We must awaken Cardinal Wolsey from his deathly sleep during Wolf Hall and breathe life into him once more...

We understand that Thomas was clever, despite his humble beginnings, his family knew his potential and were able to send him to Oxford. Despite his wish to study for the priesthood, it would be chastity and poverty that would not be to his liking. He loved God and wished to serve, but they would be a sacrifice too far...
So too was running the family business, the Inn, the butchers, the farm. None of that was to his taste. Though his love for his family was strong, his belief in his future was stronger.
We see Thomas as he is, kind and loving, clever and ambitious. His rise to take a seat at the side of two kings is a credit to his natural abilities. We also see a very human side, his lust, his rule breaking and his weaknesses.
I have read many of Allison's books. I have truly enjoyed meeting Thomas Wolsey in such depth.

Suse

First of all I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is once again another fantastic novel by Alison Weir, it managed to bring a whole new side to Henry VIII and I feel like there are so many people within his life that all had interesting roles and history within the Tudor court. It is a very well researched book and like her other works there is some fiction mixed it to flesh out the story but that is common place with these sort of novels and isn't a complaint in the slightest.

I think going into this blind would be confusing for some and some kind of background knowledge on who Wolsey is would be helpful as this is quite a meaty book and is targeted to people interested in this period of history.

As always I have pre-ordered the physical copy of this book to add to my collection!

Another great Tudor tale from Alison Weir. I did wonder what she would do next and for some reason was surprised when I heard it was Cardinal Thomas Wolsey who would get the Weir treatment. I almost didn't read it as I didn't have that much interest in the subject but I can't resist this writer. In the end, I did enjoy it as I expected. Not the best of The Tudor novels but still worth a read.

This book is quite the long and intense read But Alison Weir always knows how to write a book that will draw you in and keep you reading. And this book did just that for me. A story of Thomas Wolsey, Tudor England and the life of a Cardinal. This is such a gripping and intriguing where we see what power and passion can do.

The author as always, has done her research and brought the past to life on the pages of this book. She tells a story so that we see two dies of this man and his life which I really liked. I love the way Alison Weir can tell a story, even a long on, and can keep me invested from start to finish. A wonderful, passionate and intriguing read and one I couldn't put down and am so glad I read. I highly recommend this book and will actually read it again just to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Once again Alison Weir has produced a well-researched and very readable account of one of the key figures of the Tudor Court - Thomas Wolsey. He has often been portrayed as an ambitious and ruthless man, and indeed he was, but she has also shown us the man beneath the pomp and power, a man who could not reject ambition for love, a man of humble origins who worked hard to raise himself up to unimaginable power and wealth.

Set in the Tudor court, we see the rise of Anne Boleyn and the subsequent fall of Wolsey as he fails to secure the 'King's Great Matter' and obtain a divorce or annulment.

A great read, and a good choice of subject to tackle.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alison Weir yet again brings history to life. Cardinal Wolsey life story is told with great clarity. From humble beginnings to the most powerful man in England after Henry VIII. His rise and fall, his love affair and separation from his children. This novel shows a human side to this man

In the heavy roster of Tudor historical fiction, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey is often a side character but we have significantly fewer books that focus on his story. Enter The Cardinal by Alison Weir, who has published over 30 books, fiction and non fiction that span the medieval and Tudor periods.

I imagine he’s not an easy character to succinctly write about due to the sheer amount of action that takes place during his tenure as advisor to Henry VIII, but Weir manages this well, balancing the edicts, political machinations and influencing of the court and the King with the more ambitions, thoughts feelings of the man himself. It is however a chunky read, and the pace ebbs and flows depending on the action.

As I know much of Tom’s story so well (as told via Hilary Mantel’s masterpiece Wolf Hall series, a comparison I tried to avoid as much as I could), I did find myself reluctant to finish the book because we know it doesn’t end well. The slow slide out of favour from the King and the Boleyns is a difficult read when you empathise with a flawed but likeable character.

I thought Weir’s focus on Tom’s childhood and young adulthood fascinating, as well as his personal relationship with his mistress Joan and their children to be comical at points but also moving, especially when they realise there is no real future for them as active parents to the children Joan bears. The evidence is scant, but I don’t mind Weir filling in the gaps where material sources are silent - she does her research!

Thank you to @alisonweir.historian and @headlinebooks for an #ad #gifted copy in return for a review. The Cardinal is out now!

I will post a review on instagram @charlottereadshistory tomorrow

A thoroughly researched tale of politics, love and war from the always impressive Alison Weir.
I felt I learned a great deal about Thomas Wolsey's life and his desperation to cling to power at any cost.
I felt I learned a little too much about the international politics of the day. The dense detail of every diplomatic mission got too much, and I found myself skimming some of this material as I preferred the more personal storytelling.Wolsey remains a fascinating but unlikeable character, and it's hard to care very much about what happens to him, or to really understand his behaviour as anything other than a reckless love of power and riches.
It is a long read, and in places it felt a little like being back at school, but overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of the Tudor period.

