The King's Pleasure
Alison Weir
The New York Times bestselling author of the Six Tudor Queens series explores the private side of the legendary king Henry VIII and his dramatic and violent reign in this extraordinary historical novel. Having completed her Six Tudor Queens series of novels on the wives of Henry VIII, extensively researched and written from each queen’s point of view, Alison Weir now gives Henry himself a voice, telling the story of his remarkable thirty-six-year reign and his six marriages. Young Henry began his rule as a magnificent and chivalrous Renaissance prince who embodied every virtue. more
593 pages, Hardcover
First published Ballantine Books
4.05
Rating
2037
Ratings
311
Reviews
Alison Weir
84 books 7482 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
Community reviews
Having actually enjoyed Alison Weir’s nonfiction book on Medieval English queens, I jumped on the chance to read this novel about Henry VIII — but in the end it left me cold. And I think I’ve narrowed it down to a couple of big issues that kept irking me. First of all, I’m not sure if this book knows what it wants to be. A novel wanting to be a biography. A biography trying to get novelized. more
After renowned British royal author Alison Weir wrapped up her "Six Queens" Tudor historical fiction series, I was delighted to learn that she would next write from the point of view of King Henry VIII. What a fitting wrap up to this whole, luxurious collection. At the same time, this is the next installment to its predecessor, "The Last White Rose", which recounted the history of his mother and father. This tome is over 500 pages and felt like it. It begins as his beloved mother dies and his older brother (and Prince of Wales) Arthur marries Princess Katherine of Aragon, and ends with King Henry VIII's death. more
6/17b well I’m still in the “we shall have no nan bullen “ stage, but I got to thinking…could Henry and Anne be considered a medieval toxic couple. I’m still standing by what I typed in part a, but they just seem to me to be a prototype of the modern couples who if singular would have never participated in such heinous acts, but together they were total poison. Just slap a skull and crossbones on their crowns. I dont know why I’ve never contemplated this. They can both be described as despicable. more
The second book in Alison Weir’s Tudor Rose series is just as detailed and well written the first (which follows Henry’s mother Elizabeth of York. ) And once again expertly blends historical fact with a deft, fictionalised rendering of the innermost thoughts, feelings (loves and grievances) of the infamous King Henry VIII. I was genuinely surprised by how nuanced and compelling Alison Weir’s Henry was. And really enjoyed getting to see just how different this happy, youthful and chivalrous young king Henry was in comparison to the resentful, jealous and irrational tyrant he later became. It’s an incredibly realistic and humanising portrayal, that really showcased the political power-struggles at play during the time, and how woefully ill-prepared Henry was in navigating the power hungry and scheming fishbowl of court life. more
This is the second book in the Tudor Rose trilogy. The first one told the story of Elizabeth of York – Henry VIII’s mother (which I absolutely adored. ) and this one is all about the man himself. The story starts when Henry is a young boy and his beloved mother dies, following complications after giving birth. His mother’s death had huge implications on his life as he loved and respected her dearly. more
Described as ‘Alison Weir’s most ambitious novel yet’, I looked forward to reading her latest work, Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown, (entitled ‘The King’s Pleasure’ in the US). At some six-hundred pages, this is indeed an ambitious attempt to cover the life of one of our most notorious, complex, and controversial kings. Having given each of his wives the chance to put her point of view, Alison says Henry deserved the right of reply, and it was time for this book to be written. She does confess to wondering if she could do justice to such a ‘larger than life’ figure. I was initially thrown by her decision to name the king ‘Harry’ throughout, in the interests of making him seem more accessible. more
When Weir finished the Six Wives series with Katharine Parr, I thought that was going to be the end. Having Henry tell “his side of the story” was simultaneously a surprise and also felt logical… because of course he of all people would want the final say. The book starts with the death of Henry’s mother, proceeds through each of his marriages (with the majority of the book being dedicated to Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn), major events during his reign, and finally the story ends with his death. This is a monumental amount of ground to cover in one book. I can imagine how daunting this was to write because it was also pretty daunting to read. more
My Recommendation I must preface this review with full disclosure…I am a rabid Tudor fan. From the Showtime series The Tudors to Six on Broadway. From the bodice ripping Phillipa Gregory series(which I have reread) to the literary masterpiece of the Hillary Mantel Cromwell books( which I also read more that once). I have also read the six book series by this author on the Tudor queens. So needless to say I was excited to read this book. more
