The Children of Henry VIII

(NB: the edition I have is actually called “Children of England” - Goodreads is apparently unaware of this version).

Another fascinating and engaging Tudor biography from Alison Weir, in this case covering the lives of the children of Henry VIII after the king's death in 1547. While it's a biography, not a history book, it naturally covers quite a lot of history along the way, given the central characters' pivotal role in events.

The focus is primarily on Mary and Edward, although Elizabeth also has a significant role to play, and Henry's niece Jane Grey also takes centre stage for a short while. It's an illuminating view of this tumultuous period of history, seen through the lens of the relationship between the siblings as much as the power-plays around them at court.

Considering her reputation in history, Mary is sympathetically portrayed here, at least until the desperation of her later years. Nor does she escape censure for the atrocities committed at her urging, making her a complex character that reflects the changing attitude of the English people towards her through the course of her life.

As with Weir's other books, there are lots of little details here that bring things to life, and what comes across as a real feel for the personalities involved. Although scholarly and referenced, it reads almost like a novel, albeit one to which we all know the ending.