The Cardinal: A Novel of Love and Power

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In this immersive tale of Tudor intrigue (Publishers Weekly), the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose explores the rise of Thomas Wolsey, who was Henry VIIIs chief adviseruntil the king accused him of treason.

Henry VIIIs beloved cardinal leaps from the page in all his brilliance, complexity, and humanity. Fans of Wolf Hall have a treat in store.Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey enjoyed one of the most meteoric careers in history. His rise from humble beginnings coincided with young Henry VIIIs ascension to the throne in 1509. 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.

Wolsey operated on an international stage and worked hard to broker universal peace. All was going dazzlingly well until Henry fell in love with Anne Boleynthe woman whom Wolsey would one day call the night crowand sought to end his marriage to his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. Swept up in the maelstrom of the Divorce, Wolsey, who had successfully given his master everything he wanted, found himself in an impossible situation. As he drew the ire of the future queen, the cardinal found his privileged life and his relationship with Henry crumbling around him.

Alison Weirs poignant novel tells the story of Wolsey the manhis incredible rise to power and his tragic fall. She delves beyond the splendor and political machinations of the Tudor court to reveal the secrets of Wolseys 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 himand 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.