Michael Stolle's Blog - Posts Tagged "henry-viii"
Trumpery & Brexit
Thousands of pages have been filled with comments about the impending Brexit. Why not add one more? You're tired of it? I understand...
But for a writer of historic novels it's a fascinating subject. What's intriguing me is - of course- drawing parallels with the past. The Brits have always defended a legacy of being an unruly lot, Julius Cesar was the first to get a feel of this. He didn't like it and returned to the warmer shores of Italy.
Henry VIII split with Rome and the reactions have been the same as we get to hear them today. He was threatened with excommunication (we call it nowadays 'loss of access to the single market' ) - but a powerful combination of lust (yes, young and beautiful Anne was waiting in the shadows) and greed (getting hold of the church's well filled coffers was a dream come true...) made it happen.
But in my humble opinion, there was a big difference between now and then. Whereas King Henry most probably didn't really understand the implications of his decisions his capable ministers - just to name Thomas Cromwell - certainly did, they had a master plan. Most certainly fed by their own greed and convictions - not really for the well being of Henry's loyal subjects.
Where's the master plan now? Looking at Britain today we seem to travel back to medieval times - where powerful dukes were battling with the Crown and chaos reigned. Did those dukes care for the peasants or burgers of their cities - they did not!
Today those new dukes are the Duke of High Street, the Prince of the Internet, the Duke of Tabloids, the Duke of Finances, the Duke and the Prince of Public Manipulation - just to name a few. They lust for money, titles and influence. Do they truly care for the normal citizen?....
Well, better answer this question yourself.
Let's see if a new Thomas Cromwell will be born and will have the guts to create something good out of this chaos.
Haven't seen him/ her yet though....therefore better fasten seat belts as the years to come might prove to become a bit bumpy.
Why do parallels with the present situation in America suddenly come to my mind? Must be the effect of the deformed brain of a Historian...
But for a writer of historic novels it's a fascinating subject. What's intriguing me is - of course- drawing parallels with the past. The Brits have always defended a legacy of being an unruly lot, Julius Cesar was the first to get a feel of this. He didn't like it and returned to the warmer shores of Italy.
Henry VIII split with Rome and the reactions have been the same as we get to hear them today. He was threatened with excommunication (we call it nowadays 'loss of access to the single market' ) - but a powerful combination of lust (yes, young and beautiful Anne was waiting in the shadows) and greed (getting hold of the church's well filled coffers was a dream come true...) made it happen.
But in my humble opinion, there was a big difference between now and then. Whereas King Henry most probably didn't really understand the implications of his decisions his capable ministers - just to name Thomas Cromwell - certainly did, they had a master plan. Most certainly fed by their own greed and convictions - not really for the well being of Henry's loyal subjects.
Where's the master plan now? Looking at Britain today we seem to travel back to medieval times - where powerful dukes were battling with the Crown and chaos reigned. Did those dukes care for the peasants or burgers of their cities - they did not!
Today those new dukes are the Duke of High Street, the Prince of the Internet, the Duke of Tabloids, the Duke of Finances, the Duke and the Prince of Public Manipulation - just to name a few. They lust for money, titles and influence. Do they truly care for the normal citizen?....
Well, better answer this question yourself.
Let's see if a new Thomas Cromwell will be born and will have the guts to create something good out of this chaos.
Haven't seen him/ her yet though....therefore better fasten seat belts as the years to come might prove to become a bit bumpy.
Why do parallels with the present situation in America suddenly come to my mind? Must be the effect of the deformed brain of a Historian...
