Shardlake: Dark Fire: BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

Addictive. Exhilarating. Eye-opening. Christopher Sansom's follow-up to his first novel, Dissolution, is definitely not disappointing. Our hunchbacked hero, idealistic barrister Matthew Shardlake finds himself once again reluctantly in the services of the Machiavellian Lord Cromwell. Anne of Cleaves, the German Princess Cromwell had convinced King Henry VIII to marry to strengthen his ties to mainland Europe, turned out to be a horse-faced, odiferous, German-speaking, country clod that the King couldn't bring himself to procreate with, thus dashing his dreams for another son. Out of favor with the King, Cromwell buys into a plan to introduce the King to an ancient weapon so destructive, the King would probably let him live and retain his services. Though history suggests that Cromwell would have stayed in favor had he helped the King break from the queen, as he did with Anne Boleyn whom he essentially had framed for adultery and had beheaded, Sansom weaves in his fictitious plot filled with murder, mayhem and intrigue, as well as a swordfight or two. It is a dream plot for movie producers, one I hope to see in the big screen soon. As a side bar but not any less compelling is the case Shardlake was originally hired for that Cromwell uses as bait to get Shardlake to accept his commission. A young orphan living in her wealthy uncle's home is accused of the murder of her 12 year old cousin. Refusing to utter a single word in her defense, she is condemned to the press (a torture technique where heavy slabs of stone are placed on the subject's chess until they speak or die - as opposed to the kind of paparazzi that led to Princess Di's untimely death). Cromwell gives Shardlake two weeks, a handsomely roguish assistant, free reign over Londoners, and eventually a horse, so that he can negotiate the sale of "Greek Fire" from the two hustlers who have offered to sell it to Cromwell so that Cromwell can bring it to the King. Unfortunately for Shardlake, murder shadows his every move and every lead eventually turns up dead.Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to read Sansom's book aside from the sinister plot is the backdrop scenery of 16th Century London Sansom paints for us. Where Dissolution was set in the unforgiving cold (before electric heaters, insulation, and double-paned windows!), Dark Fire, is appropriately set in the torpid heat of a London summer. Squalid. Malodorous. Abysmal. Air condition-less. Sansom captures 16th Century London in all its wretched glory.Sansom also reveals much of its sordid history. Petty thieves were hung for stealing anything worth one shilling (about 12 pence, or 1/20th of a pound), yet manslaughter is punishable by prison with a possibility of buying a pardon from the King. Refusing to plead warranted the press and heretics, Anabaptists, and all those refusing to accept the King's takeover of the Church were summarily executed by burning at the stake. You could however, denounce your faith and escape execution, which some did. Along with the more serious historical notes, Samson includes the colorful cultural trivias as well. Women blackened their teeth on purpose to show that they mainly lived on fine sugar ( a sign of high class and wealth). Dead people's teeth were mounted on wooden plates to serve as false teeth. The banana was first introduced from the new world. And one must bring his own dinner knife if invited to a dinner party, even if its just a sugar banquet which means desserts only. Though the cultural asides sometimes can seem awkwardly inserted (my only criticism, so far!), they are nevertheless charming and will someday prove useful as cocktail party conversation tidbits or if one is selected to play on Jeopardy!At the center of the book is the ideological debate the swirls among the three main characters, Shardlake with his ivory tower belief of an established class system necessary in the order of society and unabashed reformist views, Barak, his assistant, mistrustful of the class system but loyal to his murderous master, and Guy Malton, the former monk turned apothecary whose existence provides a canvas for the bigotry and small-mindedness of 16th century England. It is pleasing to see Shardlake change and grow with his adventures, as well as see his trusting nature upended by people he admires. Somehow, Sansom is able to give his readers a history lecture along with his entertaining storytelling, and one is left with an itching desire to go back to the history books (if just to get Henry's wives straight!) to feed the curiosity Sansom has stoked about the seemingly improbable way humanity once conducted its affairs.

