Cardinal Wolsey For King and Country by Phil Roberts

 

Cardinal Wolsey is supposed to have remarked that if he had served God as diligently as he had done the king, he would not have given him over in his grey hairs. Indeed, he did serve King Henry VIII diligently, rising to the top as Lord Chancellor, and undertaking an enormous amount of work for him. Henry and the Cardinal were a good match in personalities, and they arguably understood each other. Wolsey tried to do what Henry wanted, and mostly did, even in the case of The Great Matter, but eventually he fell from grace for failing to achieve Henry's aim of marrying Anne Boleyn legally. He organised the Cloth of Gold, intending to make peace in Europe, and he advised Henry on politics, and was a prime mover in making treaties.

But Cardinal Wolsey shouldn't just be remembered for this, although he was England's 'greatest church statesman', according to the author. His greatest legacy is Christ Church college at Oxford, and he arguably founded the Ipswich Grammar School. He was also a great patron of the arts and architecture, leaving us the magnificent Hampton Court.

Phil Roberts certainly gets rid of many myths about the Cardinal (although unfortunately I can't help seeing Sam Neil's fantastic portrayal of the Cardinal in my mind) and restores his reputation.Some of my ancestors also came from Suffolk, so I like the fact that the great man came from that county.

 It was an interesting and enjoyable book, although extremely detailed in parts. 

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

EDITION           Hardcover

ISBN                  9781399089029

PRICE               £25.00 (GBP)