The Cardinal’s Daughter

by Alison Weir

In this powerful Tudor short story, Sunday Times bestselling novelist Alison Weir reimagines the life of the secret love child of Cardinal Wolsey.

Few can claim to be a cardinal's daughter, but I can . . .

Dorothy Clausey grows up in the splendid shadow of Worcester Cathedral, raised by loving parents she believes to be her own. But soon after her eighteenth birthday, Dorothy learns the shocking truth. She is the secret daughter of the great Cardinal Wolsey - King Henry's chief minister and the most powerful subject in the realm.

When rumours swirl that the King will move against Wolsey for treason, Dorothy finds herself in a dangerous position. Heartbroken, she agrees to enter a convent for her own protection.

At Shaftesbury Abbey, Dorothy is torn between her new vocation and the unexpected desires stirring within her. But when the King begins dissolving monasteries, and the young novice nuns are given the choice to stay or leave, Dorothy must decide her true path . . .

READERS LOVE ALISON WEIR

'Weir truly brings history alive'

'I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was able to see the Tudor era through a new lens'

'I've yet to find any other author that captures history quite so well. I always feel like I've slipped in time and I'm privy to some secret historical events'

'Compelling, fascinating, exquisite'

Genres: Historical Fiction, Tudor Period, Fiction

47 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2025

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was short and sweet but a powerful read loved it

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5/5 stars) This is a 47 page short story about the daughter of Thomas, Cardinal Wolsey. The brevity of the story possibly reflects the absence of historical records about Dorothy. Please check the trigger warnings ⚠️

[Helene Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This e-novella by Alison Weir compliments her latest full-length novel, ‘The Cardinal’ – the story of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. This short story focuses on the story of Dorothy Clausey, Wolsey’s daughter, who features briefly in the full-length novel. Dorothy entered the religious life, and this is her story.

This was quite an emotional and powerful read, as we see Dorothy struggling with family ties, then testing her vocation and wondering if the religious life is really for her. She tries to overcome the barriers her own brain and body put up for her and there is one particular section (though I won’t say what, because of spoilers) that just makes you want to weep for her.

We also see the effects of the dissolution of the monasteries and other religious houses on the women who lived in these religious communities and the devastation it wrought on their lives, and the massive changes they then had to cope with. Even in this short story, Dorothy comes across as a fully formed character, though the environment in which she lived, less so, and even less so with the supporting characters, though as this is a short story at only 47 pages, some bits could be expected to be less than fully formed.

This is a great accompaniment to ‘The Cardinal’, offering an insight into the life of someone biologically close to the cardinal but with limited emotional ties. Mapping onto that the uncertainty of the times in which the story takes place makes for an emotional read.

[Peter Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant follow up to the Cardinal. I loved it

[Jessica Stark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was expecting a longer read, but had potential