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msmouse's review against another edition
2.0
This was a 2.5 star book for me. I found it interesting because that time period interests me. For that same reason I found it annoying because every historical character portrayed was out of character. I understand where Shakespeare was coming from politically and I know he had to do it like this, but still it grated. Somehow he managed to turn an entire generation of conniving, ambitious, and cut-throat people into Mary Sues and Gary Stus. Even the villains were nice about their treachery and felt bad about it. It just felt weird.
All of the action of the play is reported rather than acted out so it was less entertaining than say, Richard III. Mostly people just gossiped about what was happening elsewhere. It was interesting gossip, but still.
The one saving grace of this play was the bitchy character exchanges. Seriously, the one flaw these people got to keep was the tendency towards catty exchanges. The witty burns made this worthwhile to me.
Not a bad, short read all in all, but not Shakespeare's best either.
All of the action of the play is reported rather than acted out so it was less entertaining than say, Richard III. Mostly people just gossiped about what was happening elsewhere. It was interesting gossip, but still.
The one saving grace of this play was the bitchy character exchanges. Seriously, the one flaw these people got to keep was the tendency towards catty exchanges. The witty burns made this worthwhile to me.
Not a bad, short read all in all, but not Shakespeare's best either.
kathrinreads's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this play because I am very interested in this part of English history. But I found that Shakespeare held back by some details possibly because he lived under Queen Elizabeths reign.
delaneyreadssff's review against another edition
3.0
The best part of this was the short-lived intro to Doctor Butts.
I'm six years old, but it's fine.
I'm six years old, but it's fine.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this play so much! It had a tight plot and delightfully interesting characters. I was especially intrigued with the changes that some characters went through, or the way some of them reacted under extreme circumstances.
This is the story of how Henry VIII got rid of his wife, Katherine, and fell in love with Anne Boleyn, married her instead, and had a daughter, Elizabeth. Of course, there's a ton of political intrigue going on, and people being accused as traitors right and left. The Duke of Buckingham goes on trial as a traitor in the first scene, even though he's innocent. Along with a bunch of corrupt Bishops and Cardinals, Cromwell is lurking in the background.
There are some really tense and emotional scenes with really powerful dialogue!
I loved Queen Katherine for her noble spirit and her gallant manners towards even her enemies. She is never shrewish, but always courteous and kind to everyone even when she is under the most horrible stress. Only once does she openly denounce the terrible Cardinal, and even then she does it with the language of justice and righteousness, not revenge or hatred.
She is always saying how humble she is, that she's 'only a woman and unable to speak properly among the educated nobles', but I wonder if these lines aren't delivered sarcastically. She's obviously able to verbally spar with any of those high-born or highly-educated cardinals and bishops and lords. Her best defense is how virtuous her life has been, and she clings to that to the end. With her final breath, she blesses her enemies and forgives them. What a character!
I think Queen Katherine is the real hero of the story. She's such a noble person, pure of heart and mind, and humble and kind to everyone. I just love her powerful dialogue!
Cardinal Wolsey is so sly and deceptive and horrible! He's greedy and nasty and vengeful. He just lies right to everybody's face, and then goes on with his evil plans! It makes for wonderful drama.
It's interesting to me that Wolsey seems to have a change of heart once all his evil shenanigans are exposed. He seems to show true remorse once all is lost, or is it just a case of "I'm sorry that I was caught," not "I'm sorry that I did it"? What a character! I don't know what to think. He does make himself ill with all that remorse though, so maybe he really did repent of his evil ways.
Henry VIII himself is just a selfish old dog. He finds all sorts of clever ways to justify his actions and get what he wants. He is definitely a powerful personality and a sharp mind to be reckoned with. Even when he was sweet-talking everyone and making his excuses for bad behavior, I pretty much despised him. At least he stood by some of his friends in the end, instead of believing all the bad rumors about them. Too bad that it was too late for Buckingham.
I loved this play!
This is the story of how Henry VIII got rid of his wife, Katherine, and fell in love with Anne Boleyn, married her instead, and had a daughter, Elizabeth. Of course, there's a ton of political intrigue going on, and people being accused as traitors right and left. The Duke of Buckingham goes on trial as a traitor in the first scene, even though he's innocent. Along with a bunch of corrupt Bishops and Cardinals, Cromwell is lurking in the background.
There are some really tense and emotional scenes with really powerful dialogue!
I loved Queen Katherine for her noble spirit and her gallant manners towards even her enemies. She is never shrewish, but always courteous and kind to everyone even when she is under the most horrible stress. Only once does she openly denounce the terrible Cardinal, and even then she does it with the language of justice and righteousness, not revenge or hatred.
