Show me a book by Alison Weir and that’s a book that I will read.

Tudor history is of a particular fascination to me and Ms Weir is one of the best writers on the subject. An historian, she is able to tell the actual story without losing any of the pertinent information while also being able to weave a powerful tale that will keep the reader’s attention even if they’re already familiar with the history.

While Wolsey has not been a favorite of mine, I know better than to allow my own opinions to stand in the way of a great storytelling experience and I’m glad for that because this novel makes him much more human and his motivations more meaningful.

Whether you’re interested in Tudor history, British royal history, history (with lasting impact), or are just looking for a new read to lose yourself in, I definitely recommend this.



Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the DRC

This novel tells the story of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey’s dramatic rise and fall. His ambition led him to power as King Henry VIII’s top advisor. But his failure to secure an annulment for the king’s first marriage—and the subsequent accusations of treason—reveal the cost of his pursuit of power.

Based on historical accounts, this compelling novel also imagines Wolsey’s personal life, focusing as much on that as on his career. It’s an engaging and enjoyable read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

calling all historical fiction and tudor fans - @alisonweir.historian new historical fiction novel is a must read. book follows the rise and fall of cardinal thomas wolsley, a key political and religious figure in king henry VIII’s court. weir paints a nuanced portrait of wolsley —both as a shrewd, ambitious statesman and a deeply flawed individual whose rise and fall mirrored the volatility of tudor england and king henry VIII’s reign (and his 6 wives . . . ). i’ve read her other books on the other players in tudor england along @philippagregorybooks and of course watched the @hbomax tudor series (which now want to rewatch) so found this a fascinating account of such a major player of this time.

book publishes 5/27. thanks @randomhouse and @ballantinebooks for this early copy. opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Everyone has heard about Henry VIII's reign and all of the drama that surrounded it but few know about one of his closest advisers, Thomas Wolsey. This story transports the reader to the late Middle Ages as we learn about an intelligent and ambitious man who had the ear of some of the most powerful men in England.

I really enjoyed the first part of this novel and learning about Thomas's childhood. It was interesting to see that social mobility was possible in the Middle Ages. His adult life was much more complicated and filled with many highs and lows. I think many readers will enjoy seeing this story from Thomas's perspective. Henry the VIII's story is so well known as well as what we think about each of his wives. To read it from Thomas's point of view was really a fresh take on the entire story. I found myself actually disliking Anne and wanting things to work out for Thomas. It takes an amazing author to be able to pull that off.

For anyone who has ever read about the Tudors, this is a great perspective that will bring the story to life in a whole new way.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

This is the story of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, famous for being the confidant of King Henry VIII. A long novel that begins with Thomas,Wolsey as a child, his rise to power and ultimate fall from grace and power. I found Wolsey not to be a very likable character, obsessed with power and wealth. I liked how the author described the power struggles within the royal court. A slow read but good for people interested in the Tudor Era.

Alison Weir is a fantastic writer. I have read several other books by Ms Weir and this one is just as wonderful. You feel like you really get to know the people she writes about.

I was especially interested in this book because, having just finished viewing the second season of "Wolf Hall" with Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII, I needed to know more about Cardinal Wolsey, as he is so important and revered by Cromwell. This book tells me everything I could wish to know about the Cardinal and his relationship with the British Crown.

While "Wolf Hall" makes one feel a bit sorry for Anne Boleyn, after reading what she and her supporters did to Wolsey, I'm glad she lost her head.

I very highly recommend this book to all lovers of British history.

The Cardinal tells the story of the rise and fall of Cardinal Wolsey, who was King Henry VIII's most trusted advisor until the king accused the cardinal of treason. The book goes beyond the basic story of what we know of the cardinal and delves into his private life such as his life with his mistress and children. This is a story about love, friendship, and power and how one man had it all and in one fell swoop lost it all.

