Thomas Cromwell - by Tracy Borman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Thomas Cromwell has long been reviled as a Machiavellian schemer who stopped at nothing in his quest for power. As King Henry VIII's right-hand man, Cromwell was the architect of the English Reformation; secured Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and plotted the downfall of his second wife, Anne Boleyn; and was fatally accused of trying to usurp the king himself. But in this engrossing new biography, acclaimed British historian Tracy Borman reveals a different side to one of history's most notorious characters: that of a caring husband and father, a fiercely loyal servant and friend, and a revolutionary who was key in transforming medieval England into a modern state.

Born in the mid-1480s to a lowly blacksmith, Cromwell left home at eighteen to make his fortune abroad. He served as a mercenary in the French army, worked for a powerful merchant banker in Florence at the height of the Italian Renaissance, and became a promising young cloth merchant in the Netherlands, then the mercantile capital of the world. But Cromwell decided to return to England and there built a flourishing legal practice. It wasn't long before Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who was the Archbishop of York and the King's closest confidant, took note of Cromwell's immense intelligence, resourcefulness, and wit, turning him into his protégé. When Wolsey was put under arrest for overstepping his bounds, Cromwell both protected his mentor and supplanted him. And he accomplished what Wolsey never could: Henry's divorce from his first wife Catherine of Aragon and a revolution in Britain's religious life.

As Henry's top aide, Cromwell was at the heart of the most momentous event of his time--from funding the translation and dissemination of the first vernacular Bible to legitimizing Anne Boleyn as queen--and wielded immense power over both church and state. The impact of his seismic political, religious, and social reforms can still be felt today. Grounded in excellent primary source research, Thomas Cromwell gives an inside look at a monarchy that has captured the Western imagination for centuries and tells the story of a controversial and enigmatic man who forever changed the shape of his country.

Review Quotes

Praise for Thomas Cromwell:

"An intelligent, sympathetic, and well researched biography."--Wall Street Journal

"Borman unravels the story of Cromwell's rise to power skillfully . . . If you want the inside story of Thomas Cromwell . . . this is the book for you."--Weekly Standard

"Dr. Tracy Borman has crafted an exceptional and compelling biography about one of the Tudor age's most complex and controversial figures. With expert insights based on a wealth of research, and riveting detail, she has brought Thomas Cromwell to life as never before, and achieved a fair and balanced assessment of his character and his career. Above all, her book is a joy to read--a remarkable tour de force by one of our most accomplished historians."--Alison Weir

"Excellent. . . . This deeply researched and grippingly written biography brings Cromwell to life, probing into his complex personality and exposes the Henrician court in all its brutal, glittering splendor."--Independent (UK)

"Tracy Borman recounts persuasively and engagingly the tale of the meteoric rise of this complex commoner to the highest offices and dominant influence at the court of Henry and his just as meteoric fall from grace and execution."--America

"Should be catnip to fans of Hilary Mantel's best-selling Wolf Hall novels about Cromwell."--USA Today

"British historian Tracy Borman has unearthed previously unpublished evidence that casts a brighter light on one of the most ruthless of machiavellians in British history."--Guardian (UK)

"An engrossing biography. . . . A fine rags-to-riches-to-executioner's-block story of a major figure of the English Reformation."--Kirkus Reviews

"An insightful biography of a much-maligned historical figure."--Booklist

"Borman combines a mastery of historical detail with a fast-pace and an accessible style. She doesn't forget that she's dealing with human beings, with their fallibilities and petty motivations . . . As a psychological subject, Cromwell is as fascinating as the man he served. No wonder we all want to know more."--Independent (UK)

"Tracy Borman tells us succinctly in 400 pages what we need to know about the man who rose to be the king's highest adviser. . . . [A] good book."--Times (UK)

"[An] elegant historical biography. . . . [Borman's] prose, as ever, glides beautifully along."--Sunday Times (UK)

"A highly readable account."--Financial Times (UK)

About the Author

Tracy Borman is England's joint chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces and chief executive of the Heritage Education Trust. She has written five previous books, including the highly acclaimed Elizabeth's Women: Friends, Rivals, and Foes Who Shaped the Virgin Queen. She has a PhD in history from the University of Hull and lives in Surrey with her family.