Much has been written about the mighty, egotistical Henry VIII: the man who dismantled the Church because it would not grant him the divorce he wanted; who married six women and beheaded two of them; who executed his friend Thomas ore; who sacked the monasteries; who longed for a son and neglected his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth; who finally grew fat, disease-ridden, dissolute. Now, in her magnificent work of storytelling and imagination Margaret George bring us Henry VIII's story as he himself might have told it, in memoirs interspersed with irreverent comments from his jester and confident, Will Somers. Brilliantly combining history, wit, dramatic narrative, and an extraordinary grasp of the pleasures and perils of power, this monumental novel shows us Henry the man more vividly than he has ever been seen before.

Suggested Book Club Questions for The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers (Fiction)

The following book club questions provide a starting point for creating a reading group discussion on The Autobiography of Henry VIII:

• Did Margaret George emphasize any specific themes throughout The Autobiography of Henry VIII? What do you think Margaret George is trying to explain with this theme?
• What was unique about the setting of The Autobiography of Henry VIII and how did it affect the storyline?
• Could you relate to any of the characters? If so, which ones and why?
• How do characters change or learn throughout The Autobiography of Henry VIII? What events caused these changes? Have you or someone you know experienced the same thing?
• How does The Autobiography of Henry VIII reveal Margaret George's own perspectives about people and the world? For a lively discussion, describe why you think Margaret George is liberal or conservative.
• Did certain parts of The Autobiography of Henry VIII affect you emotionally? Why did it evoke those emotions?
• Did Margaret George's point of view on things lend new perspective to your own view of the world?

Suggested Book Club Questions for The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers (Non-fiction)

The following book club questions provide a starting point for creating a reading group discussion on The Autobiography of Henry VIII:

• Did Margaret George make persuasive arguments in The Autobiography of Henry VIII? Did The Autobiography of Henry VIII change or reinforce your opinion on the subject?
• What did you learn from The Autobiography of Henry VIII?
• How does Margaret George present the information and did you enjoy it?
• How is Margaret George biased within The Autobiography of Henry VIII? Is there a political slant to what is being discussed and how does it impact the book?
• What, if anything, does The Autobiography of Henry VIII make you want to read next? Why?