Mystery in history serves up two dimensions in the new Shardlake series – a puzzling crime to solve and historical details. Tudor crime novel? Yes. A vicious murder to solve? Yes.
Shardlake takes place in 16th-century England during the dissolution of the monasteries. The series is a four-part drama adapted from C. J. Sansom‘s internationally renowned Tudor murder mystery series’ first novel, Dissolution.
Cromwell commissions a young lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, to find a reason to close an abbey in the south of England. Far from the court, he arrives at a coastal monastery to meet with hostility and solve the last of Cromwell’s representatives murdered.
With rich historical detail, costuming, swords, horses, dank ships, eerie marshes, and dark secret passageways, solving the mystery for Shardlake has more to contend with than antagonistic monks.
Shardlake History: Why Was This Happening?
The television series reflects the conflicts in Tudor, England.
When Henry VIII separated from the Pope when his divorce was forbidden, he changed the Church in England. Monasteries and abbeys became extremely wealthy and held tons of land. The king wanted that wealth to support his kingdom.
The Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536-1540) was a period of significant changes to the social norms of the day. During this era, religious reformers aimed to replace Catholic institutions with Protestantism, leading to violent conflicts and destruction.
Thomas Cromwell was the king’s advisor and was in charge of reforming the church. That’s why he commissions Shardlake in the king’s name to find a reason to close down the monastery. He must find a legal reason.
Shardlake’s Story
In a bold act of defiance against religious authority, King Henry VIII decided to sever ties with the Roman Catholic Church. His decision stems from the monasteries’ unwavering resistance to his rule, leading him to seek their closure as a means of consolidating his power.
In a shocking turn of events, the discovery of Robin Singleton, the king’s trusted messenger, beheaded within the Saint Donatus monastery has raised suspicions of treason against the crown. The law can only proceed with permanently closing Saint Donatus after conducting a thorough investigation into Singleton’s death and gathering solid evidence against any potential killers.
Matthew Shardlake (Arthur Hughes) serves as Thomas Cromwell’s (Sean Bean) preferred detective. Equipped with a keen wit and an unmatched ability to discern the truth, Shardlake is poised to challenge the purportedly corrupt monks of Saint Donatus.
When he arrives at the secluded monastery, he soon finds himself entangled in a series of mysterious and gruesome events. These incidents unravel a web of secrets that challenge his beliefs and loyalties to the crown and his homeland.
And there’s another dimension. Despite his steadfast loyalty to Cromwell and the Crown, Shardlake endures a disadvantaged social standing owing to his physical condition—scoliosis—during the Tudor period, enduring the indignity of being taunted as a “crookback” wherever he goes.
The character of Shardlake is artfully and empathically played by Arthur Hughes. Because he has a congenital condition, radial dysplasia, he knows the feelings associated with reactions to a disability. This is a groundbreaking role as the first actor with a disability to feature in a starring role.. Hughes serves as a model for others with disabilities.
Why Watch Shardlake?
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The Shardlake series offers a variety of reasons to entertain.
- A great mystery puzzle, ready to please the most discerning mystery fans.
- Rich historical detail with settings and costumes
- A unique approach to Tudor history
- Rich, rewarding entertainment
- Great acting by Arthur Hughes as Shardlake and Anthony Boyle as his obstreperous sidekick. And a varied cast of talented actors
- Easy to watch in one sitting with only four episodes
- Based on C. J. Sansom’s richly detailed and critically acclaimed Shardlake series of books, we can hope for more to come.
Here are the books, if you want to read more.
- Dissolution (set in 1537)
- Dark Fire (set in 1540)
- Sovereign (set in 1541)
- Revelation (set in 1543)
- Heartstone (set in 1545)
- Lamentation (set in 1546)
- Tombland (set in 1549)
Sadly, C. J. Sansom, who was involved in the production, died on April 29, 2024, just days before the release of the series.
Settle in with your favorite snack and beverage to enjoy a puzzle to solve, adventures and threats of many kinds, treacherous and unreliable characters, superb cinematography, and history from 800 years ago. If any of these plus great acting appeal, you will agree with Los Angeles Times critic Robert Lloyd, “We are on unfamiliar familiar ground, and it feels good.”
About The Author
Zara Altair is a writer and author of historical mysteries set in 6th Century Italy. She is passionate about books, film, film history, and sharing her knowledge with others. Engage with Zara, her educational insights, and her tips for fellow writers by following her on X(Twitter) and Threads.