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Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother
This book finally brings Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, out of the shadows. He is revealed to be far more than simply ‘a King who never was.’
For too long, Arthur Tudor has been remembered only for what he never became. The boy who died prematurely and paved the way for the revolutionary reign of his younger brother, Henry VIII.
Yet, during his short life, Arthur was at the center of one of the most tumultuous periods of England’s history. At the time of his birth, he represented his father’s hopes for a dynasty and England’s greatest chance of peace. As he grew, he witnessed feuds, survived rebellion and became the focal point of an international alliance.
From the threat of pretenders to West Country rebellions, the dramatic twists and turns of early Tudor England preoccupied Arthur’s thoughts. At a young age, he was dispatched to the Welsh border, becoming a figure head for a robust regional government. While never old enough to exercise full power in his dominion, he emerged as a figure of influence, beseeched by petitioners and consulted by courtiers. While the extent of his personal influence can only be guessed at, the sources that survive reveal a determined prince that came tantalizingly close to forging his future.
Finally, after years of negotiation, delay and frustration, the prince finally came face to face with his Spanish bride, Katharine of Aragon. The young couple had shared a destiny since the cradle. Securing the hand of this prestigious pride for his son had been a center piece of Henry VII’s foreign policy. Yet, despite being 14 years in the making, the couple were to enjoy just five months together before Arthur succumbed to a mysterious illness.
Arthur’s death at the age of 15 was not just a personal tragedy for his parents. It changed the course of the future and deprived England of one of the most educated and cultivated princes in their history. Arthur would never wear the crown the of England. But few Princes of Wales had been better prepared to rule.
Arthur, Prince of Henry VIII’s Lost Brother shows that Arthur Tudor was more than a prince who died. He was a boy that really lived.
For too long, Arthur Tudor has been remembered only for what he never became. The boy who died prematurely and paved the way for the revolutionary reign of his younger brother, Henry VIII.
Yet, during his short life, Arthur was at the center of one of the most tumultuous periods of England’s history. At the time of his birth, he represented his father’s hopes for a dynasty and England’s greatest chance of peace. As he grew, he witnessed feuds, survived rebellion and became the focal point of an international alliance.
From the threat of pretenders to West Country rebellions, the dramatic twists and turns of early Tudor England preoccupied Arthur’s thoughts. At a young age, he was dispatched to the Welsh border, becoming a figure head for a robust regional government. While never old enough to exercise full power in his dominion, he emerged as a figure of influence, beseeched by petitioners and consulted by courtiers. While the extent of his personal influence can only be guessed at, the sources that survive reveal a determined prince that came tantalizingly close to forging his future.
Finally, after years of negotiation, delay and frustration, the prince finally came face to face with his Spanish bride, Katharine of Aragon. The young couple had shared a destiny since the cradle. Securing the hand of this prestigious pride for his son had been a center piece of Henry VII’s foreign policy. Yet, despite being 14 years in the making, the couple were to enjoy just five months together before Arthur succumbed to a mysterious illness.
Arthur’s death at the age of 15 was not just a personal tragedy for his parents. It changed the course of the future and deprived England of one of the most educated and cultivated princes in their history. Arthur would never wear the crown the of England. But few Princes of Wales had been better prepared to rule.
Arthur, Prince of Henry VIII’s Lost Brother shows that Arthur Tudor was more than a prince who died. He was a boy that really lived.
216 pages, Hardcover
Published June 30, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 18, 2023
I really enjoyed this author's take on Arthur.It was a pleasure to read, reasonably well researched and nicely written.I also liked learning about Arthur's relationships with his more famous brother,Henry VIII,his father and of course Katherine of Aragon.It was endlessly fascinating to me to read some of the author's speculations on these relationships and one of my main reasons for choosing to read this.I don't really think it provided me too much more information about Arthur but there was a surprise or two.I would absolutely recommend to a Tudor fan.
Much thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Much thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 11, 2023
A very interesting and thoroughly researched book about Prince Arthur. So little is known about Arthur, however, the author does a good job looking at all sides. He accomplishes this by presenting several theories based on either references or what was the practice at the time. There is a little bit of back and forth with the timelines and some repetition but it's definitely a recommended read for not just Tudor fans but all fans of the monarchy. Thanks to the author, Netgalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 8, 2023
thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest review
enjoyed this informative insight into the 1st tudor prince of the united houses of york and lancaster and how things could of been and how history has many changes and outcomes. interesting book as little is said about Arthur Tudor and more about his younger brother Henry.
enjoyed this informative insight into the 1st tudor prince of the united houses of york and lancaster and how things could of been and how history has many changes and outcomes. interesting book as little is said about Arthur Tudor and more about his younger brother Henry.
