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The Cardinal: A Novel of Love and Power
In this thrilling novel of friendship and betrayal at the royal court, the
New York Times
bestselling author of the Six Tudor Queens series explores the rise of Thomas Wolsey, who was Henry VIII's chief advisor—until the king accused him of treason.
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey enjoyed one of the most meteoric careers in history. His rise from humble beginnings coincided with Henry VIII’s ascension to the throne in 1509, when the king appointed him to his privy council. The two grew to be cherished friends, and by 1515 Wolsey, now a cardinal, had become the controlling figure in all matters of church and state, in spite of the jealous criticisms of the nobles, who resented him for usurping what they saw as their role as the king’s natural advisors. These were dangerous enemies to have.
Wolsey operated on an international stage and worked hard to broker universal peace. All was going dazzlingly until Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn—the woman whom Wolsey would one day call “the night crow”—and sought to end his marriage to his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. Swept up in the maelstrom of “the Divorce,” Wolsey, who had successfully striven to give his master everything he wanted, found himself in an impossible situation as he drew the ire of the queen, with his world crumbling around him.
Alison Weir's poignant novel tells the story of Wolsey the man, his incredible rise to power and his tragic fall. She delves beyond the splendour and political machinations of the Tudor court to reveal the secrets of Wolsey's private life, the mistress and children he was devoted to, and the tragedy that overtook them. It is a tale of two women, one who loved him and one who hated him—and also a tale of two men, king and commoner, the special, deep-rooted bonds that brought them together, and the forces that drove them apart.
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey enjoyed one of the most meteoric careers in history. His rise from humble beginnings coincided with Henry VIII’s ascension to the throne in 1509, when the king appointed him to his privy council. The two grew to be cherished friends, and by 1515 Wolsey, now a cardinal, had become the controlling figure in all matters of church and state, in spite of the jealous criticisms of the nobles, who resented him for usurping what they saw as their role as the king’s natural advisors. These were dangerous enemies to have.
Wolsey operated on an international stage and worked hard to broker universal peace. All was going dazzlingly until Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn—the woman whom Wolsey would one day call “the night crow”—and sought to end his marriage to his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. Swept up in the maelstrom of “the Divorce,” Wolsey, who had successfully striven to give his master everything he wanted, found himself in an impossible situation as he drew the ire of the queen, with his world crumbling around him.
Alison Weir's poignant novel tells the story of Wolsey the man, his incredible rise to power and his tragic fall. She delves beyond the splendour and political machinations of the Tudor court to reveal the secrets of Wolsey's private life, the mistress and children he was devoted to, and the tragedy that overtook them. It is a tale of two women, one who loved him and one who hated him—and also a tale of two men, king and commoner, the special, deep-rooted bonds that brought them together, and the forces that drove them apart.
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First published May 22, 2025
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About the author
Alison Weir
83 books8,345 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
Alison Weir is an English writer of history books for the general public, mostly in the form of biographies about British kings and queens, and of historical fiction. Before becoming an author, Weir worked as a teacher of children with special needs. She received her formal training in history at teacher training college. She currently lives in Surrey, England, with her two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 433 reviews
April 7, 2025
Another 5 stars for Alison Weir. When we read about the Tudors we often think of King HenryVIII and his six wives.
This is a book about Thomas Wolsley and how he came from a humble background to rise to be Cardinal.
It is also about his rise to fame and his fall from Grace. He was a man that loved power and the finer things in life.
We all are familiar with his negotiations to obtain an annulment for King Henry from his marriage so that he could marry Anne Boleyn.
But this book is much more.
Alison Weir does an amazing job of bringing this story to life. She brings a fresh perspective of Thomas Wolsley.
You almost felt sorry for him when he couldn’t please the king and Anne didn’t like him either.
This is a compelling story . If you are a fan of the Tudors you will enjoy this book.
I received this advanced readers copy from Random House and NetGalley.
This is a book about Thomas Wolsley and how he came from a humble background to rise to be Cardinal.
It is also about his rise to fame and his fall from Grace. He was a man that loved power and the finer things in life.
We all are familiar with his negotiations to obtain an annulment for King Henry from his marriage so that he could marry Anne Boleyn.
But this book is much more.
Alison Weir does an amazing job of bringing this story to life. She brings a fresh perspective of Thomas Wolsley.
You almost felt sorry for him when he couldn’t please the king and Anne didn’t like him either.
This is a compelling story . If you are a fan of the Tudors you will enjoy this book.
I received this advanced readers copy from Random House and NetGalley.
May 27, 2025
4.5 ⭐.
This is a fascinating and sweeping portrayal of the life of Thomas Wolsey. He advanced in the church hierarchy in the sixteenth century to ultimately become a cardinal, confident, and friend to Kings. The talented and expert author of the lives of kings and queens, Alison Weir, brings to life the dramatic saga of Wolsey's rise and fall while serving King Henry VIII. As a fan of royal historical fiction, I found this to be a compelling and richly woven story. I was quickly immersed within the time and place of the setting and gripped by the unforgettable characters.
From a small boy of eleven years old starting at Oxford (1482) to his stellar climb to chaplain for King Henry VII and then King Henry VIII, Thomas Wolsey sought fame, fortune, and power. He made himself invaluable to the King and coveted all the favors and wealth that the King's fondness afforded him. Wolsey was given higher promotions and more and more wealth and power. He quickly rose from being a priest to becoming a cardinal. However, while Wolsey was growing in favor to the King, there were others that were instilling animosity and hatred towards him. Most notably Anne Boleyn, her family, and her retinue.
Most surprisingly, during his life, Thomas Wolsey chose to ignore his vow of chastity and instead gave in to his carnal desires and ensconced his mistress, Joan, in his manor and together they had several children. Wolsey tried to keep his "family" together secretly while still serving the King and his position. Joan's part in Wolsey's life became tenuous.
Thomas loved the King and tried everything within his power to give the King whatever he wanted, including a church approved separation from his first wife, Queen Katherine, so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. (History aficionados know how that turned out.) The suspense leading up to Wolsey's death was tense.
My least favorite part however was the great deal of time that is taken up in the narrative by the constant change in allies and enemies between England, France, Spain, Scotland, and the Holy Roman Emperor. Wolsey was King Henry's delegate as peacekeeper for England, but he was frequently put into impossible situations.
Readers who enjoyed the Wolf Hall series by Hilary Mantel or the Plantagenet and Tudor novels by Philippa Gregory or previous novels by Alison Weir are sure to love this book. I would also recommend this to readers who love historical fiction surrounding Henry VIII.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is a fascinating and sweeping portrayal of the life of Thomas Wolsey. He advanced in the church hierarchy in the sixteenth century to ultimately become a cardinal, confident, and friend to Kings. The talented and expert author of the lives of kings and queens, Alison Weir, brings to life the dramatic saga of Wolsey's rise and fall while serving King Henry VIII. As a fan of royal historical fiction, I found this to be a compelling and richly woven story. I was quickly immersed within the time and place of the setting and gripped by the unforgettable characters.
From a small boy of eleven years old starting at Oxford (1482) to his stellar climb to chaplain for King Henry VII and then King Henry VIII, Thomas Wolsey sought fame, fortune, and power. He made himself invaluable to the King and coveted all the favors and wealth that the King's fondness afforded him. Wolsey was given higher promotions and more and more wealth and power. He quickly rose from being a priest to becoming a cardinal. However, while Wolsey was growing in favor to the King, there were others that were instilling animosity and hatred towards him. Most notably Anne Boleyn, her family, and her retinue.
Most surprisingly, during his life, Thomas Wolsey chose to ignore his vow of chastity and instead gave in to his carnal desires and ensconced his mistress, Joan, in his manor and together they had several children. Wolsey tried to keep his "family" together secretly while still serving the King and his position. Joan's part in Wolsey's life became tenuous.
Thomas loved the King and tried everything within his power to give the King whatever he wanted, including a church approved separation from his first wife, Queen Katherine, so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. (History aficionados know how that turned out.) The suspense leading up to Wolsey's death was tense.
