The Wives of Henry VIII (Hardback)

Register or Login now to post a review!

If you're British (and even if you aren't) there is a pretty strong chance you know about Henry VIII and his six wives. It might be as little as the rhyme, but this Tudor monarch and his consorts have a firm grip on the public that is unlikely to fade.

Knowing this, the author has made the brilliant decision to forgo the usual historical account. People know the basics, and just re-treading the same old ground is not going to get you noticed. Instead, the author has made the decision to focus on two things from each Queen, going into detail about a specific thing.

This ranged from things I had known about but never thought deeply about - just *why* was Catharine named after her English Great-Grandmother, who had died roughly 30 years before she was born?

To things I had never even considered - like many, I'd just assumed that Jane was a devout Catholic, and I enjoyed this argument that perhaps she wasn't.

To things I had longed for a deeper dive on - that first courtly appearance of Anne on the English stage.

5 stars!

GoodReads, Acantha

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book offers a fresh, nuanced look at the six wives of Henry VIII, using revised research and analysis to delve into often-overlooked details. Revealing new perspectives on their lives, it provides a deeper understanding of these remarkable women beyond traditional narratives. The book focuses primarily on each woman's time as queen and her accomplishments in that role. Informative and easy to read, it's enjoyable and offers a unique take on a familiar subject.

NetGalley, Andrea Romance

As someone who gravitates toward historical nonfiction that reframes the narrative, this one delivered. Carey-Bunning does the important work of pulling these women out of the shadow of Henry VIII and letting them exist as full human beings — politically savvy, spiritually complex, and historically significant on their own terms. It reads accessibly enough that I could see it sparking great conversations with older middle schoolers who are already curious about history. Other readers have noted how well-researched it is without feeling dry, and I'd agree — it's the kind of history book that actually reads like a story.

NetGalley, Evin Shinn

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

It could be argued that people think they know the Wives of Henry VIII but Carey-Bunning takes these ‘well known’ figures and examines deeper aspects of each woman that might have been overlooked or forgotten in the shadow of Henry. This is incredibly enjoyable and enlightening and allows the reader to get a different glimpse at the lives of these women from history.

NetGalley, Siobhain McCormick

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This was a feminist retelling. Full stop. Jessica took something that has always been possessed by the guy and added a completely fresh perspective to it, which was really refreshing to see. This is why there has to be more women scholars. Women are a devestating minority in the classics/scholarly world and it's a goddamn travesty.

As we explore the lives of the wives of Henry viii, we are not only introduced to the already-known and popularized by the media, but also the behind the scenes of it all. Where did these women come from? Why were they promised to Henry? What were their geo-political relations that established this matrimonial connection? Basically, all the thoughts no one thought of served on a platter illustrated with beautiful maps that made it sm easier to understand, even as someone who is not actively in connect with the Tudor dynasty and its workings, who only had prior info in bits and pieces, this particularly detail added sm to it. Full of excerpts from the historical texts that added so much depth and flavour to the already fascinating narrative. The painting and illustrations were absolutely stunning, although I would've preferred they had been sprinkled throughout the narrative to give it more taste.

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

I genuinely enjoyed Jessica's voice immensely. I ate it all up. She knew how to differentiate her facts from her speculations, and even when she was talking about the women, I liked that she didn't project. I realise how hard it is to not project your own views on to the text, especially when you're passionate about what you're writing, which I'm sure Jessica is; you're tempted to pass on your own views as facts, but she never did, she said it as it was. I ended up really admiring her authenticity about it. Even when there is something yet hiding in the oblivion, unknown to historians, she told us as it was.

Her beautiful, almost poetic tone was everything ✨. At times I found myself mesmerized by how utterly beautiful the prose was. And although there was a lot of info dump at times (which is to be expected ofc), it didn't feel so and ended up slipping down pretty easy thanks to lovely voice. Not to mention that her scholarly tone made me feel smarter than i actually am 🤓.

𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆🌷͙⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ

Overall, a perfect pick to learn more about the Tudor history ✨from a feminist lens✨ arguably the best lens out there, and immerse yourself in the Tudor history - from fashion to politics, plays, festivals and court gossip

NetGalley, Ishita J

As a person incredibly interested in the wives of King Henry VII, this was incredibly well done and researched. I loved getting to learn more viewpoints and so many small things that had gotten lost in my own mediocre research through the years. It's told in bits and pieces, but in such a way that's understood tremendously and expanded upon. I thoroughly enjoyed the latter queens, since there's not much on them that feels concrete.

