C. J. Sansom
C.J. Sansom is a critically-acclaimed British author who is best known for his historical crime fiction works set during the reign of Henry VIII's Tudor England. His novels present a vivid portrait of England’s beneath the luxurious and powerful rulerservitude, and bring the thrilling Tudor era to life with compelling characters, stellar writing, and engrossing plots.
Sansom was born in 1952 and grew up in Yorkshire and Derbyshire. He attended the University of Sheffield, graduating in 1975 with a degree in History. Afterwards, he worked at the Home Office for 30 years as a solicitor, until he retired in 2003. He wrote his first novel, Dissolution, in his spare time, a mystery thriller set during the dissolution of the monasteries, and based on the career of a real-life crusading lawyer. It was highly praised by critics, and went onto be listed for the Man Booker Prize.
After the success of Dissolution, Sansom went onto write six further novels set during the reign of Henry VIII’s Tudor England: Tombland, Dark Fire, Sovereign, Revelation, Heartstone and Lamentation. The books are collectively known as the ‘Shardlake’ series, and they follow the fictional lawyer Matthew Shardlake as he solves criminal cases while navigating the tumultuous Tudor landscape. Through the Shardlake novels, Sansom brings the complex politics, intrigue, and occasional violence of the time to life.
The Shardlake series has won numerous awards and Sansom has sold more than a million books in the UK alone. The second book in the series, Dark Fire, was named by The Times Literary Supplement as one of the 100 greatest crime novels ever written. In 2010, Sansom was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Sheffield, with the university citing his ‘outstanding achievements in literature.’
More recently, Sansom has written two further historical crime fiction series. The first three books in the ‘Matthew Bartholomew’ series are set in 14th century England, and follow the investigations of a monk who is also a doctor. The novel Dominion is set shortly after the Second World War and follows a former British spy trying to uncover a secret in the Vatican.
Sansom is known for his attention to detail when creating his historical works, as he often spent several years researching the subject of each novel. His research involves a mixture of extensive primary and secondary sources, engaging with experts in the field, and even tracing the footsteps of his characters – such as when he visited the monasteries his protagonists visited.
C.J. Sansom’s novels are the perfect blend of captivating storytelling and thorough historical research, speaking to the enduring popularity of the enigmatic Tudor England setting. His works have been praised by both critics and readers alike and remain some of the most beloved historical fiction books to this day.