My least favorite part however was the great deal of time that is taken up in the narrative by the constant change in allies and enemies between England, France, Spain, Scotland, and the Holy Roman Emperor. Wolsey was King Henry's delegate as peacekeeper for England, but he was frequently put into impossible situations.
Readers who enjoyed the Wolf Hall series by Hilary Mantel or the Plantagenet and Tudor novels by Philippa Gregory or previous novels by Alison Weir are sure to love this book. I would also recommend this to readers who love historical fiction surrounding Henry VIII.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 17, 2025
I have always been interested in Henry VIII and the entourage that surrounded him including his many wives.
In this book, Allison Weir does a masterful job with a fictional tale of the famous or infamous Thomas Wolsey, who rose from nothing to become an eminent cardinal of the Catholic Church and a friend (or so he thought) of Henry. Brilliant, Oxford educated at a young age, Thomas was the epitome of a rags to riches story.
Along the way, he acquired the "love" of Henry, a wife he adored, children, lands, power, and prestige. However, Thomas paid a dear price for all of this. He could never marry the women he loved, acknowledge his children, nor rid the animosity many including Anne Boleyn bore towards him.
The author really makes Thomas human and one can't help but feel a portion of sorrow for him and his hidden life. But Thomas, wanted this life, one of fame, fortune, and acclaim, and eventually he paid the ultimate price when he fell from glory and died a man who was accused of being treasonous. Henry was a true narcissist and wanted what he wanted and when Thomas failed to procure an annulment for Henry, Thomas's fate seemed to be eventually sealed.
This was a very interesting look at the life of a man who wanted it all and for a time he did have it all only to die ingloriously.
In this book, Allison Weir does a masterful job with a fictional tale of the famous or infamous Thomas Wolsey, who rose from nothing to become an eminent cardinal of the Catholic Church and a friend (or so he thought) of Henry. Brilliant, Oxford educated at a young age, Thomas was the epitome of a rags to riches story.
Along the way, he acquired the "love" of Henry, a wife he adored, children, lands, power, and prestige. However, Thomas paid a dear price for all of this. He could never marry the women he loved, acknowledge his children, nor rid the animosity many including Anne Boleyn bore towards him.
The author really makes Thomas human and one can't help but feel a portion of sorrow for him and his hidden life. But Thomas, wanted this life, one of fame, fortune, and acclaim, and eventually he paid the ultimate price when he fell from glory and died a man who was accused of being treasonous. Henry was a true narcissist and wanted what he wanted and when Thomas failed to procure an annulment for Henry, Thomas's fate seemed to be eventually sealed.
This was a very interesting look at the life of a man who wanted it all and for a time he did have it all only to die ingloriously.
July 4, 2025
The Cardinal brings to life the true story of Thomas Wolsey – his meteoric rise and dramatic fall during Tudor England.
England, 1482. Wolsey’s story begins in childhood when, at the age of eleven, he is sent to Oxford.
The first half of the novel explores the deep inner world of its central character. Thomas, still a boy, finds himself subject to Oxford’s harsh rules, and he longs for the warmth of his parents’ inn. Despite the cold institution, his brilliant mind sets him apart as the youngest among a thousand scholars. Thought he misses home and the early thrill of Oxford life has worn off, he remains determine to make the best of his situation and fulfill not only his family’s hopes, but his own ambitions.
At fifteen, he earns his bachelor’s degree – an extraordinary feat at such young age. He continues his education at Oxford, eventually remaining at the university after graduation, waiting for the opportunity he has long dreamed of. Wolsey seeks high public office. He doesn’t want to take the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience; he doesn’t want to surrender his will to a superior. At eleven, he hadn’t fully grasped what priesthood would demand of him.
With no patron to support his ambitions, he is eventually ordained, believing it the only remaining path for advancement. Yet even that does not yield immediate results. He pleads for a modest ministry in hopes of future promotion.
He is finally appointed rector of a parish. After the death of his patron, more assignments follow, until at last, the opportunity he’s long awaited arrives: the chance to serve the monarch himself.
King Henry is impressed by Wolsey’s political savvy and diplomatic skills.
Appointments pour in. Suddenly, Wolsey is overwhelmed with responsibility, but he welcomes the workload. He craves power and is not afraid of hard work.
But then he meets Joan Larke - a beautiful, bold, intelligent twenty-year-old - and he cannot stop thinking about her. After working so hard to reach the pinnacle of his career, he now wonders if he’d choose love over power. Aware that envious rivals would exploit any weakness, he questions: is he letting emotion interfere with reason?
He wrestles with the dilemma. Other churchmen keep mistresses – why shouldn’t he? The king has granted him a house, so discretion would not be a problem.
Meanwhile, the king seeks to regain regions lost to France. Wolsey is against the war. After decades of civil strife. England is finally at peace and enjoying prosperity. Yet those who oppose war are falling rapidly from favor, and he must weigh his options carefully.
As the king’s trust in Wolsey deepens, Wolsey’s power and wealth increase - fueling jealousy and resentment among nobles and commoners alike. But what troubles him most are the growing accusations of lechery and fornication. The rumors spread rapidly, and he feels living on a knife-edge. In some regards, he dares not risk his secrets being discovered, and begins to feel he’s living on a knife’s edge. Now, a Cardinal, he is more unpopular than ever. Crowds boo him. The nobility despises and envy him.
The second half of the book plunges into the complex web of political and court intrigue, including wars and the Great Matter – King Henry’s pursuit of a divorce from Katherine of Aragon and his fixation on Anne Boleyn.
Poignantly written with a richly drawn and morally complex protagonist, The Cardinal offers a fresh and compelling perspective on Henry VIII’s reign. Told from Wolsey’s point of view, it sheds new light on well-known historical figures and events. The suspense builds steadily, and the final chapters - leading to Wolsey’s fall – are especially tense and gripping.
Personally, I like character-driven stories. Thus, the first half was very absorbing to me. With less character development and more of intrigues the story became slow in the second half; and seemed too drawn out in the second half.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
England, 1482. Wolsey’s story begins in childhood when, at the age of eleven, he is sent to Oxford.
The first half of the novel explores the deep inner world of its central character. Thomas, still a boy, finds himself subject to Oxford’s harsh rules, and he longs for the warmth of his parents’ inn. Despite the cold institution, his brilliant mind sets him apart as the youngest among a thousand scholars. Thought he misses home and the early thrill of Oxford life has worn off, he remains determine to make the best of his situation and fulfill not only his family’s hopes, but his own ambitions.
At fifteen, he earns his bachelor’s degree – an extraordinary feat at such young age. He continues his education at Oxford, eventually remaining at the university after graduation, waiting for the opportunity he has long dreamed of. Wolsey seeks high public office. He doesn’t want to take the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience; he doesn’t want to surrender his will to a superior. At eleven, he hadn’t fully grasped what priesthood would demand of him.
With no patron to support his ambitions, he is eventually ordained, believing it the only remaining path for advancement. Yet even that does not yield immediate results. He pleads for a modest ministry in hopes of future promotion.
He is finally appointed rector of a parish. After the death of his patron, more assignments follow, until at last, the opportunity he’s long awaited arrives: the chance to serve the monarch himself.
King Henry is impressed by Wolsey’s political savvy and diplomatic skills.
Appointments pour in. Suddenly, Wolsey is overwhelmed with responsibility, but he welcomes the workload. He craves power and is not afraid of hard work.
But then he meets Joan Larke - a beautiful, bold, intelligent twenty-year-old - and he cannot stop thinking about her. After working so hard to reach the pinnacle of his career, he now wonders if he’d choose love over power. Aware that envious rivals would exploit any weakness, he questions: is he letting emotion interfere with reason?
He wrestles with the dilemma. Other churchmen keep mistresses – why shouldn’t he? The king has granted him a house, so discretion would not be a problem.
