For years considered as a foxy politician, Thomas Cromwell has been greatly rehabilitated (恢复……的名誉) by Hilary Mantel’s prize-winning novels, Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2012). It’s true that he planned Anne Boleyn’s fall, and made a large fortune in a dishonest way, but he was also a good husband and father, charming and modest, a self-made man.
Certainly, he is one of the outstanding figures from Henry VIII’s court. Extremely hard-working, he was a productive reporter. It was not unusual for him to start work as early as 5 am and finish well after midnight.
Yet in researching the biography of Cromwell, I have discovered frustrating gaps in sources, particularly in relation to his early life.
The man who would one day become the most powerful in England was raised from such humble (卑微的) origins that nobody knows when or where he was born. As the son of a blacksmith, he suffered a miserable childhood.
I had the portrait (肖像), which now hangs in the Frick Collection in New York, of a thoughtful but rather bad-tempered official in mind. It seems to describe a cruel man of business, which was what I thought before I read Wolf Hall. But Mantel’s portrait of a rude but intelligent man who was as loyal to his family and friends as he was cruel to his enemies is really convincing.
His last letter to Henry VIII, written from the Tower in June 1540, is desperately moving. “Most gracious Prince,” he wrote with his trembling hand, “I cry for mercy, mercy, mercy !” Henry was said to have read the letter three times. But it was not enough to save Cromwell from the axe.
Within weeks of Cromwell’s death, his royal master was regretting the loss of “the most faithful servant”. But Henry’s daughter Mary destroyed all of that. Debate has taken place ever since — among historians, novelists and film-makers alike — as to who was the real Cromwell.
【小题1】Why are there few sources of Cromwell’s early life according to the passage?A.He was a mysterious man. | B.He wanted to be a dark horse. |
C.He was a man of humble birth. | D.He was misunderstood by the public. |
A.had only a limited understanding of Cromwell |
B.had his doubts about Mantel’s portrait of Cromwell |
C.thought highly of the portrait hanging in the Frick Collection |
D.considered Cromwell a popular guy among his family and friends |
A.felt great sympathy for Cromwell |
B.blamed Mary for Cromwell’s death |
C.seemed a bit hesitant about killing Cromwell |
D.was the main reason for the debate about Cromwell |
A.Why Cromwell got successful in his career | B.How people debate on Cromwell |
C.What the book Wolf Hall is about | D.What sort of man Cromwell really was |