Whilst I found this hard to read in some areas I still enjoyed it. It was so very well researched. Thomas Cromwell had unbelievable power which earned him many enemies in the Tudor Court and was executed
because of his dealings in the marriage of King Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves but his story is far more than this and this books extraordinary details take the reader on that journey
A great read for anyone interested in Thomas Cromwell of Tudor history

It's simply remarkable how much we can know about a national leader who rose up from nothing in the 16th century. Thomas Cromwell is a well-reswarched topic due to his connection with Henry VIII. However, this book reads more like a journal. It's not written in narrative form, but loosely chronological. If you've read some on Cromwell but would like to know more, this should fill in any gaps.

Thomas Cromwell is a usual villain in any Tudor novel or series, wearing a dark dress and whispering to The King what to do.
Therefore, I was curious to learn more about this man in The Private Life of Thomas Cromwell.

Our view of Cromwell is affected by the famous Holbein portrait. It was for me a finding to learn it was Cromwell’s choice to be known in this way.

I recommend reading the content. Not only can we see the chapters with tempting names like Eminence, Defiance, or Precipice, but each of the last ten years of Cromwell’s life has its chapter.

We will learn about the Italian life of Cromwell, his family, and his friends and why he was successful. One reason is the knowledge of foreign languages.

The author has an outstanding style, she includes funny remarks from time to time. I liked “the men who would control the royal court one generation later were taking their first steps in splendid and well-appointed nurseries”. Or when Cromwell’s mother and father died, she remarks: “As one part of Cromwell’s family ended, another blossomed.”

Understandably, Cromwell’s role in the fall of Anne Boleyn is discussed thoroughly. It is new for me to see it from other than Anne’s point of view. As the author says, it was less it was less thoroughly. It is new for me to see it from other than Anne’s point of view. As the author says, it was less important who Cromwell chose for Anne’s co-conspirators than who did not choose to be condemned.

And that’s why I can recommend this book. It is generally known what happened during the reign of Henry VIII. But thanks to this publication, we can think about it differently.

I had a tough time with this one. So much of it seemed to be a lesson in/example of "really bad records were kept back in the day so this is all conjecture"--not the author's fault at all, but it makes for a challenging read as a result. I ultimately set it aside as it kept feeling like an apology for history's poor record-keeping, rather than telling a linear story of an interesting historical era.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A really enjoyable addition to Tudor research. Well written, well researched and faithful to its subject. Builds a strong image of Cromwell in context and particularly in relation to his network. Recommended.

Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex (c.1485-1540) was the chief minister to King Henry VIII of England. Often linked to the downfall of Queen Anne Boleyn, he was seen as a mastermind behind the English Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries. His meteoric rise in favour earned him many enemies and he was blamed for the disastrous fourth marriage between King Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves resulting in his execution in July 1540.

Angus takes a sympathetic approach to Cromwell, building up a likeable, human depiction of one of the most enigmatic figures in Tudor history who has been maligned and treated as a monster due to the events that surrounded him.

I found the deep research into his life before he became "Henry's man" utterly fascinating, in particular his relationship with the Frescobaldi family.

While very detailed, this book is accessible to read and I found the tense build up to the final few months of Cromwell's life engrossing, highlighting just how fraught and complex the role of a courtier truly was and just how easy one could topple from their success.

Thank you to @penswordbooks and @netgalley for allowing me access to read this book, I'm sure I will be looking further into this author's work!

My initial interest in the Tudors began with seeing the Showtime series of the same name. Instantly, I began adding more books to my library and I wanted to learn more and more. I already had an interest in art and literature from the Renaissance, and had read Sir Thomas More's "Utopia".
Caroline Agnus's book focuses on Thomas Comwell who was best known for establishing the Reformation and as an advisor to King Henry VIII. The book contained a lot of information and I think was a good jumpoff to later focus on specific people and events. I found the book readable and for this reason, the book did not feel dense. I'm sure the reader that picks up this book already has an interest in Cromwell; however, the book might be a little light for the serious history buff. I do believe this book marries well to the many fictional novels on the subject, such as the Hilary Mantel novels.
A point of interest to me was the exchange rate from Marks to the British Pound, for example Cromwell's monthly salary was 430,000
Thank you Caroline Angus, Pen and Swords, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this book in exchanged for an honest review.

