A compelling and addictive story of Wolsey, the man. I was completely engrossed. The book reels you in and gives you full insight to see the political intrigue and factions beneath the pomp and pageantry. Tudor atmosphere at its best.

When it comes to historical fiction Alison Weir is just the best. This book has everything and more that you wanted to know/learn about Thomas Wolsey. From his humble beginnings to his great rise to power under Henry VIII as his advisor and then his great demise. It showed how he felt himself invincible in his devious plots to gain more power which he believed was rightfully his and those that suffered because of it. I really enjoyed this book and the detail was immense. There are many books written about Thomas Wolsey, but this is one of the best

Huge Alison Weir fan, love her historical fiction. The attention to detail and the fact she is a historian really shines through in all her novels.
The book tells of Wolsey’s great fall. From a relatively humble beginnings to the height of his power as King Henry VIII’s advisor, to his fall. This book has it all, Cardinal Wolsey was not a nice man, he was power hungry and selfish. He fell into the trap of thinking himself almost invincible. But he was not the first, nor last person to take the blame for one of Henry’s mistakes.
In parts, this does get booked down in the foreign politics and can get a bit heavy.
The romantic, sub plot for a wanting better description, is good and again shows the flawed character he was.
If you like books on Tudor England with immense detail from someone who has studied this time in history then this would be a book for you.

Thank you to Alison Weir, Headline Review, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliantly written historical fiction from Weir. Full review to come!

I just love reading books by this author Alison Weir, especially as she is one of the best Historical Fiction authors out there. So when her new book The Cardinal by Alison Weir came out I had to find some time for me!!! - if you know what I mean. . . . Alison's latest book was Brilliant - and a eye opener!

With this book, you step into tudor England times where it all began. Thomas is the son of a Suffolk tradesman. He was a brilliant talented boy who was sent to study at Oxford at the tender age of eleven. This is a story of the life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who ends with a disgraced Cardinal, and was cast from the King's side and estranged from those he loves. This book was so good and a great page turner. . . . and a very interesting read.

I highly recommend The Cardinal by Alison Weir and all of her books. Everyone I have read, has been a 5 star read and tis one was no different. Superb read.

I loved the cover - very eye catching.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my arc.

The Cardinal is the story of Thomas Wolsey, one of Henry VIII’s most scrutinised advisers. He was by Henry’s side when his father died and he became King. Alison Weir tells us of Thomas’ rise from humble beginnings to become one of the richest, most powerful men in England to his subsequent decline in favour.

The book allows us to see from Thomas’ perspective where much of History written about him seems rather slanted. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy, all opinions are my own.

I am a huge fan of the author's non-fiction work but this is my first time reading one of her novels.

I am conflicted. There are no real redeeming aspects to this Wolsey. He loves Joan, but he's selfish and cruel and never puts her first, thinks only of himself. He feels bad about it yes, but he never makes any steps to actually fix it. He cries and cowers at everything. This is meant to be Cardinal Wolsey, the man who masterminded the first twenty odd years of Henry's reign and yet he is confounded and surprised at every single turn. It was impossible to like him, and that meant being with him for nearly 500 pages became a chore.

However, some of the writing is great. The real villain of the piece is Harry. The author has brilliantly captured the unpleasant aspects of his personality, his arrogance, his hypocrisy, his cruelty. Although again, I fail to understand why Wolsey 'loves him like a son', Henry is nothing but horrible to him, nice only when it serves his own purpose. He shows time and time again that he will abandon anyone and yet time and time again, Wolsey is surprised when Henry turns against him.

The book also takes every rumour, every sensationalist bit of story and treats as fact, which in turn diminishes some of the lesser characters to mere 2d versions. Anne in particular suffers in this, we see none of the calculating, self made woman the author herself has spent years explaining in her non-fiction work and instead here is the monster of every catholic mind. Its a shame.

This new book from author and historian Alison Weir charts the rise and fall of Thomas Wolsey and is told from his point of view. We also get the story of Henry the VIII's divorce from Katherine told from the perspective of the man in charge of making it happen.

As with her other historical novels set in Tudor times, it is hard to figure out which elements are truthful and which are fictional. It is so beautifully written that the fiction and non fiction elements blend together. It did feel a little lengthy at times, but the insight into the life of one of the most powerful men of the time is fascinating.