Alison Weir always has a knack for telling a compelling story and she does such an incredible job bringing all of these characters to life. This book was very well written and while it's not my favorite work of hers, it's still a solid book.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This novel was one I looked forward to, as Alison Weir is such an exceptional author. However, I was disappointed in the quality of the writing and the less than captivating nature of the story of Cardinal Wolsely. He was a pivotal figure in the Tudor court of Henry VIII, but much of the novel feels like a report on the governmental nuances of the Tudor court, rather than a character study of a powerful man.

Alison Weir is one of my favorite historical fiction and nonfiction authors, but this subject clearly wasn't as dramatic as her usual fare. I'd have rather had more interesting details on the Cardinal, developments around his children or the ways in which he interacted with other parties in the court -- rather than so much governmental minutia. While I am sure the Cardinal was precise, thorough, and keen for all those types of activities, the readers may not be as fascinated by the details of such governmental decisions. For example, the Field of Gold diplomatic activities were an interesting interaction with the Tudor court -- with lots of memorable characters, but in this novel we end up with an inventory of the items shipped to France and a summary of the event that includes an incident of wrestling between the two monarchs, but little else. I am glad I have read this novel, but I don't feel as if I have learned a lot more about the man who ruled England from behind Henry VIII's throne.

If you were enraptured by last year’s movie “Conclave” and the more recent real-life papal drama, this book needs to go on your list. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was Henry VIII’s most trusted adviser, up until Cardinal Wolsey couldn’t convince the pope to allow Henry to get a divorce. It’s an exciting historical fiction account about a dramatic moment that European history buffs know well. (Recommendation sent to readers of WordSmarts.com email newsletter)

I find myself disappointed by this offering from Alison Weir, a voice of the Tudors that has always been strong. It has been a while since I've read one of her books, but this one felt like a slog, and given the rich history of Wolsey and the time, that was disappointing.

This felt only surface deep, and read more like each chapter was just giving the reader a list of facts that had happened, with a lot of repetition thrown in. I understand and love that Weir has always been more on the historical side of historical fiction than some other authors, but the story felt limp and tedious at times.

I am a big fan of novels set during the Tudor dynasty and have never liked Cardinal Wolsey. He seemed to be a stereotypical corrupt, self-centered, pompous politician. However, I am a huge fan of Weir so I decided to visit Wolsey through her research. And I'm glad I did. Yes, Wolsey is corrupt and pompous (most men were in those days) but he also created several schools and colleges, reformed multiple government and church areas, and was an architectural trend-setter in England.

He was born into the merchant class but rose to be the 2nd most powerful man in England in both religious and secular arenas. Some of his administrative/logistical feats were astonishing - the Field of the Cloth of Gold, the Perpetual Peace Treaty. The man knew how to organize and manage grand scale projects successfully. His "professional" life was an unrivaled triumph.

His personal life, alas, was not. His fell in love and had children but, as a member of the church, he was forbidden to marry so he had to hide his family. This led to the children being raised by other families and his lover eventually marrying another man.

Thanks to Weir's incredible story-telling ability, even though we all know the ending to his story it's heart-breaking to watch his downfall. Once Henry set his sights on Anne, Wolsey's decline began. In his arrogance, he believed he was invincible. After achieving greatness and creating a lasting legacy, he failed to do one thing the King wanted and lost everything.

This is an incredible story of a man who jumped social classes and put the nobility on notice.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I find this period in history so fascinating with the different power house countries and the dissolution of the Catholic Church as the only way. Thomas Wolsey is an interesting character and I like the way Alison Weir makes even the most dry and difficult negotiations easier to understand and intriguing. There was a lot I didn’t know about his personal life and this was eye-opening. Overall, Weir has done a fantastic job making Wolsey accesible and comprehensible and I found myself, at times, feeling sorry for the mess he was trapped him. This was a very long book but it held my interest the entire time.

