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Has anyone read Margaret George's The Autobiography of Henry VIII? What was your opinion? Did it change your perception of Henry? I used to feel sorry for Anne Boleyn until I read this book. (Yes, I know it's fiction!)

I loved the book and was especially intrigued by the notes posted by Somers.  Unfortunately, I thought it fell very short as a historical account novel.  Henry VIII is by far my favorite monarch, and I can't read enough about the Tudor family.  While I thought the ideas presented by George reinforced many of the sterotypes and research about these characters, I don't think she presented them very objectively.  I understand that as a work of fiction her goal was to get readers quickly and excitedly from cover to cover (which I think she does), but I don't think she realized that history buffs who read the novel will want more of the political mind of Henry, which was fantastic as well as ruthless.  It seemed to me that much of it was sensationalized - almost to a Maury Povich gossip level.  As I said, I absolutely enjoyed it as a fictious representation of what might have been going through Henry's head, but the uncontrollable history freak inside of me was a little disappointed.

I know what you mean about the history. I can't find any source that says Katherine of Aragon's last baby was horribly deformed. And you get the impression that Henry was only looking for the love he never got from his mother. But it's great read. I loved The Memoirs of Cleopatra too.