Meanwhile, the king seeks to regain regions lost to France. Wolsey is against the war. After decades of civil strife. England is finally at peace and enjoying prosperity. Yet those who oppose war are falling rapidly from favor, and he must weigh his options carefully.
As the king’s trust in Wolsey deepens, Wolsey’s power and wealth increase - fueling jealousy and resentment among nobles and commoners alike. But what troubles him most are the growing accusations of lechery and fornication. The rumors spread rapidly, and he feels living on a knife-edge. In some regards, he dares not risk his secrets being discovered, and begins to feel he’s living on a knife’s edge. Now, a Cardinal, he is more unpopular than ever. Crowds boo him. The nobility despises and envy him.
The second half of the book plunges into the complex web of political and court intrigue, including wars and the Great Matter – King Henry’s pursuit of a divorce from Katherine of Aragon and his fixation on Anne Boleyn.
Poignantly written with a richly drawn and morally complex protagonist, The Cardinal offers a fresh and compelling perspective on Henry VIII’s reign. Told from Wolsey’s point of view, it sheds new light on well-known historical figures and events. The suspense builds steadily, and the final chapters - leading to Wolsey’s fall – are especially tense and gripping.
Personally, I like character-driven stories. Thus, the first half was very absorbing to me. With less character development and more of intrigues the story became slow in the second half; and seemed too drawn out in the second half.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2025
At 464 pages, this is another lengthy tome from renowned British royal author Alison Weir. The book cover is gorgeous and visually arresting. How interesting to finally put a pinpoint focus on Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who rose so high in the court of King Henry VIII that his pride and trappings of wealth was borderline repulsive.
Weir paints a picture of a child from humble beginnings who perversely finds the pathway to wealth and power is through religious education- and the ultimate preferment at The King's Court. His private scandal is his secret lover and mother of his children. The penultimate struggle in the book is of course King Henry's desire to be granted an annulment from his first marriage to Katharine of Aragon in order to marry Anne Boleyn. I enjoyed the book for its information about Wolsey's family and upbringing, secret mistress and children, and the evolution of his lifestyle from prince to pauper as he fell out of favor with Henry VIII. I always wondered how Wolsey died (before ever being tried and executed for supposed crimes) and was touched by his sobering humility as he fell from the King's grace. This was a brilliant idea for a book in the wake of all the Tudor-themed books Weir has written over the decades that focused on King Henry VIII and his Queens, but has now brought a key player during that time to the fore. If I had one complaint it would be a familiar one: the book could have been more concise and edited down some.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
May 29, 2025
The story transported me back to this time period. I became quite engrossed. This book was well researched. The characters came alive once again in this story. The author has such a gift engulfing the reader from the first pages. The characters were well defined and quite memorable. I look forward to more by this author.
I was blessed with an ARC. My review is unbiased and all thoughts are my own. Highly recommend
I was blessed with an ARC. My review is unbiased and all thoughts are my own. Highly recommend
July 26, 2025
I loved that this book was based on primary sources that mention Cardinal Wolsey. Weir’s research is of the highest standard and this was an interesting read.
May 29, 2025
We don't really stop messing around about Henry VIII, don't we?! Well, he was enough for me a long time ago, but what can I do, I am too fascinated by his companions and their fall ways, the fall course by his obsession with having an heir, which he never had.
Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII's chief advisor, whom I read about and remember as an important figure from Thomas Cromwell trilogy, and Cromwell's guilt about him. However, Thomas Wolsey wasn't a main character. This time, Alison Weir weaves a beautiful tale from his childhood to death.
The book's description mentions a tale of two women, one who loved him and one who hated him. While this is true, I believe it somewhat exaggerates the romantic love associated with a church and a political figure, as well as the intense hatred from a mistress, Anne Boleyn.
I think the story was intended to be more romantic than political, which is completely acceptable, as we don't see many courtiers, but the narrative can feel a bit slow and lengthy for a historical romance.
Overall, an engaging and beautifully written story that I recommend to Alison Weir fans and anyone who reads about Tudor England.
Thank you RBmedia via NetGalley for ARC. I liked the narration by Rosalyn Landor, and I have given my honest review.
Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII's chief advisor, whom I read about and remember as an important figure from Thomas Cromwell trilogy, and Cromwell's guilt about him. However, Thomas Wolsey wasn't a main character. This time, Alison Weir weaves a beautiful tale from his childhood to death.
The book's description mentions a tale of two women, one who loved him and one who hated him. While this is true, I believe it somewhat exaggerates the romantic love associated with a church and a political figure, as well as the intense hatred from a mistress, Anne Boleyn.
I think the story was intended to be more romantic than political, which is completely acceptable, as we don't see many courtiers, but the narrative can feel a bit slow and lengthy for a historical romance.
Overall, an engaging and beautifully written story that I recommend to Alison Weir fans and anyone who reads about Tudor England.
Thank you RBmedia via NetGalley for ARC. I liked the narration by Rosalyn Landor, and I have given my honest review.
August 17, 2025
echos of wolf hall but the earlier version of Thomas Wolsey and his rise and then fall due to Henry VIII need for a male heir. enjoyed some of the book overall
June 20, 2025
Impeccably researched, this is a fascinating look at the life of Thomas Wolsey, the Cardinal advisor during the reign of Henry VIII. It begins with his childhood and takes us on a journey through his life. It is his search of position and power, love, children he couldn't claim, and friendship. The saga and scandal really begin when Henry VIII enlists Thomas's help to get his marriage to Katherine of Aragon annulled so he can marry Anne Boleyn. He is put in an impossible position, and we see how greed for power and money and the ambition of those closest to him leads to his demise.
I found this story to be engrossing and compelling. I learned so much about Thomas Wolsey and what happened during King Henry VIIII's reign. Fans of historical fiction, Philippa Gregory, The Tudors, and the TV show reign will find this a must-read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books, and Alison Weir for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
I found this story to be engrossing and compelling. I learned so much about Thomas Wolsey and what happened during King Henry VIIII's reign. Fans of historical fiction, Philippa Gregory, The Tudors, and the TV show reign will find this a must-read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books, and Alison Weir for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 27, 2025
You can never go wrong with a book by this great author. Cardinal Wolsey is just a man you love to hate, however, Alison Weir finds a way to make him more understandable. I'm still not a fan of his though lol! She writes with such passion and brings both the characters and story to life. What I enjoy alot about her books is that she concentrates on the people and events and less on what is on people's plates or the extreme details of clothing. A great story and perfect book - not just for Tudor fans - because this Ricardian loved it! Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 24, 2025
I’ve always enjoyed Weir’s historical fiction but this was a big miss for me. It read at times like straight history where the historian is making massive guesses as to the subjects emotional state or inner thoughts. At others it was very awkward/cringey romance.
It also failed to either make Wolsey a sympathetic character OR reflect on how much of a shit he was.
I really do wish I could have enjoyed this more.
*ARC received in exchange for my honest review*
It also failed to either make Wolsey a sympathetic character OR reflect on how much of a shit he was.
I really do wish I could have enjoyed this more.
*ARC received in exchange for my honest review*
May 26, 2025
Alison Weir showed me the many faces of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Not only was he a priest, but he was also a scholar, a lover, a father, and a friend.
Weir’s insightful account tells of his humble beginnings before he attended Oxford at 11 years old and then recounts his rise to fame as he entered the priesthood and became a trusted friend and adviser of the Tudor court in 1509.
Wolsey was a driven man and he paid the price for his success. Weir’s narrative spotlights Wolsey’s desperation and his willingness to do whatever it took to stay in King Henry VIII’s favour. Granting everything in his power, Wolsey rose within the Tudor court from a member of the privy council to lord chancellor; however, when he couldn’t annul Henry’s marriage to Katherine of Aragon, he was disgraced, estranged and charged with treason. Weir shows readers how the nullity suit affected Wolsey; the emotional struggle of being aware of its weakness yet the drive to obtain what Henry wanted. The narrative spotlighted Wolsey’s desperate cling to power and his friendship with Henry. It must have been a difficult situation to live through.