As a long time fan of Ms. Weir’s historical fiction, it is not a surprise that I devoured this book in a few nights. The historical saga of Thomas Wolsey, commoner, who rises to become advisor to King Henry VIII and gains the title of Cardinal Wolsey is a fascinating tale, fraught with challenges and a glimmer of romance.
What surprised me most, was a fresh perspective on Henry VIII which is tough based on all the historical takes on him. Perhaps it’s only me, but this book gave me the historical context of time - specifically how long Henry is married to Queen Catherine of Aragon before Anne Boleyn is in the picture. That specific challenge for Wolsey is brought into full color in Weir’s story showing the strain and stress of the rise to success and power from both sides—and the facets of love that can change lives.

Luscious smooth writing and a twisty tale that lingers in memory because of Ms. Weir’s masterful storytelling.

3.75 stars rounded up. A captivating look at the life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. If you are interested in anything about the Tudors, this books takes a look at the man behind the scenes. As always, Weir's writing is exceptional and makes the reader feel like they are transported back in time.

Thank you to the publisher for inviting me to read early and to NetGalley for the advance copy.

[NetGalley Read #28]
4.5 ⭐️

"What he wanted was power—and everything that went with it."

William Faulkner's "the only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself" fits perfectly here.

A story of power, love, war with France, religion, politics, peace with France, heartbreak, war with France again!, right, and wrong with one man at the center of it all: Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. It depcits the rise and fall of an Innkeeper's son who rose too high in a world of royalty that wanted nothing to do with... well, an innkeeper's son.

It's like 'There Will be Blood' set in 1500s England. There are similar themes of the want for power, station and more and even more power until you've overreached and now you have to take the inevitable fall.

It's a long (400+ pages) and slow paced book divided into 6 parts. Really well written. The architectural descriptions are almost as good as George R. R. Martin's food descriptions.

Part ONE felt a bit disjointed like we were hurrying up in the story to reach the part where Thomas becomes a priest.
Part TWO felt a bit repetitive.
Part THREE to SIX are really well written. The conflict, the moral dilemma, giving up love for power, the rise and then the inevitable fall.

Don't Google/Wikipedia any of the characters before/during reading if you don't know anything of the historical events that take place in these books. It would be better to read the story as it unfolds. And even if you're familiar with history and you know what's going to happen, it's still a good fictionalized version that's worthy of a read.

Recommended (if you're okay with the slightly slow paced nature of the story).

A new and winning novel for Tudor Fans!

In THE CARDINAL: A NOVEL OF LOVE AND POWER noted historian Alison Weir provides another example of her skill in writing historical fiction - first demonstrated in her series SIX TUDOR QUEENS. This time she provides a back story for the brilliant advisor to England’s King Henry VIII, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.

As a long-time Tudor lover, Wolsey has always fascinated me. In a country ruled by class, how did a low-born boy, even one with considerable abilities, manage to rise to hold king-like power? And then lose it all in a spectacular final fall from grace?

This is the story author Weir fleshes out: How was Wolsey influenced by his humble early years? How did he manage to secure an education more befitting an aristocrat? Who first recognized his skills? What brought him to the attention of two kings? How did he balance the conflict between ambition and love? Why was he so willing to take on the work of a young king more interested in glamour and show? How did that willingness create a foundation for both power and wealth? And, of course, how did one monumental failure bring it all tumbling down?

There is also a love story. Based on a few historical facts, and embellished by Weir’s imagination, the author has crafted a compelling story of Wolsey’s long lasting love with a woman little known to history. As well as the conflicts that arose as a result.

Not surprisingly, as the protagonist, Wolsey comes off as a sympathetic and hard-working figure who genuinely loves King Henry VIII. The way a father loves a son. That alone makes this a novel worth reading since Wolsey is so often portrayed as a villain caring only for his own glory. And if you’re thinking that Henry VIII must then come off as the chief bad guy, it’s not that simple. Weir’s Henry is complex: intelligent and eager, talented but spoiled, obsessed with getting what he wants but also easily swayed.

