Atmospheric, suspenseful, evocative and excitingthese novels are wonderful. Mar 10, 2011 march book club questions dissolution by c. Sansom s most recent book tombland was announced i was inundated with recommendations from fans of his shardlake series as it focuses on the kett rebellions of 1549. Dissolution is the first book from cj sansom in the matthew shardlake series, set. In dissolution, shardlake, who supports religious reform, witnesses the viciousness. Get the audible audio editions of the matthew shardlake series from the. Murders on the grounds of a monastery, 16thcentury intrigue, an unconventional sleuthreaders might wonder if this is a knockoff name of the rose set two centuries later, but sansom s debut is. That shows you how well it is written all the subsequent novels in the matthew shardlake series, as well, by the way.
Henry viii has proclaimed himself supreme head of the church and the country is waking up to savage new laws. Sansom, followed by dark fire, sovereign, revelation, heartstone and lamentation it is 1537, a time of revolution that sees the greatest changes in england since 1066. Jul 16, 2015 sansom has the trick of writing an enthralling narrative. Using historical facts and real persona from the period of dissolution of the english monasteries 15361540, c. Sansom provides readers with a vivid tudor historical mystery. A brilliant lawyer investigates murder in a monastery thats under attack by henry viiis greedy forces of secularism. When a royal commissioner is murdered in the monastery of scarsea, thomas cromwell, henry. What characters from dissolution would you be interested in seeing again in future matthew shardlake mysteries. Dissolution is the first in the phenomenal shardlake series by bestselling author, c. Matthew shardlake, a lawyer operating on the fringes of the rapacious tudor court, has been handed a case that may advance his career but is more likely to sink it. Dissolution 2003 is a historical mystery novel by british author c. Never having read any of this author i decided to begin at the beginning, and find out what the fuss was about. A matthew shardlake tudor mystery matthew shardlake mysteries book 1.
Free download or read online revelation pdf epub matthew shardlake series book. The series main character is the hunchbacked lawyer matthew shardlake, who is assisted in his adventures by mark poer, then jack barak and also nicholas overton. Sansoms writing style or narrative, but it pales in comparison to this classic. Sansom, the internationally bestselling author of the novels winter in madrid and dominion and the matthew shardlake tudor mystery series, earned a ph. Apr 08, 20 a few months ago, i developed a concept of ten essential ingredients for favourite historical fiction. Set in the 16th century during the dissolution of the monasteries, the book follows the lawyer shardlake in his.
It is a political thriller set in the early 1950s against the backdrop of a britain that has become a satellite state of nazi germany. In an age of treachery and turmoil, brutal murder brings the ultimate test of faith. Lawyerdetective matthew shardlake is sent by cromwell to investigate the killing of a kings commissioner at a monastery on the kent coast. Sansom and the second, marked spoiler alert, is my. Shardlake works on commission initially from thomas cromwell in dissolution and dark fire.
Sansom s shardlake series, this is a murder mystery set in 16th century reformationera england. Sansom it is 1537, a time of revolution that sees the greatest changes in england since 1066. The first edition of the novel was published in april 4th 2008, and was written by c. The first in the acclaimed matthew shardlake series and one not to be missed.
Bbc radio 4 15 minute drama, cj sansom dissolution. A thrilling bbc radio 4 fullcast dramatisation based on cj sansom s bestselling tudor crime novel. Id always thought the dissolution of the monasteries would make a great setting for a murder mystery. Set in the 16th century during the dissolution of the monasteries, the book follows the lawyer shardlake in his attempts to solve the. The catholic church in 1536 is being eradicated in britain and the dissolution of the monasteries has begun by 1540 no monasteries would be left. Jun 26, 2012 a friend put me onto c j sansom s books and loaned me 2 and 3 in the shardlake series. Apr 28, 2003 dissolution dissolution is the first book from cj sansom in the matthew shardlake series, set during the reign of king henry viii and his chief minister, thomas cromwell. Sansom chooses to set the investigation against the backdrop of ketts rebellion, a real but littleknown peasants revolt, adding further suspense, danger, and intrigue. He lives in sussex, england, where he is working on further matthew shardlake mysteries. I like to read things in order, so bought the 1st one, dissolution. A red herring is a device used in mysteries to throw the reader off the track of the true perpetrator. Sansom came to prominence with the shardlake series, his historical mystery series set in the reign of henry viii in the 16th century.