When we think about the men who surrounded King Henry VIII, a few names come to mind. Cranmer, More, Wolsey, and Wroithesley are just a few, but the man who is synonymous with the infamous king’s reign is Thomas Cromwell. The man who helped Henry get his divorce from Katherine of Aragon saw both the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn. He also assisted in the dissolution of the monasteries and brought reform to England with the break from the Roman Catholic Church. To modern audiences, it feels as if we know everything that there was to know about Thomas Cromwell’s public life, but what was he like in his private life when his friends and family surrounded him? Caroline Angus gives her readers an insight into Cromwell’s personal life in her latest book, “The Private Life of Thomas Cromwell.”

Thank you, Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley, for sending me a copy of this book. I love finding new perspectives about historical figures, like Thomas Cromwell, so when I heard that Caroline Angus was writing this book, I was delighted. I wanted to see what new information this book could provide about Thomas Cromwell’s life.

Angus begins her new nonfiction book on Cromwell by showing the origins of the Cromwell family and how Thomas went from the son of a blacksmith to his journeys in Italy, especially in Florence. It is impressive to see how Thomas’ influential friends from Florence would help shape how he conducted business later on in life as one of King Henry VIII’s top counselors. Thomas must have been a polymath to achieve the astronomical rise to power that we see him go through that landed him in the workforce of Thomas Wolsey.

Under Thomas Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell’s private and public life became insanely busy as he gained the king's respect. He would be the principal architect for the dissolution of monasteries and helped Henry VIII gain his divorce from Katherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn. As Cromwell became a player in Tudor politics, he married Elizabeth Williams and had several children. As Cromwell’s family grew, so did Thomas’ roles at the court of Henry VIII. He was the king’s number one advisor and was asked to perform the most difficult tasks, like bringing the downfall of Anne Boleyn and breaking England from the Roman Catholic Church. In a way, Thomas Cromwell was the Tudor equivalent of Alexander Hamilton.

I enjoyed this book because we see Cromwell as a human being, not just some lofty historical figure. He was a man who climbed the social ladder with his talents and his connections throughout England and Europe. With every title and every bill passed, Cromwell gained new enemies, who would lead to Thomas Cromwell’s downfall after the disastrous marriage between Henry VIII and Anna of Cleves. His fall was so dramatically quick that even Henry VIII regretted killing Thomas Cromwell.

Angus’s passion for comprehensively telling Cromwell’s story for scholars and students of Tudor history shines through this book. Her research is meticulous as she balances Thomas’ public life and private life to tell the whole story of the legendary man. If you are interested in understanding the life of Henry VIII’s most faithful servant and trusted advisor, I recommend reading “The Private Life of Thomas Cromwell” by Caroline Angus.

Having followed Caroline's Twitter updates on her progress with this book I was thrilled to get an advanced copy courtesy of Pen and Sword and NetGalley.

Cromwell is something of the Marmite of the Tudor era, many like him whilst many dislike him.
Personally I can't help but admire a man who rose so high from humble origins, working hard his entire life even to the end whilst held Prisoner in the Tower of London.

There are many books discussing Cromwell's rise and his relationship with Henry VIII but Caroline goes further, including his relationships with family and friends and how he never forgot his friends from before his rise to one of the most powerful men in the country. His earlier life is included and how he gained his language and legal skills through hard work, spending time abroad, particularly Florence.

Through his and others correspondence Caroline paints a picture of Cromwell as a loyal, generous and dedicated man, ensuring his kings wishes were fulfilled and his family maintained and supported.

However, Caroline does not try and depict Cromwell as an angel or convince anyone to change their opinion on him, and includes his faults to give a full insight into the mystery of the man.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and would go as far to say it has been one of my favourite books that I'll definitely read again in future.

