The King is Dead

By Suzannah Lipscomb

On 28 January 1547, the sickly and obese King Henry VIII died at Whitehall.

Just hours before his passing, his last will and testament had been read, stamped and sealed. The will confirmed the line of succession as Edward, Mary and Elizabeth; and, following them, the Grey and Suffolk families. It also listed bequests to the king's most trusted councillors and servants.

Henry's will is one of the most intriguing and contested documents in British history. Historians have disagreed over its intended meaning, its authenticity and validity, and the circumstances of its creation. As well as examining the background to the drafting of the will and describing Henry's last days, Suzannah Lipscomb offers her own, illuminating interpretation of one of the most significant constitutional documents of the Tudor period.

'A bold and original attempt to unravel one of the great mysteries of English history' DAVID STARKEY

• Language: English
• Publisher: Head of Zeus
• Release date: Nov 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784081911

Suzannah Lipscomb

Dr Suzannah Lipscomb is an historian, author, broadcaster and award-winning academic. Suzannah holds a BA (Hons) First in History and M.St. in Historical Research from Lincoln College, Oxford, and a D.Phil. in History from Balliol College, Oxford. Following posts as Research Curator at Hampton Court Palace, Lecturer in Early Modern History at the University of East Anglia, Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History and Fellow of the New College of the Humanities, London (NCH) and, additionally, Head of the Faculty of History from 2011-2016, she is now Reader in Early Modern History at the University of Roehampton,a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and Govenor of Epsom College (where she was educated).  Suzannah has presented historical documentaries on BBC4, ITV, Channel 5 and National Geographic Channel, and writes a regular column for History Today. Suzannah is the author of six books. Notably, the pioneering Lion book, 1536: The Year that Changed Henry VIII. Suzannah is an award-winning academic, and has recieved the following awards: AHRC Humanities in the Creative Economy Award 2011, Museums Heritage Award for Excellence 2012, and the Nancy Roelker Prize 2012. Suzannah is an award-winning podcast presenter, and has recieved the Silver Award or Best Branded Content at the British Podcast Awards 2018 for -Irreplaceable: A History of England in 100 Places- with Historic England. She is also an accomplished public speaker, and has given many keynote and invited public lectures all over the world, from the USA to Singapore. She also speaks regularly at literary festivals, and at universities and schools. In 2016, she founded History Masterclass with Dr Sam Willis to create intimate, interactive opportunities for the public to learn about history from leading historians.

Reviews for The King is Dead

[Dave Busfield · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One for the historians not the casual reader. Very insightful.

[drmaf-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting addition to the ever-proliferating library of the Tudors. Susannah Lipscomb is a professor of history ta the University of Roehampton who is acquiring a growing public following as a result of fronting TV shows like The Great Fire of London and Private Lives of the Monarchs, but Tudor history seems to be her particular interest and she has here produced a very readable account of the document which profoundly influenced English history. In late 1546 Henry VIII, ageing, grossly obese and in constant pain, knew his life was ending and drew up his will. It was much less a document entailing the disposal of his remains and the dispersal of his worldly goods (although that part is quite fascinating) but a detailed plan for the succession. With his son Edward still only a boy and numerous other possible claimants for the throne, Henry tried to dictate exactly would follow in the dynastic succession in what order, starting with Edward then Mary than Elizabeth and their lawful offspring, then down through the twisted Tudor family tree. However, while Henry was still gasping his last, two of his most powerful nobles, apparently on the spur of the moment, combined to subvert to his will and maneuver themselves into a position of power vis a vis a the young King Edward, however, their plan ultimately derailed and quite astonishingly, Henry's plan of succession played out almost exactly as he had wished. This is a fascinating tale of a little-known aspect of Henry's story, well-written and with an eye for the drama that played out in the last days of Henry's life, the depiction of Henry's last hours is moving. A great book highly recommended for anyone with more than a passing interest in the Tudors and English history in general,