June 8, 2023
I have always viewed Arthur as a footnote in the Tudor dynasty story and this book changed that completely. He was a boy meant to be a king. He was active in his court and social groups. He also played a role in his engagement with the Spanish princess. Arthur is so much more than his impact on his brother’s marriage and I loved the way everything was explored. This is a fantastic book for a Tudor fan!
I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Shelved as '2023'
June 17, 2024📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword History
May 16, 2023
‘Too often, the death of Arthur is where the Tudor story begins. Given our centuries-old fascination with the marital antic of Henry VIII, Arthur is reduced to little more than a footnote in his younger brother’s origin story.’
For many people, Arthur is somewhat of a mystery and I was intrigued to learn more about him.
I enjoyed this read, you can’t help but wonder, what if Arthur had survived?
I also got to know more on Catharine of Aragon and it is hard not to feel sorry for her throughout this read.
A must read for Tudor and history fans.
‘The forgotten elder brother, whose untimely death pave the way for the reign of Henry VIII and the revolution that would take place across four decades, and six wives, of his reign.’
For many people, Arthur is somewhat of a mystery and I was intrigued to learn more about him.
I enjoyed this read, you can’t help but wonder, what if Arthur had survived?
I also got to know more on Catharine of Aragon and it is hard not to feel sorry for her throughout this read.
A must read for Tudor and history fans.
‘The forgotten elder brother, whose untimely death pave the way for the reign of Henry VIII and the revolution that would take place across four decades, and six wives, of his reign.’
August 27, 2024
Readable and Informative
I’ve always been fascinated by people around Henry VIII, not Henry himself who I do have a lot of sympathy for. What was cool about this book is that it gave us a lot of insight about not only Arthur’s short life, but that of Henry and Katherine of Aragon as well. I also like that this author took a firm stance on the big sex question. Did Arthur and Kate seal the deal on their wedding night? I don’t think so, but as for the author, read and find out!
I’ve always been fascinated by people around Henry VIII, not Henry himself who I do have a lot of sympathy for. What was cool about this book is that it gave us a lot of insight about not only Arthur’s short life, but that of Henry and Katherine of Aragon as well. I also like that this author took a firm stance on the big sex question. Did Arthur and Kate seal the deal on their wedding night? I don’t think so, but as for the author, read and find out!
June 18, 2023
I want to thank Netgalley and Pen & Sword Publishing for an uncorrected proof of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was drawn to this title for two reasons. The first is that the subject of this book is a member of the Tudor dynasty and the second is that it was highly recommended by several historians I follow on Instagram. After completing this book I was not disappointed by my decision to read it.
As Streeter argues throughout the work, Arthur is often overlooked by historians because he died so young. As a result of his early demise, many historians seem to see Arthur's major contribution to history as the role he played in the divorce proceedings between Katherine of Aragon and Henry VIII. However, Streeter's work completely negates the previous arguments about Arthur's insignificance. Over the course of this work, Streeter outlines Arthur's brief life and the extent to which he contributed to the dynasty and the King that England and Wales never had.
My favourite part of Streeter's work does not actually concern the main subject, but rather his wife, Katherine of Aragon. Often when Katherine's first marriage is mentioned in history books it does not go into the level of detail outlined in this work which examines the marital negotiations along with the role that Arthur came to play in them and the potential dynamics between Katherine and Arthur during their brief marriage. For instance, I never even thought about the fact that correspondence between Arthur and Spain must have occurred and may still exist. It was fascinating to learn about the letters Arthur wrote to Spain during their betrothal and how he may have been the deciding voice in having Katherine come to Ludlow with him after their marriage. This fact made it all the more interesting to me that Katherine was never taught English even though she was engaged to Arthur off and on from the age of three, nor did Arthur learn Spanish. They were able to communicate together in Latin, but it does seem interesting that neither tried to learn the language of the other and really demonstrated that this was a dynastic match. Furthermore, the fact that Katherine and Arthur's wedding is one of the only public marriage ceremonies to occur during this period helped to highlight that Katherine's popularity in her adoptive country began long before her Queenship.