NetGalley, Abby Harris

A very interesting new perspective on the six wives of Henry VIII. We all think we know these women. We like to put them in little boxes, based things like their background, religion and chastity. But if you isolate some of these topics, a new perspective can be found. Carey-Bunning takes on two things about each woman and uses those to show them in a whole new light. It was refreshing to get a deeper look at some of these aspects in order to isolate something about their characters and their lived experiences.

NetGalley, Maja Hansen

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

If you think you already know the story of the six wives of Henry VIII, The Wives of Henry VIII: Rethinking the Stories Behind the Symbols will absolutely surprise you.

Rather than retelling the familiar dramatic headlines — divorces, beheadings, and court scandal — Jessica Carey-Bunning zooms in on the small but fascinating details that shaped the lives of these women. The result is a book that feels fresh, thoughtful, and genuinely insightful. From the deeper meaning behind Catherine of Aragon’s name and heritage, to the symbolism of Anne Boleyn’s famous French and English hoods, each chapter reveals something unexpected about queens we often think we already understand.

What makes this book especially special, though, is the visual experience. The illustrations are absolutely stunning — detailed, elegant, and perfectly chosen to complement the text. It’s the kind of book you find yourself lingering over, turning back to admire an image again, or pausing to appreciate how beautifully everything has been presented.

The research is clearly meticulous, but the writing never feels heavy or academic. Instead, it reads like an engaging exploration of Tudor symbolism, identity, and myth-making. I also appreciated the way the book restores nuance to figures like Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr, moving beyond simplified stereotypes to show the complexity of their lives.

Perfect for Tudor history lovers, collectors of beautifully illustrated nonfiction, and anyone fascinated by the women behind one of England’s most famous kings. This is a thoughtful, visually gorgeous book that both informs and delights — highly recommended. 📚✨

NetGalley, Elizabeth Rose

The Six Wives of Henry VIII continue to be endlessly fascinating and even though we sometimes look at these marriages through the rosy glow of five hundred years we occasionally need to stop and consider the women behind the marriages and the legacy they each left behind. Whilst each of their turbulent marriages to this infamous King are well documented, this new accounts offers a different look at each of the wives and what defined them and highlights how they fit into history.

The wives are mentioned in chronological order with Catherine of Aragon coming first and finishing with that of Kateryn Parr’s story at the end of Henry’s lifetime. Each of the Queens are written about with a fine eye for detail and there is a strong sense the book has been well written and researched. The author writes well, describing the Tudor court and customs in enough detail to make the book readable without being too complicated. I love the colour of the book’s cover, the Tudor green, so associated with Henry’s court, along with the red and white roses, gives an authentic feel. The vibrancy of the cover would certainly make me pick the book up in a bookshop to have a closer look. Overall, I found this to be an informative read with snippets of information I had forgotten or not known.

I am sure that The Wives of Henry VIII will appeal to anyone who enjoys Tudor history and who is interested in a different view on the lives of these six extraordinary women who played such an important role in Henry’s life and of the tragic consequences of their relationships with this irascible King of England.

NetGalley, Jo Barton

I found this book refreshing with the new approach to the wives of Henry VIII. I learned new aspects of the queens, which was very nice. Carey-Bunning combined an easy-to-follow writing style with innovative research to give her readers a different way to look at the Tudor wives. If you want to learn something new about the Tudor queens, I think you will enjoy “The Wives of Henry VIII: Rethinking the Stories Behind the Symbols,” by Jessica Carey-Bunning.

NetGalley, Heidi Malagisi

‘A Tudor Queen consort had many duties to fulfil. While her primary duty was to give birth to sons, who would be heirs and spares, and daughters who would be used to forge marital alliances, the role was far more extensive.’

I’ve read many books on the wives of Henry VIII and I wasn’t expecting to learn anything new however, this book contains new research and discoveries which will blow your mind! 🤯

A must read for Tudor lovers and anyone wanting to be inspired by these six “bad ass” women.

NetGalley, Georgi Lvs Books

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This was a fascinating and well-structured look at the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII. The storytelling presents each perspective in a way that feels engaging and accessible while still grounded in historical context.

I enjoyed how the narrative highlighted both the political and personal dimensions of these women’s experiences, offering a broader understanding of their roles in history.

Readers with an interest in Tudor history will absolutely appreciate this insightful read. Highly recommend — 5 stars!

