A review by lozzatron
Thomas Cromwell: The Rise and Fall of Henry VIII's Most Notorious Minister by Robert Hutchinson

funny informative lighthearted slow-paced

3.5

Hutchinson is at his strongest when he describes Cromwe''s actions with wit and flair. The author has an opinion and is not shy to make it know, which makes this book an entertaining read. The reader is under no illusion that Hutchinson approves of Cromwell, in fact, one gets a sense that he despises the man. This adds humour to a book which might otherwise be accused of being dry, his remarks often had me laughing out loud. I did, however, spend much time slogging through chapters with endless descriptions of minutae, which felt unnecessary if the goal is to paint a general picture of Cromwell's life. Notably, Chapter 6. Whilst I appreciate the presentation of evidence and the clear chronology for how Hutchinson formulated his narrative, I found myself muttering 'get on with it' when presented with the exact amount that Cromwell spent buying one of his buddies a nice coat. Perhaps he could have invited the reader to do their own research if they needed specifics? That being said, as an introductory whistle-stop tour into Cromwell's rise and downfall, I would recommend looking no further.