I usually give biographies that use the title "The Private Life of [famous dead person]" a suspicious side eye, because it usually just means there is already a glut on the market of biographies of said person and they are just slightly re-arranging facts in an attempt to stand out.

Caroline Angus masterfully blows all expectations out of the water here with a true deep dive into the lesser known parts of Cromwell's life, digging deep into what his life was like before the bright spotlight was on him.

We get a real look into his domestic life here, thanks mostly to how blurred work and life was in his letters to and from those he did business with. For example, a tutor writes to Cromwell to complain about unpaid invoices, and also remarks on how Cromwell's young nephew is a handful because he keeps setting the bed on fire, a mental picture both hilarious and horrifying, and also, well, absolutely nothing to do with grand international policy.

We get quotes from letters, receipts, invoices, and memos, showing how insanely busy Cromwell became, basically running England and doing favors for everyone, large and small. Also, very telling is when the busy record falls silent for months, after first the death of his wife, and then the death of his daughters.

If Angus gets anything wrong, I would argue that she is perhaps a little too soft on Cromwell. She clearly is impressed by how much he got done in his lifetime, but i would argue that its important to remember that he destroyed as much as he created.

Then, when we get to the fateful final six months, Angus shows just how many plates Cromwell was spinning, and both the complexity and simplicity of his fall.

A fascinating and detailed biography of one of the most enigmatic personalities of the Tudor period.

Caroline Angus paints a sympathetic portrait of Thomas Cromwell, in which he becomes almos,t likeable.In previous decades, Cromwell has been regarded as rather a monster - corrupt, greedy and ruthless - but some of today's historians show another side of him. Here he is shown as being generous to his many friends and his family, enjoying entertaining, and as the true founder of the Anglican church. It's certainly interesting to have this new view of him.

Cromwell came from the family home of a beer seller,, making his way to become a lawyer and merchant in the Italian community of London, and then on to the very highest echelons of society, serving King Henry VIII. 'Quick, intelligent, and charming', he fell on his feet in Italy working as a legal clerk for a prominent Italian family, where he was influenced by Machiavelli. Through hard work, connections with aristocrats such as the Grey's and wiliness, he rose to be indispensible to the King, working on his Great Matter. But even the cleverest of men can fall from the top (especially when they work for a tyrant) as Cromwell was to find out.

This is an extremely enjoyable book, thoroughly researched, and easy to read, certainly much easier than Dairmaid MacCalloch's heavy tome which I am wading through at the moment. I liked seeing this other side of Cromwell, including his sympathy towards Princess Mary and his friendship with Chapuys. However, I felt that Caroline Angus rather glosses through his terrible treatment of Anne Boleyn, for which admirers of Anne can really never forgive him.

Caroline Angus's website is intriguing. I am interested in reading some of her other books.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Where to begin with this. I feel ungrateful for hating a book when Netgalley gave me the right to read an advance copy, but I have to be honest. This is a terrible book. It's incoherent and disorganized, and it's obvious that, as the author states in the preface, she loves Cromwell and seems oddly sympathetic to Henry VIII at the expense of everyone else trying to keep England running.

Part of the problem is not her fault. We know nothing of the actual private life of Cromwell, as he left no personal account of himself, and what is here is not his private life. It's what was going on in his letters and papers but it's all public matters or financial business undertaken for friends and family.

It reads like a final paper written by a high school student who made a giant box of index cards with events and letters on them, put them in chronological order, and transcribed them. While she is not without her personal takes on things, they are glib and unsupported. How do we know Anne Boleyn "dripped poison" on a proposed marriage of one of her ladies to Cromwell's nephew? The way the ebook is set up I can't jump to the footnotes to see where her citations come from.

Many of her sentences set out in one direction and then suddenly veer off course part way through. Here is a typical one: "While Cromwell excelled most in the cut-and-thrust atmosphere of parliament, they started with gentle laws being introduced, but large issues remained, with the Holy Maid attainders, and the Act of Succession also presented at once." What? Who is "they"? This is the first sentence in a paragraph and the previous paragraph sheds no light. And I don't think anyone would call the Act of Succession a gentle law, yet it was "presented at once" so ???

