Henry VIII was one of the most volatile and unpredictable monarchs in English history. Despite his famously explosive temper, his overbearing bluster and his appalling disregard for human life, he also proved himself at times to be a caring husband, a loyal friend, a compassionate ruler and a pious believer as well.

Henry VIII: A Reference Guide to His Life and Work captures his eventful life, his works, and his legacy. It features a chronology, an introduction, a comprehensive bibliography, and the dictionary section lists entries on all the locales, events and personalities associated with King Henry from the years before his birth, through the nearly 38 years of his reign, to the subsequent régimes of his three royal children and successors.