Four great princes – Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, Charles V of Spain and Suleiman the Magnificent – were born within a single decade.
Each looms large in his country’s history and, in this book, John Julius Norwich broadens the scope and shows how, against the rich background of the Renaissance and destruction of the Reformation, their wary obsession with one another laid the foundations for modern Europe.
Individually, each man could hardly have been more different - from the scandals of Henry’s six wives to Charles’s monasticism – but, together, they dominated the world stage. With a cast list that extends from Leonardo da Vinci to Barbarossa, John Julius Norwich offers the perfect guide to the most colourful century the world has ever known and brings the past to unforgettable life.
The Junction Christ Church, Chorleywood, Wednesday, October 19, 7pm. Details: 01923 283566, chilternbookshops.co.uk
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