Now, just because my favourite part of the book was about Katherine does not mean that I did not thoroughly enjoy the book's focus. Streeter did an excellent job of using historical evidence to lay out several valid arguments about Arthur's overall health throughout his life and his abilities as a ruler. There are several things I learned about Arthur's education as a future king that was for lack of a better word mindblowing. I had no idea that Henry VII had invested so many resources in helping Arthur to have a strong foundation as a ruler. Thinking back on the previous work that I have read concerning the Tudors the only thing that I can ever remember reading about Henry VII's relationship with his eldest son is that he was brokenhearted when he died. Upon reflection, the main argument given in these works was that the sadness was due in large part to Henry VII's hope for his dynasty. Streeter, however, does an excellent job of actually articulating the dynamics of the relationships that Arthur appears to have had within his family. Although some of this is reading between the lines of available evidence I walked away from this work believing that Arthur was a much more integral player within his family than I had previously realized. I in particular enjoyed the discussion of Arthur and his eldest sister Margaret's connection.
After reading this book I have been spending a great deal of time thinking about the dynamics of the Tudor dynasty in a way that I had never done before. In particular, I was reflecting on the final chapter of this book which focused on the kind of King Arthur might have been. Streeter does a nice job of discussing that Arthur may not have been a less tyrannical king than his brother, but does highlight that the events that resulted in the break with Rome would not have occurred. It also made me consider if Katherine and Arthur would have been better matched as King and Queen since they both seem to have been well prepared for these roles and it has always been my opinion that Katherine was far more qualified for the role of ruler than Henry VIII. Why exactly Henry VIII's education was not as rigorous in nature as his brother's education is another thing Streeter's work left me pondering. I understand that Arthur and Henry VIII were destined for different roles, King and (likely) a career in the church respectively, it does seem odd that Henry VIII was not given any responsibilities in his youth, especially since Arthur became Prince of Wales at three years old.
My only real complaint with this book is that I felt that at various times throughout the book Streeter was repeating himself with facts that he had presented earlier in the book. I understand that he was attempting to link ideas together, but there were a few times that I did have a sense of deja vu that I had read a sentence before. This however did not distract from the overall strength of the work. I did wish that there was more evidence to discuss throughout the book, but that is a. a fault of things being lost to history and b. not everything can go into a book and have the narrative make sense, but given what Streeter had at his disposal this was an excellent piece of work.
Any lover of history or the Tudors needs to get their hands on a copy of this book.
I was drawn to this title for two reasons. The first is that the subject of this book is a member of the Tudor dynasty and the second is that it was highly recommended by several historians I follow on Instagram. After completing this book I was not disappointed by my decision to read it.
As Streeter argues throughout the work, Arthur is often overlooked by historians because he died so young. As a result of his early demise, many historians seem to see Arthur's major contribution to history as the role he played in the divorce proceedings between Katherine of Aragon and Henry VIII. However, Streeter's work completely negates the previous arguments about Arthur's insignificance. Over the course of this work, Streeter outlines Arthur's brief life and the extent to which he contributed to the dynasty and the King that England and Wales never had.
My favourite part of Streeter's work does not actually concern the main subject, but rather his wife, Katherine of Aragon. Often when Katherine's first marriage is mentioned in history books it does not go into the level of detail outlined in this work which examines the marital negotiations along with the role that Arthur came to play in them and the potential dynamics between Katherine and Arthur during their brief marriage. For instance, I never even thought about the fact that correspondence between Arthur and Spain must have occurred and may still exist. It was fascinating to learn about the letters Arthur wrote to Spain during their betrothal and how he may have been the deciding voice in having Katherine come to Ludlow with him after their marriage. This fact made it all the more interesting to me that Katherine was never taught English even though she was engaged to Arthur off and on from the age of three, nor did Arthur learn Spanish. They were able to communicate together in Latin, but it does seem interesting that neither tried to learn the language of the other and really demonstrated that this was a dynastic match. Furthermore, the fact that Katherine and Arthur's wedding is one of the only public marriage ceremonies to occur during this period helped to highlight that Katherine's popularity in her adoptive country began long before her Queenship.
Now, just because my favourite part of the book was about Katherine does not mean that I did not thoroughly enjoy the book's focus. Streeter did an excellent job of using historical evidence to lay out several valid arguments about Arthur's overall health throughout his life and his abilities as a ruler. There are several things I learned about Arthur's education as a future king that was for lack of a better word mindblowing. I had no idea that Henry VII had invested so many resources in helping Arthur to have a strong foundation as a ruler. Thinking back on the previous work that I have read concerning the Tudors the only thing that I can ever remember reading about Henry VII's relationship with his eldest son is that he was brokenhearted when he died. Upon reflection, the main argument given in these works was that the sadness was due in large part to Henry VII's hope for his dynasty. Streeter, however, does an excellent job of actually articulating the dynamics of the relationships that Arthur appears to have had within his family. Although some of this is reading between the lines of available evidence I walked away from this work believing that Arthur was a much more integral player within his family than I had previously realized. I in particular enjoyed the discussion of Arthur and his eldest sister Margaret's connection.
