King Henry VIII
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King Henry VIII Details
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
Reviews
It’s easy to dismiss Henry VIII as just another exercise in Tudor propaganda. The closing prophecy of the grandeur of Elizabeth’s reign is admittedly a bit much, even for the language of the day.But within the play there are interesting characterizations which go far in understanding the myths that have grown around that pivotal era. Wolsey is the typical Protestant caricature of the Catholic prelate—concerned with wealth and grandeur and not with souls—while Katherine of Aragon is the quintessential faithful wife. Cranmer represents the Protestant turn towards simplicity of life and worship. How far are we from Wolf Hall?Popular in its time for its portrayal of the pageantry of court, it makes sense that it is rarely seen today. But reading it does give one an understanding of the Tudor position of the early seventeenth century as well as helping one see the creation of the myths around the separation from Rome. Worth reading even if not Shakespeare’s best.