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Henry VIII in 100 Objects (Paperback)

The Tyrant King Who Had Six Wives

Colour Books Military > Frontline Books P&S History > British History > Tudors & Stuarts P&S History > Royal History P&S History > Social History Photographic Books

By Paul Kendall
Frontline Books
Series: In 100 Objects
Pages: 344
Illustrations: 100 colour illustrations
ISBN: 9781526767196
Published: 11th November 2021

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Henry VIII is one of history’s most memorable monarchs. Popularly known for his six wives, and the unfortunate fate which befell Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, Henry initiated many reforms and changes which still affect our lives today.

The annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon set in motion the separation of the English church from Rome and the establishment of the Church of England, which in turn led to the dissolution of the monasteries, the hauntingly evocative remains of which can be seen across the United Kingdom. Henry also oversaw the legal union between England and Wales, and he is also known as ‘the father of the Royal Navy’, with one of his great warships, the Mary Rose, lost in 1545 and recovered in 1982, becoming one of the most famous wrecks in maritime history.

In addition to the monasteries, other buildings around the UK continue to remind us of the times of the Tudors – there is the site of Greenwich Palace at the Royal Naval College Greenwich, where Henry was born; his great palace at Hampton Court; Lambeth Palace where Thomas More refused to sign the oath to make Henry the Head of the Church, and the Bell Tower in the Tower of London where More was imprisoned before he was beheaded.

Henry’s breach with the Pope led to the threat of war with Catholic France and Spain, which prompted Henry to construct a series of powerful forts around the English and Welsh coasts. These elegant and symmetrical defensive structures are still awe-inspiring.

In this engaging and hugely informative book, the author takes us on a journey across the country, from Deal Castle on the south coast, to Tower Green where Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard lost their heads, and far north to Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire. Along the way we see places where Henry stayed, where the Mary Rose was recovered, the homes of his consorts and Smithfield where prominent individuals convicted of heresy were burned at the stake. Travel, then, not just across the country, but also back in time through 100 objects from the days of the second Tudor monarch – Henry VIII.

I would recommend this book to all those interested in the Tudor period, but not only those interested in the Tudor monarchy. This book will appeal to those interested in the Tudor fleet and detail of the ship building of the time. It is a book that is easy to dip into or use as a reference book, as each object, event is described in a separate chapter. Highly recommended!

Alison Wall, Local history/ nursing and public health groups

I think this is a great book for lovers of history, and do recommend giving this a go.

Read the full review here

Life and Tea Blog

Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Henry VIII in 100 Objects: The Tyrant King Who Had Six Wives" is an extraordinarily informative and inherently fascinating introduction to the life and times of Henry VIII.

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Midwest Book Review

This book is another fantastic choice to better understand Henry VIII's personality. Although not having the depth of a biography, the text manages to make the reader retrace the footsteps of this great and terrible monarch.

Read the full Italian review here

Omne Ignotum Pro Magnifico

All in all, this is really well-written and illustrated book about the people, places and objects that would have been familiar to Henry VIII. A great addition to any bookshelf.

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Tudor Blogger

As featured by

Sussex Local Magazine, March 2021

This is a nice addition to the bookshelf of a Tudor enthusiast. Paul Kendall shows us Henry VIII through 100 objects linked to this infamous king. What can you expect to see inside? The book starts with memorial commemorating Henry VIII's birth where the Greenwich Palace once stood. The "objects" from this book are palaces and royal residences (Eltham, Tower, Hampton Court), tombs, abbeys, portraits, armours, letters and many others.

This is an original way of telling Henry's story and I loved every page. Good job!

Read the full review here

GoodReads, Constant Reader

Article: 'New book features Ipswich’s connection with King Henry VIII’ as featured by

Ipswich24, February 2021

Listed in the magazine’s Book Corner feature

Surrey Life, February 2021

The 100 objects series continues with Henry VIII, probably the most famous monarch in English history. Superb.

