Henry VIII in all his flamboyance is infamous and notorious. I was not aware of the extent of his cruelty and greed till I read this book. In his over riding and desperate need for a male heir he rode roughshod over his countryman creating the most amount of destruction and the breakdown of religious life in centuries. The breakdown removed the protection and support system that the churches and monasteries had provided to the poor and destitute.
Henry’s reforms promoted by Cromwell and an inner group of courtiers destroyed the monastic way of life, apart from the breakaway from Rome and establishing the sovereign as the head of the Church. The story centres around the life of William Morland, a young monk steadfast in his faith and in his relationship with God. We see his battles of joining a group of protestors who only wanted to protest against the proclamation of the sovereign being head of the church, but not against the king himself. Sadly it was used against tge protestors which led to the brutal murders of several Lords from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. When events caught up with William, he was dealt in a similar manner, brutally murdered by the Kings orders.
The story was different as it was the voice of this monk who was so faithful to his vocation and his religion, and in the voices of very ordinary folk who believed in the supremacy of the Pope and who were bewildered when they were asked to change their allegiance immediately.
Detailed historical accounts from the turbulent Tudor period, coupled with a deeply spiritual account of the monk William Morland.
I enjoyed the story immensely despite the brutality.
Sent by The Book Guild for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.
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