This isn't a novel. It's a collection of Thomas Cromwell's letters and papers, carefully put together by historian Roger Bigelow Merriman. Volume 1 covers Cromwell's incredible rise, from his early years in Europe to becoming King Henry VIII's right-hand man. You see him arranging the king's divorce from Catherine of Aragon, helping break from the Catholic Church, and dissolving the monasteries. The story is told through official documents, personal notes, and his instructions to allies and enemies. It's the paperwork of a revolution.

Why You Should Read It

Reading this is like getting a backstage pass to the Tudor court. You're not just told Cromwell was clever; you see his mind at work in his letters. One moment he's negotiating with foreign princes, the next he's sorting out a friend's legal trouble. You see his loyalty, his sharp legal mind, and the sheer scale of what he managed. It strips away 500 years of fiction and shows you the real, complicated person—a reformer, a politician, a fixer, and a man of faith navigating impossible demands.

Final Verdict

This is for the reader who loves history straight from the source. It's perfect if you've read Hilary Mantel and want to meet the actual Cromwell, or if you're fascinated by how power really works. It's not a light read—you have to be willing to sit with the documents—but it's incredibly rewarding. You come away feeling like you've shaken hands with the man himself.