Alternatively, she could've written a seperate volume on Edward III's sons through to Henry V to cover the earlier period.Last word: 'The Wars of the Roses' is a very good read, but drags and overwhelms at times.

Had the author not begun so far in advance of the wars and instead summed up all those earlier times in one concise chapter, and subsequently started the main course with the births of Henry VI and the Duke of York, surely that would've simplified things, making it more accessible. In short, thorough research is comendable, but name-checking anyone and everyone is a little overwheilming. It was hard to keep up with the players, a bit like reading a work of fiction with too many characters. Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown: this novel makes Henry VIII s story feel like it has never been told before (Tracy Borman) Alison Weir 3 Reviews Historical fiction Trade Paperback 9781472278098 RRP 32.99 Pre-Order Hardback 9781472278081 RRP 59. I'm interested in all eras of pre-WW1 England, but it tends to annoy me when I choose to read a biography on a historic period or personage, yet spend page after page reading about a different topic or persons.At times it also felt like reading information overload. Even so, I feel this could've been condensed, as it feels too off-topic. At his death in 1547, King Henry VIII left four heirs to the English throne: his only son, the nine-year-old Prince Edward the Lady Mary, the adult daughter of his first wife, Catherine of Aragon the Lady Elizabeth, the daughter of his second wife, Anne Boleyn, and his young great-niece, the Lady Jane Grey. I think there was too much time devoted to the period building up the wars, though I understand why we get coverage of Richard II, Henry IV, & Henry V's reigns. Publication date 2001 Topics Henry VIII, King of England, 1491-1547., Henry VIII, King of England, 1491-1547 - Relations with courts and courtiers., Great Britain - Court and courtiers - History - 16th century., Great Britain - History - Henry VIII, 1509-1547., Great Britain - Kings and rulers - Biography. This is another of Alison Weir's thoroughly researched biographies, this time covering one of the most facinating periods of English history.My interest in the Wars of the Roses, along with Alison Weir being one of my favourite authors, should've meant that this would be one of the best books I've ever read.

Henry VIII by Alison Weir