The Rise and Fall of Thomas Cromwell
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Thomas Cromwell was a man of humble origins and outstanding intellect who rose up to become Henry VIII's chief minister and right-hand man during the English Reformation. He wielded enormous power while he retained the king's favour, but the failure of Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves, which Cromwell had arranged, led to his swift downfall and execution. In this authoritative biography by an acknowledged expert in the field, John Schofield reveals that the popular image of Cromwell as a blood-stained henchman is largely fictional. Detailed research into contemporary sources illuminates his brilliant mind and his love for and patronage of the arts and humanities, while short case studies shed new light on his relations with, and his reputation among, Henry VIII's subjects. In his conclusion, Schofield narrates the drama of Cromwell's downfall and highlights the king's posthumous exoneration of the 'most faithful servant he ever had'.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
At last a book to make people question the commonly held view of Cromwell as Henry VIII's evil minister who got what he deserved when he was executed. Schofield restores Cromwell's reputation using a painstaking study of material from Tudor times to show how flawed the current view of the man is. Crucially, Schofield bases much of his work and understanding from the religious turmoil of the time. By understanding where Cromwell stood in the religious divide of the day Schofield provides a much sounder interpretation of events than other recent works including Robert Hutchinson's badly flawed but entertaining biography of the man. So why not 5 stars? The reason for that is perhaps Schofield sometimes goes too far in his enthusiasm to defend Cromwell from all charges. For example, the anaylsis of Cromwell's part in Anne Boleyn's downfall is fascinating but feels as though it has been forced too far to totally undermine the traditional view that Cromwell is the villain of the piece. The other reservation is that the editing of the book could have been better, not least when you compare the sub-standard reproductions of paintings compared with those in Hutchinson's inferior biography. All in all though this is a much needed and excellent work. Any one who reads it will be the better for understanding more about one of the leading religious and political figures in English history.
47 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
How I wish more history books were like this. It's a model for what they should be: intelligent, analytical and completely cool-headed and dispassionate. Schofield engages with the reader, pausing to explain why he has reached his conclusions and why, based on the available evidence, he believes they are correct. Never does he use emotive language or melodramatic, creative ways of telling history, which sound good but leave the reader wondering how much of what they're reading is history and how much good storytelling. It's his very reticence, his need to weigh the evidence and carefully justify every important conclusion, that gives the book its authoritativeness.
Cromwell's career is also told chronologically, unlike those historical works that, for reasons best known to their authors, jump back and forth with no apparent logic, and leave the reader confused and frustrated. Unlike those works, The Rise And Fall of Thomas Cromwell has made me actually eager to read other works by the same author.
At least one of Schofield's conclusions is, however, seriously contentious: he is willing to entertain the possibility that Anne Boleyn might really have been guilty of more than just dalliance with the `lovers' with whom she was condemned, since they and others in her circle made confessions. However, he makes a pretty convincing case that Henry VIII made the decision to annul their marriage over a week before several people informed on her, and that the machinery to divorce her had already been set in motion before they did. Isn't it possible that, knowing of her impending downfall, these people sought to disassociate themselves and ensure their own survival, by providing evidence against her? Though to provide some justification for Schofield's theory, this evidence did compromise themselves. Whatever the case, this unconventional theory wasn't enough to spoil the book for me.
Five out of five. Regardless of whether I agreed with them, the reasons for Schofield's conclusions were given with exhaustive detail; never once did I have the sinking feeling that I was reading a second-rate work of history, which sought to dismiss existing beliefs about a controversial historical figure without bothering to provide a convincing reason for their dismissal.
Cromwell's career is also told chronologically, unlike those historical works that, for reasons best known to their authors, jump back and forth with no apparent logic, and leave the reader confused and frustrated. Unlike those works, The Rise And Fall of Thomas Cromwell has made me actually eager to read other works by the same author.
At least one of Schofield's conclusions is, however, seriously contentious: he is willing to entertain the possibility that Anne Boleyn might really have been guilty of more than just dalliance with the `lovers' with whom she was condemned, since they and others in her circle made confessions. However, he makes a pretty convincing case that Henry VIII made the decision to annul their marriage over a week before several people informed on her, and that the machinery to divorce her had already been set in motion before they did. Isn't it possible that, knowing of her impending downfall, these people sought to disassociate themselves and ensure their own survival, by providing evidence against her? Though to provide some justification for Schofield's theory, this evidence did compromise themselves. Whatever the case, this unconventional theory wasn't enough to spoil the book for me.
Five out of five. Regardless of whether I agreed with them, the reasons for Schofield's conclusions were given with exhaustive detail; never once did I have the sinking feeling that I was reading a second-rate work of history, which sought to dismiss existing beliefs about a controversial historical figure without bothering to provide a convincing reason for their dismissal.
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent, a well researched book that gave a balanced picture of the man behind the political personna. Immensely readable I found this book fascinating as the character of Thomas Cromwell unfolds and he is revealed as a man with enormous political skill as well as being a very humane person. I thoroughly recommend this book. It must list as one of those people from history that one would like to have known or in modern parlance have as a dinner guest.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very well researched, but very dry
I was in two minds about the rating for this book, for the sheer depth of research that had gone into the book the author must be applauded and I would willingly give 5 stars, but... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Clare Topping
John Schofield, Cromwell's Faithful Servant
BRIEF COMMENT
This is an excellent, well-researched and astutely written account of his life and one which adds many dimensions to the commonly held view of Cromwell as... Read more
This is an excellent, well-researched and astutely written account of his life and one which adds many dimensions to the commonly held view of Cromwell as... Read more
Published 6 months ago by RR Waller
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