Thomas Cromwell is one of the best known and most controversial figures in British history. His rise from humble beginnings to the very apex of British power politics in the sixteenth century is a fascinating tale of strength, willpower, a driving vision and, of course, a modicum of luck. Whatever one's opinion of Cromwell, there is no doubt that he had a great influence on the court of Henry VIII in the 1530s. Further, his lasting influence on the way that government is conducted in England, as well as on the make-up of the English church, render him one of the most important non-regal...