We all think we know Henry VIII.

A huge man in cloth of gold, hands on hips, staring down from a Holbein portrait.
Six wives. Two beheaded.
Monasteries destroyed.
Rome defied.

But the real Henry is far more complex — and far more frightening.

In this Beginner’s Guide to Henry VIII, I take you from his birth in 1491 to his death in 1547, exploring the rise of a charming Renaissance prince… and the fall into tyranny that changed England forever.

You’ll discover:

• How Henry went from second son to king at 17
• His early talents — theology, music, languages, sport
• His achievements: the navy, Parliament, the English Bible, the break with Rome
• Why he didn’t die a Protestant
• The truth behind the six wives and the politics of each marriage ...