A little slow at first, but a very enjoyable read.

Cardinal Wolsey is never going to be a sympathetic figure, but Alison Weir manages to bring out the best in him.

What I found most useful about this novel was the way Alison Weir uses The Cardinal to explore the motivations and ambitions of Wolsey, something which is difficult to quantify in non-fiction.

It is interesting to read of the power and intrigues at the centre of the Tudor court, whilst watching from the viewpoint of one of its key players. Wolsey is hard to like, especially when he hurts those he professes to love along the way, but I confess to shedding a tear when his inevitable downfall unfolds before me.

Alison Weir is experienced in bringing out the best in her characters and Wolsey didn't make it easy for her. Even so, she achieved this admirably

Alison Weir always does a good job with bringing history to life. This story follows the life of Thomas Wolsey and I learnt some new things. I did feel that I couldn't quite get to the essence of Wolsey somehow though whereas other characters such as Joan seemed more layered and complex.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Having lived in the birthplace of Thomas Wolsey all my life I have always been aware of the man and that he had been important. Wolsey’s Gate still stands in the town albeit sadly neglected. It was only in reading this book that I got to understand just how powerful he was and how high he rose in the court of Henry VIII. The enmity of Anne Boleyn was unfortunately the undoing of him. The story was told from Thomas’ perspective and I felt that I got to know the man behind the robes and hat. The man with real heart and feelings who was trying to do the right thing in a flawed world. Highly recommended.

Solid read so very near to be classed as non-fiction/biography. We can see human here, not only historical persona with few important positions added to the name. Author did great job with research of background and life of Thomas Wolsey. I enjoyed reading this novel.

The latest historical-fiction from one of my favourites authors, who after the success of her ambitious Six Tudor Queens series, shows us a new perspective of Henry VIII’s reign through the eyes of his one-time favourite, Thomas Wolsey. This is a rollercoaster-ride of a life: from well-to-do butcher’s son; to the second richest and most powerful man in the kingdom; and finally his dramatic fall from grace. An interesting and gripping read.
My Rating: Good ❤❤

An interesting take viewing the rise and fall of Thomas Wolsey through his own eyes. It charts his rise from humble beginings to gaining favour and friendship with his king Henry VIII and then his fal,l through Henry's pursuit of a divorce from Katherin,e to marry Ann Boelyn.
The cardinal in seeking to meet his mater's wishes falls foul of the rising Norfolk and Boelyn factions when he incurs the emnity of Ann

As with all Alison Weir books this was well researched and totally absorbing. A must for all those who love reading about the Tudor period in England.

2.5

Here's a quick review while I do some more thinking.

I'm a Tudor-addict; it's such a cliche, but there you are. So, I've read all of Alison Weir's books on each of Henry VIII's wives, and this sounded potentially more intriguing - Wolsey isn't someone I know a lot about if I'm honest!

It was really hard not to be constantly comparing this to Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, which also takes a lesser known part of the well-known Tudor saga and concentrates on a historical figure who some people have lots of opinions about.

I think the comparison was what ruined it for me. Weir's writing just isn't up to parr with Mantel's - and that's unsurprising, even just looking at their output! Weir has written SO much about this period, both non-fiction and fiction, but her fiction is usually closely based on fact. She DOES do her research! But, reading the Afterward, I was disappointed (although not that surprised) to find she had changed/invented a great deal to serve her Plot. I guess I wanted a book more about Character.

It's a slow read, mostly because of the sheer scale of the book; it covers Wolsey's entire life (he lived to be 59, I believe) and A LOT happened in those six decades. So, it's dense. Very dense - not necessarily a bad thing. But the pacing was uneven; sometimes it felt like it was dragging, and I believe one of the important things about writing historical fiction is knowing when not to put in all the details that you've meticulously researched, because - at the end of the day - they can get in the way of the overall enjoyment of reading.

However, at the same time as being too saturated with historical details there were some really glaring anachronisms, particularly in characters' speech, that jarred with me. In the Afterward, she said she had modernised the language, but she needed to be consistent with how modern it was.

Still, it was a pretty good read. I really empathised with Wolsey, particularly towards the end of his life when he was living in accordance with the religious views that supposedly devoted his life towards. And his relationship with 'Harry' (Henry VIII) was really very touching. That was believable - although it was supposition, it made sense that Wolsey looked on him as a son.

Altogether mixed feelings - which is how I always feel about Weir's writing, yet I keep coming back to it, so that says something I suppose!

