This evening to Drapers’ Hall for a superb Lecture by Oxford
historian Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch on his seminal biography of Thomas Cromwell. It was very fitting that the Lecture was held in Drapers’ Hall as the Hall is
on the site of Thomas Cromwell’s London palace – indeed the Drapers purchased
the site and the palace after the execution of Cromwell in July 1540. The
Lecture was absolutely fascinating – beautifully delivered and entirely without
notes . It caste the Cromwell in an entirely different light for me - his obscure beginnings in Putney; his
travels overseas as a young man and the close ties he developed in Italy; and
the suddenness of his rise to prominence at the age of 40 when many men of that age were approaching
their waning years or indeed dying. The breadth of his administrative
achievement was as staggering, as his character was complex.
A memorable evening!
No comments:
Post a Comment