The sort of person who always finds himself in trouble in a dirty world. But Matthew Shardlake, a genuine believer in the Reformation, is also a genuine believer in truth and justice. The problem is that there was a nasty rebellion a few months ago and the king can't afford a repeat, so everything has to be done 'properly.' Hence Matthew Shardlake, a London lawyer, is sent with a naive young assistant to 'investigate.' What Cromwell really wants is for Matthew to do a quick open-and-shut investigation and declare someone guilty, so Cromwell can begin the process of dissolving the monastery. So when one of the king's men turns up dead, it seems like a perfect opportunity to close the monastery where he was murdered. In practice the King's men went looking for excuses to disband the monasteries, because the king wanted that land. Those that resisted got dissolved and torn down. Initially he did this selectively - monasteries that swore to follow the new 'reformist' rules, including teaching in English instead of Latin, and forswearing their loyalty to Rome, were allowed to continue on, more or less. Monasteries were dissolved, the monks forced into retirement, and all their lands and treasure flowed into the king's coffers. Not so in 1534, when Matthew Shardlake, a clever and and principled lawyer, is dispatched by the king's minister, Thomas Cromwell, to investigate the murder of one of his men at a monastery.Īfter Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and formed the Church of England, he began the process of confiscating Church property. Of course Renaissance Faires have actual toilets and food that has to pass county safety inspections, and nobody can actually be beheaded for blaspheming or insulting the King. Dissolution is a book to bring back memories of Renaissance Faires, where actors prance around pretending to be King Henry or various other Tudor bigwigs.

But as he uncovers a cesspool of sin, three more murders occur - and Matthew may be the next target.Įnglish history has taken a back seat to World War II in my recent historical interests, but I still tend to like any historical novel set in English.

When Henry VIII’s emissary is beheaded at an English monastery, hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake is dispatched to solve the crime. Sansom’s place “among the most distinguished of modern historical novelists” (P. This riveting debut set in 1534 England secured C.

Dissolution cj sansom review