Thomas Cromwell: Villain or Hero?
Dr Tracy Borman speaking on her book: Thomas Cromwell: The Untold Story of Henry VIII’s most Faithful Servant at Christ Church, New Malden Thursday 4th December 2014 8.00 pm
When it comes understanding characters from the past, most of us prefer very clear distinctions to be drawn between those who were good and those who were evil. The immensely popular Tudor period is often interpreted in this manner with people frequently showing remarkable commitment to defending their take on its ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’. For a long time, Thomas Cromwell, chief minister of Henry VIII throughout most of the 1530s, has firmly existed within the latter category. Within both Robert Bolt’s play A Man for All Seasons and the numerous films made of Henry’s reign, Cromwell is frequently portrayed as the dastardly and cynical counterpart to the saintly Thomas More. And there is certainly plenty of ammunition here: Cromwell’s leading role in the King’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon, the subsequent Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the machinations involved in the downfall of Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn.
During the last few years, however, this perspective has been dramatically challenged through the novels of Hilary Mantel. Within the amazingly successful Wolf Hall and then its sequel Bring Up the Bodies, Mantel presents a strikingly different picture, with Thomas Cromwell presented much more sympathetically. The ruthless schemer is replaced by a man who is earnest and warm, with devotion to his family, a good sense of humour and sincerity of religious conviction among his primary characteristics. Anticipated by James Frain’s sensitive portrayal of Cromwell in TV’s The Tudors, Mantel’s novels have brought about a remarkable rehabilitation with one of history’s great villains now perceived in a much more favourable light. But Mantel’s books are novels and given the license this genre provides for imaginative reconstruction, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies have opened up the issues surrounding the interpretation of Thomas Cromwell for further investigation rather than providing their definitive resolution. 
In her recently published book Thomas Cromwell: The Untold Story of Henry VIII’s most Faithful Servant, Dr Tracy Borman has responded to this challenge. Resident of New Malden and a member of Christ Church, Tracy has examined the extensive sources which exist for Cromwell’s life, notably the minister’s voluminous correspondence, to produce an outstanding biography of this complex and intriguing man. Uncovering a great deal of fresh evidence, Tracy provides a compelling narrative of the foundational events of Cromwell’s early life, the abilities that brought him so swiftly into power, the masterly control that he operated as Henry’s minister and the mistakes and court rivalries that led to his dramatic fall from power and execution in 1540. For fans of the Tudor period, the results of this are fascinating as events such as the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the demise of Anne Boleyn, the Anne of Cleves fiasco and the general nature of Henry VIII’s court come to life as never before.
Tracy’s book has already met with widespread acclaim and a tour during which she has spoken at some twenty five venues. This tour will conclude on Thursday 4th December when she gives her final talk on Thomas Cromwell this year at Christ Church, New Malden. Admission will be free but with a retiring collection for the campaign against Human Trafficking. Do come along to hear Tracy speak and make up your own mind on whether Thomas Cromwell was a villain, a hero or something in between!
Stephen Kuhrt is Vicar of Christ Church, New Malden