ThomasCromwellhasgonedowninhistoryasoneofthemostcorruptandmanipulativeruffiansevertoholdpowerinEngland.Achiefministerwhousedhispositionto*ashtheRomanCatholicchurchinEnglandandlootthemonasteriesforhisowngain.Amanwhousedtorturetobringabouttheexecutionofthewomanwhohadoncebeenhisfriendandsupporter-AnneBoleyn.DiarmaidMacCulloch,professorofthehistoryofthechurchatOxfordUniversity,reveals*erydifferentimageofCromwell.Theaward-winningnovelsofHilaryMantelbegantherevivalofCromwell'sreputation,andnowProfessorMacCullochpresentsHenryVIII'schiefministerasaprincipledandpioneeringstate*anwhowasdrivenbyradicalevangeli*.Cromwell'*traordinarycareerblossomedafterachildhoodmarkedbypovertyan*iolence.Theunschooledsonofabrewer,hetr*elledacrossEuropeasayoungmanandmysteriouslytaughthimselftospeakseverallanguagesinadditiontoaccountingandknowledgeofthelaw.WhenHenryVIIIfailedtopersuadethepopetoannulhi*arriagetoCatherineofAragon,Cromwellengineeredanincrediblesolution.UsinghispoliticalskillshepersuadedParliamentandthepeopletoacceptamythologicalrewritingofthehistoryofEnglandinwhichtheEnglishmonarchwasasanemperorwhosepowersupersededthatofthepope.ProfessorMacCullochdescribesCromwel*nevangelicalreformer,determinedtobreakthehierarchyoftheRomanCatholicchurchandintroducethepeopleofEnglandtoanewtypeofChristianityinwhicheachindividualmakesdirectcontactwithGod.