I have been reading about this period in history since I was a kid so I was just about able to follow what I've read, but I pity anyone who doesn't have background, they will be lost. On the other hand they might not be so bothered by what's wrong here.

I don't have time to waste finishing this book, I have other things I need to read for Netgalley. My next one is also a book put out by Pen and Sword and I'm hoping it's better than this one, but having read another one of theirs previously I'm not optimistic.

If you want a thought provoking new look at Thomas Cromwell, read Hilary Mantel's trilogy. It seems like Angus read those books, was smitten with Mantel's Cromwell, and wanted to do for him in nonfiction what Mantel did in fiction. Cromwell still awaits his definitive biography.

Note, I did not automatically post this review to Goodreads because I wrote my review there first, the link is provided below in the Links section.

The Private Life of Thomas Cromwell by Caroline Angus was a very interesting book.
In this book, Angus goes over his entire life, from beginning to end. This book is very well researched, and not dry at all. It is hard to make acts and lawyer stuff interesting, but Angus bulks this with other information (such as what is going on with his family) which makes it easier to swallow. It carries a great deal of information, and it is all succinct. I like how it explains the acts he is trying to pass, and what impacts they could have. It also does not bully Cromwell, it treats him as a maligned person. It is a little biased, but not enough to make you unable to come up with your own opinion.
Unfortunately, it does get a bit confusing at times, with Cromwell's giant family, but characters such as dukes and secretaries are easier to understand, it often has their title/job. The book also seems to assume that you are familiar with Britain's geography and how politics work there. This can get a bit annoying at times, I think that they could have done a little more explaining or phrased it better.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a refreshing book about Thomas Cromwell, but they will need to have some knowledge on place names in England and how their parliament works.

Cromwell lived on the edge all his life as a boy from Putney, a soldier in Italy a banker, and finally master

statesman. This fascinating book enlarges on the influences and his experiences. the role of languages

and ideas. This is a well-.researched book,, knowledgable and extremely readable. It shows Cromwell as a

family man. who gave support and was supported in return. I recommend this book to everyone who wants to

know more than just facts. A larger-than-life story.

Thomas Cromwell is known for being the mastermind of Anne Boleyn's downfall and death, as well as the implementation of the dissolution of the monasteries. That was the peak of his power, which dropped drastically when King Henry VIII became extremely unhappy with wife number 4, who Cromwell championed. Caroline Angus gives the reader a detailed history of his life before those infamous events, and how he acquired the skills that endeared him to Cardinal Wolsey and King Henry VIII. One thing that became clear from reading about his early years: Cromwell was a human chameleon. He adapted himself to whatever situation he was in politically and personally. In some ways, that's a good thing...but in the end, his changeability cost him in the most expensive and irreversible way. For fans of Tudor history, like myself, this is definitely a worthwhile read about one of the period's most intriguing figures.
Thanks to NetGalley, Caroline Angus, and Pen & Sword for this advanced copy, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

As a scholar of this period, I was impressed with the detail and vibrancy of this text. The evocations of the 15th/16th century are thoughtful, particularly since we don't have a lot of records of Cromwell by his own hands. Angus here, following on her previous work, puts together a sympathetic and realistic portrayal of a man embroiled in one of the most famous courts in English history. While some historical texts can be dry, the prose here keeps readers' attention. If you enjoyed Wolf Hall or any other Tudor adaptation, you'll appreciate getting more of the history behind what Cromwell and his family went through.

