Thomas Cromwell
The untold story of Henry VIII's most faithful servant by Tracy Borman OBE, Chief Historian at Historic Royal Palaces
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Thomas Cromwell
Narrated by:
Gareth Armstrong, Paul Mendez, Sandra Duncan
Buy Now for £18.89
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Narrated by:
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Gareth Armstrong
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Paul Mendez
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Sandra Duncan
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By:
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Tracy Borman
Known widely as Henry VIII's 'right-hand man', Cromwell has captured imaginations throughout the centuries: but who was he really? In this major new biography, leading historian Tracy Borman examines the life, loves and legacy of the man who changed the shape of England forever.
Born a lowly tavern keeper's son, Cromwell rose swiftly through the ranks to become Henry VIII's right hand man, and one of the most powerful figures in Tudor history. The architect of England's break with the Roman Catholic Church and the dissolution of the monasteries, he oversaw seismic changes in England's history. Influential in securing Henry's controversial divorce from Catherine of Aragon, many believe he was also the ruthless force behind Anne Boleyn's downfall and subsequent execution.
Although for years he has been reviled as a Machiavellian schemer who stopped at nothing in his quest for power, Thomas Cromwell was also a loving husband, father and guardian, a witty and generous host, and a loyal and devoted servant. With fresh research and new insights into Cromwell's family life, his household and his close relationships, Tracy Borman tells the true story of Henry VIII's most faithful servant.©2014 Tracy Borman
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Would you listen to Thomas Cromwell again? Why?
Yes, I will probably listen to it several times over because of all the information contained in it.What did you like best about this story?
The fact the author tried to provide a very balanced view. Following Hilary Mantel's books, there seems to be a fashion to make Cromwell into this wonderful person; alternatively to make him into an evil, scheming person. This book is the first to actually acknowledge he had both sides of those character traits.What about the narrators’s performance did you like?
It did take me a while to get used to the narration but (unlike a previous view) I did enjoy the use of different actors to read the letters - in some places where one letter was in response to a previous, I think it would have been a very difficult listen without this. However, I couldn't work out if it was the author's writing style or the narration tone but I had a slight problem with the style in terms of it returning to 'old style historical' - degree-thesis or history book style. I'm not sure if someone simply interested in history would have got to the end.Any additional comments?
I have a VERY big problem with writing and teaching styles that reduce our history to a quotation of one-dimensional stark facts - many years ago this almost killed any interest in learning history. I was so fortunate to have an amazing mum who showed our history in such a way that even as a very young child I'd stand in wide-eyed, open-mouthed, stunned amazement at all our historical sights. Then I went to learn history formally and was almost killed by the boredom ("...the reign of Richard III was followed by Henry Tudor, who in turn was followed by Henry VIII. His reign was followed by Elizabeth I who in turn ...").We've fortunately had many authors who have moved away from the degree thesis/history book style presentation and show history in that jaw-dropping way my mum does ...and I so wanted this work to be done in this way. But it does veer towards the old style, and this is my reason for four not five stars. I DO hope you'll buy it though and persevere because the information given and the views of the characters are well presented.
But I found I wanted to rewrite this work to re-inject all the emotions - it describes Cromwell trying to be loyal to Wolsey, his former master, and support him where he could and hints at his frustration with Wolsey. And yet in reality that situation must have been a nightmare for Cromwell (and is supported by the letters, so it's not as if the facts don't support this emotional turmoil): Wolsey switching between a man prostrating himself, begging even grovelling forgiveness of Henry, and yet his immediate return to devious manipulation as soon as any inch is given. The evidence for this frustration in Cromwell is plainly there in the letters and yet 'historical writing style' removes this emotion. Cromwell was risking his own life in trying to be loyal and champion Wolsey; yet Wolsey obviously had no care for that fact, his only interest being his own restoration - yet this incredibly interesting emotional interaction ends up flatlined. How can we, as a culture, possibly reduce a fascinating interaction between three people where one and possibly two could die if it falls the wrong way to mediocre statements? We should have been hanging on to the edge of our seats at that interaction. The number of senior statesmen during the Tudor period who managed to navigate this successfully and keep their lives/heads intact for a long career could probably be counted on one hand or less, and yet the incredible excitement and danger of this interaction is always lost.
