The Autobiography of Henry VIII : With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers by Margaret George

Published by

Sarah Ann

on

February 21, 2010

The Autobiography of Henry VIII is the first novel published by Margaret George, a highly esteemed historical fiction writer.

Its title catches you off guard at first, before it sinks in that this book is a fictional “autobiography,” and told by Henry VIII’s fool, Will Somers. That’s so funny and cool.

This particular novel is basically everything about the life of Henry VIII—his young adulthood, his conquests, his illnesses, his psychotic breakdowns, the banishment and deaths of his many wives, and much more. And, of course, it’s all told by comedian Will Somers.

Sitting around a very robust 960 pages, The Autobiography of Henry VIII can certainly seem overwhelming at first. But don’t let that deter you. This novel is an incredibly fun ride, all the way through, and it reads so smoothly.

I liked how Henry was written to be a spoiled, idiotic teenager. Overall, this autobiography did a great job at highlighting what a giant piece of poo Henry was. Anytime things don’t go his way, he scrolls through his book of Scripture to find relevant verses that can “bend” and apply to his “mistakes” (such as committing adultery) so he can be let off the hook. There are also times he uses certain verses to persuade the court to banish certain people and practices from his kingdom.

This book will change the way you think about Henry VIII forever. It’s better and far more entertaining than any story I’ve ever read about this disgusting, pathetic king.

In The Autobiography of Henry VIII, Henry is a villain you love to hate. It’s what makes this novel amazing and titillating. I give it a full 5 out of 5 stars, or 10 out of 10 stars, for that matter.

I initially became interested in Henry VIII after reading The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory when it came out in 2001. After that, I became obsessed with all things Henry VIII, and became a nerdy walking fact book about him. It’s so gross and fascinating how women pursued him from all over for the sake of earning a crown.

Margaret George has also written these books:

Did you read this book? What else have you read by this author?

Last Updated on February 25, 2026 by Sarah Ann

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