I appreciated Weir’s dedication in piecing together the facts and presenting a story rich in detail and one that offered possible and insightful motives as well as a deeper look at the cardinal’s personality.
I was most surprised with his affair and how long he was able to keep it a secret! Weir's insight into what it must have been like for Joan added to the story and made me pivot and understand both points of view.
This was a ‘meaty’ book and will need a second or third read to grasp all that Weir has shared.
I was gifted this copy by Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Weir’s insightful account tells of his humble beginnings before he attended Oxford at 11 years old and then recounts his rise to fame as he entered the priesthood and became a trusted friend and adviser of the Tudor court in 1509.
Wolsey was a driven man and he paid the price for his success. Weir’s narrative spotlights Wolsey’s desperation and his willingness to do whatever it took to stay in King Henry VIII’s favour. Granting everything in his power, Wolsey rose within the Tudor court from a member of the privy council to lord chancellor; however, when he couldn’t annul Henry’s marriage to Katherine of Aragon, he was disgraced, estranged and charged with treason. Weir shows readers how the nullity suit affected Wolsey; the emotional struggle of being aware of its weakness yet the drive to obtain what Henry wanted. The narrative spotlighted Wolsey’s desperate cling to power and his friendship with Henry. It must have been a difficult situation to live through.
I appreciated Weir’s dedication in piecing together the facts and presenting a story rich in detail and one that offered possible and insightful motives as well as a deeper look at the cardinal’s personality.
I was most surprised with his affair and how long he was able to keep it a secret! Weir's insight into what it must have been like for Joan added to the story and made me pivot and understand both points of view.
This was a ‘meaty’ book and will need a second or third read to grasp all that Weir has shared.
I was gifted this copy by Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
April 1, 2025
The Cardinal: A Novel of Love and Power by Alison Weir is an excellent historical fiction that gives a a glance into the life of the infamous Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.
I devour anything Ms Weir writes, and I have read a lot of nonfiction and historical fiction involving English history and the Tudors, but I have not read anything that Wolsey was the heart of the story.
I really, really loved this book. I already knew the “history” and the “story from the other guys”, but this is the first time I have been able to experience Cardinal Wolsey’s point of view. His hopes, fears, his admissions of his faults and his weaknesses. The reasoning for his passions and actions. Ms. Weir delivers this and so much more.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy Tudor history.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/27/25.
I devour anything Ms Weir writes, and I have read a lot of nonfiction and historical fiction involving English history and the Tudors, but I have not read anything that Wolsey was the heart of the story.
I really, really loved this book. I already knew the “history” and the “story from the other guys”, but this is the first time I have been able to experience Cardinal Wolsey’s point of view. His hopes, fears, his admissions of his faults and his weaknesses. The reasoning for his passions and actions. Ms. Weir delivers this and so much more.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy Tudor history.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/27/25.
May 16, 2025
I have read a ton of historical fiction, Weir, Chadwick, Penman, etc., and am well familiar with Thomas Wolsey as a supporting character, and I was was excited to read this book and thrilled to receive an ARC from NetGalley.
Unfortunately, this book felt more like a textbook than a novel. It felt almost like a love letter to Wolsey and how amazing he was, at least the first half. It was extremely repetitive in prose, using the same phrases over and over again. Wolsey lived at court during Henry the 8ths reign, we know this was a time of high drama and Wolsey was very close to the king. Somehow this book was extremely boring as it just listed out events with no emotion other than Wolsey's fear of Ann Boleyn towards the end, and his unending love for his mistress, his loser son, and Henry himself.
I feel like Weir could have made this fictional account a lot more exciting.
Unfortunately, this book felt more like a textbook than a novel. It felt almost like a love letter to Wolsey and how amazing he was, at least the first half. It was extremely repetitive in prose, using the same phrases over and over again. Wolsey lived at court during Henry the 8ths reign, we know this was a time of high drama and Wolsey was very close to the king. Somehow this book was extremely boring as it just listed out events with no emotion other than Wolsey's fear of Ann Boleyn towards the end, and his unending love for his mistress, his loser son, and Henry himself.
I feel like Weir could have made this fictional account a lot more exciting.
July 30, 2025
Alison Weir, the great Tudor historian and fiction writer, is back with a new take on the era. Her latest novel turns attention away from being monarch-focused and looks at
Thomas Wolsey. From his earliest days as a precocious child through to the disgrace he met when he crossed Henry VIII, Weir develops this piece of fiction that is heavily reliant upon historical truths. A captivating piece that balances entertainment with education for the attentive reader.
Young Thomas Wolsey was the child of a tradesman in Suffolk, but always seemed ahead of his time. He was noticed as a young age and given the shocking chance to study at Oxford when he was barely eleven. This began years of study and dedication to pave a pathway to success, with a sprinkling of power.
Wolsey became a priest at a young age and rose through the ranks of the Church. His dedication to ecclesiastical methods were stopped only when he felt the rules did not work in his favour. Wolsey used his position to tip the scales of politics as best as possible, soon working within the court of the monarch, while beginning a secret family of his own.
Wolsey kept ascending and was soon in the ear of Henry VIII, a philanderer and fickle man whose eye was always wandering. After Henry sought to dissolve his marriage to Katherine of Aragon, he turned to Wolsey for help. Now a cardinal, Thomas
Wolsey was tasked with helping get an annulment for a marriage Henry did not want. However, Church politics would be too much for Wolsey, whose failure left him disgraced and an enemy to the king. What follows is a tense culmination of a
man’s life and glory. Alison Weir delivers a stunning piece that shines a light on a man who has long remained in the background.
I have long enjoyed the work of Alison Weir, who always gets to the heart of the matter with ease.
The narrative flows well and is highly influenced by historical documentation. As events become more tense, there is an obvious turn in the narrative. Characters flavour the story effectively, keeping the reader hooked as they seek a better understanding of the major players. Plot points are impactful, but history prevents too many surprises, forcing Alison Weir to craft things to keep from becoming too predictable. I am eager to see what’s next for Weir and how she will spin things once again.
Kudos, Madam Weir, for another entertaining read!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 8, 2025
I’ve had a Wolf Hall-sized hole in my heart for months and I hoped this would at least attempt to fill it. Alas, no.
I think this would’ve been better off as a proper non-fiction biography rather than a fictionalized account. The prose was choppy, the dialogue was stilted, and the characterization of the titular character was childish.
Thank you to the publisher c/o NetGalley for this free ebook for my honest review.
I think this would’ve been better off as a proper non-fiction biography rather than a fictionalized account. The prose was choppy, the dialogue was stilted, and the characterization of the titular character was childish.
Thank you to the publisher c/o NetGalley for this free ebook for my honest review.
June 20, 2025
DNF.
I gave up after 100 pages. I would have thrown in the towel earlier, but for the fact that I have read and enjoyed several of Alison Weir's other books. This one is not in the same league.
The characters are all two dimensional and the dialogue is appalling. At times it reads like a very bad romance novel.
The writing is dreadful and the whole thing is so DULL. I find it hard to believe that this was written by the same person as the earlier books.
I gave up after 100 pages. I would have thrown in the towel earlier, but for the fact that I have read and enjoyed several of Alison Weir's other books. This one is not in the same league.
The characters are all two dimensional and the dialogue is appalling. At times it reads like a very bad romance novel.
The writing is dreadful and the whole thing is so DULL. I find it hard to believe that this was written by the same person as the earlier books.
May 16, 2025
I read a lot of historical fiction, including much about the Tudor dynasty and most of Alison Weir’s novels, so I was very excited for this one. (Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!) Unfortunately, it fell short for me. It read more like a non-fiction biography, with little intrigue or emotion. What is put forth of Wolsey’s personality is superficial, contradictory, and highly unlikable. It is a nice summary of the first 20 years of Henry VIII’s reign, but I don’t feel like I learned anything new or have any understanding of the true motivations, beliefs, or passions of Cardinal Wolsey.
