The third novel in the compelling Shardlake series
Sovereign (Shardlake Series)
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'A parchment turner, and a regal one at that.' -- Sunday Times
'Between them, Sansom and Starkey have the 16th century licked.' -- Independent
'Between them, Sansom and Starkey have the 16th century licked.' -- Independent
Book Description
Autumn, 1541. King Henry VIII has set out on a spectacular Progress to the North to attend an extravagant submission of his rebellious subjects in York. Already in the city are lawyer Matthew Shardlake and his assistant Jack Barak. As well as assisting with legal work processing petitions to the King, Shardlake has reluctantly undertaken a special mission – to ensure the welfare of an important but dangerous conspirator being returned to London for interrogation. But the murder of a local glazier involves Shardlake in deeper mysteries, connected not only to the prisoner in York Castle but to the royal family itself. And when Shardlake and Barak stumble upon a cache of secret papers which could threaten the Tudor throne, a chain of events unfolds that will lead Shardlake facing the most terrifying fate of the age . . . 'Sansom is a master storyteller' Guardian 'So compulsive that, until you reach its final page, you’ll have to be almost physically prised away from it' Sunday Times 'Deeper, stronger and subtler than The Name of the Rose' Independent on Sunday
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
174 of 178 people found the following review helpful
By I. Curry
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
In what looks like being the final book of a trilogy, C J Sansom brings out long-suffering lawyer Matthew Shardlake for another mystery thriller set against the impeccably researched background of a vivid, tumultuous and colourful Tudor England.
Sansom has set this trio of books in the reign of Henry VIII, and in this book the lawyer gets closer than he would otherwise care to the dangerous monarch. His old promoter and task-master, Cromwell, has already fallen out of the King's favour, being despatched before being lamented. Shardlake is therefore surprised to find him being sought out to perform more missions in the royal service.
In this book he is working for Archbishop Cranmer, the reforming Archbishop of Canterbury and pivotal figure in the religious, social and political history of the turbulent reformation times. His mission is to head to York and meet up with the King's Progress. This mighty procession of monarchical majesty is designed to impress and cow the rebellious northerners, who have only just been settled after the Pilgrimage of Grace uprising.
Shardlake, always seeking an easy life, is assured his job will simply be to help a fellow lawyer with the pleas before the King. Naturally not all goes to plan, and the unwilling lawyer is thrust into a dangerous and gripping thriller which threatens to undermine the very essence of the Tudor dynasty, the very essence of Sovereignty.
I am not usually a big fan of historical fiction. It is often used as a vehicle by poor writers to give their bland prose a splash of factual colour, a "bodice ripping thriller", as Blackadder might say. But C J Sansom is very different.... Read more ›
Sansom has set this trio of books in the reign of Henry VIII, and in this book the lawyer gets closer than he would otherwise care to the dangerous monarch. His old promoter and task-master, Cromwell, has already fallen out of the King's favour, being despatched before being lamented. Shardlake is therefore surprised to find him being sought out to perform more missions in the royal service.
In this book he is working for Archbishop Cranmer, the reforming Archbishop of Canterbury and pivotal figure in the religious, social and political history of the turbulent reformation times. His mission is to head to York and meet up with the King's Progress. This mighty procession of monarchical majesty is designed to impress and cow the rebellious northerners, who have only just been settled after the Pilgrimage of Grace uprising.
Shardlake, always seeking an easy life, is assured his job will simply be to help a fellow lawyer with the pleas before the King. Naturally not all goes to plan, and the unwilling lawyer is thrust into a dangerous and gripping thriller which threatens to undermine the very essence of the Tudor dynasty, the very essence of Sovereignty.
I am not usually a big fan of historical fiction. It is often used as a vehicle by poor writers to give their bland prose a splash of factual colour, a "bodice ripping thriller", as Blackadder might say. But C J Sansom is very different.... Read more ›
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By J. Holliday
Format:Paperback
Like most English people I guess, the figure of Henry VIII is one that intrigues me enormously.
A big man - in every respect of the word - he dominates the Middle Ages in terms of our understanding/knowledge of him and I have some sympathy with the historians who complain that the only people British schoolkids know about at the end of their history courses are Hitler and Henry.
For many of us, I guess, we see him as a 'lovable rogue', a man with huge passions and appetites and someone to be (guiltily?) admired. Well, you may admire him less after reading this excellent work.
Henry is not the main character in this book - in fact he utters only a handful of words in this 600 page tome - but (as I indicated above) in this book, like in history, he dominates the plot.
The excellently construted character Matthew Shardlake is sent to York where Henry is heading to act as a lawyer but also to carry out a 'minding' job on an anti-Henry prisoner.
During the course of his stay in York, Shardlake stumbles upon a mystery that could change history ('oh no not another Da Vinci you're thinking!!) which puts his life in danger and means he can trust no-one around him.
