“WEIR’S BOOK OUTSHINES ALL PREVIOUS STUDIES OF HENRY. Beautifully written exhaustive in its research it is a gem. . . . She succeeds masterfully in making Henry and his six wives . . . come alive for the reader.”–Philadelphia InquirerHenry VIII renowned for his command of power and celebrated for his intellect presided over one of the most magnificent–and dangerous–courts in Renaissance Europe. Never before has a detailed personal biography of this charismatic monarch been set against the cultural social and political background of his glittering court. Now Alison Weir author of the finest royal chronicles of our time brings to vibrant life the turbulent complex figure of the King. Packed with colorful description meticulous in historical detail rich in pageantry intrigue passion and luxury Weir brilliantly renders King Henry VIII his court and the fascinating men and women who vied for its pleasures and rewards. The result is an absolutely spellbinding read.