Choose Books: The Autobiography of Henry VIII: with Notes by His Fool, Will Somers

Why Choose Books for your gifts this holiday season? Glad you asked. It's because there are few things more fun than giving someone a book they fall in love with; it lasts longer and matters more than, say, necklaces or sweaters, while rarely being more than about fifteen dollars. What's more, your purposeful choice of books, purchased from indie booksellers, supports a vibrant and dynamic literary culture in a time when the book world is struggling and even literacy is horrifically low. Choose Books because you really can make a difference. Choose Books because it is joyful.

In this series, you can look forward an ongoing guide to books as gifts; at the end of the season, it will be collected as an attractive PDF for you to download. More than a mere list of my personal favorites, Choose Books is outward-looking, featuring outstanding books of very different styles for very different tastes (and ages). Learn more about this series here. 

Guest Writer Ben Haack is a Michigan lad that randomly chose to live in Oklahoma. He has slowly been sweating to death for seven years. A "non-traditional" university student, Ben tries to appear as traditional as possible. Find him online at http://daturavespertine.wordpress.com.

The Autobiography of Henry VIII: with Notes by His Fool, Will Somers
By Margaret George

By Ben Haack
Guest Writer

When I Google Henry VIII, a slew of results are displayed, as with everything that has been ever googled. But after clicking just a few links, Henry, as with many historical figures quickly becomes more monster than man. Many things about him are nearly common knowledge: his obesity, his six wives, and his fight with the Catholic Church. But further digging reveals the contradictions of his life. His search for love and an heir, the thin prince he was and the overweight king he became, his creation of the protestant Church of England and his love for the Catholic Church. Dig deep enough, and the monster once again becomes human.

The Autobiography of Henry VIII: with Notes by His Fool, Will Somers, by Margaret George, does just that-- digs deep. Very deep in fact, it covers his entire life from his point of view, giving depth to a man that historians have treated less than kindly. With over 900 pages, it’s not a book for the light hearted, but even through some of the duller aspects that come with anyone’s life, finding out what would drive a man to chop off not one, but two, of his wives' heads keeps the pages turning, all 900 of them. It’s an amazing account of a man plagued with disillusionment and regret; who’s desire to be great produced one of the greatest (or at least most notable) historical figures of all time (that would be Elizabeth I). George spent over a decade researching and writing this novel, and by the end, the story of Henry VIII seems as complete and final as only historical fiction can.

Consider this book as a gift for people who are one or more of the following:

• Lovers of history, or at least historical fiction
• Anyone that loves the television series "The Tudors," or the movie "Elizabeth" (and its sequel).
• Britophiles
• Anyone the loves memoirs, biographies, or epic stories

Recommended Edition:

Macmillan
Trade Paperback / $17.95

A satisfyingly hefty edition of the novel. Marked as a national bestseller on the cover, this version is 960 pages.

Where To Buy:

Your local independent bookseller. Find the shop nearest to you here. You might also want to prowl the used bookshops for treasures. If the book you want is not in stock, the bookseller will be happy to order it for you (almost always sans shipping); just ask! If there are really, truly no indie booksellers near you, consider ordering online from an independent bookseller, such as Brookline Booksmith or Powell's, and having it delivered to your doorstep. Another option: order online directly from the publisher.

Image Credit: Creative Commons, by marc from borft.