Once the third novel of the trilogy about Thomas Cromwell was published this summer, I promised myself I must spend some time in Tudor England and the court of Henry VIII. I have completed Wolf Hall, the first novel, and am reporting back, with a strong recommendation.

Thomas Cromwell is usually depicted as a tough, nasty, competitive man, who weaseled his way to Henry’s court. Mantel gives us a more complete portrait of the man. Raised by an abusive father in Putney, England, Cromwell escapes to Europe as a teenager. Although the historical record is sketchy, he was reputed to be a mercenary fighting for the French, spent time in Italy and the Low Countries, learning several languages and the skills of negotiation and trade. He became a careful observer of people, what motivated them, what they sought, and sought to avoid. Finally, he came back to England, reunited with his two sisters, married and had a son and two daughters, while pursuing a career in law. That is where the story begins, for how a commoner of low background made it to the position of Lord Chancellor and trusted advisor to the King is quite remarkable.

We learn of his relationship supporting Cardinal Woolsey, as his fixer, who makes problems go away, smooths over situations. Woolsey was Lord Chancellor to young Henry VIII, where Cromwell meets the King, and gains entre to court. When Woolsey falls out of favor and loses his position, Cromwell remains faithful and supportive, trying to prevent his arrest and execution. Woolsey dies a natural death before that can happen. Henry remembers Cromwell, however, and very soon Cromwell proves himself as an effective fixer for the King, himself rising to the position of Chancellor before the end of the novel. To prove himself, he engineers the annulment between Henry and Katherine of Aragon, paving the way for Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, and her coronation as Queen. Katherine bore Henry their daughter Mary, but was unable for 20 years to bear a male heir. Anne bears Princess Elizabeth, but by novel’s end, has a miscarriage and no male heir yet.

Making this arrangement was not easy, since the Pope in Rome refused to grant Henry the requested annulment. Katherine refused to grant a divorce, since she was a devout Catholic. England was a strongly faithful Catholic nation for hundreds of years, with approximately one third of the property owned by the Church, out of reach of the King’s tax. This angered Henry, to not receive that income, to feel he was accountable to an authority higher than his own. The Protestant Reformation was sweeping Europe at this time, toppling governments and producing chaos in many quarters. Thomas More, once Lord Chancellor himself, left the position due to his faith. The book comes to a climax when Cromwell has Parliament pass the Act of Supremacy, requiring any subject taking public or church office to swear an Oath of Supremacy, declaring the King as head of the Church of England, as opposed to the Pope. More refuses to take the Oath, and is imprisoned in the Tower, awaiting certain execution. Cromwell tries everything to convince More to take the Oath and save himself, but More refuses, and goes to his death.

Cromwell supports the Reformation in England, but his main object is his faithful devotion to Henry. He is raised up to a position thought impossible for a person of common background. His talent, devotion to duty, and willingness to get the job done brings him to an unheard-of self-made man status. The novel ends with him at the very top of his game, with his family experiencing success through his connections. You will enjoy the characters of Henry, Anne, Katherine, Mary, and all the court intrigue and maneuvering. How long can one play this game and keep on top? The next two novels, Bring Up the Bodies and The Mirror and the Light, will tell the tale of the fate of Cromwell, Anne, and others. Be sure to read the trilogy first, then go watch the PBS drama Wolf Hall, that dramatizes the first two books. I highly recommend this journey through Henry’s Tudor court.