Thomas Cromwell
A Life
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Thomas Cromwell
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Narrated by:
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David Rintoul
About this listen
Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Thomas Cromwell by Diarmaid MacCulloch, read by David Rintoul.
Thomas Cromwell is one of the most famous - or notorious - figures in English history. Born in obscurity in Putney, he became a fixer for Cardinal Wolsey in the 1520s. After Wolsey's fall, Henry VIII promoted him to a series of ever greater offices, and by the end of the 1530s he was effectively running the country for the King. That decade was one of the most momentous in English history: it saw a religious break with the Pope, unprecedented use of parliament, the dissolution of all monasteries. Cromwell was central to all this, but establishing his role with precision, at a distance of nearly five centuries and after the destruction of many of his papers at his own fall, has been notoriously difficult.
Diarmaid MacCulloch's biography is much the most complete and persuasive life ever written of this elusive figure, a masterclass in historical detective work, making connections not previously seen. It overturns many received interpretations, for example that Cromwell was a cynical, 'secular' politician without deep-felt religious commitment, or that he and Anne Boleyn were allies because of their common religious sympathies - in fact he destroyed her. It introduces the many different personalities of these foundational years, all conscious of the 'terrifyingly unpredictable' Henry VIII. MacCulloch allows readers to feel that they are immersed in all this, that it is going on around them.
For a time, the self-made 'ruffian' (as he described himself) - ruthless, adept in the exercise of power, quietly determined in religious revolution - was master of events. MacCulloch's biography for the first time reveals his true place in the making of modern England and Ireland, for good and ill.
'This is the biography we have been awaiting for 400 years' Hilary Mantel
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Critic reviews
Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch is one of finest historians in the English-speaking world and preeminent in the area of the English Reformation. He has combined his expertise in 16th-century history with a compelling literary style in his latest book ... the definitive work on Henry VIII's great minister and an extraordinary insight into the politics and religion of the age, and of any age for that matter. Thomas Cromwell's somewhat dark reputation was given a new and bright shine by Hilary Mantel in the Wolf Hall trilogy and this life takes us from the fictional into the authentic; its triumph is that it is just as thrilling and equally stimulating and challenging. A profoundly important book.
(Rev. Michael Coren)What listeners say about Thomas Cromwell
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- elizabeth askill
- 22-03-19
superb. enjoyed emencely.
narrator great
story great
a must for Tudor enthusiasts
I really enjoyed this historical audio.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Campesque
- 21-12-18
Enormously interesting and very entertaining.
A very enjoyable journey through Tudor politics and religion with one of the most intriguing characters of the period. Saint or sinner? Devoted royal servant or brazen chancer? This book throws some light onto a very complex man.
Although long, this book is fast paced and I enjoyed the author's dry humour. I will be seeking out his other titles.
The narrator of this audiobook was perfect for the job - very easy listening.
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28 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kirstine
- 09-05-20
Scholarly biography
Prior to listening to this biography of Thomas Cromwell's life I revisited Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall Trilogy. I think this helped me follow the intricacies of the present book as it goes into minute detail of the life and times of Henry the Eighth's arch fixer. It is interesting to see some of the divergences between the semi-fictional and presumably factual accounts. An enormous amount of research has gone into the biography and a few times my mind did wander as the finer details of doctrinal conflict were described and the lives of peripheral players gone into. Overall it is an illuminating and interesting account of the life of one of the pivotal people in English history who lived in the turbulent Tudor period.
David Rintoul is one of my favourite narrators and he carried the lengthy text with skill.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs L.
- 09-06-19
Stellar
Amazingly detailed and fascinating biography, which confirms some of the things we know about Thomas Cromwell, also explaining (and reassigning!) many things we think we know - about the man himself, his often capricious monarch, and various important players at and around the Court at this time.
It's a painstakingly well-researched book. I have the hard copy as well, and have combined ear and eye from time to time. The reading, I might add, is perfect. A better choice of narrator could not have been made.
Although a comprehensive and detailed account of Cromwell's life, it is by no means dull or stuffy. I have smiled and even chuckled, often whilst listening - and had more than one 'Ohhhh... of course!' moment. It's a long book, but never boring; and anyone at all interested in how Tudor bureaucracy functioned, how patronage worked, and the genuine causes and varied progress of the English Reformation is strongly encouraged to buy a copy now and start listening!
Thank you, Audible!
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16 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mhk
- 31-01-23
The true story of Thomas Cromwell
This book is not only the best and most literary book about Cromwell but it is written by a modern historian who is able to bring the period to life. The amateur, as well as the professional historian will come away with a new understanding and perspective on this most important of Early Modern politicians. You may not approve if everything that Cromwell did but he was a master of detail and able to steer this New England in his direction until the last few months of his life, and he achieved it in just 10 years, albeit with the personal but unpredictable whims of an almost psychopath of a monarch at his shoulder.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mary Carnegie
- 01-10-18
Excellent, informative biography
I wonder if even the English understand the events of their confused and bloodthirsty “reformation”? Hilary Mantel’s novels have certainly whetted my appetite for this era in their history.
This is a witty and intelligent biography, well narrated by David Rintoul (as always), full of interesting anecdote and insights into the bizarre reign of the narcissistic, unpredictable, avaricious and vindictive Henry VIII, who had, unfortunately, more than 4/8 years to impose his changeable whims.
I feel I comprehend much more about the origins of the Anglican Church, which I found mysterious (as a Presbyterian turned Catholic).
MacCullough is unbiased in his account; he reveals the faults of his subject, and admits the better attributes of Cromwell’s enemies.
Thomas Cromwell was evidently a man of great ability, given the extent and length of his service to a very touchy, cruel and capricious king. (I can just imagine Henry VIII’s Twitter account; fortunately communication was slower then, but the penalties for incurring his wrath were deadly.)
I’m going to listen again soon- there were some memorable phrases I want to preserve.
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16 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 14-07-19
Interesting
interesting story and great detail but feel the author misinterpreted the Irish element to the book
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- adrian d peaty
- 07-02-21
Quality despite sound issues
An enjoyable listen, despite the sound issues at the end of Chapters 15 & 16
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- L J Reinhardt
- 31-01-24
A great lesson 
Real history made interesting and accessible. An excellent accompaniment to the Hilary Mantel Wolf hall trilogy.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Phil
- 11-10-20
Very informative
The author had spent many years researching his subject which shines through his well wriiten prose. All that said, I still have a loathing for this Tudor henchman
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1 person found this helpful