As in DISSOLUTION, we are again transported to Tudor England and the reign of Henry VIII with the reformist Church of England at war with Catholicism and papal control. The author's research is exceptional: we are immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of 16th century London; the poverty stricken lives of ordinary people are contrasted with the privileged class of the aristocracy. Henry VIII declares that he has the God given power to declare his supremacy over the pope. With the help of his vicar-general, Thomas Cromwell, he is able to divorce his wives or execute them on fabricated charges of adultery or treason.In DARK FIRE as in the previous book we are witness to the results of the destruction of the monasteries: the monks are pensioned off or left to search for ways to support themselves. The land has been sold to the nobility or well financed individuals who will build shoddy housing for the poor. Matthew Shardlake, our London lawyer, is involved in a case to determine who is responsible for maintaining the cesspools. He has also taken on the case of Elizabeth Wentworth accused of the murder of her cousin and sentenced to be pressed to death. Lord Thomas Cromwell has granted a stay of execution for the girl in order for Shardlake and Cromwell's assistant, Barak, to search for a mysterious dark fire. Cromwell has promised the king a display of this spontaneous magical fire which could be a devastating weapon against England's enemies.There are many plots and subplots here including several murders which means that one has to pay close attention to Matthew's narrative. He comes across as an intellectual with sensitive feelings; he is also a hunchback and is constantly reminded of his disability by crude remarks or scrutiny of his handicap. Previously a reformer, he has become ambivalent in his religious beliefs after the dissolution. Barak, Cromwell's man, assists Matthew in all of his pursuits and brings a youthful passion and disdain for the aristocracy to the story. His robust and combative nature conflicts with Matthew, but it provides a stimulating spark to their relationship. I was pleased to see that Brother Guy, a former monk at Scarnsea has relocated in London. He is a moor, trained as a physician in France, and not allowed to practice in London; he has been able to establish himself with Matthew's help as an apothecary - I hope that Guy will be a recurring character in the series. As a healer and confidant to Matthew, he is a welcoming presence amidst all of the evil characters at play here.A compelling mystery with many threads. Highly recommend for perspectives of Tudor history.

To find this author was such a gift. The works she writes are truly some of the best of the genre and era I have ever read. Sometimes it takes an age to find an author of this caliber and in my case, it did! His rreviews and praises were there to find...I am so very glad I finally found them and his writing. Brilliant. Astute. Informative. So well crafted. Amazingly complex and riveting stories. Fully fleshed out characters. Challenging. .. Intriguing. So incredibly well done. Top of my list now. I WILL have to...happilt...read alk of his stuff! What a privilege. Cannot wait. H is now on my list of top ten authors! So very highly recommended.

The Matthew Shardlake series has made me fall in love with Tudor England. I am not usually very fond of the Tudor period, but C. J. Sansom's beautiful and captivating writing is too good to resist. You really feel you are there together with Shardlake and Barak, investigating, exploring and sleuthing.Like "Dissolution," the first book of the series, "Dark Fire" flawlessly captures the atmosphere of the time, showing how political and religious schemes of the rich influenced the daily lives of commoners, how the fight for power never ceased and no one was ever safe, and how all changes made in the name of good to be done for the wide society always ended up only making the rich even richer. Some things never change.I can't find a single fault with this book. It's an excellently plotted mystery, beautifully written and full of fascinating characters. More than anything, however, it makes you feel like one of the Londoners going about their day in the early summer of 1540, trying to survive in the smelly and dirty streets of the capital, just by chance witnessing the tussles of the great and powerful.

this was in excellent condition and arrived earlyawesome--- I wish every book would arrive early

I enjoyed the historical theme and the fast moving pace of the two stories unfolding. Shardakes character is endearing and he has strong views that are very worthy. All the characters are fascinating , all set in Tudor England. Henry VIII very much central but never actually seen. Cromwell is shown to be a faithful if not ruthless character , it’s very turbulent times and the reader can sense this with every page turned. Definitely worth reading. On to the next in the series.

Llegó en perfecto estado!

I've been fascinated by Greek Fire for a while, after researching Byzantine art. So this was a book I really wanted to read, and it was highly...Well, I won't say enjoyable because parts were quite fraught, as the Shardlake books tend to be. However, with their authentic Tudor London feel, i will keep an eye out for any future books Sansom writes.

Me encanta esta saga! Los estoy leyendo todos. La ambientación y descripciones son fantásticas y la intriga engancha. Recomendable 100%