The Cardinal
A Novel of Love and Power
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1.0 • 1 Rating
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
In this “immersive tale of Tudor intrigue” (Publishers Weekly), the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose explores the rise of Thomas Wolsey, who was Henry VIII’s chief adviser—until the king accused him of treason.
“Henry VIII’s beloved cardinal leaps from the page in all his brilliance, complexity, and humanity. Fans of Wolf Hall have a treat in store.”—Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey enjoyed one of the most meteoric careers in history. His rise from humble beginnings coincided with young Henry VIII’s ascension to the throne in 1509. The two grew to be cherished friends, and by 1515 Wolsey, now a cardinal, had become the controlling figure in all matters of church and state.
Wolsey operated on an international stage and worked hard to broker universal peace. All was going dazzlingly well until Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn—the woman whom Wolsey would one day call “the night crow”—and sought to end his marriage to his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. Swept up in the maelstrom of “the Divorce,” Wolsey, who had successfully given his master everything he wanted, found himself in an impossible situation. As he drew the ire of the future queen, the cardinal found his privileged life and his relationship with Henry crumbling around him.
Alison Weir’s poignant novel tells the story of Wolsey the man—his incredible rise to power and his tragic fall. She delves beyond the splendor and political machinations of the Tudor court to reveal the secrets of Wolsey’s private life, the mistress and children he was devoted to, and the tragedy that overtook them. It is a tale of two women, one who loved him and one who hated him—and also a tale of two men, king and commoner, the special, deep-rooted bonds that brought them together and the forces that drove them apart.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Alison Weir’s richly evocative historical novels about British royalty are always a delight, and this one looks at the Tudor reign from a fascinating new perspective. The humble son of a tradesman, Thomas Wolsey enters Oxford in 1482 at age 11. Driven by a desire for power and glory, he ingratiates himself into King Henry VIII’s innermost circle, becoming the king’s personal chaplain and later a cardinal. His gripping rise to power leads to the wealth and prestige he craves—and with it, a growing cadre of adversaries led by Henry’s second wife, Anne Boleyn. With her trademark blend of historical rigour and narrative flair, Weir skilfully weaves England’s ever-shifting tapestry of allies and enemies into her story, as well as the personal foibles that helped engineer Wolsey’s downfall. The Cardinal is the kind of epic historical drama you can get swept into for days.
