Overlord

A New History of the Life and Reign of Henry VIII

Steven Veerapen

An immersive, fascinating history of the life and imperial ambitions of Henry VIII.

Henry VIII is one of history’s most famous personalities and England’s most famous monarch. He is simultaneously the virtuous Renaissance prince gone wrong, the psychopathic, paranoid tyrant, and the much-married glutton.

Yet Henry didn’t see himself as simply king of England. Overlord tells Henry's story as he saw it: the tale of a titan whose dominions embraced Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, and, if he could achieve his grandiose ambitions, swathes of France. Drawing on archival sources from across the United Kingdom, Steven Veerapen reveals how Henry created an image of himself as a law-abiding and benevolent emperor, and thereby a rival to his European counterparts. By fair means and foul—murder plots, marriage negotiations, and military venture—he did all he could to realize a hitherto overlooked expansionist dream.

With this myth-busting narrative on the king—he was not particularly gluttonous and not particularly prudish, for example—the real Henry can emerge: a blustering, self-aggrandizing actor who swaggered about the stage of the British Isles in search of an imperial legacy.

Steven Veerapen lives in Glasgow. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class honors degree in English for writing his dissertation on representations of Henry VIII’s six wives. He is the author of The Wisest Fool: The Lavish Life of James VI and I. Witches is his first book published in America.

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Endorsements & Reviews

Praise for Steven Veerapen’s Witches:

"A deep immersion into a horrific era. Veerapen incants a thorough history of witchcraft and its often-gruesome persecution, exploring the eruption of trials from James’ day to the culmination of witch-hunting in the early 1700s. Expertly realized.” Kirkus Reviews

“Veerapen explores how James’ zeal and a confluence of other factors brewed mania over witchcraft in Britain. The tight focus on King James distinguishes the book from other general histories of witchcraft. Readers looking for insight into King James I’s reign or an introduction to the figures who shaped popular notions of witchcraft will find plenty of interesting material.” Booklist

“This judicious study offers a nuanced understanding of James VI and I’s preoccupation with witches and witchcraft. This gives the story an overdue subtlety.” Stuart Kelly, The Scotsman

“With his trademark brio and imagination, Veerapen tells the story through the most prominent trials and those involved in them.” Rosemary Goring, The Herald

“A superbly researched history of witches. Well organized and written in an approachable and accessible style that ensures this is a book that can be absorbed by anyone with an interest in the subject. Engaging, fascinating, and compelling.” Ken Lussey, Undiscovered Scotland

“An insightful, brilliant account—and analysis—of a dark chapter in history. In Veerapen’s hands, the specter of the witch and the witch-hunter are brought to life, as are the complex and fascinating details of how King James and his people saw the supernatural world. Bone-chilling and compelling.” Gareth Russell, author of Queen James: The Life and Loves of Britain's First King