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Wolf Hall / Bring Up The Bodies (2012)

by Hilary Mantel(Favorite Author)

4.26 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1443422827 (ISBN13: 9781443422826)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

HarperCollins

review 1: I liked Wolf Hall a bit better, even though this second book read much quicker now that I had figured out the style of the writing. The main issue is that this story is so familiar now, even if the details of Anne Boleyn's demise are slightly different. It was interesting to see how Cromwell constructs the case, but still did not enjoy the inevitable slide into the beheading. I might have to take a break before the third book.
review 2: Hilary Mantel's re-imagining of the life and times of Thomas Cromwell continues in triumph. More and more Cromwell emerges as a modern man, countering stupid aristocrats, vested interests, superstition, with diligence, watchfulness, intelligence (both kinds), and loyalty, to Wolsey, then Henry. He is self-taught, well-read, v... moreersed in trades. (How, by the way, does the author know so much about jousting?) His household, eclectic and generous to a fault, is a model for the England he wants. He feeds two hundred hungry every day, welcomes scholars, young men on the make, foreigners, relations and orphans. His own role has no boundaries, he is indisepensable. He is modern and a moderniser, a meritocrat, ruthless but kind to people he has no reason to be kind to. He is wise and generous with his wisdom. He learn a little more of the inner man, his "demons" as modern cliche would say. Every event, thought, nuance is written through him. If this makes for an evenness of tone then it belies the need for tonal variety. The narrative is relentless, totalitarian, through to the horrors of the denouement which consumes Ann Boleyn and her courtly regime. Is this the Cromwell of history? Is this the Tudor age? There could hardly be a loftier demonstration of the deeper truth inspired fiction can have over "mere" history. To use another cheapened modern cliche, Mantel's achievement is awesome. less

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