A recommended read for fans of Alison Weir and Tudor history.

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A talented scholar from a poor background, young Thomas Wolsey knows that the only way to progress is to take holy orders. He does so and starts to rise through the patronage of his social superiors. However, Tom falls in love and takes for his mistress Joan, hiding her from world as he becomes prominent at court. When King Henry tells him to set aside Joan he does but takes solace in the power and wealth he is accumulating. Now the King's chief advisor, Tom is flying high but greatness comes with enemies.
Another excellent piece of historical fiction from eminent historian Alison Weir. Whilst most of the story is fictional, the research is superb, blending many known sources seamlessly into the narrative and this makes up for the clunky nature of some of the plot. Essentially this is an accessible introduction to the backstory of Thomas Wolsey and I loved the way that his rise to fame was explored as much as his fall from grace.

Thomas Wolsey is sent to Oxford by his uncle to be educated as a clergyman, and because of his intelligence he quickly stands out there. He makes a rapid rise and ends up at Court where he eventually serves the young Henry VIII – although the other nobles look down on him because of his lowly birth. Wolsey has his own views on European politics and the future of England and tries to support Henry as much as he can – even when the king starts asking for things he doesn’t agree with. Meanwhile, he falls in love with Joan. A forbidden love and so he must hide Joan from the outside world.

This time, Alison Weir writes a book about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Henry VIII’s first chief advisor and perhaps the most important of all – because a young Henry was still easy to influence. I must admit that Wolsey is by no means my favorite Tudor character. I find him not easy to understand, a bit boring and at times quite tiresome. He can’t seem to make decisions and is a shrewd politician and cleric. Still, I thought the first part of ‘The cardinal‘ was okay. We read about the young Wolsey, his rise to court and his love for Joan.

But then it all begins to become so dull and familiar. The difficult political tensions between England, France and Spain. The field of the cloth of gold. Bessie Blount. And finally Anne Boleyn and The Great Matter.

The Great Matter that drags on and on – yes, it was the case in reality also but in this novel it’s such an essential and big part of the story as Wolsey is quite involved. But I didn’t learn anything new about it. The Boleyns are again demonized. Weir does this always and I can understand it from Wolsey’s viewpoint but it was too much, especially his constant referring to Anne as the night crow. And then there is Wolsey’s downfall, which also really drags on – and Henry’s motives never become clear.

In this novel, Weir again employs such a dry narrative style so that it feels more like a biography than a novel. What really drives Wolsey, other than his sexual lust for Joan? No idea. How does Henry feel about Wolsey? Also no idea. Why is Cromwell loyal to him? No idea because Cromwell appears so little in the book that we don’t see them building a relationship. There is just the description of facts, no interpretation.

In 500 pages, Weir could have fleshed out so much more and taken a stand here and there to spice up the story. But like Wolsey, taking a stand proves no easy task.

Alison Weir and I: it remains a love hate relationship as it turns out. I prefer her six queens series I believe. I hope she’ll move on to another era or subject now, as she has written about Henry VIII from so many different perspectives that there’s not much new anymore to tell.

It’s not my favourite Alison Weir book, but if you want to learn more about Thomas Wolsey, this is a good start.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Well first off I have to say the cover of the book is beautiful! I mean Alison Weirs books are always beautiful but we normally have the portrait of the subject on the cover and I really like that we don't have Thomas Wolsey on this one, I think the crossed keys sum him up very well. I always adore Alison Weirs books, she has such and evocative way of writing that it just draws you immediately into Tudor England and emerses you into the story. Its safe to say that i knew this would be a glowing review before i even picked the book up!
Thomas Wolsey is a fascinating historical figure, his rise from the lower ranks of society to the highest position bar the King is one of the best know from the Tudor court and I'm not surprised that he was who Alison Weir chose to write about, this being only the second of her books about a male figure from Henry VIII's court. She's made stepping into his shoes and story so easy and I've been able to look at his story from a more sympathetic view than I have before. Often he's cast in a very negative light as a power hungry and money grabbing man that manipulated Henry for his own benefit (at least in most on screen representations of him) and little is shown about his care for his mistress and children, whereas in this we get to see that side of him. Yes he is a man who wants power and social standing along with the wealth that comes with it but he is not that one dimensional character, there are many fascinating sides to him. I loved that we got to see his struggles over not being able to acknowledge his children and his internal struggles with his need and want to be in a position where he is respected, has power and prestige and his want to be able to call his mistress his wife and have his children with him. Its a side to him that I have enjoyed discovering because generally his mistress is used to portray him as a bad priest when looking at his downfall. This book has made me want to get a few biographies about him out and immerse myself in finding more about someone I've never looked deeper at when reading about the Tudor period.