March 14, 2025
I loved this book so much. If you have ever watched The Tudors, then you will like this book it hits on the Cardinals story and with the show I can picture it all. I loved seeing how the Cardinal started out and how everything happened. He played such a big role in England at the time and to have a story based on him and not Henry and his wives' is amazing. If you like history and are interested in the Tudor rule this is a good book to read.
June 7, 2025
Thomas Wolsey is sent to Oxford by his uncle to be educated as a clergyman, and because of his intelligence he quickly stands out there. He makes a rapid rise and ends up at Court where he eventually serves the young Henry VIII – although the other nobles look down on him because of his lowly birth. Wolsey has his own views on European politics and the future of England and tries to support Henry as much as he can – even when the king starts asking for things he doesn’t agree with. Meanwhile, he falls in love with Joan. A forbidden love and so he must hide Joan from the outside world.
This time, Alison Weir writes a book about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Henry VIII’s first chief advisor and perhaps the most important of all – because a young Henry was still easy to influence. I must admit that Wolsey is by no means my favorite Tudor character. I find him not easy to understand, a bit boring and at times quite tiresome. He can’t seem to make decisions and is a shrewd politician and cleric. Still, I thought the first part of ‘The cardinal‘ was okay. We read about the young Wolsey, his rise to court and his love for Joan.
But then it all begins to become so dull and familiar. The difficult political tensions between England, France and Spain. The field of the cloth of gold. Bessie Blount. And finally Anne Boleyn and The Great Matter.
The Great Matter that drags on and on – yes, it was the case in reality also but in this novel it’s such an essential and big part of the story as Wolsey is quite involved. But I didn’t learn anything new about it. The Boleyns are again demonized. Weir does this always and I can understand it from Wolsey’s viewpoint but it was too much, especially his constant referring to Anne as the night crow. And then there is Wolsey’s downfall, which also really drags on – and Henry’s motives never become clear.
In this novel, Weir again employs such a dry narrative style so that it feels more like a biography than a novel. What really drives Wolsey, other than his sexual lust for Joan? No idea. How does Henry feel about Wolsey? Also no idea. Why is Cromwell loyal to him? No idea because Cromwell appears so little in the book that we don’t see them building a relationship. There is just the description of facts, no interpretation.
In 500 pages, Weir could have fleshed out so much more and taken a stand here and there to spice up the story. But like Wolsey, taking a stand proves no easy task.
Alison Weir and I: it remains a love hate relationship as it turns out. I prefer her six queens series I believe. I hope she’ll move on to another era or subject now, as she has written about Henry VIII from so many different perspectives that there’s not much new anymore to tell.
It’s not my favourite Alison Weir book, but if you want to learn more about Thomas Wolsey, this is a good start.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
Thomas Wolsey wordt door zijn oom naar Oxford gestuurd voor een opleiding tot geestelijke en door zijn intelligentie valt hij daar al snel op. Hij maakt dan ook een snelle opgang en komt zo aan het Hof terecht waar hij uiteindelijk de jonge Henry VIII gaat dienen. Wolsey heeft zo zijn eigen kijk op de Europese politiek en de toekomst van Engeland en probeert Henry zoveel mogelijk te ondersteunen. Ondertussen wordt hij verliefd op Joan. Een verboden liefde en dus moet hij Joan verstoppen voor de buitenwereld.
Alison Weir schrijft deze keer een boek over Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Henry VIII's eerste adviseur en misschien wel de belangrijkste van allemaal - want een jonge Henry was nog wel te beïnvloeden. Ik moet toegeven dat Wolsey absoluut niet mijn favoriete Tudorpersonage is. Ik vind hem noch vis, noch vlees en met momenten best vermoeiend (neem nu eens een beslissing). Ik vond het eerste deel van het boek nog oké. We lezen over de jonge Wolsey, zijn opmars aan het hof en zijn liefde voor Joan.
Maar dan begint het allemaal zo saai en bekend te worden. De moeilijke politieke spanningen tussen Engeland, Frankrijk en Spanje. The field of the cloth of gold. Bessie Blount. En uiteindelijk Anne Boleyn en The Great Matter.
Die Great Matter dat sleept aan en aan. De Boleyns worden gedemoniseerd. Met Anne 'als nachtkraai'. En dan is er nog Wolsey's downfall, die ook echt aansleept zeg. Weir schrijft een boek van bijna 500 pagina's, maar dat kon makkelijker met minder.
In dit boek hanteert Weir weer zo'n droge vertelstijl dat het eerder aanvoelt als een biografie dan een roman. War drijft Wolsey nu echt, behalve zijn seksuele lust voor Joan? Geen idee. Hoe denkt Henry over Wolsey? Ook geen idee. Waarom is Cromwell hem trouw? Geen idee want Cromwell komt zo weinig in het boek voor dat we hen geen relatie zien opbouwen.
Op 500 pagina's had Weir zoveel meer kunnen uitwerken en hier en daar een standpunt kunnen innemen om het verhaal wat meer pit te geven. Maar net als Wolsey zelf blijkt een standpunt innemen niet gemakkelijk.
Alison Weir en ik: het blijft een love hate relationship zo blijkt. Geef mij dan toch maar haar six queens serie. En wat mij betreft mag ze nu over een ander tijdperk gaan schrijven, want haar Henry VIII heb ik nu wel gezien ofzo.
Bedankt aan Netgalley en de uitgever voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.
This time, Alison Weir writes a book about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Henry VIII’s first chief advisor and perhaps the most important of all – because a young Henry was still easy to influence. I must admit that Wolsey is by no means my favorite Tudor character. I find him not easy to understand, a bit boring and at times quite tiresome. He can’t seem to make decisions and is a shrewd politician and cleric. Still, I thought the first part of ‘The cardinal‘ was okay. We read about the young Wolsey, his rise to court and his love for Joan.
But then it all begins to become so dull and familiar. The difficult political tensions between England, France and Spain. The field of the cloth of gold. Bessie Blount. And finally Anne Boleyn and The Great Matter.
The Great Matter that drags on and on – yes, it was the case in reality also but in this novel it’s such an essential and big part of the story as Wolsey is quite involved. But I didn’t learn anything new about it. The Boleyns are again demonized. Weir does this always and I can understand it from Wolsey’s viewpoint but it was too much, especially his constant referring to Anne as the night crow. And then there is Wolsey’s downfall, which also really drags on – and Henry’s motives never become clear.
In this novel, Weir again employs such a dry narrative style so that it feels more like a biography than a novel. What really drives Wolsey, other than his sexual lust for Joan? No idea. How does Henry feel about Wolsey? Also no idea. Why is Cromwell loyal to him? No idea because Cromwell appears so little in the book that we don’t see them building a relationship. There is just the description of facts, no interpretation.
In 500 pages, Weir could have fleshed out so much more and taken a stand here and there to spice up the story. But like Wolsey, taking a stand proves no easy task.
Alison Weir and I: it remains a love hate relationship as it turns out. I prefer her six queens series I believe. I hope she’ll move on to another era or subject now, as she has written about Henry VIII from so many different perspectives that there’s not much new anymore to tell.
It’s not my favourite Alison Weir book, but if you want to learn more about Thomas Wolsey, this is a good start.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
Thomas Wolsey wordt door zijn oom naar Oxford gestuurd voor een opleiding tot geestelijke en door zijn intelligentie valt hij daar al snel op. Hij maakt dan ook een snelle opgang en komt zo aan het Hof terecht waar hij uiteindelijk de jonge Henry VIII gaat dienen. Wolsey heeft zo zijn eigen kijk op de Europese politiek en de toekomst van Engeland en probeert Henry zoveel mogelijk te ondersteunen. Ondertussen wordt hij verliefd op Joan. Een verboden liefde en dus moet hij Joan verstoppen voor de buitenwereld.
