This isn't a novel. It's a collection of actual letters Henry VIII wrote to Anne Boleyn during their infamous courtship, which he later dug up and annotated with his own comments. We see him first as a lovesick suitor, pleading for her attention and promising her the world. Then, we get his older, bitter voice in the margins, adding context, blame, and justification for what came later.

The Story

The 'plot' is the rise and catastrophic fall of their relationship, told in two timelines. The main text is the young Henry, full of passion and impatience. The notes are from King Henry, years after he had Anne executed. He reflects on her 'betrayal,' his own decisions, and tries to rewrite the story. It's a raw, first-person account of how obsessive love curdled into something much darker.

Why You Should Read It

It completely shatters the distant, painting-in-a-palace image of Henry. Here, he's just a guy writing bad poetry, getting jealous, and making grand promises. The contrast between his youthful ardor and his later cold, self-serving notes is breathtaking. You're not getting a historian's analysis; you're getting the king's own, deeply flawed testimony. It makes the history feel immediate, personal, and tragically human.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who thinks history is just dates and dusty facts. This book is a psychological deep-dive. If you love true crime, complicated relationships, or reality TV drama, you'll be glued to this. It's a short, intense read that offers a front-row seat to one of history's most shocking personal downfalls, straight from the source. Just be prepared—the Henry you meet in these pages is far more complex, and far more unsettling, than the caricature.