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narmi's review against another edition
4.0
A dazzling work of history where from a vast amount of scholarship and detail (very dense detail, the kind you’d think Cromwell the man would have respected) new and surprising truths emerge - and Cromwell himself, too.
hmalagisi's review against another edition
5.0
The stories of King Henry VIII and the men around him have fascinated generations of historians, but there was one man who has received a negative reputation for his actions. He was the supposed son of a butcher who rose to be Henry VIII’s right-hand man, until his dramatic fall in July 1540. Thomas Cromwell was credited for helping Henry with his Great Matter, the fall of Anne Boleyn, the establishment of the Church of England, and the disastrous marriage between Henry and Anna of Cleves. Diarmaid MacCulloch has taken on the challenge to figure out who Thomas Cromwell really was by sifting through all remaining archival records that we have from this extraordinary man. It is in this book, “Thomas Cromwell: A Revolutionary Life” that MacCulloch masterfully explores the story of this man who changed English and European history forever.
Personally, I have never read a book about Thomas Cromwell, but I did want to learn more about his role in Henry VIII’s government. I had heard great things about this particular book and I wanted to read a definitive biography about Cromwell. Although at first, I was a bit intimidated reading something so academically written, I am really glad that I embarked on this journey to discover the truth of this much-maligned historical figure.
MacCulloch dives into the life of Cromwell by trying to piece together his early years and his Italian connections in the clothing trade. Cromwell did not receive a normal education of the day as he almost taught himself, which made him appreciate books and literature even more. It was these connections and his hard work which allowed Cromwell to rise to a position where he was working under Thomas Wosley. The lessons that Cromwell learned from Wosley would be beneficial as he took over as the King’s right- hand man after Wolsey’s fall from grace.
It is the decade that Cromwell served as Henry’s administrative polymath that is MacCulloch’s main focus. This part might trip up casual history students as it is very academic. My suggestion, if you are a casual history student, is to take your time to fully understand the steps that Cromwell took to change the political and religious landscape of England to make sure Henry was happy. It was not always an easy task, but with great risks came great rewards, such as the title of Vice-Gerent in Spirituals. Cromwell’s fingerprints could be seen all over the establishment of the Church of England, the dissolution of the monasteries, and the expanding powers of Parliament. There were those who were not exactly thrilled with all of these changes, however, the only opinion that truly mattered was the one that belonged to Henry VIII, and he was happy with Cromwell’s work.
Cromwell was not just a politician, he was a father to a son named Gregory Cromwell. It was interesting to learn that even after his wife died, Thomas Cromwell never remarried and raised Gregory as a single father. It was when Cromwell got involved in Henry’s personal life that matters got tricky for Cromwell. Obviously, many people are familiar with Cromwell’s role with Anne Boleyn’s fall from grace. However, it was the marriage between Henry and Anna of Cleves that would be the incident that brought Cromwell from the pinnacle of power to death’s door.
MacCulloch’s biography is truly a triumph. It is academic, both in its meticulously researched contents and its writing style, yet it remains engaging and thought-provoking. Although at times, this book was challenging, it was one of those books that you feel proud to read. If you want a fabulous book about the life of Thomas Cromwell as well as the changes that he helped create in the Tudor government and the establishment of the Church of England, “Thomas Cromwell: A Revolutionary Life” by Diarmaid MacCulloch should be included in your collection.
Personally, I have never read a book about Thomas Cromwell, but I did want to learn more about his role in Henry VIII’s government. I had heard great things about this particular book and I wanted to read a definitive biography about Cromwell. Although at first, I was a bit intimidated reading something so academically written, I am really glad that I embarked on this journey to discover the truth of this much-maligned historical figure.
MacCulloch dives into the life of Cromwell by trying to piece together his early years and his Italian connections in the clothing trade. Cromwell did not receive a normal education of the day as he almost taught himself, which made him appreciate books and literature even more. It was these connections and his hard work which allowed Cromwell to rise to a position where he was working under Thomas Wosley. The lessons that Cromwell learned from Wosley would be beneficial as he took over as the King’s right- hand man after Wolsey’s fall from grace.
It is the decade that Cromwell served as Henry’s administrative polymath that is MacCulloch’s main focus. This part might trip up casual history students as it is very academic. My suggestion, if you are a casual history student, is to take your time to fully understand the steps that Cromwell took to change the political and religious landscape of England to make sure Henry was happy. It was not always an easy task, but with great risks came great rewards, such as the title of Vice-Gerent in Spirituals. Cromwell’s fingerprints could be seen all over the establishment of the Church of England, the dissolution of the monasteries, and the expanding powers of Parliament. There were those who were not exactly thrilled with all of these changes, however, the only opinion that truly mattered was the one that belonged to Henry VIII, and he was happy with Cromwell’s work.