THE CARDINAL is a well-researched exploration of a towering figure of Henry VIII's early reign.

It feels like there has been a resurgence in interest in the Tudors of late. For example, the second series of the BBC adaptation of WOLF HALL, and this novel is perfectly placed to capture the interest of those interested in the Tudor world, looking at a self-made man who rose high and then fell for failing to please Henry VIII.

Thomas Wolsey is a very interesting historical figure - a man raised high despite his humble origins in a time when birth was almost everything, someone who served a king steadfastly despite also having a clerical loyalty. THE CARDINAL dives into his life and trying to understand what made him tick and how he handled the many contradictions of his life.

As with many historical novels, the book has to contend with the fact that so many of its characters have the same name. To this end, Thomas Wolsey is called "Tom" and Henry VIII "Harry." I liked the intimacy of this, making you feel close to these characters and helping establish the rapport between them early on.

I really enjoy the attention to detail in Alison Weir's novels. You can tell she is a historian, peppering the book with specific details - like the alms he gives out - that are so clearly drawn directly from records. It gives you a confidence that, though many things (particularly thoughts and private conversations) are obviously invented, they are extrapolated from real evidence to understand the chaotic national events.

I was surprised at first to discover that the narrator was Rosalyn Landor. Given that the main character is a man, I had expected this audiobook to follow the common practice of having a man narrate a male main characters. However, it was an engaging audiobook and it definitely intrigued me to hear it read against common trends.

4.5 stars

This is a richly detailed story that explores the rise and fall of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII’s most trusted advisor. The author’s meticulous research and vivid storytelling brings Wolsey to life as both a formidable political force and a deeply human character driven by ambition, faith, and personal conflict.

One of the parts I really enjoyed was the romantic subplot, which, though not the central focus, added emotional depth and complexity to Wolsey’s character. I thought it offered a window into his vulnerability and humanity, contrasting with the political intrigue that dominates much of the book.
I’ve read a lot of Tudor historical fiction & I enjoyed the shifting of the focus to Wolsey and thought his story was really interesting.

However, one criticism is the occasional uneven pacing: some sections—particularly those dealing with the intricate political negotiations or courtly details—felt dense and slow-moving-and a little non-fiction esque. I didn’t hate these parts but felt they took away from the plot a little.

An enjoyable story!

Another fascinating book on the Tudors by the expert that is Alison Weir! Having read a lot of Alison Weir’s books on the Tudors I knew what to expect, yet I’m always pleasantly surprised by how detailed her research is!

As always I finished the book wanting to delve deeper into the Tudors. One of life’s greatest shames is that we’ll never truly know what happened in history but Alison Weir does a fantastic job of displaying the facts whilst weaving a fictional thread through to keep you entertained throughout. I found Wolsey to be a complicated character, despite being a selfish man, there were times when I felt deeply emotional and sorry for him. I was left wondering what would have changed in history had he not died, it’s hard to believe Henry wouldn’t have split from the Catholic faith and married Anne Boleyn but it’s definitely an intriguing thought!

This is a fascinating read. It delves deeply into court life of Henry VII and Henry VIII and in its centre stands the rise and fall of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. The story portrays him as a fallible human being full of ambition, doubts, pride and regrets and very much as a man who knew his own worth.

It is also a very moving book exploring the many dilemmas in T Wolsey’s life: the moral conflict between carnal desires and his vow of chastity, his ability to humble himself in contrast to his extreme pride and greed, his desire for power and wealth and his longing for a much more ordinary life, his desperate need to be loved by his king clashing with a severe dislike of the king’s egocentric wilfulness.

The Thomas Wolsey we meet is a man deeply attached to power and wealth, to which he sacrifices his desire to love and to be loved. The contrast between his spectacularly successful public life and his private frustrations could not be any starker.

