England, 1536-1540

The Mirror and the Light takes place in Tudor England. At this point in history, England is only just recovering from the bloody Wars of the Roses which deposed the Plantagenet dynasty and installed the Tudors. The country isn't in a stable position financially or politically, and the threat of invasion from the King of France or the Holy Roman Emperor is very real. This instability also provides an ideal breeding ground for the religious ferment of the Protestant Reformation.

The Tower of London

An infamous prison, the Tower of London becomes Cromwell's home away from home in more than one way. At the beginning of the book, he's so familiar with the Tower that he becomes godfather to the head jailer's daughter; by the end, he's a prisoner there himself. The Tower is a place of curious contrasts: elegant apartments for housing noble prisoners share a...