Alison Weir schrijft deze keer een boek over Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Henry VIII's eerste adviseur en misschien wel de belangrijkste van allemaal - want een jonge Henry was nog wel te beïnvloeden. Ik moet toegeven dat Wolsey absoluut niet mijn favoriete Tudorpersonage is. Ik vind hem noch vis, noch vlees en met momenten best vermoeiend (neem nu eens een beslissing). Ik vond het eerste deel van het boek nog oké. We lezen over de jonge Wolsey, zijn opmars aan het hof en zijn liefde voor Joan.
Maar dan begint het allemaal zo saai en bekend te worden. De moeilijke politieke spanningen tussen Engeland, Frankrijk en Spanje. The field of the cloth of gold. Bessie Blount. En uiteindelijk Anne Boleyn en The Great Matter.
Die Great Matter dat sleept aan en aan. De Boleyns worden gedemoniseerd. Met Anne 'als nachtkraai'. En dan is er nog Wolsey's downfall, die ook echt aansleept zeg. Weir schrijft een boek van bijna 500 pagina's, maar dat kon makkelijker met minder.
In dit boek hanteert Weir weer zo'n droge vertelstijl dat het eerder aanvoelt als een biografie dan een roman. War drijft Wolsey nu echt, behalve zijn seksuele lust voor Joan? Geen idee. Hoe denkt Henry over Wolsey? Ook geen idee. Waarom is Cromwell hem trouw? Geen idee want Cromwell komt zo weinig in het boek voor dat we hen geen relatie zien opbouwen.
Op 500 pagina's had Weir zoveel meer kunnen uitwerken en hier en daar een standpunt kunnen innemen om het verhaal wat meer pit te geven. Maar net als Wolsey zelf blijkt een standpunt innemen niet gemakkelijk.
Alison Weir en ik: het blijft een love hate relationship zo blijkt. Geef mij dan toch maar haar six queens serie. En wat mij betreft mag ze nu over een ander tijdperk gaan schrijven, want haar Henry VIII heb ik nu wel gezien ofzo.
Bedankt aan Netgalley en de uitgever voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.
May 31, 2025
Here's a quick review while I do some more thinking.
I'm a Tudor-addict; it's such a cliche, but there you are. So, I've read all of Alison Weir's books on each of Henry VIII's wives, and this sounded potentially more intriguing - Wolsey isn't someone I know a lot about if I'm honest!
It was really hard not to be constantly comparing this to Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, which also takes a lesser known part of the well-known Tudor saga and concentrates on a historical figure who some people have lots of opinions about.
I think the comparison was what ruined it for me. Weir's writing just isn't up to parr with Mantel's - and that's unsurprising, even just looking at their output! Weir has written SO much about this period, both non-fiction and fiction, but her fiction is usually closely based on fact. She DOES do her research! But, reading the Afterward, I was disappointed (although not that surprised) to find she had changed/invented a great deal to serve her Plot. I guess I wanted a book more about Character.
It's a slow read, mostly because of the sheer scale of the book; it covers Wolsey's entire life (he lived to be 59, I believe) and A LOT happened in those six decades. So, it's dense. Very dense - not necessarily a bad thing. But the pacing was uneven; sometimes it felt like it was dragging, and I believe one of the important things about writing historical fiction is knowing when not to put in all the details that you've meticulously researched, because - at the end of the day - they can get in the way of the overall enjoyment of reading.
However, at the same time as being too saturated with historical details there were some really glaring anachronisms, particularly in characters' speech, that jarred with me. In the Afterward, she said she had modernised the language, but she needed to be consistent with how modern it was.
Still, it was a pretty good read. I really empathised with Wolsey, particularly towards the end of his life when he was living in accordance with the religious views that supposedly devoted his life towards. And his relationship with 'Harry' (Henry VIII) was really very touching. That was believable - although it was supposition, it made sense that Wolsey looked on him as a son.
Altogether mixed feelings - which is how I always feel about Weir's writing, yet I keep coming back to it, so that says something I suppose!
I'm a Tudor-addict; it's such a cliche, but there you are. So, I've read all of Alison Weir's books on each of Henry VIII's wives, and this sounded potentially more intriguing - Wolsey isn't someone I know a lot about if I'm honest!
It was really hard not to be constantly comparing this to Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, which also takes a lesser known part of the well-known Tudor saga and concentrates on a historical figure who some people have lots of opinions about.
I think the comparison was what ruined it for me. Weir's writing just isn't up to parr with Mantel's - and that's unsurprising, even just looking at their output! Weir has written SO much about this period, both non-fiction and fiction, but her fiction is usually closely based on fact. She DOES do her research! But, reading the Afterward, I was disappointed (although not that surprised) to find she had changed/invented a great deal to serve her Plot. I guess I wanted a book more about Character.
It's a slow read, mostly because of the sheer scale of the book; it covers Wolsey's entire life (he lived to be 59, I believe) and A LOT happened in those six decades. So, it's dense. Very dense - not necessarily a bad thing. But the pacing was uneven; sometimes it felt like it was dragging, and I believe one of the important things about writing historical fiction is knowing when not to put in all the details that you've meticulously researched, because - at the end of the day - they can get in the way of the overall enjoyment of reading.
However, at the same time as being too saturated with historical details there were some really glaring anachronisms, particularly in characters' speech, that jarred with me. In the Afterward, she said she had modernised the language, but she needed to be consistent with how modern it was.
Still, it was a pretty good read. I really empathised with Wolsey, particularly towards the end of his life when he was living in accordance with the religious views that supposedly devoted his life towards. And his relationship with 'Harry' (Henry VIII) was really very touching. That was believable - although it was supposition, it made sense that Wolsey looked on him as a son.
Altogether mixed feelings - which is how I always feel about Weir's writing, yet I keep coming back to it, so that says something I suppose!
June 5, 2025
In a market crowded with Tudor fiction, it’s difficult to find something new and different. This novel about Cardinal Wolsey – although maybe not the only one to be written about him – at least gives us the perspective of a prominent Tudor figure other than Henry VIII and his six wives. As with Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell novels, the focus is on politics, the forging and breaking of alliances with foreign powers, rivalries within the King’s inner circle and, above all, the rise and fall of a clever, ambitious man. We are also given some insight into Wolsey’s personal life as he is forced to choose between his career and the woman he loves.
The Cardinal covers Thomas Wolsey’s entire life, beginning with his childhood in Suffolk. Thomas – or Tom as he is known throughout the book – is the son of a yeoman farmer who also owns an inn and a butcher’s shop. However, Tom proves to be academically gifted from an early age, so instead of going into one of the family businesses he is sent to study at Oxford. At only eleven years old, he is much younger than the other students and is expected to have a bright future. Nobody could have predicted just how bright, as after making the decision to enter the church, Tom catches the eye of several influential patrons and rapidly gains wealth and power, becoming a trusted friend and adviser of first Henry VII, then Henry VIII.
Wolsey’s positions include Lord Chancellor, Bishop of York, cardinal and papal legate, and he begins to construct for himself a magnificent palace, Hampton Court. Needless to say, he quickly incurs the jealousy and resentment of other courtiers and Weir shows us how he systematically goes about bringing down his enemies and ensuring that he remains closer to the King than anyone else. Eventually he meets his match in Anne Boleyn, who has reasons of her own to dislike him. Anne is very much the villain in this book, which seems to be the case in most of Weir’s Tudor novels, probably due to the perspectives from which they’re written. Anne Boleyn, a King’s Obsession gives a more nuanced portrayal.
I loved the first half of the book, dealing with Wolsey’s early life and career, as there was a lot of material here that I had never read about in much detail before. I was also interested in the character of Joan Larke, the woman with whom Tom falls in love just as he’s beginning his rise to power. His position in the church makes it impossible for them to live together openly and he is forced to watch as she marries another man, unable to acknowledge the children he has had with her. I couldn’t feel too sorry for him, though, because he could have given up his career for her and chose not to. My sympathies were more with Joan (who would probably make a good subject for a novel in her own right, even if a lot would have to be invented as factual information on her seems quite limited).