That, combined with new laws, rigged trials and general distrust is tearing the nation apart. The bbc have commissioned an adaptation of dissolution with the actor kenneth branagh set to star as shardlake. The book is currently available for purchases at 10% off. Time to test another top author against those ingredients.
Henry viii has declared himself supreme head of the church and instructed his chief minister, thomas cromwell, to dissolve englands religious houses and. Sansom paints a vivid picture of the corruption that plagued england during the reign of henry viii, and the wry, rueful shardlake is a memorable protagonist, a compassionate man committed to. Dissolution is the first in the shardlake historical mysteries by sansom. Sansom, plus links to a book excerpt from dominion and author biography of c. Thomas cromwell, henry viiis feared vicargeneral, crusades against the old church with savage new laws, rigged trials, and a vast network of informers. It is sansom s first published novel, and the first in the matthew shardlake series. Feb 08, 2011 in that the tudors and the stuarts comprise one of my favorite periods in history, i dont know why it has taken me so long to find c. Unfortunately though, the name of the rose was a lot better. J sansoms creation of real brilliance matthew shardlake. Without giving away too much, in tombland, shardlake and his associates are sent by elizabeth to investigate the gruesome murder of a distant boleyn relative in deepest, darkest norfolk. Sansom s use of language is a delight to lovers of fine literature. Jul 16, 2015 dissolution is the first book in this bestselling phenomenon, where c.
A matthew shardlake tudor mystery matthew shardlake mysteries book 1 kindle edition by sansom, c. Sansom s novels feels like watching a gripping movie that engages all the senses including smell, touch, and taste. Sansoms number one bestselling shardlake series, for fans of hilary mantel and philippa gregory. That said, dissolution reminded me an awful lot of the name of the rose. Penguin putnamit is the winter of 1537 and england is divided into those faithful to the catholic church and those loyal to the king and the newly established church of england.
J download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 550 pages and is available in hardcover format. Dissolution is the first in the phenomenal shardlake series by bestselling author c. Dark fire won the 2005 cwa ellis peters historical dagger and sansom was very highly commended in the 2007 cwa dagger in the library award, for the shardlake series. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are matthew shardlake, mark poer. Free download or read online dissolution pdf epub book. A few months ago, i developed a concept of ten essential ingredients for favourite historical fiction. Dissolution matthew shardlake by c j sansom thebookbag. Sansom creates both a stunning portrait of tudor england, and an unforgettable character in matthew shardlake. J sansoms creation of real brilliance matthew shardlake synopsis. However, the books starting with dissolution are set in the time of henry viii and the reform. The country is waking up to savage new laws, rigged trials and the greatest network of informers it has ever seen. The books have been compared to umberto ecos in the name of the rose and i can see why.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 456 pages and is available in paperback format. Pdf revelation book matthew shardlake free download. Sansom s writing style or narrative, but it pales in comparison to this classic. Dominion is a 2012 alternate history novel by british author c. Sansom has the trick of writing an enthralling narrative. Henry viii has ordered the dissolution of the monasteries and englan. The rest of the shardlake books are expected to follow. Dissolution a novel of tudor england book summary and study guide. C j sansom s matthew shardlake novels in chronological order.
Shardlake works on commission initially from thomas cromwell in dissolution and dark fire and then thomas cranmer in sovereign and revelation. The first edition of the novel was published in april 28th 2003, and was written by c. Dissolution dissolution is the first book from cj sansom in the matthew shardlake series, set during the reign of king henry viii and his chief minister, thomas cromwell. Yet still, i could not stop listening to dissolution. The novel is set in 1537, a year where england saw many changes. The novel sparked the bestselling shardlake series, following the sixteenthcentury lawyerdetective. One of britains bestselling historical novelists, c. Aug 26, 2012 that said, dissolution reminded me an awful lot of the name of the rose.
