Thomas Cromwell was a man of humble origins & outstanding intellect who rose up to become Henry VIII's chief minister & right-hand man during the English Reformation. He wielded enormous power while he retained the king's favour but the failure of Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves which Cromwell had arranged led to his swift downfall & execution. In this authoritative biography by an acknowledged expert in the field John Schofield reveals that the popular image of Cromwell as a blood-stained henchman is largely fictional. Detailed research into contemporary sources illuminates his brilliant mind & his love for & patronage of the arts & humanities while short case studies shed new light on his relations with & his reputation among Henry VIII's subjects. In his conclusion Schofield narrates the drama of Cromwell's downfall & highlights the king's posthumous exoneration of the 'most faithful servant he ever had'.