Henry VIII and his Afterlives Literature, Politics, and Art

Henry VIII remains one of the most fascinating, notorious and recognizable monarchs in English history. In the five centuries since his accession to the throne, his iconic status has been shaped by different media. From Shakespeare to The Tudors, this book reassesses treatments of Henry VIII in literature, politics, and culture during the period spanned by the king's own reign (1509–47) and the twenty-first century. Historians and literary scholars investigate how representations of the king provoked varied responses from influential writers, artists, and political figures in the decades and centuries following his death. Individual chapters consider interrelated responses to Henry's character and policies during his lifetime; his literary and political afterlife; the king's impact on art and popular culture; and King Henry's debated place in historiography, from the Tudor period to the present.

Introduction Mark Rankin, John N. King, and Christopher Highley; Part I. Contemporary Responses: 1. Henry VIII in the interludes Peter Happé; 2. Henry VIII as David: the King's image and Reformation politics John N. King; 3. The legacy of Henry VIII Dale Hoak; Part II. Henry VIII's Literary and Political Afterlives: 4. The slow death of a tyrant: learning to live without Henry VIII, 1547–63 Alec Ryrie; 5. The literary afterlife of Henry VIII, 1557–1625 Mark Rankin; 6. The Henry VIII story in the eighteenth century: words and images Ronald Paulson; Part III. Henry VIII in Art and Popular Culture: 7. Projecting masculinity: Henry VIII's codpiece Tatiana C. String; 8. The remains of Henry VIII Christopher Highley; 9. Henry VIII - his musical contribution and posthumous reputation Matthew Spring; 10. Henry VIII and popular culture Tom Betteridge; Part IV. Henry VIII through History: 11. Conveyance of history: narrative, chronicle, history and the Elizabethan memory of the Henrician Golden Age Andrew Fleck; 12. Henry VIII and the modern historians: the making of a twentieth-century reputation Peter Marshall; Selected bibliography; Index.

This 2009 book presents a series of essays in which historians and literary scholars reconsider the development of Henry's reputation since his death, and explore how he came to be the most recognised, controversial and fascinating of English monarchs.