Thomas Cromwell

"This brilliant biography gives a vivid and utterly chilling account of this fascinating but deadly man"—from the author of The Last Days of Henry VIII ( The Good Book Guide, UK). The son of a brewer, Thomas Cromwell rose from obscurity to become the confidant of the King and one of the most influential men in British history. Cromwell drafted the law that allowed Henry VIII to divorce his first wife and marry Anne Boleyn, setting into motion the brutal Protestant Reformation. Over the course of his career, Cromwell amassed a fortune through bribery and theft, and created many enemies along the way. His fall was spectacular—beheaded outside the Tower of London, his boiled head was placed on a spike above the London Bridge. Rich in incident and colorful detail, this is narrative history at its finest. "Gripping . . . Hutchinson tells his story with infectious relish and vividly evokes the politics and personalities of this extraordinary decade." — Literary Review "A rollicking good read." — The Herald (Scotland) "Vigorous, pacey, and focused . . . an effective portrait." — BBC History Magazine "Hutchinson tells the horrible story admirably and compellingly." — The Guardian (UK) "Hutchinson effortlessly explains the business side of the Tudor court in which Cromwell's legal mind excelled . . . Those more interested in the nuts and bolts of Henry's court rather than the monarch's soap opera antics will find this a welcome respite from fictionalized Tudor drama." — Publishers Weekly