Description

As the King's young cousin, an admired scholar living in Italy, it falls to Reginald Pole to make the case for Henry's divorce from Katherine of Aragon. And it falls to the hapless Michael Throckmorton - the younger son of an impecunious titled family - to become Thomas Cromwell's messenger to Pole in Rome. This dubious privilege makes of Throckmorton's life a tragicomedy of endless journeys back and forth between England and Italy, but it also makes him a canny observer of the great dramas of his time. And like his King, he too nurses a thwarted desire.

Promotion info

Strong historical subject for a literary novel.

Reviews

'A thoughtful, often witty book and well worth the read' Kathy Stevenson, Daily Mail 'A splendid debut about Michael Throckmorton's endless journeys across Europe on behalf of his master, the future Cardinal Pole. Again, the object of the quest is to find reasons to doubt the legitimacy of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon' AN Wilson, Financial Times

Author description

Peter Walker is a New Zealander who has lived in London since 1986. He worked for seven years on the Independent and three on the Independent on Sunday where he was Foreign Editor. He has also written for the Financial Times and Granta.