She is always saying how humble she is, that she's 'only a woman and unable to speak properly among the educated nobles', but I wonder if these lines aren't delivered sarcastically. She's obviously able to verbally spar with any of those high-born or highly-educated cardinals and bishops and lords. Her best defense is how virtuous her life has been, and she clings to that to the end. With her final breath, she blesses her enemies and forgives them. What a character!
I think Queen Katherine is the real hero of the story. She's such a noble person, pure of heart and mind, and humble and kind to everyone. I just love her powerful dialogue!
Cardinal Wolsey is so sly and deceptive and horrible! He's greedy and nasty and vengeful. He just lies right to everybody's face, and then goes on with his evil plans! It makes for wonderful drama.
It's interesting to me that Wolsey seems to have a change of heart once all his evil shenanigans are exposed. He seems to show true remorse once all is lost, or is it just a case of "I'm sorry that I was caught," not "I'm sorry that I did it"? What a character! I don't know what to think. He does make himself ill with all that remorse though, so maybe he really did repent of his evil ways.
Henry VIII himself is just a selfish old dog. He finds all sorts of clever ways to justify his actions and get what he wants. He is definitely a powerful personality and a sharp mind to be reckoned with. Even when he was sweet-talking everyone and making his excuses for bad behavior, I pretty much despised him. At least he stood by some of his friends in the end, instead of believing all the bad rumors about them. Too bad that it was too late for Buckingham.
I loved this play!
marysiacrisafio's review against another edition
2.0
Although I revere Shakespeare, Henry VIII fell a little flat. I prefer his comedies and tragedies.
smaezane's review against another edition
2.0
This story is so juicy and I truly love Shakespeare— I was surprised at how boring the play was.
marioakes97's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
octavia_cade's review against another edition
3.0
Essentially a puff piece on Elizabeth I; she may have been dead at the time of writing but that didn't stop Shakespeare from sucking-up. It's all laid on rather thick here. However the highlight of the play - surprisingly so, given the above - is the sympathetic treatment given to Katherine of Aragorn, who I've always felt immensely sorry for. She gets some fantastic speeches, as does Wolsey. The two of them quite overshadow Henry.
However. This felt dreadfully unfocused as a whole, in places wandering off into bits that could have been cut and in others not going far enough. I mean I liked reading it, but it felt as if a lot of the most interesting bits were ignored. For instance Anne, love her or hate her, is barely there, and for all the heavy-handed foreshadowing of Elizabeth's future there's little of the same for her mother.
Credit should be given to the editor of this edition, though. Catherine M. S. Alexander has managed to write an introduction that actually increased my interest in reading the play. Astonishing. Usually introductions to Shakespeare seem as if they're trying their damnedest to put me off by being as dreary-dull as possible, so I was genuinely startled to find that this doesn't have to be the case.
However. This felt dreadfully unfocused as a whole, in places wandering off into bits that could have been cut and in others not going far enough. I mean I liked reading it, but it felt as if a lot of the most interesting bits were ignored. For instance Anne, love her or hate her, is barely there, and for all the heavy-handed foreshadowing of Elizabeth's future there's little of the same for her mother.
Credit should be given to the editor of this edition, though. Catherine M. S. Alexander has managed to write an introduction that actually increased my interest in reading the play. Astonishing. Usually introductions to Shakespeare seem as if they're trying their damnedest to put me off by being as dreary-dull as possible, so I was genuinely startled to find that this doesn't have to be the case.
caroline_carnivorous's review against another edition
3.0
I'm gonna say.. 3.5 maybe?
I've always been super fascinated by Henry VIII and his wives, so I was really excited for this one (which happens to be the very last play in my collection). This one depicts shortly before Henry VIII divorces Katherine of Aragon, and ends with Princess Elizabeth's birth (which is celebrated a lot, her being the queen for most of Shakespeare's life, though she had been dead for a while when this was written). Henry VIII is portrayed very kindly in this, which surprised me. The plot isn't super great, it didn't seem very.. structured?
I've always been super fascinated by Henry VIII and his wives, so I was really excited for this one (which happens to be the very last play in my collection). This one depicts shortly before Henry VIII divorces Katherine of Aragon, and ends with Princess Elizabeth's birth (which is celebrated a lot, her being the queen for most of Shakespeare's life, though she had been dead for a while when this was written). Henry VIII is portrayed very kindly in this, which surprised me. The plot isn't super great, it didn't seem very.. structured?