The Books of King Henry VIII and His Wives

Name/Title

The Books of King Henry VIII and His Wives

Entry/Object ID

2016.0.2

Description

161 pages. Some illustrations (black and white and color), portraits (some color). Includes bibliographical references and index. "Celebrated for his magnificence, daring in his defiance of papal authority and restless in his choice of wives, Henry VIII was also one of the most intelligent and widely read monarchs of the Renaissance. With typical verve and gusto, he acquired a vast quantity of books in the wake of the destruction of the monasteries and with them filled the shelves of his many palace libraries. What is less well known is that most of Henry's wives were also readers and book owners: their books mirror their religious orientations and intellectual concerns or, in one case, decorative interests.", "In this new book, James P. Carley, a leading scholar in the emerging field of book history, describes Henry VIII's libraries and shows their key role in providing a more intimate understanding of this seemingly familiar monarch and his consorts. The books of the wives, moreover, show them to have been as independent and innovative as the king himself. The extensive illustrations allow us to examine both the bindings and the contents of the collection, and also provide us with examples of his immediate voice in the form of the marginalia that he inserted into his books."

Collection

Reference

Lexicon

Search Terms

Books and reading., Intellectual life., Libraries., Particuliere bibliotheken., Boeken., Hofcultuur., Bookbinding., Intellectual life., Vie intellectuelle.

Dimensions

Height

10 in

Width

7-1/4 in

Book Details

Author

James P. Carley

Publisher

British Library

Place Published

City

London

Country

England

Date Published

2004

Printer

South Sea International Press

Place Printed

State/Province

Hong Kong

Binding

Binding Type

Hardcover or Case Bound

Binding Notes

Printed dust jacket. Bound in red cloth, gilt names on spine. Red endpapers.

Notes

Preface by David Starkey

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Henry VIII

Person or Organization

Henry VIII

Person or Organization

David Starkey

Related Places

Place

Island

Great Britain

Country

United Kingdom