Part 2, The 'Great Matter': Chapter 8 Summary and Analysis

Chapter eight follows the evolution of "The Great Matter" which, the author contends, became for Henry VIII as much about royal power as it was originally about passion. She describes how Henry, initially in full collaboration with Wolsey, pursued every legal means possible in England, and eventually in Rome (center of the Catholic Church's power), to have his marriage to Katherine declared invalid. Henry is portrayed here as becoming more and more obsessed, his deepening determination and frustration being clear consequences of Anne's vindictive determination to get rid of Katherine.

The author suggests that for some time Katherine had no sense of what was going on around her, other than tolerantly believing that Henry was having an affair with Anne. She (the author) adds that many biographers have suggested that this was in...