Henry VIII: The Mask of Royalty
by Lacey Baldwin Smith
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Description
The Henry VIII of popular legend and historical fiction is a bacchanalian figure of gargantuan proportions. Historical fact, however, is another matter. A deeply insecure man constantly in need of reassurance, a ritualist, a prude unsure of his prowess and easily embarrassed by sex - these are the faces which Lacey Baldwin Smith reveals hidden behind the mask of royalty. Opening with Henry on his death bed, a monstrous bloated figure ravaged by pain, disease and suspicion, the story revolves show more around the crucial last five years of his reign (1552-7). With old-age creeping up on him, and his sixth wife, Catherine Parr at his side, Henry's true personality began to reveal itself. How the once cautious pedant and competent administrator turned into the neurotic and dangerous tyrant is the subject of Lacey Baldwin Smith's biography. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I've read much on the Tudors and this is not my favorite biography of Henry VIII. It is well-done and the scholarship is superb. I also award L. Baldwin Smith credit for trying a different approach. But I greatly prefer a "standard" biographical method and do not want something clever or groundbreaking. I found myself thinking when reading this, that afterwards I would have to go read a real bio to fill in the blanks and find what "really" happened. His premise is interesting; I do not entirely disagree with it.
I found it disappointing; too interested in psychological speculation
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Author Information
19+ Works 1,571 Members
Lacey Baldwin Smith is an emeritus professor of history at Northwestern University.
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1971
- People/Characters
- Henry VIII, King of England
- Important events
- Reign of Henry VIII (1509-04-21 | 1547-01-28)
- Dedication
- To
J.R.S.
and Timi
in conjunction with
Mac and Dennie - First words
- That "serene and invincible prince" Henry VIII lay dying; pomp and pride had been laid aside for the naked end of life where "worms shall lie under thee, and worms shall be thy covering.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)There it is best to leave that 'very rare spectacle of humanity" which once had contained multitudes and was judged "the rarest man that lived in his time."
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 942.05 — History & geography History of Europe England and Wales England 1485-1603, Tudors
- LCC
- DA332 .S63 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Great Britain History of Great Britain England History By period Modern, 1485- Tudors, 1485-1603
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 135
- Popularity
- 242,415
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.56)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 6
