Ives, Eric. “WILL THE REAL HENRY VIII PLEASE STAND UP?”. History Today Vol. 56 Issue 2 (2006): 28-36. Web. Web. 5th, June, 2010.

This article looks into the personality and private life of English king Henry VIII, and how the public opinion of him and his decisions has been sometimes far overblown because of anger or disgust at his decisions as a monarch and as a husband and father. The factors that contributed to the collapse of Henry's reputation are also discussed, leading to the question of why the true persona of this king is sometimes quite difficult to find. The film that was released by Alexander Korda in 1933 entitled The Private Life of Henry VIII is discussed in detail as well as the way this film portrayed the man and king as the macho, totally self-regarding, totally self-absorbed Henry. The message of the film is clear, Henry VIII's reign can be reduced to wife trouble. The author explains that the Reformation that was pushed through England during Henry’s reign was fueled not by a desire on the part of the king to bring about reform, but simply because the king wanted a way out of a marriage and did anything he felt was necessary. The article makes some good points about a public persona that does not fully mesh with a private one. The author, Eric Ives, is an Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Birmingham.