'The King's Achievement' by Robert Hugh Benson is a novel that tells the story of the English Reformation from the Catholic perspective. Set in the 1530s, the book follows the Torridon family, particularly two brothers, Ralph and Christopher, who end up on opposing sides of the religious and political turmoil. The novel provides a complex and stormy portrayal of Cromwell's dissolution of the religious houses and the atmosphere of the time.

For he was perfectly aware that fear, and a sickening kind of repulsion, formed a very large element in his emotions. For nearly two hours, unless three persons had lied consummately, he--his essential being, that sleepless self that underlies all--had been in strange company, had become identified in some horrible manner with the soul of a dead person.

Book Excerpt: But there was no great need for caution at present. The oldpriest who had spoken to him before stepped a little in advanceof the rest, and turning, said in a low sentence or two to theBenedictines; and the group stopped, though one or two stilleyed, it seemed, with sympathy, the man who awaited him. Then thepriest came up alone and put his hand on the arm of the chair."Come out this way," he whispered. "There's a path behind, Monsignor, and I've sent orders for the car to be there."The man rose obediently (he could do nothing else), passed downthe steps and behind the canopy. A couple of police stood therein an unfamiliar, but unmistakable uniform, and these drewthemselves up and saluted. They went on down the little pathwayand out through a side-gate. Here again the crowd was tremendous, but barriers kept them away, and the two passed on togetheracross the pavement, saluted by half a dozen men who were pressedagainst the barriers--(it was here, for the first time, that thebewildered manRead Mo

Life in the World Unseen