*Many thanks to Caroline Angus, Pen & Sword, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Since encountering Thomas Cromwell in the brilliant Trilogy by Ms Mantel, I have become fascinated by the man who was and still is a big enigma after half a millenium.
The title suggests more on Cromwell's private life than on his politics, however, these two cannot be fully separated. In my opinion Ms Angus manages to supply a reader with enough of both, avoiding rumours or gossips as much as possible. I always find the period before Henry's marriage to Ann of Cleeves hardest to follow but this book provides a rather clear interpretation of Cromwell's involvement. What follows has always buffled me, beheading your best man at court sounds not responsible, to say the least.
Cromwell was a man surrounded by his extended family and friends and was a most loyal supporter to anyone who won his confidence.
I think this book is a perfect fit for anyone who would like to learn more about Crumwell but is not prepared for a scholar read.

A good and entertaining biography about Thomas Cromwell, clearly outlying what is really known and what is speculated about Cromwell's life, particularly on his younger years. I learned quite a bit about this extraordinary personality revealing many and sometimes surprising facets. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily a review.

272 pages

5 stars

Thomas Cromwell left his home in Putney (a few miles from London), at about age fifteen. He fought in various European battles. With his excellent command of several languages, including Italian, he took a position with the highly esteemed traders, the Frescobaldis.

After some time in Italy with the Frescobaldis, Thomas was back in England. He worked as a lawyer, trader and a fixer of sorts. He had many friends where he lived in the Italian section of East London. His final home was called Austin Friars and was adjacent to the Austin Friars monastery. In 1524 he took a position working for Cardinal Wolsey. He had had previous dealings with the court and even traded ideas with King Henry VIII.

Thomas and Cardinal Wolsey worked closely together. They became firm friends. The one thing Henry wanted above all else was the dissolution of his almost twenty-year marriage to Catherine of Aragon. When Wolsey failed to deliver, he was banned from court. All of his assets were seized. He was to die on his way to the Tower of London. Thomas was very upset at the loss of his friend.

Anne Boleyn never cared for Cromwell. However, it was Thomas Cromwell and (later) Archbishop Thomas Cranmer who finally brought about the solution of Henry’s “Great Matter.”

After miscarriages and one live daughter, Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I), Henry became disenchanted with Anne. Being spirited and outspoken as a love interest was one thing, but a queen is expected to obey and reign in her impulses. Anne did not. The miscarriages did not help. It was Catherine of Aragon all over.

Henry’s eye was caught by the demure Jane Seymour. He complained to Thomas. Thomas came up with a solution. There may have been an element of revenge, for Anne had treated Thomas badly. She was executed by a French swordsman in the Tower in 1536.

Just a few days later, Henry married Jane and she finally gave him his heart's desire - a son he named Edward. However, she died a few days later of “childbed fever.”

Thomas was never too interested in religion, however he became so and even wrote his version of the bible. Instigated by Henry, but carried out by Thomas was the dissolution of the monasteries. Henry based this on his new religion, the Church of England. Henry was now head of the church and all tithes to the Catholic Church were ceased. This led to the Pilgrimage of Grace. Henry was absolutely ruthless in putting it down.

Thomas had many, many friends, among them was Eustace Chapuys, the Spanish Ambassador. He also loved his family and was almost destroyed by several deaths in his family, including his daughters, due to the “sweating sickness''. (?). He was godfather to many and treated his friends well and did all he could for them.

A court conspiracy was afoot to destroy Cromwell. The plotters thought he was too close to Henry and had too much power. Especially for a “commoner.” They succeeded. Thomas was the only person that Henry publicly regretted having executed.

This book is very well written and plotted. It is easy to read and presents a balanced and more human representation to the historically maligned Thomas Cromwell. I was very glad to have read this book, for I have always thought that he was much misrepresented by history. It is easy to read and understand and will appeal to those interested in Tudor, medieval history, or just history in general. I very much enjoyed this book.

I want to thank NetGalley and Pen & Sword/Pen & Sword History for forwarding to me a copy of this informative book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

***This book is not yet available on GoodReads or BookBub to review. I shall watch the sites.

An amazing and interesting look at the man behind Hillary Mantel’s trilogy and countless other Tudor books. This book is for anyone who is curious to know more about the Tudor statesman often portrayed as a villain to Thomas More’s hero.