The Cardinal

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The Cardinal

By: Alison Weir

Narrated by: Nick Biadon

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About this listen

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.

Biographical Fiction

Genre Fiction

Historical Fiction

Renaissance

England

Tudor

Royalty

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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