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The Cardinal

from the Sunday Times bestseller, the gripping new novel about the man behind the Tudor crown

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The Cardinal

By: Alison Weir
Narrated by: Nick Biadon
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'Alison Weir has this astonishing ability to make history come alive and jump right off the pages' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
'Thomas's story is incredible' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
'A gripping tale of power and downfall, passion and principle, it is Alison Weir at her best' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
'Accessible and human' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
'Captivating and emotive...a must read for all lovers of Tudor history' ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐

Step into the thrill and intrigue of Tudor England and discover the secret life of Cardinal Wolsey in the rich, compelling new novel from Sunday Times bestseller Alison Weir.

'A rich and textured portrait of Cardinal Wolsey' THE TIMES
'Nobody brings historical characters to life like Alison Weir' TRACY BORMAN

AN EXTRAORDINARY RISE TO POWER. A TRAGIC FALL FROM GRACE.

It begins with young Tom Wolsey, the bright and brilliant son of a Suffolk tradesman, sent to study at Oxford at just eleven years old.

It ends with a disgraced cardinal, cast from the King's side and estranged from the woman he loves.

The years in between tell the story of a scholar and a lover, a father and a priest. From the court of Henry VIII, Tom builds a powerful empire of church and state. At home in London, away from prying eyes, he finds joy in a secret second life.

But when King Henry, his cherished friend, demands the ultimate sacrifice, what will Wolsey choose?

Alison Weir's riveting new Tudor novel reveals the two lives of Cardinal Wolsey, a tale of power, passion and ambition.

PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR'S TUDOR FICTION

'Alison Weir gives us her most compelling heroine yet... This is where the story of the Tudors begins' TRACY BORMAN

'History has the best stories and they should all be told like this' CONN IGGULDEN

'As always, Alison Weir is ahead of the curve - and at the top of her game' SARAH GRISTWOOD

'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' GUARDIAN

'Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE©2025 Alison Weir Biographical Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Political Renaissance World Literature England Tudor Royalty
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Critic reviews

Wolsey leaps from the page in all his brilliance, complexity and humanity . . . Nobody brings historical characters to life like Alison Weir (Tracy Borman)
A rich and textured portrait
Illuminating, emotional, fascinating you right there with Wolsey until the end (Kate Williams)
Through Weir's evocative prose we are taken into Wolsey's world, with his inevitable fall as heartbreaking as his rise was exhilarating (Elizabeth Norton)
Vibrant and informative . . . The Cardinal at last turns the spotlight on the great figure lurking behind the Cromwell of Wolf Hall (Sarah Gristwood)
In this pacy narrative, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey becomes more than just a historical figure - his personality and the twists and turns of his rise and fall leap from every page (Nicola Tallis)
All stars
Most relevant
Alison Weir gave Wolsey a personality and empathy for others. It supposed that he was truly able to love Joan and his children but that his love for the king was greater. He saw Henry as a son who he adored on the one hand and protected greatly on the other . Henry needed Wolsey and Cromwell after him in order to restrain the more ‘romantic’ view he had of himself and the world. Wolsey was ambitious, loved the finer things of life but he was also fantastically hard working. He held the country together for almost 25 years but once he lost that control over the king there followed 25 years of instability and near religious and social chaos. He gets a bad press sometimes but in re-appraisal he can be seen as a stabiliser and peacemaker where he could be. I believe Alison Weir has shown a sympathetic view of the man which many readers will appreciate and enjoy. The 16th century was a difficult and very different world!!

A truly personal interpretation of.

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I am making it my mission to read all of this authors books and this one was a joy!
As always the writing was clear and easy.
Whether you had known about Wolsey before or not, this book is excellent and recommend it thoroughly.
Narration great too!

Entertaining

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I think Alison Weir is a brilliant writer of historical fiction and for me she stands alongside such writers as Philippa Gregory.
She blends historical facts with dramatic licence making the story more interesting and understandable than straight sometimes characterless historical facts!
Most importantly, this writing gives me a greater interest in researching the ‘ real’ story of the character.

Thank you Alison Weir, for lifting me, a fellow-widow out of some of the greyer hours into the far off world of Tudor England and the lives that struggled to live in that dangerous time.

Excellent dramatic writing.

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It has been fascinating to find the story of Thomas Wolsey. Truly an incredible book.

Discovering the man behind the cardinal robes

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As someone whose previous impression of Cardinal Wolsey came mostly from Wolf Hall, I didn’t know a great deal about him going into this book. Alison Weir’s Cardinal changed that completely. At over 16 hours, it could have felt daunting—but it absolutely flew by. The narration is strong, well-paced, and engaging, which made it easy to stay immersed.

Weir presents Wolsey as a deeply complex figure—brilliant, ambitious, and often conflicted. I came away with far more insight into his character and actions than I expected, though I still can’t quite decide if I actually liked him. Did he truly love and serve the king, or did he simply fawn over Henry VIII for personal gain? Did his pursuit of power cost him his relationship with Joan Larke and the more human side of himself? The book doesn’t offer easy answers, and that’s part of what makes it so compelling.

Much like Wolf Hall, I found the intricacies and politics of the Tudor court utterly fascinating. Weir's portrayal of the key players is balanced and nuanced—she doesn’t vilify or glorify, but instead allows readers to weigh motivations and flaws for themselves.

I’d thoroughly recommend this to anyone with an interest in Tudor history, especially those wanting to explore some of the lesser-understood but highly influential figures in Henry VIII’s orbit. Whether you're new to Wolsey or know the basics, Cardinal offers fresh perspective and plenty to reflect on

A Fascinating and Human Portrait of Wolsey

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