Our Man in Rome by Catherine Fletcher

Our Man in Rome by Catherine Fletcher

1527. Gregorio 'The Cavalier' Casali is Henry VIII's man in Rome. An Italian freelance diplomat, he charmed his way into the English service before he was twenty. But now he faces an almighty challenge. Henry wants a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, and Casali must persuade Pope Clement VII of his master's case. Set against the backdrop of war-torn Renaissance Italy, Our Man in Rome weaves together tales from the grubby underbelly of Tudor politics with a gripping family saga to reveal the extraordinary true story behind history's most infamous divorce. Through six years of cajoling, threats and bribery, Casali lives by his wits. He manoeuvres his brothers into lucrative diplomatic postings, plays off one master against another, dodges spies, bandits and noblemen alike. But as the years pass and Henry's case drags on, his loyalties are increasingly suspected. What will be Casali's fate? Drawing on hundreds of unknown archive documents, Our Man in Rome reconstructs his tumultuous life among the great and powerful at this turning point for European history. From the besieged Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome to the splendours of Greenwich Palace, we follow his trail in the service of Henry VIII. Lavish ceremony and glamorous parties stand in contrast to the daily strains of embassy life, as Casali pawns family silver to pay the bills, fights off rapacious in-laws and defends himself in the face of Anne Boleyn's wrath. This vivid and compelling book will make us think anew about Henry, Catherine and the Tudor world.

An eye-opening book, an intricate and fascinating story of an elusive man with an impossible jobA brilliant and impressive feat of original research, and necessary reading for anyone fascinated by the story of Henry’s divorce. -- Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf Hall
Catherine Fletcher rescues from undeserved obscurity a key player in one of history's great events. With impeccable scholarship and a zest for the delightful minutiae of history, Fletcher navigates the intricate byways of Renaissance diplomacy to bring this vital new figure into the story of Henry VIII's "great matter" -- Ross King
Fletcher does her subject great credit. She makes no attempt to either embellish or simplify. She simply tells a cracking story well, in plenty of detail with clarity and insight -- Sarah Vine * The Times *

Catherine Fletcher is a historian of Renaissance and early modern Europe, she broadcasts frequently for BBC Radio 4 on Italian Renaissance history and is a BBC New Generation Thinker. Catherine worked with the set team on the BBC’s adaptation of Wolf Hall, advising the production on the historical detail of religious ceremony, dress and furnishings. She now holds the position of Associate Professor in History and Heritage at Swansea University, has previously held fellowships at the British School at Rome and the European University Institute, and has taught at Royal Holloway, Durham and Sheffield universities. The Divorce of Henry VIII is her first book.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781847921765
ISBN 10	1847921760
Title	Our Man in Rome
Author	Catherine Fletcher
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Vintage Publishing
Year published	2012-02-02
Number of pages	288
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.