This is part historical fiction, part detective story, part thriller and part of a Shardlake trilogy (see what I did there?), the other two parts of which I now intend to read with gusto.
CJ Sansom writes with an elegant touch, never patronises the audience and teaches you things about the period in such a way that you don't realise you are being taught. He also leaves you guessing throughout - this is a genuine whodunnit where you end up suspecting everyone.
A book I would thoroughly recommned and which kept me wholly entertained - and (annoyingly!... Read more ›
A big man - in every respect of the word - he dominates the Middle Ages in terms of our understanding/knowledge of him and I have some sympathy with the historians who complain that the only people British schoolkids know about at the end of their history courses are Hitler and Henry.
For many of us, I guess, we see him as a 'lovable rogue', a man with huge passions and appetites and someone to be (guiltily?) admired. Well, you may admire him less after reading this excellent work.
Henry is not the main character in this book - in fact he utters only a handful of words in this 600 page tome - but (as I indicated above) in this book, like in history, he dominates the plot.
The excellently construted character Matthew Shardlake is sent to York where Henry is heading to act as a lawyer but also to carry out a 'minding' job on an anti-Henry prisoner.
During the course of his stay in York, Shardlake stumbles upon a mystery that could change history ('oh no not another Da Vinci you're thinking!!) which puts his life in danger and means he can trust no-one around him.
This is part historical fiction, part detective story, part thriller and part of a Shardlake trilogy (see what I did there?), the other two parts of which I now intend to read with gusto.
CJ Sansom writes with an elegant touch, never patronises the audience and teaches you things about the period in such a way that you don't realise you are being taught. He also leaves you guessing throughout - this is a genuine whodunnit where you end up suspecting everyone.
A book I would thoroughly recommned and which kept me wholly entertained - and (annoyingly!... Read more ›
118 of 122 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are already familiar with the Shardlake series you will need no second invitation to acquire this volume, as it is every bit as good as the previous two. However, if you are new to the adventures of Sansom's humane Tudor lawyer then be assured you are in for a treat. Historical whodunits are ten a penny these days, but ones of this quality are much rarer. Sansom's great skill is to evoke the England of Henry VIII so convincingly that you not only see the scenes of that ancient time but also feel them. The smells, spectacles, landscapes, characters and language of the time come truly alive and hence are an integral part of the novel's appeal. Onto this rich canvas, a complex tale of intrigue, betrayal, political rivalry, and murder is expertly woven focussing on real historical events-in this case The Royal Progress of 1541 and attendant conspiracy alongside the troubled reign of Queen Katherine Howard. Every aspect of the plot is related to the issues of the day (the author holds a PhD in History) and the set piece encounters of his fictional characters with the the era's most powerful figures are full of tension and import, consequently one learns much even as the story grips you. Yet this erudition never stifles the plot which is full of incident and moves at a cracking pace: there is none of Umberto Eco's intellectual showboating or Ellis Peters' genteel scene setting here: this is the sixteenth century in all its vibrancy, stink, and duplicity. It is also worth observing that Sansom writes well, his prose is pleasing and flows effortlessly so that a 600 plus page tome seems shorter than many half its length.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read.
The third in the Shardlake series. A really enthralling read - good plot and very good historical referencing. First rate
Published 2 days ago by Peter W Mayne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous
Another fantastic read, these books are a real treat at the moment. Characters are superb, time period fascinating and the books are superbly paced. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Mr. D. I. Bennett
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tale of conspiracy
This tells the tale of political intrigue and conspriracy. Henry VIII makes a progress to York to calm the masses and, of course, our hero has to go as well. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Frankie
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love this series
I was recommended by a friend to read this series and I am now on my fourth book, reading them back to back. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Patricia Craig
5.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended
loved this set of books could not put them down and at a very reasonable price, can not wait for the next
Published 14 days ago by Mrs L Henry
5.0 out of 5 stars
A progress to York by Henry VIII - He had forgotten the North as...
I was impressed by the authors setting of a mainly real set of events and characters in a gripping story full of political intrigue and murder. It led me to get the other C.J. Read more
Published 17 days ago by TonyM
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended
A brilliant series; I love them all in equal measures. Superbly researched and thoroughly well written. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Caroline Owens
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's a if you are getting a sneak peak on history!
This is a long read but it is definitely worth it, the detail brings the period alive and you really feel as if you are getting a sneak peak through history. Read more
Published 23 days ago by J. Lyons
5.0 out of 5 stars
I loved it
The book is typical Sansom with lots of twists and turn. An easy book to read and the Matthew Shardlake character is very easy to like.
Published 28 days ago by RandD's mum
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great sort in an historical setting.
Another great book in the Shardlake series. Great historical setting without being overpowering. Added bonus of a captivating storyline. Can't wait for more.
Published 28 days ago by Mrs E A Brown
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