Check It Out:

King Henry VIII, arguably Britain’s most notorious monarch, was born June 28, 1491.

What is it about this charismatic man, who is perhaps best known for beheading two of his six wives, that still fascinates audiences more than 500 years later?

Henry has never gone out of the public eye, inspiring numerous authors and screenwriters to put their own unique spin on his story. Check out some of these offerings at the Newport Beach Public Library and decide for yourself why Henry is still in demand.

David Starkey’s “Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII” takes an in-depth look at the politics of Henry’s court as well as the six women who were unlucky enough to be Henry’s brides: Katharine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr.

Noted Tudor scholar Alison Weir has written many books on Henry. “Henry VIII: the King and His Court” looks at how the changes Henry made during his reign resonated for centuries to come in Britain. “The Children of Henry VIII” examines the lives of Henry’s children: Edward, Mary and Elizabeth.

Edward and Mary’s respective reigns were short and tragic, periods of great unrest and upheaval in the realm.

Elizabeth I took over after Mary’s death and reigned for more than 40 years, bringing peace and prosperity to the war-torn and bankrupt kingdom left to her by her father and siblings.

Believe it or not, Henry is known for more than just serial marriage. He was largely responsible for England breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church. Geoffrey Moorhouse gives this topic a closer scrutiny in “The Last Divine Office: Henry VIII and the Dissolution of the Monasteries.”

Some great fiction based on Henry has been written over the years. Several of the most entertaining comes from Philippa Gregory. “The Constant Princess” tells of the brave and noble Katharine of Aragon.

After being widowed when Henry’s older brother Arthur dies just months after their wedding, Katharine is left alone in a strange world, abandoned by her parents and ignored by her father-in-law. She waits for the day when Henry is old enough to rescue her and take her as his bride, making her the Queen of England.

“The Other Boleyn Girl” focuses on Mary Boleyn, Anne’s sister, who also was involved with Henry. Unlike her more famous sister, however, Mary got to keep her head.

Henry has also made many appearances on the screen. See how Showtime and Jonathan Rhys Meyers portray the king in “The Tudors: Seasons one and two” on DVD.

The classic, “A Man for All Seasons” examines Henry’s turbulent relationship with one of his closest advisors, Sir Thomas More.

So what’s the real story behind King Henry VIII? Five hundred years of myth mixed with facts have made it almost impossible to know for sure, but one thing we can count on is that years from now people will still be interested in all things Henry.

CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. Library materials may be reserved at www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information, call (949) 717-3800, option 2.