The author has given a captivating, emotive narration explaining the ascent and descent of Thomas Wolsey's life, which grabs the readers attention from the start & doesn't let go!

I have read many of Alison Weir's books, her research is comprehensive & she never fails to impress. I have a great interest in the Tudor Period, whether it be fiction or non-fiction & this novel doesn't disappoint.

This is a must read for all lovers of Tudor history!

Thankyou to Netgalley for my ARC in return for an honest review.

Been on a bit of a historical novel spree recently and this was a great continuation of it. I loved the author's note and the information about where the facts came from that this fictionalised account is based on. A good strong read, feel like I'm best pals with Henry VIII now.

Weir delivers a detailed, intimate and fascinating story of the life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.

My introduction to Wolsey has been through TV shows like The Tudors and Wolf Hall, so it was eye-opening to discover the more personal side to his story. Weir captures a personal and detailed span of his life, his relationships with King Henry VIII and his fall from power.

The detail in this novel, like all of Weir’s novels, is well-researched, authentic and an immersive account of Tudor England. She captures its politics, people and religion effortlessly, providing a history lesson disguised as fiction and accessible to everyone.

The novel at times felt like a whistle-stop tour, perhaps slightly rushing to encompass everything Wolsey achieved. However, he did have a very rich and eventful life and Weir has chosen to capture all of it in detail, so I can understand this approach. And these events make for fascinating reading nevertheless.

Weir successfully captures his relationships, such as with Henry, using the term ‘Harry’ to encompass the friendship. She also shows his attitudes and complex relationships with his enemies, including “The Night Crow”, Anne Boleyn.

He’s presented as an intricate, intelligent and educated man who loves the lure of power and wealth. Wolsey is a flawed human, and the result is the reader feels like they get to know him intimately. The novel does an admirable job of making him a 3D character.

Overall, another powerhouse of a novel focused on perhaps a man who has been misunderstood and underappreciated but who is finally having his story told.

In a market crowded with Tudor fiction, it’s difficult to find something new and different. This novel about Cardinal Wolsey – although maybe not the only one to be written about him – at least gives us the perspective of a prominent Tudor figure other than Henry VIII and his six wives. As with Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell novels, the focus is on politics, the forging and breaking of alliances with foreign powers, rivalries within the King’s inner circle and, above all, the rise and fall of a clever, ambitious man. We are also given some insight into Wolsey’s personal life as he is forced to choose between his career and the woman he loves.

The Cardinal covers Thomas Wolsey’s entire life, beginning with his childhood in Suffolk. Thomas – or Tom as he is known throughout the book – is the son of a yeoman farmer who also owns an inn and a butcher’s shop. However, Tom proves to be academically gifted from an early age, so instead of going into one of the family businesses he is sent to study at Oxford. At only eleven years old, he is much younger than the other students and is expected to have a bright future. Nobody could have predicted just how bright, as after making the decision to enter the church, Tom catches the eye of several influential patrons and rapidly gains wealth and power, becoming a trusted friend and adviser of first Henry VII, then Henry VIII.

Wolsey’s positions include Lord Chancellor, Bishop of York, cardinal and papal legate, and he begins to construct for himself a magnificent palace, Hampton Court. Needless to say, he quickly incurs the jealousy and resentment of other courtiers and Weir shows us how he systematically goes about bringing down his enemies and ensuring that he remains closer to the King than anyone else. Eventually he meets his match in Anne Boleyn, who has reasons of her own to dislike him. Anne is very much the villain in this book, which seems to be the case in most of Weir’s Tudor novels, probably due to the perspectives from which they’re written. Anne Boleyn, a King’s Obsession gives a more nuanced portrayal.

I loved the first half of the book, dealing with Wolsey’s early life and career, as there was a lot of material here that I had never read about in much detail before. I was also interested in the character of Joan Larke, the woman with whom Tom falls in love just as he’s beginning his rise to power. His position in the church makes it impossible for them to live together openly and he is forced to watch as she marries another man, unable to acknowledge the children he has had with her. I couldn’t feel too sorry for him, though, because he could have given up his career for her and chose not to. My sympathies were more with Joan (who would probably make a good subject for a novel in her own right, even if a lot would have to be invented as factual information on her seems quite limited).

The second half of the book is mainly devoted to Henry VIII’s Great Matter – his attempts to divorce Katherine of Aragon so that he can marry Anne Boleyn. Having already read about this several times in Weir’s other novels, from the perspectives of Katherine, Anne, Henry and Mary I, I didn’t really feel the need to read about it again so this part of the book dragged a little bit for me. Apart from that, I did enjoy The Cardinal and its portrayal of Thomas Wolsey. I’ll be interested to see which Tudor figure Alison Weir writes about next – or whether she’ll move away from that period and do something different.