Writer CJ Sansom, who created the character of Matthew Shardlake, has died on the age of 71, his writer has introduced.
Sansom first launched readers to Shardlake – a lawyer who solves crimes whereas navigating the non secular reforms and political intrigue of Tudor England – within the 2003 e-book Dissolution.
The Scottish author launched six additional novels that includes Shardlake, in addition to two standalone historic novels, Winter In Madrid and Dominion.
His works have simply been tailored into the sequence Shardlake, which options The Innocents star Arthur Hughes as the principle character and Recreation Of Thrones actor Sean Bean as Thomas Cromwell.
The primary season of the Tudor homicide thriller sequence is about to be launched by Disney+ on Wednesday.
Sansom was described as considered one of Britain’s greatest historic novelists. Pic: Pan Macmillian/PA
Saying his demise on Monday, publishers Pan Macmillan wrote in a press release: “It’s with immense disappointment that Pan Macmillan publicizes the demise of CJ Sansom.”
“‘It’s an awfully unusual coincidence that Chris has died solely a handful of days earlier than a brand new era of followers will meet Matthew Shardlake, Barak and Man and co for the primary time by means of,” his agent, Antony Topping, mentioned.
“That is additionally a second for which Chris’s established followers have been ready a very long time.
“Chris was so pleased with all of the work and dedication that went into bringing the novels to our tv screens, which I hope will convey a completely new viewers to the books and which is able to possibly additionally encourage some previous followers to return to their favorite CJ Sansom novels.”
Sansom’s long-time editor and writer, Maria Rejt, added that he was engaged on a brand new Shardlake e-book however his “worsening well being made progress painfully sluggish”.
Arthur Hughes as protagonist Matthew Shardlake. Pic: Disney+ UK
She described the creator as an “intensely non-public individual” who took immense pleasure within the public’s enthusiastic response to his novels.
“I shall miss him vastly, not solely as a splendidly proficient author who gave pleasure to thousands and thousands, however as a pricey buddy of monumental compassion and integrity,” Ms Rejt mentioned.
Shardlake featured because the protagonist in a complete of seven of Sansom’s novels. Dissolution was dramatised as soon as earlier than by BBC Radio 4 in 2012.
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Sean Bean stars within the new sequence primarily based off Sansom’s debut novel. Pic: Disney+ UK
With greater than three million copies of his novels in print, Sansom was awarded the Crime Writers’ Affiliation Cartier Diamond Dagger Award in 2022 for his excellent contribution to the style.
Born in Edinburgh in 1952, Sansom attended Birmingham College the place he studied an undergraduate diploma and PhD in historical past.
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He labored as a solicitor earlier than turning into a full-time author the place he was capable of mix his ardour for historical past and legislation securing him as considered one of Britain’s bestselling historic novelists.
Sansom was additionally a signatory to an 2014 open letter advocating that Scotland ought to stay within the UK.
The creator additionally donated £161,000 to the Higher Collectively marketing campaign, in accordance with printed accounts.