Dissolution concerns the investigation of a murder in a monastery in tudor england, just as the monks world is. Reading order of matthew shardlake series and list of all c. Sansom and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. First time i have read a c j sansom novel, so was not sure if i would get into a book based on fictional story in factual historical times, but even though the story was fictional, and so was the main characters, combined with the real history of the dissolution, and some of the real people such as thomas cromwell, who made an occasional. After working in a variety of jobs, he retrained as a solicitor and practised in sussex, until becoming a fulltime writer. Sansom worked first as a historian and then as a lawyer before combining both in his darkly fascinating novel of monastic murder and politics in his first novel dissolution. Sansom s matthew shardlake mysteries set in tudor england masterfully combine fact e. Download the matthew shardlake audiobook series and listen anywhere, anytime on your iphone, android or windows device. Matthew shardlake, a lawyer operating on the fringes of the rapacious tudor court, has been handed a case. England, where the monasteries have so lately been dissolved, is in the grip of salvation panic, and the flames of hell are looming. It is 1537, a time of revolution that sees the greatest changes in england since 1066. The 1st instalment in the wildly popular matthew shardlake mystery series, now available from vintage canada. Dissolution is the first book in the series, where we meet matthew shardlake, a lawyer and occasional fixer for thomas cromwell. Lawyerdetective matthew shardlake is sent by cromwell to investigate the killing of a kings commissioner at a monastery on.
Dissolution is the first book in this bestselling phenomenon, where c. Sansom was educated at birmingham university, where he took a ba and then a phd in history. Buy dissolution the shardlake series new editcover by sansom, c. This box set contains all four titles from the critically acclaimed and extremely popular historical crime fiction series by c. Everything works in sansom s superb sixth matthew shardlake novel after 2011s heartstone. From the bestselling author of winter in madrid and dominion comes the exciting and elegantly written first novel in the matthew shardlake. Exciting and elegantly written, dissolution is an utterly compelling first novel and a riveting portrayal of tudor england. Set during the reign of tudor monarch henry viii it features heavily on the religious conflict of the period.
Henry viii has proclaimed himself supreme head of the church. Sarah crown talks to cj sansom, the creator of matthew shardlake. Dissolution its 1537 and the kings divorce is, of course, henry viiis, which brought with it the disestablishment of the catholic church in england. Henry viii has proclaimed himself supreme head of the church and the country is waking up to savage new laws, rigged trials and the greatest network of informers ever seen. The year is 1537, and the country is divided between those faithful to the catholic church and those loyal to the king and the newly established church of england.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading dissolution. Like hilary mantel, he produces densely textured historical novels that absorb their readers in another time andrew taylor, spectator. The sixth and to date most recent book from cj sansom featuring lawyer matthew shardlake. Sansom, the first in his series about matthew shardlake. Now, henry and his vicar general, thomas cromwell, having survived the rebellion led by robert aske, are dissolving church properties and adding their wealth to the royal treasury. Sansom, a former solicitor who lives in sussex, is working on a fourth shardlake story and has been consulted on the tv series. Sansom thursday mar 10 2011 by whodunit on tuesday, march 29th, the whodunit mystery book club will be discussing dissolution by c. The point of divergence from actual history is that lord halifax, rather than winston churchill, succeeded neville chamberlain as prime minister in may 1940. Wordies will have more than enough to feed that passion. King henry viii has proclaimed himself as the supreme head of the church.
Apr 27, 2004 exciting and elegantly written, dissolution is an utterly compelling first novel and a riveting portrayal of tudor england. Just send us an email and well put the best up on the site. Mysteries with a sense of place by elizabeth waters, asknypl august 22, 2014. The background is so descriptive it overwhelms the prime theme of a wellwritten whodoneit in spite of interweaving tidbits into the plot. Sansom was educated at birmingham university, where he took a ba and then a ph. It is sansoms first published novel, and the first in the matthew shardlake series. Follow shardlake into the dark heart of tudor england with the bestselling dark fire, sovereign, revelation, heartstone, lamentation and tombland. A bbc commission of an adaptation of the first sansom novel, dissolution, is expected to be followed by more of the shardlake books. Dissolution is the first in the series featuring matthew shardlake, a lawyer and member of thomas cromwells inner circle. Shardlake is asked by henrys sixth wife queen catherine parr to investigate the theft of a book from her apartments in the palace. The point of divergence from actual history is that lord halifax, rather than winston churchill, succeeded neville chamberlain as prime.
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