CJ Sansom obituary

CJ Sansom, a well-known novelist, passed away at the age of 71. He was living the dream of many writers by becoming a highly acclaimed and bestselling author, despite following a routine career as a lawyer earlier in his life. His Shardlake historical mystery novels were an instant hit, selling nearly 4 million copies by 2020. He had a huge following of fans who eagerly waited for his new releases, which always debuted at the top of the UK bestseller charts.

Sansom's change in career was not a stroke of luck, but rather the result of careful consideration, perseverance, and overcoming challenges. Despite enduring significant difficulties early on, he succeeded in producing a popular series of novels distinguished by their intelligence, honesty, and compassion. Throughout his professional life, Sansom was motivated by a deep-seated idealism that connected the seemingly disparate aspects of his work.

The first book by this author, called Dissolution in 2003, was about a hunchbacked lawyer named Matthew Shardlake who gets involved in solving a mystery at a monastery in Sussex. At that time, England's religious groups were being attacked by Thomas Cromwell, who was working for King Henry VIII. The author wrote more books over the next ten years, with new stories about Shardlake that were popular with readers. Some of these titles include Dark Fire, which won an award, Sovereign, Revelation, Heartstone, and Lamentation, which takes place in London during the end of King Henry VIII's rule and the atmosphere of witch-hunting and paranoia.

The books take place in various locations throughout England during the mid 16th-century, including London, Sussex, Norwich, Portsmouth, and York. Not only do they describe the physical landscapes of these places, but they also give insight into the mindset of the people who lived there. Additionally, the books indirectly reflect the political tensions of the present day in which the author, Sansom, writes. For example, Heartstone depicts a king who is overly obsessed with public relations and starts a disastrous foreign conflict. The author's illness caused a delay in the writing of his seventh book, Tombland, which was finally published in 2018.

The writer affirmed that the personality of Shardlake - the lawyer from Lincoln's Inn who was deformed since birth - came to his mind as a complete figure. Particularly in the 1530s and 1540s, Shardlake finds himself in the midst of vicious and sly political plots. Despite being an observer, he endeavors to aid those who have been harmed or oppressed during a period of turmoil. Due to his handicap, he shares a bond with those who have been ostracized.

During an interview, Sansom expressed how the sadness he experienced during his earlier years continued to burden him throughout his life. He described it as "the monkey on my back". This directly parallels with the struggles of his main character in the book series.

Shardlake is a character that embodies the values and worldview of the historical period depicted in the books. The author has done extensive research to ensure a narrative that feels authentic and believable. Additionally, Shardlake is a relatable character, reflecting the beliefs and attitudes of the modern-day reader. He is rational, inquisitive, and open-minded, sharing the sentiments of the Protestant reformers while remaining critical of the cruel tactics used by his patron, Cromwell.

The character Shardlake lives in a very detailed portrayal of Tudor England, but he is different from it because of his curious and accepting humanism. The author Sansom explained, "I'm not claiming that someone like Shardlake existed during that time, but it's possible that he could have, whereas it wouldn't have been possible only 20 years before."

Chris, who hailed from Edinburgh, came from a mixed background, with a mother from Scotland, Ann, and an English father, Trevor, who worked as a naval engineer. He grew up as an only child in a strict Presbyterian household that he felt was stifling and traditional ("with a small and a capital C"). Despite being a reserved person, Chris took a strong stand against Scottish nationalism and any politics that relied on national identity. He saw these ideologies as irrational, prone to demagoguery, and ultimately harmful.

In his Shardlake novels, Sansom portrays the struggles and trials that confront a caring and empathetic individual in a harsh and deceitful environment. The author's childhood was marked by persecution and resilience within a tyrannical establishment while attending the esteemed George Watson's school in southern Edinburgh. He encountered prolonged bullying that almost led him to take his own life. Some years later, Sansom disclosed that his "lack of focus" - which would now be labeled as ADHD - caused him to become the target of both "cruel" educators and students, making him a scapegoat.

As a young student, he felt like he was struggling with serious mental health issues and was very alone. He was angry a lot and suffered from really bad headaches. Sometimes he even thought about ending his own life or burning down the school. When he was 15, he took a huge overdose of sleeping pills that belonged to his mom. Despite all of these challenges, he became very interested in history, politics and how governments work - which became the foundation of both his careers. When he was still quite young, he developed a very radical, socialist view of the world that he still holds today.

After enduring difficult times in school, Sansom chose to spend some time as a voluntary patient at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He reflected that the hospital staff played a critical role in saving his life, which stood in stark contrast to his prior experiences with Watson's school.

