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flippyjones's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
katescholastica's review against another edition
2.0
I mean….. it’s definitely a play. And it exists. If Shakespeare had social media this would definitely be a sponsored piece somehow.
duffypratt's review against another edition
2.0
Imagine doing a history of Henry VIII and ignoring almost everything that he is most famous for. The six wives - two of whom he had beheaded. The executions of Thomas Moore and Thomas Cromwell. The pillaging of the Catholic Church and abbeys in England.
This play ignores all of that, and instead makes a huge deal of Henry and Anne Boleyn because they produced Elizabeth. Other than that, this is an episodic mess. And worse, what we do get are largely the preludes or postludes to events. The events themselves - e.g. the execution of Buckingham, the death of Wolsey - are merely retold.
Once again, I need to remind myself not to save a writer's worst works for last. After this, I only had Merry Wives of Windsor and Cymbeline to read (and I've since finished Windsor, which wasn't much better).
This play ignores all of that, and instead makes a huge deal of Henry and Anne Boleyn because they produced Elizabeth. Other than that, this is an episodic mess. And worse, what we do get are largely the preludes or postludes to events. The events themselves - e.g. the execution of Buckingham, the death of Wolsey - are merely retold.
Once again, I need to remind myself not to save a writer's worst works for last. After this, I only had Merry Wives of Windsor and Cymbeline to read (and I've since finished Windsor, which wasn't much better).
skconaghan's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Meh.
The best part of this play is the speech at the end about baby Elizabeth who later becomes Elizabeth I. It’s prophetic, in hindsight of course; a nice sentiment by the archbishop and a beautiful tribute by Shakespeare and Fletcher to their Queen. I have my doubts that Henry the Narcissistic Womaniser ever had a noble thought about the virtue and character of a woman, infant or not.
The rest of the play is rather uneventful being that it covers the shocking events of Cardinal Wolsey’s death, Henry’s defiance of The Church for the sake of his pursuit of Anne Boleyn, and the demise of Catherine of Aragon as a result. These things seem as though they should be a lot more dramatic than portrayed here. I know Oor Billy was a wee bit busy and ideas were hard to come by amid bubonic plague outbreaks and the raunchy competition, but this one falls flat. In light of the flammable fuses the multilayered real-life drama set to blaze, and the changes all these events brought to the course of history, I feel like this should have left me flabbergasted by the audacity and wreckage.
Speaking of fires, if I’d been in the theatre when they shot canon at the roof and burned The Globe down, I can’t say I’d have been disappointed to miss the second half…
The best part of this play is the speech at the end about baby Elizabeth who later becomes Elizabeth I. It’s prophetic, in hindsight of course; a nice sentiment by the archbishop and a beautiful tribute by Shakespeare and Fletcher to their Queen. I have my doubts that Henry the Narcissistic Womaniser ever had a noble thought about the virtue and character of a woman, infant or not.
The rest of the play is rather uneventful being that it covers the shocking events of Cardinal Wolsey’s death, Henry’s defiance of The Church for the sake of his pursuit of Anne Boleyn, and the demise of Catherine of Aragon as a result. These things seem as though they should be a lot more dramatic than portrayed here. I know Oor Billy was a wee bit busy and ideas were hard to come by amid bubonic plague outbreaks and the raunchy competition, but this one falls flat. In light of the flammable fuses the multilayered real-life drama set to blaze, and the changes all these events brought to the course of history, I feel like this should have left me flabbergasted by the audacity and wreckage.
Speaking of fires, if I’d been in the theatre when they shot canon at the roof and burned The Globe down, I can’t say I’d have been disappointed to miss the second half…
idrees2022's review against another edition
2.0
This may be Shakespeare's lowest point. It's less a play than an extended tribute to the Tudor court. Elizabeth's birth is given significance to match the birth of Jesus. The characters are lacklustre, the climaxes underwhelming. In his determination not to cause offence and appease each constituency, Shakespeare May have produced the blandest of his works.
maryska's review against another edition
3.0
This turned out to be more fun than clever, different than I'd thought.
Nevertheless, it was superb in its own way, got me falling about, I enjoyed it, especially the first half or so. My rating heads towards 3.5 stars.
Nevertheless, it was superb in its own way, got me falling about, I enjoyed it, especially the first half or so. My rating heads towards 3.5 stars.
that_little_drop_of_poison's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
padawan17's review against another edition
3.0
Is Shakespeare a genius? Yes. Was this book still incredibly boring? Yep.
amelianotthepilot's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.0
very boring, too polite
only follows his divorce of his first wife and then quick marriage and birth with Anne Boelin
ends with a prediction that “the following kings and queens will be great 👀👀👀”
only follows his divorce of his first wife and then quick marriage and birth with Anne Boelin
ends with a prediction that “the following kings and queens will be great 👀👀👀”