I enjoyed the portrayal of Anne Boleyn, which I feel is probably the more honest. But Henry is reduced to a cardboard cut-out raving tyrant, when his own position is fascinating, incredibly vulnerable and complex. He IS constantly subject to manipulation by clever statesmen all fighting their own corners and trying to bring down others for their own ends. He must have been operating in an atmosphere of total despair. It's very easy to make light of the farces that became his marriages but he must have been living every day looking at Spain and France and realising he would plunge the country into possible destruction without an heir. Then he looks at his courtiers and correctly sees a bunch of people only interested in their own ends - isn't it the human element that makes history fascinating? How would you react if you have built Wolsey up to then see the true agenda behind what he was doing? And to then also have a group of your courtiers baying for his blood and watching what you are going to do. And when you've walked down that path with Wolsey, to then seem to see Cromwell potentially doing it also? Cromwell should have understood more than anyone the potential impact of the Cleeves marriage after having to resolve the Boleyn issue (and the impact it had on his predecessor). Yet he obviously either couldn't be bothered or didn't care (possibly now holding no respect for his master) to pay attention to the details (you don't even find out that she's not good looking/has personal hygiene problems?). What response would you expect to illicit from your king? Whilst tyranny became part of who Henry was, to write him off purely as a tyrant does not do him justice in the complexities of the issues involved.
The portrayal of Cromwell does start to show what is probably the more truthful balance in his character - kind, generous at home but capable of true brutality at work with no care for innocence or otherwise. Yet after all the hard work throughout to illustrate this balance, it does slip slightly in the Epilogue into the current fashion of viewing his death as perhaps 'unjust for a man kind to his servants/households/friends, etc'.
Cromwell was responsible for many innocent deaths; he showed no care for all the innocent men sent to their deaths in the Boleyn affair, and considering 'going to the block' sometimes took 8-10 hacks to remove a head it was no mercy over a traitors death. It was a terribly fearful and brutal thing. He sacrificed many, many other innocent lives to achieve his own ends or those of his king without a thought. Henry had no involvement in determining the terrible deaths of the priests - that was his viciousness alone. He was a vicious bully and had no conscience against seeking out the vulnerable and intimidating or executing them to achieve his ends. I fully believe that he had become so sure of himself, his arrogance made him believe he could do anything - that he was almost above the king. If it is true that he was setting his aim at a marriage to Henry's daughter Mary, then wasn't Henry right to remove someone obviously becoming a potential danger to him? Whether that required execution or not is debatable. But the fascination my mum always gave to me in history was as soon as you thought you'd understood someone, she would present another political side of the equation that tore down everything you thought you understood.
To me, the importance in writing historical works is to illustrate all these complexities, not write in a manner that inferred all these people were flat, unemotional cut-outs. They were emotional people like you/I. Cromwell's letter to Henry ending 'Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!' obviously shows his abject fear at the fate awaiting him and yet where I should have been desperate to return to listening it was reduced to something like 'Cromwell's fear is indicated by his closing statements ...'. INDICATED? I don't think you could do much more indicating.
I have really enjoyed this and I do hope you'll buy it and steel yourself to persevere if you do find it a bit 'degree-thesis'. Such wonderful research has been done and such interesting facts brought to light, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I just think if they'd been given to my mum to tell I'd even now be sitting in my car open-mouthed in stunned shock.
A wonderfully balanced view of Cromwell
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The main narration by Gareth Armstrong is excellent but I’m afraid for the voice-overs who read the quoted speech are really quite affected and bizarrely accented and spoilt the flow of the audiobook.
Thoroughly recommended nonetheless.
Fantastic historical biography
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Excellent work but spoilt by other voices
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Where does Thomas Cromwell rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Only the 2nd audio book, but an excellent listen.What was one of the most memorable moments of Thomas Cromwell?
Accepting his execution with honour and dignity.What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?
Clearly narrated. Some odd accents to the point of not understanding what was said.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, I was happy to spread the book over a few days.Any additional comments?
So many different stories and opinions about Thomas Cromwell ranging from tyrant to honourable man. This book is no real exception to the rule in that it seems he was a bit of both.A man from such lowly birth (this is mentioned many, many times in the book) mostly self educated, to rise to such importance as the King's right hand man is incredible for his time. He had genuine care for the poorer classes all through his life and gave a lot of his own money to help others.
Yes he had a ruthless side and was happy to see those that stood in his way go to the block, but that was the times he lived in.
By the end of the book I had a real sense that I knew the man and liked him. When it came to his horrific, botched execution, although expected, I felt upset and a sense of loss.
I love history, especially relating to Henry VIII and this book gives a much more detailed view of that era and I particularly liked the many quotes from surviving letters from many of the main people.
A Fascinating Insight Into An Incredible Man
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The voices didn’t really sit right as I’d imagine them to be and many were too similar.
Definitely glad I chose audible as a great way to unwind with whatever you like.
Life story
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