An academic whose non-fiction work can draw a reviewer to write, "(his) book roars, races and sings", would seem to be a strong candidate for a switch to fiction. And so it has proved for Dr Ian Mortimer, who drew that praise for his work The Greatest Traitor, the life of a 14th Century feudal lord, but has now moved to historical fiction. His debut novel Sacred Treason will be published by Headline under the pseudonym James Forrester in August.
With Sacred Treason, Forrester not only moves out of the non-fiction realm he has populated with a number of critically acclaimed books, he has also jumped a couple of centuries forward from the 14th century to the 16th, and into what is currently the richest seam in the historical fiction mine being worked by modern authors: The Tudors.
But while much of that focus has been on Henry VIII - for the obvious reasons of sexual, religious and political intrigue - Forrester chooses the time of Elizabeth, Henry's daughter.
Sacred Treason is set in 1563, and the passing of the 16 years since Henry's death has not changed one critical political element in England: it is a dangerous time for those who disagree with or challenge the monarch and in particular for those whose disagreements are of a religious nature.
So it is for William Harley, a loyal subject of her majesty, and one of rank: Harley is the Clarenceux King of Arms, a senior officer of the arms with a key role in the heraldic life of the age. Harley is a Catholic, but without grievance against a Protestant monarch. And he is a cautious man anxious to live a blameless life that does not draw unwarranted attention from the officers of the monarch, attention that can be fatal...
But Harley is also honourable and loyal. So when a Catholic acquaintance, Henry Machyn, knocks on his door late at night, disturbed and clearly in fear for his life, pressing a manuscript into Harley's hands and urging him to protect it, the King of Arms is torn between self-preservation and his desire to do right by his friend.
A need to understand better the burden he has taken on drives Harley to examine the manuscript he has been given and later the same night to seek out Machyn looking for answers to questions he already knows are related to a potentially explosive combination of issues including religion and the throne.
Although he cannot find Machyn, Harley's midnight sortie alerts the authorities led by Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's rising star spymaster, and Sir William Cecil, her chief advisor. With that Harley's life quickly begins to disintegrate. His house is sacked, a servant killed and his wife and child take flight. And Machyn is murdered. Any misgivings Harley has about doing Machyn's bidding disappear with a mixture of resignation that he has so few alternatives and anger at the behaviour of the officers of the Queen.
That launches a desperate race against time for Harley, who must discover the explosive secret in Machyn's document before his enemies can destroy him, and he travels the length of the land to do so.
The result is a gripping historical thriller, full of fascinating period detail and alive with both the nuance and the sledgehammer of Tudor politics. Harley makes for an odd sort of reluctant protagonist and throughout is gripped by doubt needing to have his sinews stiffened by those around him brave enough to contribute to his journey. But his weaknesses give him substance and credibility and are a strong draw.
Forrester times his story perfectly, building up to a very clever climax that suits the story. So often terrific novels are let down by poor unwieldy endings. Not here. This is a fine novel enhanced by its close.
As ever in historical novels, half the battle is in the atmosphere. As I've said before, for most readers actual authenticity is not necessary - how many have the depth of knowledge of Elizabethan society to quibble - but the book needs to feel authentic and to be consistent to itself. As you might expect of a historian with Forrester's track record, this is another significant area of strength. The darkness, the mud and the lack of comfort anchor the story in their age while the fear of political tyranny lends it a timelessness that will appeal to the most modern reader.
I managed to start this review without referring to the most obvious comparison to other works in the genre, but not to finish it would probably be doing the author a disservice: if you liked CJ Sansom, you'll like James Forrester.
