The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George

The Autobiography of Henry VIII (Collectible 2012 Pan Paperback Reprint)

A Sympathetic Fictional Memoir of Henry VIII, Narrated by the King with Notes by His Fool, Will Somers

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers
• Author: Margaret George
• Publisher: Pan Books, London
• Publication Date: 2012
• ISBN-13: 9780330298735
• Edition Details: Pan Books paperback edition, 2012 (first published 1986 by Macmillan).
• Binding: Publisher's illustrated paperback wrappers with glossy laminated finish, featuring a portrait of a bearded man in Tudor dress and white title lettering.
• Physical Format: Large softcover (trade paperback format), approximately 235 x 155 mm.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Good (G)
• Exterior / Wraps: Illustrated glossy laminated wrappers. The back cover shows noticeable creasing and scuffing lines, especially towards the lower left corner. The lower corners show slight rubbing and whitening, with a small white lift at the bottom corner of the front cover. The spine shows minor creasing and wear. The fore-edge and page block edges are toned.
• Interior: The text block is intact and appears tight, with pages toned to cream. The page examined is clean with no marks.
• The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued)

Synopsis & Historical Value

The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers is a historical novel by Margaret George, first published in 1986 and presented here in the 2012 Pan Books edition. It is written as the king's own memoir, with wry commentary from his jester Will Somers.

The narrative follows Henry VIII through his six marriages, his break with Rome, and the rise and fall of those around him, covering his life from before his birth to after his death.

Its distinction lies in its sympathetic portrait of the king, a deliberate counterweight to accounts written from the viewpoint of his enemies and victims. It remains a well-regarded work of Tudor historical fiction and a popular choice among readers of the period.

Author Profile: Margaret George

Margaret George was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1943 and is a New York Times bestselling historical novelist with a background in science. The Autobiography of Henry VIII reportedly occupied some fifteen years of research and five handwritten drafts.

Her other novels include Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles, The Memoirs of Cleopatra, Mary, Called Magdalene, Helen of Troy, Elizabeth I, The Confessions of Young Nero and The Splendor Before the Dark.

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