After reading this book I have been spending a great deal of time thinking about the dynamics of the Tudor dynasty in a way that I had never done before. In particular, I was reflecting on the final chapter of this book which focused on the kind of King Arthur might have been. Streeter does a nice job of discussing that Arthur may not have been a less tyrannical king than his brother, but does highlight that the events that resulted in the break with Rome would not have occurred. It also made me consider if Katherine and Arthur would have been better matched as King and Queen since they both seem to have been well prepared for these roles and it has always been my opinion that Katherine was far more qualified for the role of ruler than Henry VIII. Why exactly Henry VIII's education was not as rigorous in nature as his brother's education is another thing Streeter's work left me pondering. I understand that Arthur and Henry VIII were destined for different roles, King and (likely) a career in the church respectively, it does seem odd that Henry VIII was not given any responsibilities in his youth, especially since Arthur became Prince of Wales at three years old.
My only real complaint with this book is that I felt that at various times throughout the book Streeter was repeating himself with facts that he had presented earlier in the book. I understand that he was attempting to link ideas together, but there were a few times that I did have a sense of deja vu that I had read a sentence before. This however did not distract from the overall strength of the work. I did wish that there was more evidence to discuss throughout the book, but that is a. a fault of things being lost to history and b. not everything can go into a book and have the narrative make sense, but given what Streeter had at his disposal this was an excellent piece of work.
Any lover of history or the Tudors needs to get their hands on a copy of this book.
June 2, 2023
The tales of the Tudor kings are unique in how they became kings of England. We all know the story of how Prince Henry became King Henry VIII. His eldest brother, Prince Arthur, died shortly after he married the Spanish Princess Katherine of Aragon. Much has been discussed about Arthur's wedding night and death, but not much has been written about his time as the Prince of Wales. In his debut book, "Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII's Lost Brother" Gareth Streeter explores the life of the first Tudor prince.
I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. Prince Arthur has been mentioned in numerous accounts of the Tudors, but it is very rare for a book to focus on the young prince. I wanted to see what new information Streeter would bring to the story of the crown prince who would never become king.
Streeter begins his book by exploring the origins of the Tudor line and the significance of King Arthur and ancient Briton kings like Brutus and Cadwaladr. He then dives into the birth and baptism of Prince Arthur, which shows a lot of symbolism that the Tudors wanted to employ to establish their young dynasty. During the part about the baptism of the young prince, Streeter gives his audience a bit of background on those in attendance and the Wars of the Roses.
Most of this book focuses on Arthur's life as the crown prince and the Prince of Wales, including the duties he was expected to take on. As the heir to the young Tudor dynasty and the son of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York, he was the hope of the entire country. Unfortunately, the pretenders Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel threatened the fragile peace that Henry VII established. Amid the pretender drama, we see the young prince's education and the arduous marriage negotiations between Spain and England. Finally, Streeter discusses the relationship between Arthur, Katherine of Aragon, and his family, until his untimely death, which left England with Henry VIII as the only heir to the Tudor dynasty.
For a debut, Streeter has done a great job presenting how he views Prince Arthur's life and showing new information that Tudor fans alike will find fascinating. As Streeter has said in this book, Prince Arthur was more than just a prince who died. He did live, and his life as the first Tudor prince set the standard for King Henry VIII and Edward VI after him. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Prince Arthur and look forward to reading the next book Gareth Streeter writes. If you want to learn more about the Tudor prince who never became king, I recommend reading "Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII's Lost Brother" by Gareth Streeter.
I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. Prince Arthur has been mentioned in numerous accounts of the Tudors, but it is very rare for a book to focus on the young prince. I wanted to see what new information Streeter would bring to the story of the crown prince who would never become king.
Streeter begins his book by exploring the origins of the Tudor line and the significance of King Arthur and ancient Briton kings like Brutus and Cadwaladr. He then dives into the birth and baptism of Prince Arthur, which shows a lot of symbolism that the Tudors wanted to employ to establish their young dynasty. During the part about the baptism of the young prince, Streeter gives his audience a bit of background on those in attendance and the Wars of the Roses.
