The Six Wives of Henry VIII

By: Alison Weir

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

This acclaimed best seller from popular historian Alison Weir is a fascinating look at the Tudor family dynasty and its most infamous ruler. The Six Wives of Henry VIII brings to life England’s oft-married monarch and the six wildly different but equally fascinating women who married him. Gripping from the first sentence to the last and loaded with fascinating details, Weir’s rich history is a perfect blend of scholarship and entertainment.

©1991 Alison Weir (P)2002 Recorded Books

Easy Tudor History

If you could sum up The Six Wives of Henry VIII in three words, what would they be?

Easy. Factual. Deep.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Six Wives of Henry VIII?

It was very fascinating to learn so much about Henry's first queen. All of the queens are well researched. Weir leaves no stone unturned.

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Prebble is a smart performer. He is very dry in a way that makes the book easy to follow. This book is written in a historical/academic way. His style doesn't subtract from its nature.

Historical telling

Excellent. this is not a Historical fiction but more of a telling of the lives of Henry's various wives. the narrator though tells it in such away it is like reading a novel and not listening to a history lecture. It keeps you enthralled even if you know the various tales of each wives, It gives details and at the same time leaves you wanting to learn more.

Fascinating

Not only is this an in-depth look at the lives of the queens, but also a telling narrative of what it meant to be born a “high ranking” female in that time. Having previously read, The Five, a story about the five victims of Jack the Ripper in Victorian England, it was interesting to realize the striking similarities between those women of rank and “lowly” women over the span of that roughly 350 years.

HAIL TO THE QUEENS!

This was a great book from start to finish, so much information about each queen. It also talks of his three children and there upbringing.

Enthralling

If you could sum up The Six Wives of Henry VIII in three words, what would they be?

Captivating, spine chilling

Who was your favorite character and why?

Every character is given equal weight by this most accomplished author. I have read many books on this period in the past, but they all had a bias.

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

His tone of voice was evenly modulated, even when describing the most horrific torture. He let the story talk.

Any additional comments?

I am searching for any other books by this author.