But what about some historical fiction that shows the true, gritty (and often just disgustingly filthy) life that thousands of ordinary people lived? In the historical fiction section at your local bookshop, you can’t move for novels about the Tudor Court, complete with glamorous masques a-plenty and more jousts than you can shake a stick at. (This is a guest post by Claire Miles of The Hisdoryan. Follow Shardlake into the dark heart of Tudor England with the bestselling Dark Fire, Sovereign, Revelation, Heartstone, Lamentation and Tombland.There are affiliate links in this post. Sansom creates both a stunning portrait of Tudor England, and an unforgettable character in Matthew Shardlake. ĭissolution is the first book in this bestselling phenomenon, where C. But Shardlake's investigation soon forces him to question everything he hears, and everything that he intrinsically believes. His horrific murder is accompanied by equally sinister acts of sacrilege - a black cockerel sacrificed on the altar, and the disappearance of Scarnsea's Great Relic.ĭr Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of Reform, has been sent by Cromwell into this atmosphere of treachery and death.

Cromwell's Commissioner Robin Singleton, has been found dead, his head severed from his body. There can only be one outcome: the monasteries are to be dissolved.īut on the Sussex coast, at the monastery of Scarnsea, events have spiralled out of control. Under the order of Thomas Cromwell, a team of commissioners is sent through the country to investigate the monasteries. Sansom.Įngland, 1537: 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. Like Hilary Mantel, he produces densely textured historical novels that absorb their readers in another time’ - Andrew Taylor, Spectatorĭissolution is the first in the phenomenal Shardlake series by bestselling author, C.

‘Sansom has the trick of writing an enthralling narrative. 'When it comes to intriguing Tudor-based narratives, Hilary Mantel has a serious rival' - Sunday Times Sansom's number one bestselling Shardlake series, for fans of Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory. Tudor England is brought to vivid life in C.

Dissolution cj sansom review