Shardlake is based on thefirst novel in Sansom's series, "Dissolution", which is set during thedissolution of the monasteries. Teasing the plot, the makers say: "Shardlake's sheltered life as a lawyer is turned upside down when Cromwell instructs him to investigate the murder of one of his commissioners at a monastery in the remote town of Scarnsea. Thus, his investigation is no easy affair. He is met with disgust, scorn and damn right revulsion at every turn. But, he overcomes it. He is used to it, and has risen far above it. He gets on with his job and sets out to find what caused the death of a supposedly innocent man. Shardlake is clever, compassionate and determined. He has the nose of a bloodhound. He analyses the facts in a pragmatic way; he doesn’t jump to conclusion and only delivers a realistic approach to the crime. He questions everything, which left me in a continuous state of suspense until he found his answers. The introductory instalment to the highly respected historical fiction series, Matthew Shardlake. Set during the Tudor period, with Henry VIII reigning England, Dissolution has a combination of mystery, crime, investigation and political intrigue. It is very, very immersive and tense, with C. J. Sansom really crafting that sense of tension that was so present at this time, with a dramatically changing world and conflicting ideologies that was splitting the country of England into different groups and camps, especially in the field of religion. To prove his loyalty to Henry the 8th Cromwell is fervently enforcing the recent First Act of Succession (1536) dissolving as many monasteries as possible, within the confines of the new law. He is confiscating their lands and gold baubles to help bolster the King’s treasury. St. Donatus is one of the larger monasteries all of whom hope to survive the purge. Although anybody in the know realizes that Henry will not be happy with just a few when he can pass a law, Second Act of Succession (1539), that will bring them all down. Right now it is 1537 and Shardlake can offer some assurances to the abbot that the monastery can still be saved.

After Dark Fire was published, a Sunday Times review made this comment: "Historical crime fiction is sometimes little more than a modern adventure in fancy dress. Not so the novels of CJ Sansom, whose magnificent books set in the reign of Henry VIII bring to life the sounds and smells of Tudor England..." [3] Shardlake’s sheltered life as a lawyer is turned upside down when Cromwell instructs him to investigate the murder of one of his commissioners at a monastery in the remote town of Scarnsea,” reveals the official synopsis.

Early and Personal Life

Dissolution is the first book from CJ Sansom in the Matthew Shardlake series, set during the reign of King Henry VIII and his Chief Minister, Thomas Cromwell. The Catholic Church in 1536 is being eradicated in Britain and the Dissolution of the monasteries has begun – by 1540 no monasteries would be left. The tensions in the country are high between those loyal to King Henry and those to the Catholic Church. Cromwell, himself is under scrutiny since his alliance with the now beheaded Ann Boleyn. Production of “Shardlake” has already begun, with filming taking place in Hungary, Austria and Romania. Nominated for the 2003 Crime Writers' Association (CWA) John Creasey Memorial Dagger, for first books by previously unpublished writers. It was also nominated for the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger in the same year. [7] We are also treated to a fulsome use of 15th century vernacular, which adds to the atmosphere without often requiring us to consult the dictionary. Shardlake has to deal with children, servants, beggars, nobles and abbots and Sansom gives us a nuanced differentiation in sentence structure and vocabulary.

Tamasin Reedbourne – a confectioner and junior servant of queen Catherine Howard, who after whose execution marries Barak.The papists will use every means to present us from building the christian commonwealth, and so God’s blood I will use every means to overcome them.’