NetGalley, Page Turners Anonymous

Despite the fact I had read many books about the wives of Henry VIII before, I found Jessica Carey-Bunning's work a very enjoyable and fresh take on these fascinating historical figures. Rather than covering their entire lives, she chooses to focus on some of the symbols connected to them, so that the result is an informative and original study.

For example, she analyses the choice of Catherine of Aragon's name in connection to her family history, and she reconstructs how Anne Boleyn came to be associated with the French gable hood, questioning at the same if she really did prefer it to the English gable hood. She also discusses some infamous moments in their lives, for example Kateryn Parr’s close brush with arrest and execution, which I found very informative and interesting.

Definitely an informative, accessible read, which I would recommend even to readers who know the subject well.

NetGalley, Elena V

Finally, a truly new perspective on Catherine, Anne, Jane, Anne, Katherine and Katheryn.

I’ve always loved the Tudors so if a book’s available, I usually read it. The trouble is, they’re often a retelling of the same story. This isn’t. It offers new insight & makes you re-think the ‘truth’ you learned at school.

Of course, new insight is nothing if it’s not written in an engaging way. This book does well here too. It’s also backed up brilliantly with sources.

All in all, a very entertaining read & I’d definitely recommend it, even to the most keen amateur Tudor historians.

NetGalley, Amber Johnson

It must be so hard to bring a fresh perspective to the stories of Henry viii’s six wives but Jessica Carey-Bunning has managed to approach them from a new angle.
The book is well researched and contains fascinating details about the Tudor queens and their lives.
I recommend this book for those interested in Tudor history and the lives of some of the most famous and infamous consorts of the period.

NetGalley, Nicola Hall

I will devour anything Boleyn related. This was well researched and well presented. I learned something new about each one of Henry's wives.

Also, the writing was approachable.

NetGalley, Maggie Palner

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book is a valuable resource, rich in Tudor atmosphere, paired with thinking outside the usual six queens box. It is a more personal approach through an enhanced magnifying glass offering topics ranging from the fear of inbreeding to hair attire. An inspiring look at the personalities of the wives. Each a woman in her own right.

NetGalley, LOIS ELIYAHU

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Wives of Henry VIII: Rethinking the Stories Behind the Symbols offers a thoughtful and accessible re-examination of women who are too often reduced to rhyme and reputation. Jessica Carey-Bunning writes with clarity and compassion, balancing historical evidence with an awareness of how mythmaking has shaped public memory. I appreciated how each wife is treated as a fully realised person rather than a footnote in Henry’s story, with attention to her agency, constraints, and individuality. The book challenges long-held assumptions without feeling confrontational, instead inviting readers to reconsider what they think they know. While readers looking for dense academic analysis may want more depth in places, the approachable style makes this an engaging entry point for a wide audience. Overall, this is a smart, human-centred piece of history that successfully restores complexity to some of England’s most famous women.
I absolutely loved every second of this book.

NetGalley, Olivia-Jobi Dennis

As someone who has always been fascinated with history and especially the six wives of Henry VII, this book scratched the itch.

I really enjoyed learning something new about each wife, and I enjoyed how much effort and care went into each topic of each queen's lives. I feel like we all know the basics of these queens but this book really goes into those deeper things that I did not even think about. The research that was taken for this, I cannot imagine how long it took but I thoroughly enjoyed reading every minute of it.

NetGalley, Katia Esser

This was an absolutely fascinating look at the wives of Henry VIII and the lesser known details of their lives. I really enjoyed the focus on topics that aren’t usually discussed about this group of women or the things that historians and pop culture have convinced us are true but probably aren’t.

I really enjoyed the writing style and found it easy to follow and take in all of the information. Carey-Bunning uses such a wide range of sources from different times in history and clearly put a lot of work into her research. I loved reading quotes from all of these sources and think that she combined them with her own writing really well.

This was a great read and definitely left me eager to do more reading and research into the lives of these fascinating women!

NetGalley, Sydney Collett

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Jessica Carey-Bunning re-examines the six wives of Henry VIII, sifting through the fictions, propaganda, hysteria, and out tight lies to try and get at the real, human women that existed behind the six word "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived" ditty.

She shows us just how much Katherine of Aragon was molded specifically for queenship of England from her baptism, the politics and, more importantly, the construction of the French Hood that Anne Boleyn was known for, how Jane Seymour was not as beloved by king and country and her post death reputation would suggest, the very clever legal argument Anna of Cleves brought to Mary I to try and get money she felt she was owed as a wife of Henry VIII, how Katherine Howard did more than just dance and flirt but did some real work as queen, and the multiple political conspiracies that swirled around Katherine Parr.

