DISSOLUTION

In 1537, England, led by Henry VIII, began its fierce crusade against the Catholic Church, establishing instead the Church of England. Thomas Cromwell led this crusade by way of a severe crackdown on any loyalists of the old church through informants and loyalists. Simon Jones is superb in this account of Tudor England and spans the breadth of characters with smooth transitions. His rapport with the main character, Matthew Shardlake, is immediately clear. As a result, the story unfolds easily, making accessible the formality of Old World English speech. B.J.P. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]