He attended Birmingham University where he pursued a degree in history and later on went on to research his PhD on the Labour party's stance on South Africa during the mid-century. However, instead of building a career in academia, he decided to switch paths and qualified as a solicitor. During the 80s and 90s, he dedicated himself to providing legal aid to those in need, with a focus on aiding the vulnerable. Though he lived in Brighton, he found joy in attending writers' groups as a pastime. Despite this, he never once thought of pursing a career in literature for financial gain.

Back in 2000, he inherited a modest amount from his late father. He made the daring decision to pursue a career in writing fiction, all while acknowledging the likelihood of returning to his legal profession within a year's time.

Dissolution was quickly sought after, much to the author's surprise. Various publishers placed bids, with Pan Macmillan ultimately securing the UK publishing rights. The book's popularity was influenced partially by Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose and it was even shortlisted for two book prizes. It was praised not only by fans of crime-fiction but also by readers who were intrigued by the Tudor era and the insights it provided into our own current societal struggles. As the author noted, despite the vastly different beliefs held during that time period, the anxiety and uncertainty were surprisingly similar to those of the 20th century.

Before Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, there was Dissolution which depicted Cromwell and his group six years earlier. However, Sansom's representation of the chief minister is much more ominous than Mantel's. In the realm of history-based mysteries set in medieval or early-modern England, Sansom stands out as a rare male author in a field heavily populated by women, including pioneers like Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) and his contemporaries such as Susanna Gregory.

Throughout the following ten years, the Shardlake books consistently made it onto the bestseller lists. The BBC Radio versions of the tales also helped broaden their audience. However, Sansom, who still resided in Brighton, felt like a bit of a fraud. He stated, "I sometimes have the feeling that I'll wake up any moment now, in a meeting discussing the newest legal aid documents."

Despite his advocate for a well-supported public sector and opposition towards nationalistic and xenophobic policies, Sansom managed to gain a following from unexpected sources due to his mass-market appeal. As an example, former Prime Minister Theresa May, who had vastly different political views from Sansom, donated one of his books to a mini library located in a decommissioned telephone booth in her constituency shortly before her resignation in 2019. This act was seen as perplexing and not a fitting match for a writer who held such strong beliefs.

Sansom's skills as a writer were showcased in his two non-Tudor books. In Winter in Madrid (2006), he skillfully portrayed the tragic plight of a captive nation. The story is set in the Spanish capital at the bleak aftermath of the civil war in the midst of Franco's victorious rule. Dominion (2012) was an extraordinary revival of the oft-overused genre of alternate history. The story's chillingly realistic account of Britain as a satellite state of Nazi Germany in 1952 was truly impressive. In the book, one of the characters aptly observes, "Fascism can take root in any country depending on the right circumstances."

The novel depicts Scottish nationalists as partners with fascism and concludes with a commentary that harshly criticizes the actions of the real Scottish National party. In all of Sansom's works, individuals who strive to remain upright and truthful during tumultuous historical periods are put to the test. Sansom noted that he is particularly interested in exploring the ethical conundrums that educated individuals face in the midst of ideological battles - whether it be during the Reformation in England or World War II.

Sansom received a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a type of bone-marrow cancer in 2012. This was a condition that could not be cured, and Sansom started receiving chemotherapy. Sadly, two years later, he had to mourn the loss of a loved one. The medical treatment he was on, however, made him less able to work as he once could.

Although it was released last year, Tombland was a very well-crafted and carefully-researched mystery book set in the Tudor era. The protagonist, Shardlake, finds himself embroiled in a series of uprisings that unsettle the young King Edward VI's reign in 1549. This historical event is often overlooked, but the author has given it the attention it deserves. In a scholarly essay accompanying the book, the author emphasizes the importance of shining a light on the struggles of the poor and marginalized in Tudor society as a way of counterbalancing the focus on royal figures in popular accounts of this era.

In Brighton, Sansom lived a peaceful life all by himself and showed incredible commitment towards his work. Although sickness intervened, he never lost his determination. He stayed away from the public eye and once even mentioned that he disliked Facebook, Twitter, Christmas, and The Tudors television series, which he considered was downright ridiculous.

The York Theatre Royal put on a community production of Sovereign, the third book in the Shardlake series, in 2023. They performed it on a grand scale at King's Manor in York, which is a significant location in the novel. There is also a TV series based on the books called Shardlake, which has been split into four parts for viewing. It was directed by Justin Chadwick and stars Arthur Hughes as Shardlake and Sean Bean as Cromwell. You can catch it on Disney+ from this week.

In challenging times, a kind-hearted man named Shardlake gained a loyal following of fans. He was knowledgeable but easy to talk to, and his creator spoke passionately about his writing with a gentle hint of his Scottish background. Most importantly, the author, who used to work as a lawyer, remained dedicated to exploring the concept of justice and telling powerful stories about those affected by those in positions of power.