciated Borman’s accessible writing style and was very pleased to see more academic rigor and bibliographic citations than in some more recent titles. Unfortunately, she still conveys information as fact with no support (see below) and she bit off a tad too much. Perhaps she could have highlighted the men who served Henry the longest, or even during a set time period of his reign and delved into their histories deeper. It seemed a bit too detailed over some areas (a lot of descriptions of Henry, his ‘Great Matter,� and the role of Chapuys the Spanish Ambassador) and vague in others—to the point of it seemed as if men’s names and actions were inserted in a page just to be sure to cover them. Also, we saw Henry’s huge personality (his charm, his cruelty) and its effect on the relationships around him, but not always how the men made him.
Just two examples of speculation with no support:
Do we know that Henry “was painfully aware of how far he was from achieving the vision of kingship that he had confidently embraced at the beginning of his reign� p 177
On page 195 Borman says that “Wolsey was quietly working against the annulment�. Where is the proof? What did he do besides “firmly believe� that Henry staying with Catherine was the best option?
Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read
Henry VIII.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
January 2, 2025
–
Started Reading
January 10, 2025
–
Finished Reading
January 11, 2025
– Shelved
