Edward VI
The Lost King of England
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ISBN10: 0312538936
ISBN13: 9780312538934
Trade Paperback
368 Pages
$23.99
CA$26.99
In his desperate quest for an heir, King Henry VIII divorced one wife and beheaded another. The birth of Prince Edward on October 12, 1537, ended his father's twenty-seven-year wait. Nine years later, Edward was on the throne, a boy-king of a nation in religious limbo and in a court where manipulation, treachery, and plotting were rife.
Chris Skidmore describes how, in the six years of Edward's reign, court intrigue, deceit, and treason very nearly plunged the country into civil war while the stability that the Tudors had sought to achieve came close to being torn apart. Even today, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I are considered the two dominant figures of the Tudor period. But Edward's reign is equally important. It was one of dramatic change and tumult whose impact is still felt today—certainly in terms of his religious reformation, which not only exceeded Henry's ambitions but has endured for over four centuries since Edward's death in 1553.
Reviews
Praise for Edward VI
"Chris Skidmore is to be congratulated on his nerve for tackling this project, but also on the result, which is a lively and engaging account of a life which was extraordinary, even if it was short . . . Written with enthusiasm and insight . . . His life makes a wonderful story, and this retelling is accomplished thoughtfully and with zest."—Literary Review (UK)
"This is an accomplished debut: measured, insightful and meticulously researched."—Daily Telegraph (UK)
"Youth triumphant: one of our brightest young historian's impressive debut biography of England's boy-King, Edward VI."—David Starkey, author of Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII
"This is an engaging and evocative portrait of Edward VI, which paints a fully rounded picture of the young King, filled with vivid detail."—Alison Weir, author of Henry VIII: The King and His Court
"The ailing tyrant, the boy king full of promise, the nine-day Queen, the ambitious sisters waiting in the wings—the high drama of the Tudor century's pivotal reign is brilliantly captured by this bright young historian."—Robert Lacey, author of Majesty and The Year 1000
"We have long needed a biography of Edward VI which is both reliable and readable, and Skidmore's book now admirably fills the gap."—Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of The Reformation: A History
"Skidmore leaves his reader convinced that Edward's reign is crucial in English history . . . he writes with clarity and verve."—Hilary Mantel, The Guardian (Book of the Week)
"An impressive debut chronicling the brief life of the young man dubbed 'the forgotten prince.' . . . Skidmore is faithful to the mood of the day, careful to re-create the atmosphere of a society in which only the sovereign's life had much value. . . . The author's access to a wide collection of royal papers and period sources ultimately renders this biography of an under-examined and important link in the Tudor dynasty an unqualified success."—Kirkus Reviews
"A revealing glimpse into the tumultuous six-year reign of Edward VI . . . Skidmore's fast-paced biography, which draws on Edward's journals and correspondence, brings this king and his brief reign to vivid life."—Publishers Weekly
Reviews from Goodreads
BOOK EXCERPTS
Read an Excerpt
EDWARD VI (Chapter 1)Marriages, Birth and Death
Henry VIII never underestimated the importance of a male heir. It was a lesson he had learnt at an early age. The turn of Fortune's wheel could be cruel, as it had been when he was just ten years...
About the author
Chris Skidmore
