It begins with young Tom Wolsey, the bright and brilliant son of a Suffolk tradesman, sent to study at Oxford at just 11 years old.
It ends with a disgraced cardinal, cast from the King’s side and estranged from the woman he loves.
The years in between tell the story of a scholar and a lover, a father and a priest.
From the court of Henry VIII, Tom builds a powerful empire of church and state.
At home in London, away from prying eyes, he finds joy in a secret second life.
But when King Henry, his cherished friend, demands the ultimate sacrifice, what will Wolsey choose?
The Cardinal by Alison Weir is published in paperback on 29 January, 2026.
For more new historical fiction, have a look at Historia’s list of books coming out in 2026 — over 110 of them.
