In the ruthless arena of King Henry VIII’s court, only one man dares to gamble his life to win the king’s favor and ascend to the heights of political powerEngland in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years, and marry Anne Boleyn. The pope and most of Europe … most of Europe opposes him. The quest for the king’s freedom destroys his adviser, the brilliant Cardinal Wolsey, and leaves a power vacuum.
Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell is a wholly original man, a charmer and a bully, both idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people and a demon of energy: he is also a consummate politician, hardened by his personal losses, implacable in his ambition. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition, but what will be the price of his triumph?
In inimitable style, Hilary Mantel presents a picture of a half-made society on the cusp of change, where individuals fight or embrace their fate with passion and courage. With a vast array of characters, overflowing with incident, the novel re-creates an era when the personal and political are separated by a hairbreadth, where success brings unlimited power but a single failure means death.
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I love anything about Henry VIII & Elizabethian period.
One of this rabid reader’s all time favorites. Loved the PBS production as well.
Loved the book, and waiting for the last installment of the trilogy!
Fabulous.
I listened to the Audible version of this book. It was a LONG – – HARD – – slog. This may have been due, in part, to the reader – but I think I would have given up on the paper version before I got to the end.
If you’re interested in the period, (Wolsey, Thomas Moore, etc.), give it a try. If not, this will probably convince you to STAY uninterested!
A good read. Gave insight to many Tudor decisions.
With a unique narrative style, Mantel sympathetically reveals the complex mind and soul of Henry VIII’s low-born but brilliant and worldly-wise counselor Thomas Cromwell (to whom Henry’s other chancellor Thomas More is unfavorably contrasted). Hard to put down. (Ditto for Bring Up the Bodies. Still waiting for the last book in the trilogy, describing Cromwell’s downfall: will it also win the Man Booker prize?)
Took me a long time to get into it. But worthwhile, interesting and enjoyable.
Always an interesting time in English history but a different perspective.
Can be a difficult read if you are unfamiliar with the period.
Very difficult to read; I found I had trouble keeping track of who was talking in passages where multiple characters were all referred to as “he”. I haven’t seen the TV show, maybe that would have helped.
A Classic!
One of the best historical novels I’ve ever read. An original look at the life & times of Henry VIll through the eyes of a commoner who rose to greatness on merit & loyalty alone, Thomas Cromwell. The Chinese have a saying – “may you live in interesting times” – Hilary Mantell brings to light what it’s like to live in such times. A superb read.
I’m amazed how Dame Hillary Mantel creates real people out of historical figures. It’s hard to believe she wasn’t there – listening, watching, probing the thoughts of her oh-so-real characters. I read the sequel, Bring Up the Bodies and I am anxiously awaiting the final book in this trilogy. These books are not for everyone – but if you love history and don’t mind being stimulated, not just entertained, you will be rewarded with Wolf Hall.
Not always an easy because of the author’s style but so worth the effort, as is the sequel. Still waiting patiently for the third book in the series. Catch the PBS version. It’s quite good.
Great book. Paints Cromwell as a worldly and sometimes wise man who is driven by multiple motivations. While the history is accurate, the fleshing out of characters and the rich internal dialog that Cromwell maintains is fascinating.
Challenging historical drama.
This book and Bring up the Bodies tells the story of Henry VII through the eyes of Cromwell, a very different perspective.
I’ve long been a fan of Thomas Cromwell, and it’s nice to see a book that portrays him in a positive light.