Most of this book focuses on Arthur's life as the crown prince and the Prince of Wales, including the duties he was expected to take on. As the heir to the young Tudor dynasty and the son of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York, he was the hope of the entire country. Unfortunately, the pretenders Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel threatened the fragile peace that Henry VII established. Amid the pretender drama, we see the young prince's education and the arduous marriage negotiations between Spain and England. Finally, Streeter discusses the relationship between Arthur, Katherine of Aragon, and his family, until his untimely death, which left England with Henry VIII as the only heir to the Tudor dynasty.
For a debut, Streeter has done a great job presenting how he views Prince Arthur's life and showing new information that Tudor fans alike will find fascinating. As Streeter has said in this book, Prince Arthur was more than just a prince who died. He did live, and his life as the first Tudor prince set the standard for King Henry VIII and Edward VI after him. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Prince Arthur and look forward to reading the next book Gareth Streeter writes. If you want to learn more about the Tudor prince who never became king, I recommend reading "Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII's Lost Brother" by Gareth Streeter.
May 23, 2023
216 pages
4 stars
I haven’t read much about the life of Prince Arthur, so I was excited to receive this book.
Mr. Streeter writes a detailed biography of the short life of Arthur. He includes a brief synopsis of the end of the War of the Roses, as it is now called. He briefly touches on Edward IV and Richard III. With Henry VII’s accession to the throne of England, and his marriage to Edward IV’s eldest daughter, the stage is set for the Tudor dynasty to commence.
The author also details the extensive negotiations between Henry VII and King Ferdinand and his wife, Queen Isabella for the hand for Katherine of Aragon.
Mr. Streeter begins Arthur’s story at his birth. He describes his early years and his education. Even though he thoroughly researched Arthur’s life, the historical record is thin. When it came to Arthur’s marriage, the focus was on Katherine of Aragon. There is sadly very little about Arthur.
I found the book interesting and informative. Although the literature is scant, the author was able to impart some new tidbits for me to consider.
The book is well written in a casual, conversational style. It is not at all dry or preachy. It also contains footnotes and a bibliography for those who would like to further explore Arthur’s life.
I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
4 stars
I haven’t read much about the life of Prince Arthur, so I was excited to receive this book.
Mr. Streeter writes a detailed biography of the short life of Arthur. He includes a brief synopsis of the end of the War of the Roses, as it is now called. He briefly touches on Edward IV and Richard III. With Henry VII’s accession to the throne of England, and his marriage to Edward IV’s eldest daughter, the stage is set for the Tudor dynasty to commence.
The author also details the extensive negotiations between Henry VII and King Ferdinand and his wife, Queen Isabella for the hand for Katherine of Aragon.
Mr. Streeter begins Arthur’s story at his birth. He describes his early years and his education. Even though he thoroughly researched Arthur’s life, the historical record is thin. When it came to Arthur’s marriage, the focus was on Katherine of Aragon. There is sadly very little about Arthur.
I found the book interesting and informative. Although the literature is scant, the author was able to impart some new tidbits for me to consider.
The book is well written in a casual, conversational style. It is not at all dry or preachy. It also contains footnotes and a bibliography for those who would like to further explore Arthur’s life.
I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
June 2, 2023
This was a solid, interesting read with some new perspectives. Arthur’s story has always seemed to be that of outsider - born & raised to be King then sent to Ludlow before dying. There’s more focus on consummation of his marriage than anything else & he’s always persuaded as someone who was continually sick, in much the same way as his father was portrayed as continually miserly and his brother as a womanising, warmongering spendthrift. This book gives a new view, bringing Arthur to life much more & raising new thoughts to challenge the standard world view. This book is easy to read & uses some well known historical sources/quotes from famous historians.
I do have two small critiques:
1) in places it feels like the text isn’t linear & jumps around from Arthur’s young life to his parents marriage & even back to when his grandmother was young giving birth to his father. This wasn’t completely jarring but it did take me a second to re-focus on where I was in the story when it happened.
2) there are lines in different chapters which are really similar. Not the same but similar enough which meant I had to go back & check I’d not read it before or lost my place.
As I say, these are small critiques & did not spoil my enjoyment of the book. If you are interested in reading about one of the lesser known Tudors I would recommend coming to this book to learn.
I do have two small critiques:
1) in places it feels like the text isn’t linear & jumps around from Arthur’s young life to his parents marriage & even back to when his grandmother was young giving birth to his father. This wasn’t completely jarring but it did take me a second to re-focus on where I was in the story when it happened.