This book is packed with historical facts but it is of course a fictional account of the Cardinal’s life. The almost melodramatic portrayal of his struggles – especially in the invented parts of the story – afford the reader insides into his personality that pure historical facts would simply not deliver. The historical detail is interesting and that none of it became tedious or overwhelming, I attribute to the masterful story-telling of Alison Weir.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Headline Review for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Masterful Portrait of Ambition and Humanity

The Cardinal by Alison Weir is an absolutely riveting triumph of historical fiction. With her trademark blend of meticulous research and narrative flair, Weir breathes vivid life into one of the Tudor era’s most enigmatic figures—Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. This is not just a political biography in fictional form; it’s an intimate, deeply human portrait of a man often relegated to the shadows of history.

From the very first page, we are swept into the extraordinary journey of a butcher’s son from Ipswich, whose brilliance propels him to the heart of power beside Henry VIII. The novel captures both Wolsey’s dazzling rise—driven by intellect, ambition, and an unshakable belief in his divine calling—and his devastating fall, as the demands of loyalty, love, and power collide.

What sets The Cardinal apart is its emotional resonance. Weir masterfully explores the duality of Wolsey’s existence: the public statesman, builder of England’s church and state, and the private man, whose hidden life is filled with passion, longing, and familial love. It’s speculative in just the right ways—never straying from plausibility, yet adding heart and depth that history books often lack.

This novel also casts fresh light on the early reign of Henry VIII, not just as a king but as a friend and betrayer. The infamous divorce question looms large, and Weir handles it with nuance, showing how it became the undoing of one of Henry’s most devoted servants.

For fans of the Tudor period—and especially those who enjoy richly imagined, character-driven historical fiction—The Cardinal is essential reading. A gripping tale of power and downfall, passion and principle, it is Alison Weir at her best.

Absolutely fantastic and so informative, I thought I knew so much about this period in time, but this book has filled in gaps in my knowledge I had no idea we're missing. Loved it

What a fascinating story about a rogue who broke rules and was after as much money and notirity as he could get. Not sure how much if this is true but, it was a brilliant read. I love Alison's books and this one really grabbed me. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book starts when Thomas is 11 years old and he’s studying at Magdalen College in Oxford. He was one of the youngest pupils at the school, and he excelled in everything he did.

The future was bright.

As Wolsey came from a working family, he knew his options were limited. He decided to ordain as a priest, but he had his reservations about it. Back then, a lot could be achieved through entering the Church, and Wolsey was an ambitious man.

We see him rise through the ranks and become a chaplain to King Henry VII, Henry VIII’s father. When Henry VII died, he recommended for Wolsey to serve his son, Henry VIII.

Thanks to Henry VIII, Wolsey’s fortune and social standing increased. He became a cardinal and surrounded himself with wealth… and a mistress.

Wolsey was deeply in love with Joan Larke, and she loved him back. However, their happiness was not to be.

The story follows with Wolsey having more and more enemies and his fall from the King’s favour and his eventual death.

I love the Tudors, and Alison Weir portrays that period fabulously.

In this book, she brings Thomas Wolsey to life, and in some parts of the story, I actually felt sorry for him. He didn’t want to become a priest but felt that he had to. As a result, he couldn’t marry the only woman he loved, nor acknowledge the children they both had.

He regarded Harry (Henry VIII) as his son, and he would do anything to please him. When Harry wanted to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon, I think that Wolsey, deep down inside, knew it was a hopeless case. However, he persevered in writing numerous letters to the Pope and other officials, but when the Great Matter dragged on for years, he then fell from the King’s grace.

As he became more powerful, the number of enemies grew. His most troublesome enemy was Anne Boleyn, who whispered into Harry’s suggestible ear. The King was so infatuated with her that he believed in anything that she had said.

This is such a great story about a man who came from humble beginnings and, against all odds, rose to power but then became disgraced.

I definitely recommend it.

Many thanks to Headline for approving my NetGalley request.

Overall I enjoyed this read, although there are some areas that I am not sure how true they are or if they have been over dramatized for the book.
I still don't like Wolsey, but history loves a morally grey villain.
Another engaging read from Alison Weir.