The book "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" by Alison Weir explores the lives of the wives of King Henry VIII, highlighting their complex roles as both queens and individuals. It reveals that while they could wield considerable influence, their power was largely dependent on their husbands. Figures like Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn exemplified this dynamic, attaining substantial status through their marriages.

However, the book emphasizes that these women held no intrinsic freedoms; their existence and power were tied to their husbands' will. Without the support and approval of the king, they had little autonomy and could easily fall from grace, illustrating the precarious nature of their positions in a patriarchal society.