Henry VIII Exhibition at British Library

Marking the 500th anniversary of the famous Tudor king's accession to the throne, the Henry VIII exhibition at the British Library promises to be a landmark presentation of the library's unique and rarely seen artifacts from its Henry VIII collection. Guest presented by historian and popular broadcaster David Starkey, the Henry VIII: Man and Monarch exhibition features 250 items that aim to give you a personal insight into the life and times of the famous English king.

Henry VIII exhibition at British Library
Charting the monumental changes that took place in England during the reign of Henry VIII, the exhibition at the British Library includes correspondence, official documents, maps and books from the king's own library. Important loans from other national museums and collections add to this major exhibition at the British Library, which will run until 6th September 2009.

Dr David Starkey
Guest curated by prominent Tudor expert David Starkey, the Henry VIII exhibition at the British Library aims to give a fresh interpretation of the original source materials that are usually kept safe under lock and key in the British Library collections. This is a rare opportunity for non archivists to see many of these documents up close, so if you're a history fan with an interest in Henry VIII and the Tudor period, you're in for a real treat.

Henry's books
Among the exhibits at the Henry VIII: Man and Monarch show are some of the king's personal books from the British Library collection, including the Psalter of Henry VIII, pictured. This prayer book was heavily annotated by the king, and includes seven intricate illustrations, one of which pictures Henry playing the harp with his court jester Will Somers.

Personal insights
Other exhibits in the Man and Monarch display at the British Library show the human cost of Henry VIII's policies. The list of people executed during Henry's reign includes the names of many of the notable people who fell from royal favour, including two of Henry's queens, a cardinal and more than 20 peers. Henry's prescription book will also be on display and contains many descriptions of many of the remedies the king used for treating ulcers and other painful ailments.

The Henry VIII exhibition at the British Library runs from Thursday 23rd April - Sunday 6th September 2009. Opening hours are 10am - 6pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am - 8pm Tuesday, 10am - 5pm Saturday, and 11am - 5pm Sunday and bank holidays.

Standard adult tickets for the Henry VIII: Man and Monarch exhibition cost £9.00, while concessions are £5.00. Children under 18 go free. To book your tickets over the phone, call 01937 546 546.

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