Of particular interest to me has always been Wolsey’s physical decline after he lost power. In most accounts I’ve read, it seems to have happened quickly with little detail. But Weir’s account is much richer, examining the ups and downs of this period in a way that makes Wolsey face an unrelenting cycle of fear and hope.

Weir has done a masterful job creating two complex characters both dependent on and envious of one another. I recommend THE CARDINAL to all Tudor fans, especially those who share my interest in the historical figure of Wolsey. If you sense the detail becoming plodding, or the pace slows, my advice is to keep going.

Another stellar addition to the Tudor Era novels by Alison Weir! Cardinal Wolsey is a powerhouse figure during this period of history and Ms. Weir did an amazing job bringing his story to life.

Thomas rose from very humble beginnings to become the richest, most powerful man in King Henry's court. Then just a fast as he rose, he fell. He fought hard to keep his lavish lifestyle and the ear of the King but someone else wanted that designation and Queen Anne was grabbing for power too.. It is hard not to feel sorry for the Cardinal but then it is hard to understand how he was allowed so much power in the first place. Anyone familiar with the time period knows Cardinal Wolsey but this is the first novel told from his perspective. As usual. Ms. Weir has another masterpiece on her hands!

I loved this thrilling historical account of Thomas Wolsey. Alison. Weir is an auto-buy author for me. Loved learning Korean about the Cardinal in an expertly plotted and brilliantly written novel.

The multi-talented fiction and nonfiction writer, Alison Weir’s latest novel is about a non-royal yet nonetheless powerful man in the Tudor court — Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who rose from average working background to become Henry VIII’s most trusted advisor and mentor.

I was drawn immediately by Weir’s personal approach to her protagonists. Many intimate scenes explore the interpersonal relationship between Tom (Cardinal Thomas Wolsey) and Harry (King Henry VIII of England.) Simply using Tom and Harry, while supporting characters are referred to by surname or honorific – Cromwell; Suffolk; Norfolk – allows readers to participate in the dynamics of what was a loving and lifelong friendship, until Tom’s downfall. Weir’s presentation is subtle and we can choose for ourselves the reason(s) for this unusual friendship and trust and what ultimately drove the two apart.

The novel takes readers from Wolsey’s youth to his death in 1530, exploring less well-known aspects of his life. Harry is young, new to kingship, eager to run amok with his less than stellar friends, whilst leaving the governing of the country to the older, more experienced Tom. But Tom’s rise is too fast, too high, too excessive --- amassing huge wealth which he pridefully displayed on the political and religious stage.

This novel takes a close look at this vital cog in the Tudor court, and I hope Weir will explore more influential non-royals. Politically astute and superbly researched, I highly recommend this for every Tudor fan. For me it filled many gaps in what I already knew from other reading which makes it a fine and very welcome piece of literature.

Alison Weir who is known for her extraordinary Tudor Historical Fiction returns with a new novel this time focusing on the rise and fall of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey a very influential advisor in the court of Henry VIII.
This novel covers the early life of Thomas Wolsey who was born into a working class family but manages to enroll at college at the age of 11 and get a very extensive education. He manages to ontain the position of chaplain to various noble families before getting a a spot in the court of Henry VII. After the death of the later he rises in the court of his successor Henry VIII.
However, with all this newfound accomplishment and greatness doesn't stop those who envy Wolsey from plotting to destroy him. When Henry VIII decides to put aside Katherine of Aragon he puts Wolsey in charge of all the work. Wolsey knows that no good can come out of this situation and when it comes all crashing down Wolsey loses everything that he had worked to hard to obtain.
I overall enjoyed this book because I was not very familiar with the story of Wolsey as most tv adaptations portray him as some kind of villain but really he is just a simple man who is trying to do his job. The fact that he was able to make it this far was a massive achievement had he served under a different King he could have done so much more.
I received an ARC copy from Netgalley but all options are of my own