To be fair, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Henry VIII (his wives, yes, but not so much Henry), so a 500+ page novel written from his perspective didn't really endear me to the man. Henry is a frustrating character - smart, but also a little too willing to believe the flattery of the courtiers around him. He also is dedicated to a particular view of himself - as a warrior king that he leaves the actual government of England in the hands of others (some of whom were more capable than others). And then, there's the wives. This novel is likely true to Henry's perspective on the women he married (but almost certainly not their perspective on him). more
I’m a huge fan of Tudor historical fiction. I’ve read so many books on this era of history but most have been focused on the females telling their story such as Weir’s previous series of the six wives of Henry VIII or the first book in this series which is about Henry’s mother. This is the first time I’ve read a book from King Henry VIII’s point of view and I found it fascinating. And completely believable with few embellishments. I completely agree that Henry refused to see the truth and mostly lived in his own little made up world. more
A great book written by Alison Weir which continues the Tudor Rose series. I read the first book in the series, Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose, and I admire how Alison Weir has chosen Henry to continue the series. It is a perfect way to continue the series. I enjoyed reading this fictionalised account of Henry's life. However, Alison Weir included historical accuracy woven into this. more
This book is the second part of The Tudor Rose series. The first, The Last White Rose, follows the life of Henry VIII's mother Elizabeth of York . I have not read that book and it did not hinder my reading and enjoyment of this second one. I am assuming that the first covers the time up to Henry's birth as The Heart and the Crown picks up the story in 1503 when the young Henry would have been about twelve years of age. For my full review please visit my blogat:https://leftontheshelfbookblog. more
The King's Pleasure: A Novel of Henry VIII by Alison Weir is an excellent historical fiction that gives us the voice and story of Henry VIII through his own personal account. This is the second book in the Tudor Rose series. I just loved it. I have read almost every book Alison Weir has written (I’ve got two left. ), and I have loved every one. more
The concept of “popular history” has proven to be a bone of contention between writers who engage in the genre and more academic historians. According to one definition popular history is “dramatic storytelling often prevails over analysis, style over substance, simplicity over complexity, and grand generalization over careful qualification. ” In response author Alison Weir argues that history is not only for academic historians who engage in deep research and hope to uncover a new thesis that plays well in the academic community. For Weir the author of seventeen works of historical non-fiction and fourteen works of historical fiction history belongs to all of us and if it is written in an entertaining manner based on extensive research it can be labeled “popular,” if so I am proud to be one of its practitioners. Weir’s latest work of historical “popular” fiction is THE KING’S PLEASURE: A NOVEL OF HENRY VIII, a novel that purports to tell its reading audience the life of the outsized English monarch from his point of view. more
Alison Weir has, literally, decades of experience researching the lives of English royalty. Her wonderful books about the Queens of England are excellent, but she realized that while she had written several books about the wives of Henry VIII, the Monarch himself had yet to be broached. She rectifies this omission with this superb historical fiction about the life of Henry VIII. Told in Four Seasons. In Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter we go through the various periods of Henry's life. more
Alison Weir does a phenomenal job bringing history to life in this book and showing a more human side to Henry VIII. She writes with a high level of authenticity, and everything seems to be very well researched. The King's Pleasure is told from Henry's POV, and that was a nice change from other books of the era that I've read. Overall, this was a great read and a nice addition to the other Tudor era novels written by Alison Weir. I received a complimentary copy of this book. more
As a fan of Alison Weir’s writing, I know I can lean on her works to have a strong factual foundation. The King’s Pleasure is no different. A year by year fictional account of Henry VIII’s life, this novel is a treat for any Tudor lover. Details give the thoughts of the king throughout. We are privy to his reasons (based on Weir’s research) behind so many historical decisions. more
A disappointing retelling of Tudor HistoryThanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Headline Books, for a digital ARC of this book. I have written this honest review voluntarily. I gave up on this novel at 20%. I don’t like to give up, but I felt I was wasting my time on this. My review is based on the first 20% and I didn’t flick through to see if it improves. more
Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown is the second book in Alison Weir’s new Tudor Rose trilogy: three novels exploring the lives of Elizabeth of York, Henry VIII and Mary I, three generations of the Tudor family. It also works as a companion to her earlier Six Tudor Queens series, which told the stories of Henry’s six wives. This novel is quite unusual because it’s the first I’ve read by Weir to be written from a male perspective. So many of today’s historical fiction authors are choosing to focus on historical women, particularly those who have been forgotten or neglected, I feel that famous male figures like Henry VIII are currently less ‘fashionable’ subjects. As there’s also been so much written about him in the past, I wondered whether this book would have anything new to offer. more
