Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: All is true : Henry VIII in and out of history / Thomas Betteridge and Thomas S. Freeman -- Harry's peregrinations: an Italianate defence of Henry VIII / Brett Foster -- From perfect prince to "wise and pollitike" king: Henry VIII in Edward Hall's Chronicle / Scott Lucas -- "It is perillous stryvinge withe princes": Henry VIII in works by Pole, Roper, and Harpsfield / Carolyn Colbert -- Hands defiled with blood: Henry VIII in Foxe's "Book of martyrs" / Thomas S. Freeman -- Fallen prince pretender of the faith: Henry VIII as seen by Sander and Parsons / Victor Houliston -- "It is unpossible to draw his picture well who hath severall countenances" : Lord Herbert of Cherbury and the life and reign of King Henry VIII / Christine Jackson -- Henry VIII in history: Gilbert Burnet's History of the Reformation (v. 1), 1679 / Andrew Starkie -- "Unblushing falsehood": the Strickland sisters and the domestic history of Henry VIII / Judith Richards -- Ford Madox Ford's fifth queen and the modernity of Henry VIII / Anthony & Susannah Monta -- The "sexual everyman"? Maxwell Anderson's Henry VIII / Glen Richardson -- Drama king: the portrayal of Henry VIII in Robert Bolt's A man for all seasons / Ruth Ahnert -- "Anne taught him how to be cruel": Henry VIII in modern historical fiction / Megan Hickerson -- Booby, baby or classical monster? Henry VIII in the writings of G.R. Elton and J.J. Scarisbrick / Dale Hoak -- Through the eyes of a fool: Henry VIII and Margaret George's 1986 novel The autobiography of Henry VIII with notes by his fool, Will Somers / Kristen Walton.