CJ Sansom, novelist and Shardlake creator, dies at 71
The Independent|April 30, 2024
CJ Sansom, the author who created the character of Matthew Shardlake, has died aged 71, his publisher has announced.
ELLIE MUIR
CJ Sansom, novelist and Shardlake creator, dies at 71

The writer – full name Christopher John Sansom – was best known for the historical novels following the 16th-century lawyer detective who solves crimes while avoiding political intrigue caused by Henry VIII.

In a statement, Sansom’s publisher said: “It is with immense sadness that Pan Macmillan announces the death of CJ Sansom. Chris’s first novel, Dissolution, which introduced readers to lawyer Matthew Shardlake, was published 21 years ago and won legions of fans. Chris wrote six further novels featuring Shardlake and two standalone historical novels, Winter in

Madrid and Dominion, which were also huge bestsellers, and have all been applauded by readers and critics alike.”

Sansom’s books have inspired a TV show, Shardlake, which is set to air on Disney+ from Wednesday this week, starring Arthur Hughes as Matthew Shardlake and Sean Bean as Thomas Cromwell. His agent Antony Topping said it was an “extraordinarily strange coincidence” that Sansom died just days before a new generation of fans will meet his character Matthew Shardlake through the forthcoming adaptation.

This story is from the April 30, 2024 edition of The Independent.

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This story is from the April 30, 2024 edition of The Independent.

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