Shardlake series explained

Shardlake series
Books:
Author:C. J. Sansom
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Genre:Historical mystery
Adventure
Publisher:Macmillan Publishers
Pub Date:2003–present
Media Type:Print (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book

The Shardlake series is a series of historical mystery novels by C. J. Sansom, set in 16th century Tudor England. The series features barrister Matthew Shardlake, who, while navigating the religious reforms of Henry VIII, solves crime and tries to avoid getting caught up in political intrigue.

The first six books are set during the reign of Henry VIII, while the seventh, Tombland, takes place two years after the king's demise. Sansom said before his death that he planned to write further Shardlake novels taking the lawyer into the reign of Elizabeth I.[1]

Description

The series' protagonist is the hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake, who is assisted in his adventures by Mark Poer and then Jack Barak.

Shardlake works on commission, initially from Thomas Cromwell in Dissolution[2] and Dark Fire,[3] then archbishop Thomas Cranmer in Sovereign and Revelation,[4] queen Catherine Parr in Heartstone and Lamentation, and lately princess Elizabeth in Tombland. The seventh book, Tombland, was published in October 2018.[5] [6]

The books cover several historical events, such as the Dissolution of the monasteries (1536–1541), the Royal Progress to York (1541), the Battle of the Solent and the sinking of the Mary Rose (1545), the burning at the stake of Anne Askew (1546), the publication of The Lamentation of a Sinner (1547), Kett's Rebellion (1549), and the several marriages of king Henry VIII.

Principal characters

Fictional

Characters who existed in real life

Novels

Matthew Shardlake series
TitleYear setYear publishedPublisherISBNAwards
Dissolution15372003London:Macmillan1-4050-0542-4Nominated for the 2003 Crime Writers' Association (CWA) John Creasey Memorial Dagger, for first books by previously unpublished writers. It was also nominated for the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger in the same year.[7]
Dark Fire15402004London:Macmillan1-4050-0544-0Awarded the Crime Writers' Association Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award in 2005.[8]
Sovereign15412006London:Macmillan0-3304-3608-2 
Revelation15432008London:Macmillan0-3304-4710-6Shortlisted for the Books Direct Crime Thriller of the Year 2009[9] and the Crime Writers Association Ellis Peters Historical Dagger in 2008.[10]
Heartstone15452010London:Mantle1-4050-9273-4Shortlisted for the 2011 Walter Scott Prize[11]
Lamentation15462014London:Mantle978-1-4472-6025-7 
Tombland15492018London:Mantle978-1-4472-8449-9Shortlisted at The British Book Awards 2019 for Fiction Book of the Year and Marketing Strategy of the Year[12]

Adaptations

Radio

BBC Radio 4 has adapted novels in the Shardlake series as part of its 15-Minute Drama series. In 2012, Dissolution was adapted into a 10-part radio serial by Colin MacDonald, starring Jason Watkins as Shardlake and Mark Bonnar as Cromwell.[13] [14] BBC Radio 4 later broadcast Dark Fire in 2014, with Justin Salinger taking over the role of Shardlake and Bryan Dick playing Barak, Sovereign in 2015, Revelation in 2017, Heartstone in 2018, and Lamentation in 2021,[15] all adapted by Colin MacDonald as 10-part serials.[16]

Television

See main article: Shardlake (TV series).

In 2007, the BBC commissioned an adaptation of Dissolution, with Kenneth Branagh set to star as Shardlake.[17] Branagh chose instead to star as the eponymous protagonist in the BBC series Wallander.[18]

In 2023, Disney+ greenlit an adaptation of the Shardlake novels. The series will consist of four episodes, and will be directed by Justin Chadwick.[19] Arthur Hughes will play Shardlake.[20]

Stage

In 2023, Mike Kenny adapted Sovereign as a community theatre production for the York Theatre Royal. Fergus Rattigan played Shardlake.[21]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shardlake . cjsansome.com.
  2. Web site: A review of Dominion. https://web.archive.org/web/20130722001509/http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/review-cj-sansom-dominion . dead . 22 July 2013 . Upcoming4.me . 12 July 2013.
  3. News: A wherry across the Thames: A review of Dark Fire. Duffy, Stella . The Guardian . UK . 6 November 2004.
  4. News: A review of 'Revelation' . https://web.archive.org/web/20140602195058/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/culture/books/fiction/article87906.ece . dead . June 2, 2014 . Kemp, Peter . The Sunday Times . UK . 27 April 2008.
  5. Book: 978-1-4472-8449-9 . Sansom, C.J. . Tombland . October 2018 . London . Mantle.
  6. Web site: Sansom, C.J. . New C.J. Samson: Tombland (2018) . October 2018 . PanMacMillan.
  7. News: 2003 CWA Dagger Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928060444/http://www.shotsmag.co.uk/CWA%20DAGGERS%202003.htm . dead . 2007-09-28 . 2007-09-28 .
  8. Web site: CJ Sansom wins with Dark Fire . https://web.archive.org/web/20070810033911/http://www.thecwa.co.uk/daggers/2005/historical.html . dead . 2007-08-10 . 2005 CWA Dagger Awards . 2007-08-10.
  9. News: Obama battles vampires for Galaxy prize . The Guardian . 19 September 2010 . London . Alison . Flood . 10 March 2009.
  10. Web site: CWA Shortlist . 2008 . shotsmag.co.uk . 19 September 2010.
  11. News: Walter Scott historical fiction shortlist announced. BBC News . 12 June 2011. 1 April 2011.
  12. https://publishingperspectives.com/2019/03/british-book-awards-2019-books-of-the-year-shortlists-nibbies/ The British Book Awards: 2019 Books of the Year Shortlists
  13. Web site: Radio 4: Episode Guide: Dissolution. BBC .
  14. Web site: Episode Guide: Dissolution. Radio Times .
  15. Web site: Radio 4: Lamentation. BBC . 18 January 2021.
  16. Web site: BBC Radio 4 Extra - Shardlake - Episode guide .
  17. News: Branagh to play Tudor sleuth . . Ben . Dowell . Vanessa . Thorpe . 18 November 2007.
  18. Web site: News Archive: January 2008 - June 2008 . The Kenneth Branagh Compendium . So, the new news is that Matthew Shardlake, and the announced BBC filming of Dissolution, will be left lurking back in the 16th century for the moment, while a more contemporary Swedish detective is brought to BBC screens. Kenneth Branagh will become Kurt Wallander for a BBC series tentatively titled Wallander. . 8 January 2018.
  19. News: Jake . Kanter . Disney+ Lines Up Series Adaptation Of CJ Sansom's Shardlake Tudor Detective Novels . January 4, 2023 . . January 8, 2023.
  20. News: Naman . Ramachandran . Disney+ Sets Series Adaptation of C.J. Sansom’s ‘Shardlake’ Murder Mystery Novels . May 24, 2023 . . March 31, 2023.
  21. News: Catherine . Love . Sovereign review – CJ Sansom’s historical doorstopper comes home to York . September 21, 2023 . . July 20, 2023.