At the time of his 1509 coronation, 17-year-old Henry VIII was assessed as a "youngling" who cared for nothing but girls and hunting. Over the years, this did not change much, notes Kelly Hart, a scholar of women in the Tudor period. Henry was something of a demi-god to his subjects, so each woman he chose was someone who managed to stand out in a crowd of beauties—indeed, many of Henry's lovers were considered unattractive. The lady had to possess some special quality to keep the king's interest, and Hart introduces us to a dozen women of Henry's affection who were every bit as intriguing as the man himself.
"Kelly Hart provides an excellent insight into the love life of one of our most popular kings, and the 12 women who knew the man behind the mask."—Majesty magazine
