Step into the thrill and intrigue of Tudor England with The Cardinal, the rich, compelling new novel from Sunday Times bestseller Alison Weir. Discover the secret life of Cardinal Wolsey in this riveting tale of power, passion, and ambition, praised for making history come alive.

This novel chronicles the extraordinary rise to power and tragic fall from grace of Thomas Wolsey, from his humble beginnings as the brilliant son of a Suffolk tradesman who attended Oxford at just eleven, to his eventual disgrace at the side of King Henry VIII.

• Explores the dual life of Cardinal Wolsey: scholar, lover, father, and priest.
• Details Wolsey's building of a powerful empire of church and state within the court of Henry VIII.
• Examines the ultimate choice Wolsey faces when King Henry demands the ultimate sacrifice.
• A captivating and emotive read for lovers of Tudor history, ranked highly in Renaissance Historical Fiction.

• Author: Alison Weir
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Print Length: 480 pages
• ISBN-10: 1035416239
• ISBN-13: 978-1035416233
• Dimensions: 128 x 34 x 196 mm
• Weight: 332 g
• Publication Date: January 29, 2026

Experience Alison Weir at her best as she delivers a profound and moving portrait of one of history's most complex figures.