Cromwell was not just a politician, he was a father to a son named Gregory Cromwell. It was interesting to learn that even after his wife died, Thomas Cromwell never remarried and raised Gregory as a single father. It was when Cromwell got involved in Henry’s personal life that matters got tricky for Cromwell. Obviously, many people are familiar with Cromwell’s role with Anne Boleyn’s fall from grace. However, it was the marriage between Henry and Anna of Cleves that would be the incident that brought Cromwell from the pinnacle of power to death’s door.
MacCulloch’s biography is truly a triumph. It is academic, both in its meticulously researched contents and its writing style, yet it remains engaging and thought-provoking. Although at times, this book was challenging, it was one of those books that you feel proud to read. If you want a fabulous book about the life of Thomas Cromwell as well as the changes that he helped create in the Tudor government and the establishment of the Church of England, “Thomas Cromwell: A Revolutionary Life” by Diarmaid MacCulloch should be included in your collection.
hauteclere's review against another edition
5.0
A great biography, even for the non-historian reader/listener, written with panache and performed fantastically in this audible. While I will admit that some of the details elude my grasp and I can't remember all of the many individuals involved, the overall arc of Cromwell's remarkable life emerges very clearly and his impact on his country and his times is also evident. I read this in preparation of reading the Mantel books, I will admit, which I found rather hard to get into in the absence of any framework on which to hang the vignettes she offers. Now I feel well prepared, and I am grateful for Mr. MacCulloch for writing such a gripping history.
spyfox's review against another edition
4.0
In-depth look at pivotal man. Shows his faults and weaknesses as well as his strengths in a clear light. Lots of names thrown about that can make it confusing and overwhelming.
stacevox's review against another edition
4.0
This is a wonderfully detailed study of Thomas Cromwell, though I feel it has a particular emphasis on his role in the Reformation. Diarmaid MacCulloch tells us from the offset why Cromwell is so difficult to biographise, few of his outgoing letters exist, and the glimpses we do get of his personality are usually second hand. That being said, this biography manages not only to trace his early years, and his service to Wolsey and Henry VIII, but to somehow give us an insight into what his thoughts might have been through the sheer detail of his deeds, allies and enemies at the time. For a biography aimed at scholars, the book is incredibly readable I ate it up - not something I find common in historical biographies. I already have MacCulloch's biography of Cranmer on my reading list after reading this. Excellent.
ptrmsschrs's review against another edition
A very confusing start with too many irrelevant details.
mary846's review against another edition
5.0
A comprehensive and thorough biography of Thomas Cromwell, using an amazing wealth of sources - although mainly letters to Cromwell, rather than those in his own hand. Such a remarkable, erudite and intelligent man, although without any formal education, who rose to amazing heights. This was a fascinating and detailed account of as much of his life as we will ever know.
schnauzermum's review against another edition
4.0
The great Tudor historian Sir Geoffrey Elton thought that Thomas Cromwell was unbiographable. Very few documents written by Cromwell survive and MacCulloch speculates that his household/supporters destroyed his ‘out tray’ on his arrest. What we have is the ‘in tray’. This provides fertile ground for a novelist, but makes the task of a biographer much harder.
What we have here is a detailed account of the politics and administration of England in the late 1520s/1530s. As always, MacCulloch made me think afresh about subjects I thought I knew a lot about, such as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. I would have liked to know more about why Cromwell pursued the religious policies that he did, but the lack of documents means we can’t know. Neither do we have any almost contemporaneous accounts, as we do with Cavendish’s life of Cardinal Wolsey.
I would recommend this book, but probably more for a specialist/academic audience than for the general reader.
What we have here is a detailed account of the politics and administration of England in the late 1520s/1530s. As always, MacCulloch made me think afresh about subjects I thought I knew a lot about, such as the Dissolution of the Monasteries. I would have liked to know more about why Cromwell pursued the religious policies that he did, but the lack of documents means we can’t know. Neither do we have any almost contemporaneous accounts, as we do with Cavendish’s life of Cardinal Wolsey.
I would recommend this book, but probably more for a specialist/academic audience than for the general reader.
jennykeery's review against another edition
2.0
Not sure why I battled on with this one. This biography of Thomas Cromwell is another book that's been sat on my shelf for years. I originally planned to read it and then move onto Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy, but then lost interest in both. I mean, Thomas Cromwell was - to put it mildly - a bit of a bastard, and I just think there are other historical figures I would prefer to spend 700+ pages with. A well-written academic history book but it's a case of wrong reader, wrong time with me I think!