亨利八世的执行官：托马斯·克伦威尔的沉浮

剧情简介：ThomasCromwellhasgonedowninhistoryasoneofthemostcorruptandmanipulativeruffiansevertoholdpowerinEngland.AchiefministerwhousedhispositiontosmashtheRomanCatholicchurchinEnglandandlootthemonasteriesforhisowngain.Amanwhousedtorturetobringabouttheexecutionofthewomanwhohadoncebeenhisfriendandsupporter-AnneBoleyn.DiarmaidMacCulloch,professorofthehistoryofthechurchatOxfordUniversity,revealsaverydifferentimageofCromwell.Theaward-winningnovelsofHilaryMantelbegantherevivalofCromwell’sreputation,andnowProfessorMacCullochpresentsHenryVIII’schiefministerasaprincipledandpioneeringstatesmanwhowasdrivenbyradicalevangelism.Cromwell’sextraordinarycareerblossomedafterachildhoodmarkedbypovertyandviolence.Theunschooledsonofabrewer,hetravelledacrossEuropeasayoungmanandmysteriouslytaughthimselftospeakseverallanguagesinadditiontoaccountingandknowledgeofthelaw.WhenHenryVIIIfailedtopersuadethepopetoannulhismarriagetoCatherineofAragon,Cromwellengineeredanincrediblesolution.UsinghispoliticalskillshepersuadedParliamentandthepeopletoacceptamythologicalrewritingofthehistoryofEnglandinwhichtheEnglishmonarchwasasanemperorwhosepowersupersededthatofthepope.ProfessorMacCullochdescribesCromwellasanevangelicalreformer,determinedtobreakthehierarchyoftheRomanCatholicchurchandintroducethepeopleofEnglandtoanewtypeofChristianityinwhicheachindividualmakesdirectcontactwithGod.