David Allen Hines's Reviews > The Shadow King: The Life and Death of Henry VI

Unlike any other ruler, William Shakespeare penned not one, not two, but three plays about tragic King Henry 6th. But like almost everything about this tragic ruler, Shakespeare's Henry 6th plays are largely forgotten, ignored, considered "minor" and you will search long and hard to find them in live performance.

I've read many books on the English kings, and many in particular on several of the "Henrys" especially the famous Henry 8th; his ruthless father Henry 7th and the warrior King Henry 5th. But I knew little about the weak, ill-remembered Henry 6th who nonetheless served for half a century, so I was intrigued to see this book, and even more glad I read it.

This book is very well-written, easy to read, and fascinating, lacking the scholarly tone or obtuse theories seen in so many books on the English monarchy. You need not be an expert on English history to read this book, and yet you will walk away very well informed on the history of the times of Henry VI.

Henry VI's father, Henry 5th, hero of Agincourt and a warrior king, never met his only son, falling ill and dying, leaving his son an infant king. And as such Henry 6th it seems was doomed from birth. For whatever reason the son of the awesome and powerful 5th was not his father's son, and grew up to be weak in mind, body, and more geared to pacificim than war. A king more unlike his father could not be imagined. I think one of the author's insights is right on-- Henry 6th was given the education of a king, but since his father died when he was still an infant, he never got to see how a king should actually behave. Weakness in a ruler of that time could never be succesful.

Throughout his reign, Henry 6th essentially had nonstop civil war. His strong wife led a faction trying to control him while other powerful families angled continously for power. Henry 6th himself was so weak minded he essentially went along with whomever controlled his household at the moment. Troops were sent into battle in his name to put down rebellion, but unlike kings of his time he himself never led them. His wife tried her best but the era was not one for strong female leaders. Little by little the families who backed Henry were cut down. It is in fact a miracle he lasted as long as he did. Ensued the War of the Roses as rival English familes fought for control of the throne.

Finally the Earl of March deposed Henry to become King Edward IV. Like Napolean, Henry would briefly be restored to power. But his recovery of his throne was just as brief. He was soon overthrown again, put into the Tower of London then said to be found dead in 1471. Almost certainly he was killed. In death he was stronger than in life, his gentle, anti-warlike nature was held to be saintlike although he never was made an actual saint. King Edward IV would go on to rule strongly, but lived hard and died young, leaving 2 young princes one who became King Edward V, but who both also "disappeared" being usurped by Edward's brother, who briefly became the evil King Richard III whose reign would be ended along with the War of the Roses when forces of Henry Tudor defeated him at Bosworth, and the reign of the Tudors began.

This is a magnificent, interesting, informative book about a tragic king who today is little studied. Any fan of English royal history will enjoy and benefit from reading this book. Highly recommended.