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Henry VIII: Man and Monarch

King Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger (detail). By kind permission of The Worshipful Company of Barbers.

Thu 23 Apr 2009 - Sun 6 Sep 2009

PACCAR Gallery, British Library

Price: Adults £9 (concessions £7 / £5)

Sunday 6 September-All advance tickets sold out

Limited availability

More information about this exhibition

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Saturday 5 September - SOLD OUT- no further tickets available

Sunday 6 September - All advance tickets sold out. A limited number of walk-up tickets available on the day but we cannot guarantee entry. 

 


In celebration of the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne, the historian and broadcaster Dr David Starkey guest-curates this major exhibition, providing new insights into one of this country’s most memorable monarchs, who still casts a spell over the public imagination.

Highlights of the exhibition include Henry’s personal Prayer Book, containing his handwritten notes, his marriage contract with Katherine of Aragon, a list of people executed in his reign, including wives, favourites and ministers, and a love letter to Anne Boleyn, concealed in the Vatican for almost five centuries. Almost certainly stolen from Anne to serve as evidence against the King’s divorce, the letter is exhibited here for the first time and sheds light on Henry’s infamous infatuation.

"This exhibition draws on the British Library’s rich collections – including the books that Henry himself chose, read and annotated – which outline the revolutionary change in ideas that took place during the reign of Henry VIII and take us, as nothing else can, into the King’s own mind."
Dr David Starkey

David Starkey introduces the exhibition

Video introduction by guest curator David Starkey

Exhibition Reviews

The Guardian  "An exhibition that seeks to blow away the preconceptions surrounding arguably England's most important monarch" read full preview

The Times * * * * "a show to nurture the enthusiasms of a new generation of historians" read full review

The Telegraph "Love letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn on display for first time" read full preview

John Snow Blog " utterly fantastic Henry VIII exhibition at the British Library" read full review

The Independent describes the Henry VIII exhibition as a "superb show" read full review


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