2) there are lines in different chapters which are really similar. Not the same but similar enough which meant I had to go back & check I’d not read it before or lost my place.
As I say, these are small critiques & did not spoil my enjoyment of the book. If you are interested in reading about one of the lesser known Tudors I would recommend coming to this book to learn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2023
Prince Arthur is mostly remembered for two things: his boasting about 'having spent the night in Spain' after his first night in the marital bed with Catherine of Aragon, and his early untimely death. This is extremely unfortunate, and Streeter brings the young and handsome prince to life in this book. Apparently, Arthur formed a regional government on the Welsh borders by the age of six (although he was not old enough to be in charge, of course). While his younger brother Henry spent a relatively carefree life, Arthur had to grow up quickly, studying the men in his charge, trying to assert himself against his councillors as he grew older, and 'even dispatching men to put down armed rebellion'. He also took an interest in the tortuous negotiations concerning his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, arguing against delays, and when they were married, he insisted on her joining him at Ludlow.
Streeter examines the negotiations concerning the marriage forensically, and has an extremely interesting and convincing theory about whether it was consummated. He also studies the possible reasons for Arthur's early death. I also found the chapter on how Arthur may have reigned as King very well-done.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in Tudor history, or Royal history.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Streeter examines the negotiations concerning the marriage forensically, and has an extremely interesting and convincing theory about whether it was consummated. He also studies the possible reasons for Arthur's early death. I also found the chapter on how Arthur may have reigned as King very well-done.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in Tudor history, or Royal history.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
October 7, 2023
Arthur Prince of Wales, is a mysterious figure in history. We know he was Henry VIII's elder brother who would have ruled - had he not died at 15. He was married to Catherine of Aragon very briefly - we know little else.
Streeter's tries to fill in some of the gaps in his book Arthur Prince of Wales: Henry VIII's Lost Brother. We learn Arthur began his journey as a royal at aged 3. He was very popular, respected by those around him, which is quite different from his father. Arthur was also determined and always took a challenge head on.
He was also quite different from his younger brother. He was much less bold, and shyer. The UK would be quite different if Arthur had ruled.
Streeter also analyzes whether or not Arthur's marriage to Catherine of Aragon was consummated. There's also a lot of information about Arthur's health throughout his life.
Overall the book flows very well. There is a lot of new information someone might learn from the book. Furthermore, we learn what Arthur may have been like as King. However, Arthur still a very mysterious figure - even after the book.
If someone wanted to take a look into Arthur's short life I would recommend the book. You might not get all the answers you are looking for. Yet, you would still gain a lot of information from it. It's a very enlightening and easy read.
Overall, I'd give the book 4.5 stars.
Streeter's tries to fill in some of the gaps in his book Arthur Prince of Wales: Henry VIII's Lost Brother. We learn Arthur began his journey as a royal at aged 3. He was very popular, respected by those around him, which is quite different from his father. Arthur was also determined and always took a challenge head on.
He was also quite different from his younger brother. He was much less bold, and shyer. The UK would be quite different if Arthur had ruled.
Streeter also analyzes whether or not Arthur's marriage to Catherine of Aragon was consummated. There's also a lot of information about Arthur's health throughout his life.
Overall the book flows very well. There is a lot of new information someone might learn from the book. Furthermore, we learn what Arthur may have been like as King. However, Arthur still a very mysterious figure - even after the book.
If someone wanted to take a look into Arthur's short life I would recommend the book. You might not get all the answers you are looking for. Yet, you would still gain a lot of information from it. It's a very enlightening and easy read.
Overall, I'd give the book 4.5 stars.
July 12, 2023
Not much is known about Arthur, but the author presents a great deal of research and includes hypotheses and extrapolations that make sense and possibly fill in some of the blanks about this young man's life. The author explores the Tudor family and how they came to the throne and how those circumstances influenced Arthur's life. A thorough discussion of the historical time period and norms for royal children, marriages, etc. were all well researched and presented. The author also presented information that contradicted the common belief that Arthur was a sickly child. I found all of this very interesting.
I have read much about the Tudors, both fact and fiction, but Arthur is little more than a footnote or a point for legal argument about consummation of his marriage to Katherine. This book makes him a real person whose life had depth and meaning beyond whether he had sex with his teenaged wife.