Books Monthly

This book looks at 100 objects connected with Henry VIII, one of the most well-known monarchs during his eventful life and six wives. Henry VIII’s life consisted of leaving the Rome and the commencement of the Church of England, known as the father of the Royal Navy, he was responsible for the making of the Mary Rose, possible war with both France and Spain, building a number of castles and fort throughout England and Wales. This is all before we even start talking about his marriages to six women, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr.

A large and glossy type book full of excellent and pristine photographs of many items and places that shaped the life of one of England’s most fascinating kings. What makes the book great is that you have 100 objects, from former homes, items of war, execution sites, portraits, clothing, jewellery etc but it’s the added story and information surrounding information that help tell the story of Henry VIII and all the people in his life. I’ve read a few of these books from this series, U-Boats at War, Home Front in WW2, the First Blitz & the Third Reich they are all high quality books with excellent objects/photographs. They are like the ideal ‘coffee table’ books, and with that you have them written by top class author who really know their field. A highly recommended book and if you thought you knew everything about Henry VIII, you haven’t read this book.

5 stars

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UK Historian

Lavishly illustrated, with around 200 colour photographs, it's the sort of book you would be happy to leave on a coffee table for guests to glance through – and if you have any interest at all in history, you'll enjoy dipping into it yourself.

Read the full review here

Lost Cousins

About Paul Kendall

Educated at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, where he also served as an Honorary Midshipman with the University of London Royal Naval Unit, PAUL KENDALL is a military historian and author from Kent specialising in the First World War.

Born on this day - Catherine of Aragon

16th December 1485

Married Henry VIII after first husband Arthur, Henry's brother, died. The subsequent divorce led to the Reformation in England and schism with Rome.


Born on this day 1491 - Henry VIII

28th June 1491

Henry was the second Tudor monarch after his father, Henry VII. During his forty-year reign he led England through a series of intense changes, most notably the English Reformation, England's separation from the Roman Catholic Church.


King Henry VIII married his first wife Catherine of Aragon

11th June 1509

King Henry VIII married his first wife Catherine of Aragon, widow of his brother Arthur.


Born on this day - Anne of Cleves

22nd September 1515

Queen of England from January 6, 1540 to July 9, 1540 as the fourth wife of King Henry VIII. After their marriage was annulled, she became known as the King's Beloved Sister. She lived to see the coronation of Mary Tudor as Queen Mary I, outliving Henry's other five wives.


Henry VIII recognised as supreme head of Church in England

8th March 1531

Henry VIII recognised as supreme head of Church in England by the Convocation of Canterbury


King Henry VIII of England & Catherine of Aragon divorce

23rd May 1533

King Henry VIII of England & Catherine of Aragon's marriage declared null & void by authority English clergy not the Pope.


English King Henry VIII married Jane Seymour

30th May 1536

English King Henry VIII married Jane Seymour, his 3rd wife


King Henry VIII marries Anne of Cleves

4th October 1539

Henry VIII marries Anne of Cleves, his 4th wife.


Henry VIII marries Catherine Howard

28th July 1540

1540 English King Henry VIII (49) marries Catherine Howard (16 or 17), his 5th wife


Henry VIII dies, aged 55

28th January 1547

Henry VIII was King of England from 21st April 1509 until his death. He was also Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) and claimant to the Kingdom of France. Besides his six marriages, Henry VIII is known for his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry's struggles with Rome led to the separation of the Church of England from papal authority, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and establishing himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. Henry VIII was buried in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, next to his wife Jane Seymour.


View all events View all anniversaries

Perfect Partner

Henry VIII: A History of his Most Important Places and Events (Hardback)

The story of Henry VIII is well known: he is famed throughout the world as the charismatic king of England who married six wives (and executed two of them), who broke with Rome and dissolved England’s monasteries, and who grew from a Renaissance prince into a lustful, egotistical and callous tyrant. He is the subject of scholarly and popular biographies and of numerous fictional works, from John Fletcher and William Shakespeare’s jointly authored play Henry VIII to contemporary novels, films and TV series. But this book tells the story of Henry VIII in a very different way to any of these:…

By Andrew Beattie

Click here to buy both titles for £33.75
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