Rivals in Power: Lives and Letters of the Great Tudor Dynasties - David Starkey David Starkey is the British version of Kayne West. No, no, he is. Both men are extremely talented but suffer from terminal foot in mouth disorder. Haven't you read Starkey's latest about the riots? Haven't your heard about Starkey calling some school child fat? You must have heard about West and MTV (yes, he was right, but that was no reason to pick on Swift). Or how West feels he is being compared to Hitler?See?David Starkey is like Simon Schama too. Both men are strangely compelling to watch.This book, edited and with various sections by Starkey as well as Diarmaid MacCulloch among others, presents the lives of the Tudor greats though various letters, memos, and confessions. While there is nothing new for the long time Tudor fan to pick up in terms of infromation, the group does present infamous (Catherine Howard's Confession) and everyday missives of the Tudors. Included with the letters are profiles as well as brief boxes detailing maps, art, marriage and so on. In some ways, the book treads areas of well woren floor boards, like with Anne Bolyen; in others it presents more detail, like with Catherine Parr.It actually is worth reading for its analysis and family trees of the various Tudor families outside of the royal. The group does a good job of presenting the interconnections. Works either as a general introduction or a nice add on.