Recommend to British and Tudor history fans and anyone who has read piles of historical fiction about Henry VIII.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have read much about the Tudors, both fact and fiction, but Arthur is little more than a footnote or a point for legal argument about consummation of his marriage to Katherine. This book makes him a real person whose life had depth and meaning beyond whether he had sex with his teenaged wife.
Recommend to British and Tudor history fans and anyone who has read piles of historical fiction about Henry VIII.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2023
I think for many people that are fascinated by the Tudor dynasty and for amateur historians and historians alike, the death of Arthur Tudor is where the Tudor Dynasty truly begins. We began our fascination with the marriage between Arthur, Prince of Wales, Henry VII's oldest brother, where Arthur is reduced to just a footnote in history and becomes a shadow of his younger brother Henry VIII's story and history.
For so many of us, Prince Arthur is a mystery and I was looking forward to reading this book because I'm interested to learn more about the heir of Henry the VII and Elizabeth of York. I've spent most of my adult life wondering what England and it's monarchy would have been like if Arthur had lived and Henry had not.
I did enjoy that I got to know more about Catherine of Aragon and it's difficult not to feel sorry for her throughout the reading of this book, and through history. This is an excellent read for both Tudor fans and historical fans. You can see the research that the author put into this book and I can appreciate that fact. I really enjoyed the read.
For so many of us, Prince Arthur is a mystery and I was looking forward to reading this book because I'm interested to learn more about the heir of Henry the VII and Elizabeth of York. I've spent most of my adult life wondering what England and it's monarchy would have been like if Arthur had lived and Henry had not.
I did enjoy that I got to know more about Catherine of Aragon and it's difficult not to feel sorry for her throughout the reading of this book, and through history. This is an excellent read for both Tudor fans and historical fans. You can see the research that the author put into this book and I can appreciate that fact. I really enjoyed the read.
May 17, 2023
Thank you NetGalley, Gareth Streeter, and Pen & Sword for allowing me to read an ARC of Arthur, Prince of Wales in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to finally read a book that was described as being completely dedicated to the born to be king, Arthur. He is always briefly mentioned in books about Henry VIII, but as a weak individual that died young. He was the first born son and I often wonder how England would have turned out if Arthur did not die allowing Henry to rule. Things could have been so much different.
This book is well researched. The timeline is not written fluidly though. There is a lot of backtracking. If it was more organized, then I would have given it 5 stars.
I was excited to finally read a book that was described as being completely dedicated to the born to be king, Arthur. He is always briefly mentioned in books about Henry VIII, but as a weak individual that died young. He was the first born son and I often wonder how England would have turned out if Arthur did not die allowing Henry to rule. Things could have been so much different.
This book is well researched. The timeline is not written fluidly though. There is a lot of backtracking. If it was more organized, then I would have given it 5 stars.
May 29, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!
A fascinating biography of the king-who-never-was. Streeter admits to how difficult it is to find information on the prince before his marriage, but does manage to show a lot of possibilities of how young Arthur's life probably played out, as well as reminding us how close he was to big events of his father's reign.
Arthur's young death was a loss of so much potential - but he played a part as well in Tudor politics and Streeter shows how he deserves to be more than just as a footnote.
June 10, 2023
I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Love the cover first off. I really enjoyed this book a lot. The author did a great job with he research and there was a lot of historical events that happened with Arthur that I didn't know about. I love everything to do with the Tudor history and there are not a lot of books out there that is directly focuses on Arthur alone. I honestly didn't really know a lot about him just the basic facts. So perfect read for all those Tudor history buffs out there.
June 15, 2023
I would've appreciated if the first 20% of the book hadn't been spent on talking about the ending of the Wars of the Roses. It's a book on Arthur Tudor, and as much as I know a recap's needed to contextualize, I think it was a bit long.
Otherwise I enjoyed the book. Arthur has always been kind of a ghostly figure to me, a brief halt before real history took place, much like with his nephew Edward VI. I loved the writing style and it was easy to follow and understand. I gained a new perspective on Prince Arthur.
Otherwise I enjoyed the book. Arthur has always been kind of a ghostly figure to me, a brief halt before real history took place, much like with his nephew Edward VI. I loved the writing style and it was easy to follow and understand. I gained a new perspective on Prince Arthur.
December 14, 2023
Exploring the enigmatic life of Henry VIII's forgotten brother, Arthur, this compelling book unveils a captivating narrative that history overlooked. With meticulous research and vivid storytelling, the author brings Arthur to life, unraveling a fascinating tale of intrigue, lost legacy, and the often overshadowed complexities within the Tudor dynasty.
