C. J. Sansom
Encyclopedia
Christopher John "C.J." Sansom is a British writer of crime
novels. He was born in 1952 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was educated at the University of Birmingham
, where he took a BA
and then a PhD
in history
. After working in a variety of jobs, he decided to retrain as a solicitor
. He practised in Sussex
as a lawyer for the disadvantaged, before quitting in order to work full-time as a writer. He currently lives in Sussex.
in the 16th century, whose main character is the hunchback
ed 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
and Dark Fire
, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer
in Sovereign and Revelation and Queen Catherine Parr
in Heartstone.
He has also written Winter in Madrid
, a thriller set in Spain
in 1940 in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War
.
Historical Dagger, awarded by the Crime Writers' Association
(CWA). Sansom himself was "Very Highly Commended" in the 2007 CWA Dagger in the Library
award, for the Shardlake series.
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
novels. He was born in 1952 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was educated at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, where he took a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and then a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. After working in a variety of jobs, he decided to retrain as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
. He practised in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
as a lawyer for the disadvantaged, before quitting in order to work full-time as a writer. He currently lives in Sussex.
Work
He came to prominence with his series set in the reign of Henry VIIIHenry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
in the 16th century, whose main character is the hunchback
Kyphosis
Kyphosis , also called roundback or Kelso's hunchback, is a condition of over-curvature of the thoracic vertebrae...
ed lawyer Matthew Shardlake, who is assisted in his adventures by Mark Poer and then Jack Barak. Shardlake works on commission initially from Thomas Cromwell
Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex
Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex, , was an English statesman who served as chief minister of King Henry VIII of England from 1532 to 1540....
in Dissolution
Dissolution (C. J. Sansom novel)
Dissolution is a crime novel by British author C. J. Sansom. It is Sansom's first published novel, released in 2003, and the first in the Matthew Shardlake series...
and Dark Fire
Dark Fire (C. J. Sansom novel)
Dark Fire is a crime novel by British author C. J. Sansom. It is Sansom's second novel, released in 2004, and also the second in the Matthew Shardlake series...
, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
in Sovereign and Revelation and Queen Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
in Heartstone.
He has also written Winter in Madrid
Winter in Madrid
Winter in Madrid is a spy novel written by C. J. Sansom. The setting is just after the Spanish Civil War in 1940. The main character is a wounded veteran, Harry Brett. He received his wounds during the Dunkirk withdrawal....
, a thriller set in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1940 in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
Awards
Dark Fire won the 2005 Ellis PetersEdith Pargeter
Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM , also known by her nom de plume Ellis Peters, was a British author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both...
Historical Dagger, awarded by the Crime Writers' Association
Crime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
(CWA). Sansom himself was "Very Highly Commended" in the 2007 CWA Dagger in the Library
Dagger in the Library
The Dagger in the Library is an annual award given by the British Crime Writers' Association to a particular author. The award is given to a "living author who has given the most pleasure to readers". Yearly shortlists are drawn up from submissions by libraries across United Kingdom, and the final...
award, for the Shardlake series.
Reviews
- Schoolboy rivalries in the Spanish civil war A review of Winter in Madrid, in Telegraph, 26.2.2006
- A wherry across the Thames A review of Dark Fire, by Stella Duffy, in The Guardian, 6.11.2004
- Spanish Civil War, stripped of Hemingway's romance A review of Winter in Madrid, by Katherine Bailey, in The Philadelphia Enquirer, 20.1.2008
- Revelation A review of "Revelation", by Christina Hardyment, in Times Online, 29.3.2008
- Romanttinen vakoojatarina A review of Finnish translated Winter in Madrid, by Jari Olavi Hiltunen, in Opettaja 21.5.2010