William Shakespeare

Henry VIII Annotated William Shakespeare

This book is written by William Shakespeare. Let's get one thing straight. This isn't going to be one of those plays that's laugh a minute. This play features a lot of real events, and some pretty grim stuff is gonna take place. At least that's what the Prologue tells us right from the get-go. Yep, some dude walks out on the stage to tell us not to be that fool laughing at serious events. We see what the Prologue was talking about when Buckingham gets taken away to jail after telling his pals that Cardinal Wolsey (the King's right hand man) is ambitious and disloyal to the king. Buckingham's trial is over as fast as it began. Wolsey's in charge of the trial (because that's not a conflict of interest at all) and brings Buckingham's Surveyor to testify against him. Queen Katherine thinks the whole thing is a little too neat and contrived, but King Henry believes Wolsey and sentences Buckingham to death. When the charge is treason, there's no messing around. Wolsey has a party, and everyone is invited, including Henry, who randomly shows up in disguise as a shepherd. It looks like his skills don't rest in costume design, though, because Wolsey sees right through it and uses it as another ego-boosting op. He flatters Henry, and Henry laps it up. He also meets a pretty girl named Anne Bullen. Never mind that he's married: Henry dances with Anne and kisses her, too. Word on the street is that Henry and Katherine are on the outs.