An excellent new look at "the Six" that begs readers to keep thinking about these women and not fall for the easy stereotypes.

NetGalley, Kara Race-Moore

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

We’ve all heard of the six wives of a certain historical king and we might think we know all there is to know about them, but as the author said, history is a constantly changing tapestry! This book is bound to teach you something new.

It’s not a retelling of the queens stories, but a carefully crafted and selected topic from each of the respective queens lives. Built up from original sources, communications and extensive research - you could really tell how much effort and dedication went into this.

I really enjoyed it and loved how novel it was. It delved into subjects I hadn’t previously read about or really knew much about as it shed light on aspects of their lives. It was really well written and in amongst all the Tudor books I’ve read, it certainly stood out in the new little nuggets I took away from it! I loved that it wasn’t aiming to add its voice to the plethora of other books of its kind, but offer an alternative path to finding out more about these intriguing and much loved historical figures.

NetGalley, Nicola Wilton

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book offers a new perspective on the six wives of Henry VIII. The author has done a lot of research on the topic and offers a completely different angle to look at the topic. It is a must-read for anyone even just remotely interested in history.

NetGalley, Joanna Lai

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I've been fascinated by the wives of King Henry VIII since I was a kid and my local PBS station re-ran the early 1970s BBC series about them. I was completely obsessed, and ever since then, I've read everything I can about the wives.

In The Wives of Henry VIII: Rethinking the Stories Behind the Symbols, Jessica Carey-Bunton takes a different approach to the wives. Rather than an exhaustive biography of the women (of which there are many out there already), she focuses on some very specific aspects of their lives, the kind of topics that may not be covered thoroughly in a full biography because there's so much other information that needs to be included. Each queen gets two chapters, and they're all very interesting looks at little known aspects of their lives.

While all of the chapters are fascinating, I particularly enjoyed the following topics: Catherine of Aragon's finances after the annulment (her finances when she was a widow are widely discussed, but the post-annulment situation has received less attention), Anne Boleyn's headdresses (this may seem trivial, but Anne's supposed preference for French hoods is often contrasted with Jane Seymour's more "modest" approach to queenly dressing, exemplified by a preference for English hoods), Anne of Cleves' education (which was typical for a German princess, but left her totally unprepared for the English court and her role as queen), Katherine Howard's performance as queen (which is often overlooked because of the scandal), and Kateryn Parr's close call with death (which Carey-Bunton reexamines and presents a new interpretation).

This is a terrific book for anyone interested in the six wives or Tudor history in general.

NetGalley, Etta Kavanagh

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The authors foreward says it best... "history is never static" and that is why you need to read this fantastic book! I have been devouring history books (particularly English, Scottish and French) on monarchies since my Scottish grandmother told me about Mary, Queen of Scots. You may think you know everything there is to know about the six wives of King Henry VIII, but I assure you that you will learn more than a fact or two new. Her research is impeccable and I loved reading some of the correspondence and records in their original English. This is a must have book for purchase for any collector - I know I will!

NetGalley, Christine Cazeneuve

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A new voice on the Tudor scene, bringing a fresh and welcome perspective.
We all think we "know" the six wives of Henry VIII.
But we know very little about their views, how they saw their regal roles, and their actual stance on religion beyond being labelled Catholic or Protestant.
I like how Carey-Bunning develops a couple of key themes for each queen. For Catherine of Aragon (using the author's spellings of the queens' names) how her upbringing and knowledge at a very young age that she would be queen of England dictated her refusal to relinquish her throne and marriage.
For Anne Boleyn, how her choice of headwear suggests how she felt about her Royal role.
How popular with the people was Jane Seymour?
The terrible challenges facing Anna of Cleves, unable to speak English, unfamiliar with the court and most importantly, knowing nothing about her husband. We all think she emerged relatively unscathed after just 7 months of marriage, but her settlement was much less than that offered to Catherine, and during the reign of Edward VI, she often had to fight for her stipend and contend with her main residence being withdrawn.
For Katherine Howard, some long overdue kindness as Carey-Bunting examines how she performed as queen consort.
Finally, for Kateryn Parr, how a highly intelligent and intensely religious woman nearly suffered the same fate as Boleyn and Howard.
I am an avid reader of Tudor history and wondered if there was anything new to learn. Jessica Carey-Bunting proves that yes there is, and enticingly, she believes there are portraits of Anne and Jane yet to be discovered.

NetGalley, Gail Hanlon