Books
30 Best Novels About the Henrician Reformation
Bestselling authors first, then star rating.
Phase
Henrician Reformation
1530–1547 CE
The Henrician Reformation grew from Henry VIII’s attempt to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. It became a constitutional and religious transformation as the king rejected papal authority and made himself supreme head of the Church of England. The change was driven by politics, theology, law and dynastic pressure.
It mattered because it altered the structure of authority in England. Monasteries, clergy, courts, parish life and private belief were pulled into royal policy. The consequences continued through the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.
Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies and The Mirror and the Light are major fictional treatments of the politics behind the break with Rome. C. J. Sansom’s Shardlake series follows the same world from the perspective of law, conscience, investigation and religious fear.
Related people for Henrician Reformation
Agnes Howard, Duchess of Norfolk1477–1545 Anne Askew1521–1546 Anne Basset1521–1557 Anne Boleyn1501–1536 Anne of Cleves1515–1557 Arthur, Prince of Wales1486–1502 Catherine Carey1523–1569 Catherine Howard1523–1542 Catherine of Aragon1485–1536 Catherine Parr1512–1548 Charles V1500–1558 Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset1506–1552 Edward VI1537–1553 Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire1480–1538 Elizabeth I1533–1603 Elizabeth of York1466–1503 Ferdinand II of Aragon1452–1516 Francis Derehamc. 1500s–1541 Francis I of France1494–1547 Francis Knollys1514–1596 Francis Weston1511–1536 George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford1504–1536 Hans Holbein the Younger1497–1543 Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon1526–1596 Henry Norris1482–1536 Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland1502–1537 Henry VII1457–1509 Henry VIII1491–1547 Isabella I of Castile1451–1504 James V1512–1542 Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford1505–1542 Jane Seymour1508–1537 Joan Larke1490–c. 1530s Lady Jane Grey1537–1554 Margaret Butler, Countess of Ormondc. 15th century–1542 Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox1515–1578 Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury1473–1541 Margaret Tudor1489–1541 Mark Smeaton1512–1536 Mary Boleyn1499–1543 Mary I1516–1558 Mary Seymourborn 1548 Philip II of Spain1527–1598 Reginald Pole1500–1558 Stephen Gardiner1483–1555 Susannah Hornebolt1503–1545 Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire1457–1539 Thomas Cranmer1489–1556 Thomas Cromwell1485–1540 Thomas Culpeper1514–1541 Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk1473–1554 Thomas More1478–1535 Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley1508–1549 Thomas Wolsey1473–1530 Thomas Wyatt the Younger1521–1554 William Brereton1490–1536 William Careyc. 1490s–1528 William Stafford1508–1556 Will Somersdied 1560
Non Fiction
3 Non-Fiction Books About the Henrician Reformation
Histories, biographies and reference works are listed separately from the historical novels above.
