I wanted to like this book, because it is about a period of time that fascinates me as much as the country it takes place in. Sadly, I was a bit disappointed.

There is no doubt that Starkey is a researcher, but the bit in Catherine Howard's chapter about the documents simply being ignored by other historians for centuries because they were illegible? Seriously?

Though I am no admirer of Anne Boleyn, I was disappointed in the chapters surrounding her. While I realize the Great Matter obviously came about because of her, most of her chapters were actually dedicated to the religious upheaval the divorce brought. There is much more to Anne Boleyn than was presented and I thought it unfair that, though I am no fan, her story was not told as the others' had theirs told.

I enjoyed the chapters about Catherine of Aragon, because she is a woman I greatly admire. She fought to the very end to protect Mary and her claim to the throne, as any good mother would do. Catherine knew a woman could rule just as ably as any man, and wanted that right for her daughter. It is heartbreaking that they never saw each other again after Catherine was cruelly shipped off, and I think it is clear that Mary's reign might have gone differently if the stress of her youth has been lessened. Certainly Henry and Anne should be found guilty in that arena.

I did learn new bits of information in regards to the last three queens, particularly Anne and Katherine Parr.

Lastly, there are several disputed facts throughout. Example: the bit about Seymour and Elizabeth at the very end. He "made open love to Elizabeth"? Other statements throughout are as scandalous or salacious, and are not befitting a serious scholarly work.

It was also hard to take seriously an author who speaks of himself throughout the text, often interjecting what he thinks and is quite self-congratulatory at times. It's as off-putting as the entire Forward, which I had to skip for the exact same reason if I wanted to give the book a fighting chance for me to finish it.