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Dissolution (Matthew Shardlake 1)

Author: C.j. Sansom
Publisher: Pan Books
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

59 reviews
Sales Rank: 101

Media: Paperback
Pages: 463
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 4.9 x 1.4

ISBN: 0330450794
EAN: 9780330450799
ASIN: 0330450794

Publication Date: May 18, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new, in stock. Shipped from the UK by First Class Royal Mail service in eco-friendly packaging.

Also Available In:

•	Paperback - Dissolution
•	Hardcover - Dissolution
•	Paperback - Dissolution
•	Paperback - Dissolution
•	Library Binding - Dissolution
•	Paperback - Dissolution

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Customer Reviews: Read 54 more reviews...

2 out of 5 stars

Sadly disappointing July 16, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

I was beginning to think I was the only person who found this book to be disappointing, after reading all the 5-star reviews on Amazon, and my family telling me I had to read it as it was 'wonderful, terrific' etc. I'm afraid I was disappointed. Firstly, I could not sympathise with ANY of the characters, especially Shardlake. I was disappointed that almost the whole story takes place within the monastery walls, which made me feel quite claustraphobic, longing to get out and see a bit more of the life and politics of the time! Although it seems historically sound and I enjoyed the little gems of information about the reformation and dissolution of the monasteries, and of life in those times, the plot just didn't grab me at all. It just seemed to be a series of one murder after another, happening to people I hadn't been able to symapthise with or identify with hardly at all. By the end I was just skipping whole paragraphs to get to the end and really couldn't have cared less 'whodunnit'. I can't understand how people have given it 5 stars! Uberto Eco's Name of the Rose is far superior...and maybe spoiled me?

5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant book June 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

There aren't many books that can hold my attention but this one did. I saw an advertisment for C.J Sansom's book entitled, "Revelation" when I was on a trip to London recently and remarked I fancied reading it to which my mum replied that she already had 3 C.J Sansom books. I started with this, "Dissolution". I was hooked from the start. I really did not want it to end. It's a really enjoyable read and I'm onto my next one now. Apparently there are 4 in the Shardlake series so I've got some reading ahead of me! If you have an interest in history, then this is a really impressive read.

4 out of 5 stars

Excellent stuff June 20, 2008
What an excellent read this was. Gripping from begining to end and left me wanting more from C J Sansom. Well ballanced characters and a believable plot all the way through. As good as it gets for this type of fiction and absolutely worth the read.

4 out of 5 stars

Good History June 11, 2008
Sansom captures beautifully the spirit of one of the most volatile and passionate periods of english history. It's well enough written to be tense, gripping and very atmospheric. As history, it is well-researched and, rare for a book on reformation England, gives a sense of the changing sentiments and confusion of ordinary people. It is as informative as any straight history on the period that I've read, and better than most.

5 out of 5 stars

Oh, justice is what you're threatened with - Thomas Cromwell June 3, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

A Brief overview of Dissolution History, Henry VIII Tudor England.

The Act in Restraint of Annates in 1532 was the start of the process that removed Papal (Pope) authority in England and Wales, Annates (Royal Donations) were the main source of income in Rome from England but it was only initially used to suspend in terms of it's introduction, Henry VIII wished to pressurise the Papacy into giving him an annulment from Catherine of Aragon, only this didn't work.

Later in 1532 chief minister Thomas Cromwell set in motion to move all legal power from the Church to the Crown. Henry used Parliament to give an air of legitimacy to what he was doing but the end result was as he wanted; a divorce from Catherine of Aragon and marriage to Anne Boleyn. In 1533 the Archbishop of Canterbury (Thomas Cranmer) took over Power of the Pope, Cranmer concluded that the Pope's dispensation for Henry to marry Catherine of Aragon had been null and void. King Henry and the now pregnant Anne Boleyn were free to marry.

In 1534 Pope Clement VII announced that Catherine was still the rightful queen of England, such a statement played right into Cromwell's hands. Henry was infuriated and pushed ahead with further changes to the church. The Reformation Parliament passed several acts between 1534 and 1536 and all direct payments to the Pope were halted; by 1536 an act called `Act Extinguishing the Authority of the Bishop in Rome' tied all pervious acts but adding one other law, anyone who defended the former powers of the Pope would have their property confiscated, Dissolution (Gaining Control) was a decisive step, the Monasteries were to be dissolved.

C.J Sansom's - Dissolution Review

C.J Sansom has woven a fantastic dark historical mystery from his title word Dissolution "dissolved". It's 1537, Henry VIII has control of the Church of England, institution of monastic life with it's rich beautiful interiors and libraries filled with illuminated manuscripts are about to be destroyed. Thomas Cromwell King's chief minister has found more way's to fill the King's swelling treasury, boosting his own pockets in the process. Selling physical property for bargain basement prices to either wealthy gentry who greedily want to increase their own estates or middle classes who were given a chance to become land gentry, selling lands and taxing therefore solving any problems of imposing unpopular taxes later on.

Cromwell renowned for his shrewdness user of all methods and means in greed, sent forth a team of commissioners into the depths of England to confiscate and dissolve smaller and less powerful houses at first, making them unsuitable to be lived in by doing this he avoided much outcry from the people. With his ears always close to the ground Cromwell was shocked to learn through his network of informers that one of his most trusted negotiating commissioners, lawyer Robin Singleton has turned up dead.

Crookback London lawyer Matthew Shardlake is summoned, a protege of Thomas Cromwell and a long time supporter of reform also trusted with keeping delicate matters quiet. Shardlake is commissioned by Cromwell to investigate Singleton's death at Scarnsea monastery on the Sussex Coast along with all it's dark happenings. Upon arrival he is far from welcomed but that is only expected. On closer inspection the monastery holds more than just religious and political chaos. Events begin to Spiral out of control, corruption rife and dark truth forces Shardlake to question everything he believes facing his own fears, passions and doubts.

This is a well crafted Tudor mystery, although it's similar to Umberto Eco's Name of the Rose, with its dark monastery mystery storyline, Sansom's book for me reaches further in History. It's showing a changing shift in English history after centuries in the old way of life. The 1530's descriptions pour out from this book, sights, sounds and smells the constant danger and fears, brutality of life in the Tudor period. Throwing at you the political and the religious workings in uncertain times and the deviousness of how powerful Thomas Cromwell had become. Sansom has also written an in depth character London lawyer Matthew Shardlake full of honesty and humility his disabled hero lives in Chancery Lane but uses Lincoln's Inn to Socialize for work purposes about 300 yards from Chancery, situated in Holborn, this is a great touch on History added. Wonderful start to a series, I think we can safely say I thoroughly enjoyed this book being a lover of English History.

Andrea Bowhill