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Thomas Cromwell

By: Tracy Borman
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong, Paul Mendez, Sandra Duncan
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Publisher's Summary

Thomas Cromwell is known to millions as the leading character in Hilary Mantel's best-selling Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. But who was the real Cromwell?

Born a lowly tavern keeper's son, Cromwell rose swiftly through the ranks to become Henry VIII's right-hand man, and one of the most powerful figures in Tudor history. The architect of England's break with the Roman Catholic Church and the dissolution of the monasteries, he oversaw seismic changes in our country's history. Influential in securing Henry's controversial divorce from Catherine of Aragon, many believe he was also the ruthless force behind Anne Boleyn's downfall and subsequent execution. But although for years he has been reviled as a Machiavellian schemer who stopped at nothing in his quest for power, Thomas Cromwell was also a loving husband, father, and guardian; a witty and generous host; and a loyal and devoted servant. With new insights into Cromwell's character, his family life and his close relationships with both Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII, joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces Tracy Borman examines the life, loves, and legacy of the man who changed the shape of England forever.

©2014 Tracy Borman (P)2014 Hodder & Stoughton

What listeners say about Thomas Cromwell

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The King's Right Arm

I had been watching "Wolf Hall" for the second time, and have found it absolutely mesmerising... This sent me off looking to read about the man himself and find out how well he was depicted in the televisation of the biographies, and I was very impressed at the comparisons, but also learning more in-depth the intricacies of his more private side as well as motivations for decisions he made or urged the King to make. Alas, while this saw his meteoric elevation to Henry VIII's most (or equal most-) trusted advisor, it was also his downfall... he just didn't know when to stop. Sadly for Henry, he soon regretted his tragic decision regarding Cromwell's fate, but Cromwell's descendant Oliver would make the family name even more famous a few generations further down the line. As a fan of Charles II, the Cromwells are not my favourite family from the past, however, this was a very impressive man and I was very sad as his ultimate fate loomed.

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great book

This was a great book. I enjoyed it from the opening paragraph to the conclusion. The narrator was fabulous , with a clear and engaging manner and appropriate intonation and tempo. highly recommended for English history devotees.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Great narrative, great narration, crap voices

This is a very well researched and engaging account of a very impactful and complex courtier. It is also very balanced and considered, and I appreciated its reflectiveness and it’s discussion at the end of Cromwells legacy and cultural influence. It was read very well, except when there was any quoting of key persons from letters or other sources. I’m not quite sure how the voice actors concerned could have adopted such bizarre tones with straight faces. Never mind. It was weird but good

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book ruined by second narrator

Having watched the TV production of Wolf Hall three times but knowing it was based on a novel, I was keen to read a biography by a reputable historian. Tracy Borman's 'Thomas Cromwell' fills the bill admirably. Her meticulous research and fine writing combine to recreate the life of a truly gifted man while evoking the atmosphere of Henry VIII's court and the intrigues which made survival, let alone advancement, a course for none but the most astute and tenacious. I found the book gripping from start to finish with no flat sections, and Cromwell's documented life is much more interesting than Mantell's fictionalised character.

While the book is a flag-waving 5-stars, and Gareth Armstrong does his usual 5-star job, the audiobook is ruined by the contributions of the second narrator, Mendez, whose commission was to read the (male) quotations. Flabbergasted, I listened to samples of Mendez narrating other books and found that he has a very pleasant voice and accent. So how this truly awful performance passed muster with the producer is a mystery and a great shame. Ordinarily I would have marked this great book for re-listening several times, but it was all I could do to finish it as I was constantly on edge anticipating the next grating contribution by the unfortunate Mr Mendez.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Oh dear those voices ...

Factually, a surprisingly well documented account of Cromwell's career, pretty much reinstating him as a pragmatic, self-seeking greedy lawyer without a single scruple in his body. It's impossible to see Mantel's version of Cromwell in Borman's portrait: even at best Cromwell was undoubtedly responsible for the judicial murder of many unfortunates, and richly deserved his ultimate fate. The reader is excellent even though the narrative is a bit pedestrian. The (many) quotations are read in the worst pseudo-Italian/French/Spanish accent I've ever heard on an audiobook!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Why the imagined accents?

Why why why does the narrator have to pretend to be 147 different persons and read with imagined voices and accents. This is utterly annoying.
Otherwise a great book and plenty of interesting facts.

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