MP3 Audios - Biography

The first of his wives was Catherine of Aragon, the pious Catholic princess who suffered years of miscarriages and still births and yet failed to produce a male heir.

As Henry VIII's interest shifted from her powerful Hapsburg relations and drifted towards France, so began his obsession with the pretty Lutheran Anne Boleyn.

Jane Seymour's submissiveness was in contrast to Anne's vampish style – and Henry married her on the day of Anne's execution. Jane died soon after giving birth to the longed-for son.

There followed a farcical 'beauty contest' which ended in the short marriage of the now grossly overweight Henry to 'the mare of Flanders', Anne of Cleves.

The final part of Six Wives contrasts the two Catherines – Catherine Howard, the flirty child whose adulteries made a fool of the ageing King, and Catherine Parr, the shrewd, religiously radical bluestocking.

Having read many books on this period I was doubtful as to whether Mr.Starkey could add anything more. I have to say I found this a very enjoyable and instructive "listen". The details were well laid out and I didn't find myself losing interest at any time. Patricia Hodge does an excellent reading job. My only criticism is that I was left wanting more, where there is, most likely, little more to be had.