During the reign of King Henry VIII, the king would elevate well-qualified men to positions of power and prestige. We all know the story of Thomas Cromwell, but it is his mentor, Sir Thomas Wolsey, whose story shows how one can rise from humble beginnings, but whose fate is ultimately tied to the mood of the monarch. The son of a butcher turned scholar who became a priest, a lover, a father, and the closest advisor to the king. His life, his loves, his successes, and his struggles are told in Alison Weir’s latest novel, “The Cardinal.”
I would like to thank Ballantine Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I am a fan of Weir’s novel, so when I saw her writing a new one about Sir Thomas Wolsey, I knew I wanted to read it. Wolsey is someone who tends to be a side character, so to have a novel dedicated to his life was an exciting idea.
Weir begins her story with Thomas (known in this novel as Tom) at the age of 11, going to school. His father, Robert Wolsey, is a butcher from Ipswich who wants his son to climb the social ladder in the church. Tom will eventually rise to the level of becoming King Henry VII’s chaplain and will begin working with King Henry VIII. Life for Tom is thrilling with the twists and turns of court life, but the one thing that is missing in his life is someone to share it with. Since he is a member of the church, he cannot marry or have his own family, but things change for Tom when he meets Joan Larke. Their love for each other is genuine, even though it is taboo in the eyes of the church and King Henry VIII, which comes across as quite hypocritical.
It was under King Henry VIII that Tom’s star rose to remarkable heights. He became a Cardinal, was the King’s right-hand man and best friend, and was able to create the architectural marvel of Hampton Court Palace. But his rise in prominence came with a cost. Tom must help the king navigate not only international affairs, such as the Field of Cloth of Gold, but also more personal matters, such as the divorce of King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, which would become known as The Great Matter. Tom would have many enemies at court, including Anne Boleyn, the future wife of King Henry VIII, who would ultimately lead to Tom’s fall from grace.
This is such an engrossing novel about one of the most complex figures of the Tudor dynasty. Thomas Wolsey’s story shows the struggle of fighting for those you love over the ambitions and prestige of the glittering court life. If you want an excellent novel about one of Henry VIII’s closest advisors and his life, I would highly recommend you read “The Cardinal” by Alison Weir.
Three women in one family who shared the same first name saw England change over a tumultuous century. They saw the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and the rise of the Tudors while on the sidelines of great battles. Through heartaches and triumphs, the women of the Woodville family became princesses and queens that would transform the political landscape of England forever. These three women, Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth of York, and Elizabeth Grey, were incredible examples of what it meant to be medieval royal women. They are featured in Sarah J. Hodder’s latest book, “The Woodville Women.”
During a blustery 18 days in June 1520, an historic event took place in the Pale of Calais. Here, King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France met in an ostentatious display of power, wealth and status. Masterminded by Thomas Wolsey, the aim was to join the two kingdoms in a pact of solidarity and friendship, notably against the insurgen
Adventures of a Tudor Nerd 