June 14, 2023
One of the few biographies to tell the story of the Prince who was at the center of Henry VIII’s ‘Great Matter’. Arthur is an interesting historical figure in his own right and it is great to see his story come to life in BBC a well written biography.
February 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed his writing style and thinking about the “what if” scenarios. I think my only complaint would be the editing / there were a lot of grammar and spelling mistakes.
August 26, 2024
I liked that the author set forth what is known and made it clear when he was speculating about what might have happened. However, he frequently writes in sentence fragments rather than actual sentences, which was annoying.
May 19, 2023
Very well written, interesting book on topic that don't often get read
Well worth reading
Totally recommend
Well worth reading
Totally recommend
February 21, 2024
The story of Arthur TudorAn amazing book and a pleasure to read both fascinating and compelling
July 12, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. With interest in the monarchy running high, especially after the pomp of King Charles III's coronation, this book is a great read for fans of the Tudor era. Streeter begins with a serviceable review of the War of the Roses, essential for understanding the reign of Henry VII and the political dynamics of his dynastic marriage to Elizabeth of York. Henry VIII, his father's successor, is still the central figure of the Tudor dynasty, the larger than life ruler who combined the houses of Lancaster and York and changed history.
What many people forget or underestimate was that this was not supposed to be Henry VIII. It was supposed to be King Arthur I, who would also remind all his subjects that this is the first rightful dynasty on the throne since Cadwallader. The Tudors saw themselves as the very real descendants of King Arthur, and the first-born son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York was named Arthur and born on the site of Camelot. He was raised for 15 years with the finest education. He may not have been frequently living with his parents, but Henry VII and Elizabeth's hopes were focused on Arthur. He was raised to rule. He was married to a Spanish princess. His father had to overcome many threats to his rule to ensure the stability to make the Spanish marriage happen. With Arthur's sudden death a mere 5 months after the marriage that his father had thought would secure his reign and that of Arthur as well, many more "what if"s arise than did Arthur do the deed with Catherine before he died. What if Arthur hadn't died? What kind of king would he be? Streeter details much of how Arthur was groomed to rule and beginning to assume responsibilities in his own right. You don't realize how much Henry VIII was not prepared for his role as heir presumptive and king until you contrast that with how well Arthur was. How much of a difference did that make in Henry VIII's reign? Henry spent much more time in the presence of his family, forming emotional bonds and preparing for a career in the church. Streeter also looks at Arthur's health, the perception of which has tended to swing from his always being a sickly child to a strong youth shockingly succumbing to a plague-like illness. Streeter suspects the truth lies somewhere in the middle, but he does effectively contextualize this death, makiing it again the shattering event that it was. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the nuances of the Tudor reigns and put Henry VIII in a more detailed tapestry. My only complaint is that so much of the book is speculative, but when primary sources are 500+ years old and very scant, Streeter can do little more than a best guess in some instances.
What many people forget or underestimate was that this was not supposed to be Henry VIII. It was supposed to be King Arthur I, who would also remind all his subjects that this is the first rightful dynasty on the throne since Cadwallader. The Tudors saw themselves as the very real descendants of King Arthur, and the first-born son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York was named Arthur and born on the site of Camelot. He was raised for 15 years with the finest education. He may not have been frequently living with his parents, but Henry VII and Elizabeth's hopes were focused on Arthur. He was raised to rule. He was married to a Spanish princess. His father had to overcome many threats to his rule to ensure the stability to make the Spanish marriage happen. With Arthur's sudden death a mere 5 months after the marriage that his father had thought would secure his reign and that of Arthur as well, many more "what if"s arise than did Arthur do the deed with Catherine before he died. What if Arthur hadn't died? What kind of king would he be? Streeter details much of how Arthur was groomed to rule and beginning to assume responsibilities in his own right. You don't realize how much Henry VIII was not prepared for his role as heir presumptive and king until you contrast that with how well Arthur was. How much of a difference did that make in Henry VIII's reign? Henry spent much more time in the presence of his family, forming emotional bonds and preparing for a career in the church. Streeter also looks at Arthur's health, the perception of which has tended to swing from his always being a sickly child to a strong youth shockingly succumbing to a plague-like illness. Streeter suspects the truth lies somewhere in the middle, but he does effectively contextualize this death, makiing it again the shattering event that it was. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the nuances of the Tudor reigns and put Henry VIII in a more detailed tapestry. My only complaint is that so much of the book is speculative, but when primary sources are 500+ years old and very scant, Streeter can do little more than a best guess in some instances.
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