The second half of the book is mainly devoted to Henry VIII’s Great Matter – his attempts to divorce Katherine of Aragon so that he can marry Anne Boleyn. Having already read about this several times in Weir’s other novels, from the perspectives of Katherine, Anne, Henry and Mary I, I didn’t really feel the need to read about it again so this part of the book dragged a little bit for me. Apart from that, I did enjoy The Cardinal and its portrayal of Thomas Wolsey. I’ll be interested to see which Tudor figure Alison Weir writes about next – or whether she’ll move away from that period and do something different.
The Cardinal covers Thomas Wolsey’s entire life, beginning with his childhood in Suffolk. Thomas – or Tom as he is known throughout the book – is the son of a yeoman farmer who also owns an inn and a butcher’s shop. However, Tom proves to be academically gifted from an early age, so instead of going into one of the family businesses he is sent to study at Oxford. At only eleven years old, he is much younger than the other students and is expected to have a bright future. Nobody could have predicted just how bright, as after making the decision to enter the church, Tom catches the eye of several influential patrons and rapidly gains wealth and power, becoming a trusted friend and adviser of first Henry VII, then Henry VIII.
Wolsey’s positions include Lord Chancellor, Bishop of York, cardinal and papal legate, and he begins to construct for himself a magnificent palace, Hampton Court. Needless to say, he quickly incurs the jealousy and resentment of other courtiers and Weir shows us how he systematically goes about bringing down his enemies and ensuring that he remains closer to the King than anyone else. Eventually he meets his match in Anne Boleyn, who has reasons of her own to dislike him. Anne is very much the villain in this book, which seems to be the case in most of Weir’s Tudor novels, probably due to the perspectives from which they’re written. Anne Boleyn, a King’s Obsession gives a more nuanced portrayal.
I loved the first half of the book, dealing with Wolsey’s early life and career, as there was a lot of material here that I had never read about in much detail before. I was also interested in the character of Joan Larke, the woman with whom Tom falls in love just as he’s beginning his rise to power. His position in the church makes it impossible for them to live together openly and he is forced to watch as she marries another man, unable to acknowledge the children he has had with her. I couldn’t feel too sorry for him, though, because he could have given up his career for her and chose not to. My sympathies were more with Joan (who would probably make a good subject for a novel in her own right, even if a lot would have to be invented as factual information on her seems quite limited).
The second half of the book is mainly devoted to Henry VIII’s Great Matter – his attempts to divorce Katherine of Aragon so that he can marry Anne Boleyn. Having already read about this several times in Weir’s other novels, from the perspectives of Katherine, Anne, Henry and Mary I, I didn’t really feel the need to read about it again so this part of the book dragged a little bit for me. Apart from that, I did enjoy The Cardinal and its portrayal of Thomas Wolsey. I’ll be interested to see which Tudor figure Alison Weir writes about next – or whether she’ll move away from that period and do something different.
June 5, 2025
It’s been 15 years since I’ve read a book by Alison Weir, I loved a few of hers then the last one I read wasn’t a good fit for me so I took a long break but thought it was time I tried again. I’m glad I did because this was a very interesting look into the life of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and his close relationship with King Henry VIII. It’s a hefty read at 464 pages but once I became invested, about 15% in, it flew by.
I did a combo of digital and audio, enjoying both equally. If you like historical fiction set in the Tudor time period I think this would be a good one to try out.
Thanks to Ballentine Books and Recorded books for the arc and alc via Netgalley.
𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁: 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 & 𝗘𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.75
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟳
I did a combo of digital and audio, enjoying both equally. If you like historical fiction set in the Tudor time period I think this would be a good one to try out.
Thanks to Ballentine Books and Recorded books for the arc and alc via Netgalley.
𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁: 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 & 𝗘𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.75
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟳
May 26, 2025
For whatever reason, I’ve been obsessed with the Tudor era for years and years. I’m so fascinated with everything King Henry VIII and love reading all of the historical fictions that are out there with POVs of everyone around him during that time.
I’ve found Alison Weir’s novels to be particularly well written and as she’s a historian, I feel hers are probably closest to being accurate so whenever a new Tudor book of hers comes out, I have to read it as soon as I can.
In The Cardinal, Weir tells the story from Thomas Wolsey’s POV and I found it absolutely enthralling and couldn’t get enough.
Everything I’ve ever seen of Wolsey is from his time at Henry’s side, but I had no idea how he rose to such power or what his humble beginnings were like.
Also within The Cardinal, Weir tells Wolsey’s love story with his beloved Joan, who he had a couple of children with.
I’ll definitely be waiting for whatever Tudor novel Weir comes out with next.
*Thank you so much to partner Random House Ballantine and to NetGalley for the gifted eARC!*
I’ve found Alison Weir’s novels to be particularly well written and as she’s a historian, I feel hers are probably closest to being accurate so whenever a new Tudor book of hers comes out, I have to read it as soon as I can.
In The Cardinal, Weir tells the story from Thomas Wolsey’s POV and I found it absolutely enthralling and couldn’t get enough.
Everything I’ve ever seen of Wolsey is from his time at Henry’s side, but I had no idea how he rose to such power or what his humble beginnings were like.
Also within The Cardinal, Weir tells Wolsey’s love story with his beloved Joan, who he had a couple of children with.
I’ll definitely be waiting for whatever Tudor novel Weir comes out with next.
*Thank you so much to partner Random House Ballantine and to NetGalley for the gifted eARC!*
August 6, 2025
I've read every book by Alison Weir...non fiction and historical fiction. This book did not have the same tone as her previous works...seemed very elementary. Also very repetitive and not very exciting. Maybe I've read all I need to on the Tudor era at this point.
June 24, 2025
The Cardinal is everything a Tudor fanatic could ever want in a book about Henry VIII’s court.
I’ve never read a story from his point of view and I was so excited when I saw this was coming out. To be sure, I grabbed my copy as soon as I could and just devoured it whole.
Look, all my knowledge of the Cardinal came from other points of view and never delved into his story. Weir did him justice in this novel and taught me new things about him. Of course we all know that he was a greedy gaudy man who couldn’t stop himself once he started to rise high in the kings favor, but I never thought of him as “loving” Henry like his own son.
But seriously folks, why in the world did everyone that pissed off the king always apologize right before they died? Maybe if someone would have went out in a blaze of glory and told Henry off at their death he wouldn’t have been such a spoiled brat…but I digress…
I really liked learning about the love of his life and his illegitimate children. I also like how he started to find peace at the end. Based on my past readings I didn’t realize how much time lapsed between the end of the tribunal and his death. I always thought they happened fairly close together.
Anyways, if you loved Weir’s other books, then you’ll love this one too! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I’ve never read a story from his point of view and I was so excited when I saw this was coming out. To be sure, I grabbed my copy as soon as I could and just devoured it whole.
Look, all my knowledge of the Cardinal came from other points of view and never delved into his story. Weir did him justice in this novel and taught me new things about him. Of course we all know that he was a greedy gaudy man who couldn’t stop himself once he started to rise high in the kings favor, but I never thought of him as “loving” Henry like his own son.
But seriously folks, why in the world did everyone that pissed off the king always apologize right before they died? Maybe if someone would have went out in a blaze of glory and told Henry off at their death he wouldn’t have been such a spoiled brat…but I digress…
I really liked learning about the love of his life and his illegitimate children. I also like how he started to find peace at the end. Based on my past readings I didn’t realize how much time lapsed between the end of the tribunal and his death. I always thought they happened fairly close together.
Anyways, if you loved Weir’s other books, then you’ll love this one too! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
May 11, 2025
[NetGalley Read #28]
4.5 ⭐️
"What he wanted was power—and everything that went with it."
William Faulkner's "the only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself" fits perfectly here.
