C.J. Sansom, a renowned British author famous for his historical crime novels featuring the Tudor-era lawyer and investigator Matthew Shardlake, passed away at the age of 71. Pan Macmillan, his publisher, announced the news on Monday, revealing that Sansom had been working on his latest Shardlake novel, “Ratcliff,” when he died on Saturday following a period of declining health.
Sansom first introduced the character of Matthew Shardlake in his debut novel, “Dissolution,” published in 2003. Set in 16th-century Tudor England, the book revolves around a captivating murder mystery that unfolds against the backdrop of King Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. The novel’s seamless blend of an intriguing detective story and meticulously researched historical details earned Sansom critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. Following the success of “Dissolution,” Sansom went on to write six more novels in the Shardlake series.
The popularity of Sansom’s work has led to the adaptation of “Dissolution” into a Disney+ series, which is set to premiere on Wednesday, starring Sean Bean and Arthur Hughes in lead roles.
In addition to the Shardlake series, Sansom authored two standalone historical thrillers, “Winter in Madrid” and “Dominion.” His publisher reported that over 3 million copies of his books are currently in print, a testament to his success as a writer.
Despite his achievements, Sansom was known to be an intensely private person. His editor and publisher, Maria Rejt, shared that from the very beginning, he wished to be published quietly and without fanfare. However, she noted that Sansom always took great joy in the public’s enthusiastic response to his novels and worked tirelessly on each book, never wanting to disappoint a single reader.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.