Excellent biography of a controversial figure in English history. Its a warts and portrayal of a seasoned and skilful bureaucrat of humble origins who rose to become the most powerful man in the land after the king. Pragmatic and ruthless in the extreme when he wanted to be, Cromwell was also a loyal friend, a devoted father and a man who genuinely thought he was doing the right thing by his king and country. In the end he soared too high and attained too much power, and those courtiers of aristocratic birth who despised him as a low-born commoner were only too eager to consign him to the headsman's axe when the king's fickle favour deserted him. Apart from Cromwell's life story it is a fascinating and nuanced look at Tudor politics and society, where merely uttering the wrong words at the wrong time could easily have you in the Tower awaiting an appointment with the block. Anyone who loved Wolf Hall will find this
book a gripping read, this is the real Cromwell and his world. ( )

This is actually quite a nice and balanced biography of Cromwell. He isn't white washed, he isn't made a saint. It is pretty darn good. And you don't need a background in the Tudors to read it. ( )

With so many Tudor histories focusing on Henry VIII and his wives, it's refreshing to read about one of Henry's administrators, especially one whose profile has risen in the past few years (considering the books published by Hiliary Mantel.) A very pragmatic Thomas Cromwell emerges in this biography, discussing what is know of the man's early life, but focusing on his remarkable rise and dominance in Tudor politics. A good, accessible history which plenty of detail for average readers and scholars alike. ( )

The right hand of Henry VIII. He was responsible to a large extent for the Protestant Revolution in England. He engineered the rise and the fall of Anne Bolyen. He directed the programs that shut down all the monasteries in England and the confiscation of church land which made Henry VIII the wealthiest monarch in Europe. He directed the executions of Sir Thomas More and Bishop Fisher. His mistake? He was a commoner and he was resented by the other members of the Privy Council especially the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk. When he blundered by arranging a marriage to Anne of Cleve's (the mare of Flanders) his enemies pounced. The King executed his most faithful servant. ( )

Thomas Cromwell, favorite of Henry VIII, is presented in a serious well referenced historical work with very little fictional account. True, when Borman relates what some of the characters were thinking during a certain event, the thoughts are fictional re-creation but are based on documents which are not only referenced in footnotes and bibliography but in many cases with document wording inserted in the main text. This should be fascinating for students of the evolution of the English language.

There is a mystery in this work. How can a man so powerful have missed the fact of imminent demise? This exploration of Cromwell’s personality examines the important anchors which lead to some predictability in his behavior. 1) He was a businessman motivated by profit. Not considered corrupt when measured relative to others of his time and station, but neither did he live in poverty. Today, we would call him goal oriented. Success in business both predated and antedated skillful political maneuvering. 2) He was loyal to his friends and those who had helped him; some would say fiercely loyal. 3) He was a faithful, loyal family man at a time when this was not the norm. 4) He was very religious. There were a few religious anomalies, one surprise is revealed near the end of the book (no spoiler from me). 5) He was loyal to Henry VIII. This may not have been one of his better choices and this is where the mystery comes in. How could he have read the sovereign so wrong? How could he been so accepting of his ultimate fate? I do not feel this was answered for me, but I certainly came to understand the five various loyalties and the way they were woven into Cromwell’s political dealings.

I am not well organized as far as reading plans. THE SECRET DIARY OF ANNE BOLEYN led me to BRING UP THE BODIES. That sparked the interest in Cromwell that led to this book. Next will be WOLF HALL, then a trilogy by Peter Ackroyd on a more far ranging history of England. I need to plan my readings better to avoid a time warp feeling
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