2. 5When I talk about historical fiction, I tend to judge and talk about the real people within the book as if they were characters. The author is providing their interpretation of a character we have met before. As we can never truly judge them as actual people because the way they behave within these novels is not the 100% truth, because there is so much we will never know and have answers for. Like we dont know why Anne and Henry wore yellow, we will never know. more
This is the second book in the author's Tudor Rose trilogy. It is also Alison Weir’s first fiction novel told from the view of a male. I was excited to read something written from Henry VIII’s point of view since most novels about him are about his wives and from their point of view. I’ve already read Weir’s Six Tudor Queens series, so I have her perspective in that aspect, but they are not necessary to read to read this book. The book starts with the death of Elizabeth of York and how affected Henry was by it. more
It is through my travels in England and the books I’ve read by Alison Weir and Philippa Gregory that I have a modest understanding of several centuries of British royalty. Weir makes history readable and accessible. And I can count on her books to be well researched with sources documented. She has previously written about all of the wives of Henry VIII so I guess it makes sense that he gets his own book. At just over 500 pages there is a lot of life to read through. more
The King's Pleasure is the most recent historical fiction by Alison Weir, a titan in the world of historical fiction. After spending many novels focusing on the experiences of the wives of Henry VIII, this book intended to look at the life of the king himself. Beginning after the death of his mother in 1503 and ending with his own death in 1547, The King's Pleasure follows Harry through his many marriages, the births of his children, and his changing perspectives on religion and justice. At nearly 600 pages, this book is a tome, and it definitely read like one. While very interesting, this is a dense book packed with history and full of sorrow. more
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I'm not a huge fan of Henry VIII, but, after enjoying the Six Tudor Queens series, I was curious to read the story of his reign from his point of view. Even though I didn't much care for Henry's character, I really enjoyed the book overall. The historical research, the richness of the setting and the constant political intrigue made the story very enjoyable. Henry's different relationships with his wives, courtiers, friends and enemies were also all well portrayed and interesting. more
This is not good. It's way, way, way too long. It's mostly a boring, detailed account of Henry's actual historical life with little fiction or even story elements. In addition, the reader is in Henry's mind. He has very small thoughts. more
There is no denying Alison Weir’s book, Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown is an ambitious book. It covers the period between Elizabeth of York’s death in 1503 through to Henry VIII’s death in 1547, even in 600 pages some events feel rushed, while others seem to move at a snail’s pace. When his brother Arthur dies in childhood, Harry is crowned King of England. The man has it all, power, influence, intellect, but despite his status he is unable to have a son with his wife, Katherine. He becomes obsessed with having a legitimate male heir to carry on the Tudor dynasty when he is gone. more
I read this with the Pigeonhole. I found it a bit of a slog but can't fault the amount of historical detail that is packed in (sometimes reading as exposition rather than natural sounding dialogue). I wished there were footnotes so that I did not need to resort to google so much. My attitude to the book might have been different had I not already read (and loved) Hilary Mantel on the same subject. I might have given up long before the end, but wanted to read Alison Weir's take on Katherine Parr as there is a film about her coming out soon. more
When Henry’s elder brother Arthur and not much later his mother Queen Elizabeth suddenly die, he must begin to prepare for his task as future king. Henry has his eye set on marrying Arthur’s widow Catherine Of Aragon, but his father doesn’t want to make an alliance with Spain just yet. Alison Weir wrote six books about Henry VIII’s wives, one about his mother Elizabeth Of York, and now finally gives voice to the larger-than-life figure himself. The book is called The heart and the crown in the UK and the king’s pleasure in the US. This novel covers almost Henry’s entire life, from his mother’s death to his own end. more
Got halfway before I quit. It was excessively long and dull. more
My thanks to Headline Review for an eARC and to Headline Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown’ by Alison Weir. The audiobook is narrated by Elliot Fitzpatrick. This is Book 2 in Weir’s Tudor Rose Trilogy following ‘Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose’. It is a work of historical fiction that presents the reign of King Henry (Harry) from his viewpoint. As such it forms a companion to Weir’s excellent Six Tudor Queens series. more