Best History Books About Henry VIII (2026): 5 Compared

Henry VIII married six times and left a paper trail historians still work through. The best history books about henry viii range from deep biographies to quick guides. We compared the listings on author credentials, scope, stated length and publication date.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Hunting the Falcon	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Six Wives	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Tudor History 4-in-1	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	The Children of Henry VIII	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Six Wives Guide	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Hunting the Falcon

John Guy·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A dual biography of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn by 2 acclaimed historians, built on new archival finds.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Written by John Guy and Julia Fox, 2 acclaimed historians
• Built on new archival discoveries
• Praised in the New York Times Book Review

Cons

• No page count is stated
• Focuses on the Anne Boleyn years only
• No print length is stated

2

Six Wives

David Starkey·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

David Starkey's study of Henry VIII's 6 wives, in a 2009 reprint edition.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• By a preeminent historian of the Tudor era
• Praised by the Sunday Times and the Evening Standard
• Kirkus starred review

Cons

• No page count is stated
• 2009 edition is older than the rivals
• Covers the wives, not the wider reign

3

Tudor History 4-in-1

Captivating History·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

4 manuscripts in 1 book covering the Tudors, the Wars of the Roses, the 6 wives and Elizabeth I, at 346 pages.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 4 manuscripts in 1 book
• 346 pages stated
• Covers all 6 wives topics

Cons

• Survey style, not deep research
• No named author
• No critical reviews are quoted

4

The Children of Henry VIII

Alison Weir·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 423-page narrative of Henry VIII's four heirs, 1997 edition.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 423 pages on Edward, Mary, Elizabeth and Jane Grey
• Covers the reigns after Henry's death
• Fresh perspective per the listing

Cons

• Not a Henry-only biography
• 1997 edition
• No extras stated

5

Six Wives Guide

Captivating History·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 114-page guide to the 6 wives of Henry VIII, published September 3, 2018.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Focused on the 6 wives
• 114 pages, a quick read
• Topic list covers each wife

Cons

• No named author
• No reviews are quoted
• Survey style only

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More picks to compare

• The Reign of Henry VIIIDavid Starkey on the Privy Chamber politics of the reign, 174 pages, 1985.Check on Amazon
• The Six Wives of Henry VIIICharles Twain's classic account of the 6 queens, 96 pages.Check on Amazon
• Uncensored HistoryA raw, gossipy take on the 6 wives, 163 pages, Book 3 of 3.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 21 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs author authority, contents and edition, value and the listed facts. Books carry no warranty, so warranty scores zero. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best history books about henry viii

Scholarly depth or a quick survey

Hunting the Falcon is a dual biography by John Guy and Julia Fox built on new archival discoveries. Six Wives is David Starkey’s study of the six queens, praised by the Sunday Times and Kirkus. The two Captivating History guides are survey style: Tudor History bundles four manuscripts in one book at 346 pages, while the Six Wives guide runs 114 pages. For more Tudor reading, see the best biographies of Henry VIII.

Match the scope to the reader

For the Anne Boleyn years in depth, Hunting the Falcon; for all six wives, Starkey’s Six Wives or the 114-page guide. The Children of Henry VIII by Alison Weir, at 423 pages, covers the heirs rather than the king.

Setup Notes

• Check the format: the Starkey listing is the 2009 reprint edition from HarperCollins e-books.
• Confirm the scope: the Tudor History bundle covers the Tudors, the Wars of the Roses and Elizabeth I as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book covers all six wives?

Starkey’s Six Wives studies all six marriages, and the 114-page Captivating History guide covers the six wives with a topic list for each.

Which is the most scholarly?

Hunting the Falcon by John Guy and Julia Fox, built on new archival discoveries and praised as a scholarly tour-de-force in the New York Times Book Review.

Are there more Henry VIII lists?

Yes, the best biographies of Henry VIII list and every history and biography guide.

Still deciding? Our top pickHunting the Falcon

Check price on Amazon

Related guides

See every history and biography guide and all nonfiction books lists.

More lists: best history books about women, best history books about WW1 and best history books about war.