A story of power, love, war with France, religion, politics, peace with France, heartbreak, war with France again!, right, and wrong with one conflicted man at the center of it all: Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. It depcits the rise and fall of an Innkeeper's son who rose too high in a world of royalty that wanted nothing to do with... well, an innkeeper's son.
It's like 'There Will be Blood' set in 1500s England. There are similar themes of the want for power, station, and more and even more power until you've overreached, and now you have to take the inevitable fall.
It's a long (400+ pages) and slow paced book divided into 6 parts. Really well written. The architectural descriptions are almost as good as George R. R. Martin's food descriptions.
Part ONE felt a bit disjointed like we were hurrying up in the story to reach the part where Thomas became a priest.
Part TWO felt a bit repetitive.
Part THREE to SIX are really well written. The conflict, the moral dilemma, giving up love for power, the rise, and then the inevitable fall.
Don't Google/Wikipedia any of the characters before/during reading if you don't know anything of the historical events that take place in these books. It would be better to read the story as it unfolds. And even if you're familiar with history and you know what's going to happen, it's still a good fictionalized version that's worthy of a read.
Recommended (if you're okay with the slightly slow paced nature of the story). 👍
4.5 ⭐️
"What he wanted was power—and everything that went with it."
William Faulkner's "the only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself" fits perfectly here.
A story of power, love, war with France, religion, politics, peace with France, heartbreak, war with France again!, right, and wrong with one conflicted man at the center of it all: Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. It depcits the rise and fall of an Innkeeper's son who rose too high in a world of royalty that wanted nothing to do with... well, an innkeeper's son.
It's like 'There Will be Blood' set in 1500s England. There are similar themes of the want for power, station, and more and even more power until you've overreached, and now you have to take the inevitable fall.
It's a long (400+ pages) and slow paced book divided into 6 parts. Really well written. The architectural descriptions are almost as good as George R. R. Martin's food descriptions.
Part ONE felt a bit disjointed like we were hurrying up in the story to reach the part where Thomas became a priest.
Part TWO felt a bit repetitive.
Part THREE to SIX are really well written. The conflict, the moral dilemma, giving up love for power, the rise, and then the inevitable fall.
Don't Google/Wikipedia any of the characters before/during reading if you don't know anything of the historical events that take place in these books. It would be better to read the story as it unfolds. And even if you're familiar with history and you know what's going to happen, it's still a good fictionalized version that's worthy of a read.
Recommended (if you're okay with the slightly slow paced nature of the story). 👍
June 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy of The Cardinal by Alison Weir. All opinions are my own.
This comprehensive historical fiction novel is the story of the rise and fall of Thomas Wolsey a priest and eventual archbishop and close adviser to Henry VIII. The detailed and clearly well researched story follows Thomas’ life from birth in 1471 to his death in 1530. I had some difficulty keeping track of the many characters around the royal court during this time. I found Thomas’ love affair and subsequent children with Joan Larke most compelling. As well as when Anne Boleyn enters the story and makes Thomas her sworn enemy. I enjoyed the intense drama when I assumed he would be poisoned or sent to the guillotine, due to her conniving, at any time.
There’s definitely a lot to learn from reading this book and no shortage of drama surrounding Henry VIII and all of the gossip and back stabbing around him. I would recommend this book to historical fiction fans of this time period who aren’t intimidated by the dense text. 3/5⭐️
This comprehensive historical fiction novel is the story of the rise and fall of Thomas Wolsey a priest and eventual archbishop and close adviser to Henry VIII. The detailed and clearly well researched story follows Thomas’ life from birth in 1471 to his death in 1530. I had some difficulty keeping track of the many characters around the royal court during this time. I found Thomas’ love affair and subsequent children with Joan Larke most compelling. As well as when Anne Boleyn enters the story and makes Thomas her sworn enemy. I enjoyed the intense drama when I assumed he would be poisoned or sent to the guillotine, due to her conniving, at any time.
There’s definitely a lot to learn from reading this book and no shortage of drama surrounding Henry VIII and all of the gossip and back stabbing around him. I would recommend this book to historical fiction fans of this time period who aren’t intimidated by the dense text. 3/5⭐️
August 5, 2025
Listen, I’m an Anne Boleyn girlie through and through, so me and Wolsey? Yeah… it’s complicated.
Alison Weir’s The Cardinal dives deep into the life of Thomas Wolsey — the butcher’s boy turned Church bigwig, turned royal right-hand, turned cautionary tale. Set against the chaos and drama of Henry VIII’s court, it follows Wolsey’s sky-high rise and eventual crash landing, courtesy of palace politics, shifting allegiances, and a certain king’s impossible demands.
But here’s where I started side-eyeing: Weir paints Wolsey with some unexpectedly Protestant shades. Which, huh? The man was the Catholic of Catholics — ambition laser-focused on the Papacy. (Fun fact: he’s the last Englishman to ever seriously gun for that holy throne.) Protestant leanings? In this economy? That bit didn’t sit right.
And then there’s the whole star-crossed lovers subplot between Wolsey and Joan Larke. Yes, historically, they had a thing. Kids were involved. But the book leans Romeo and Juliet, when in reality, Wolsey was giving more “plays-the-field priest” than tragic romantic. Joan, sadly, doesn’t get much character beyond being his emotional sounding board. One minute she’s relieved to give up a child, the next she’s devastated to lose another — it’s inconsistent, and frankly, it weakens both their stories.
The real issue? Weir’s fictional liberties take up a lot of space. She says she’s cautious with speculation, but the romantic drama ends up being a major plotline. Instead of filling in historical gaps, it feels like a rewrite — softening Wolsey into something more sympathetic, sure, but also less real. His actual contradictions were already juicy enough.
That said, The Cardinal still shines as a sweeping tale of Tudor power games. It captures how even the mightiest can fall hard — especially when they’re chasing crowns and popes and favor from fickle kings. If you're new to Tudor drama, there's a lot to enjoy here. But if you’re in it for historical nuance, the blend of fact and fancy might leave you wanting more.
In the end, Weir gives us a novel caught between two worlds: part rigorous history, part historical fanfic. You’ll come away informed, maybe even entertained — but rarely swept off your feet.
Alison Weir’s The Cardinal dives deep into the life of Thomas Wolsey — the butcher’s boy turned Church bigwig, turned royal right-hand, turned cautionary tale. Set against the chaos and drama of Henry VIII’s court, it follows Wolsey’s sky-high rise and eventual crash landing, courtesy of palace politics, shifting allegiances, and a certain king’s impossible demands.
But here’s where I started side-eyeing: Weir paints Wolsey with some unexpectedly Protestant shades. Which, huh? The man was the Catholic of Catholics — ambition laser-focused on the Papacy. (Fun fact: he’s the last Englishman to ever seriously gun for that holy throne.) Protestant leanings? In this economy? That bit didn’t sit right.
And then there’s the whole star-crossed lovers subplot between Wolsey and Joan Larke. Yes, historically, they had a thing. Kids were involved. But the book leans Romeo and Juliet, when in reality, Wolsey was giving more “plays-the-field priest” than tragic romantic. Joan, sadly, doesn’t get much character beyond being his emotional sounding board. One minute she’s relieved to give up a child, the next she’s devastated to lose another — it’s inconsistent, and frankly, it weakens both their stories.
The real issue? Weir’s fictional liberties take up a lot of space. She says she’s cautious with speculation, but the romantic drama ends up being a major plotline. Instead of filling in historical gaps, it feels like a rewrite — softening Wolsey into something more sympathetic, sure, but also less real. His actual contradictions were already juicy enough.
That said, The Cardinal still shines as a sweeping tale of Tudor power games. It captures how even the mightiest can fall hard — especially when they’re chasing crowns and popes and favor from fickle kings. If you're new to Tudor drama, there's a lot to enjoy here. But if you’re in it for historical nuance, the blend of fact and fancy might leave you wanting more.
In the end, Weir gives us a novel caught between two worlds: part rigorous history, part historical fanfic. You’ll come away informed, maybe even entertained — but rarely swept off your feet.
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