The Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel

Submitted by Trash_Hogan t3_z695ex in books

I am about halfway through book three (‘The Mirror and The Light’) in Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy and I would just like to state how much I absolutely adore these books. They are full of wonderfully evocative language, an incredibly vivid setting and rich characters. Most remarkable to me is Mantel’s ability to turn one of history’s renowned villains in Thomas Cromwell into a morally grey but utterly believable human being. I am dreading the end, because I know there are no winners in this tale.

Spellbinding historical fiction at its absolute best.

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rckwld t1_iy04qoe wrote

I loved them and I still can’t really describe why.

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michaelisnotginger t1_iy3se3a wrote

It's the prose and dialogue. It's so sharp. Mantel is the same in her essays. Unrelentingly perceptive

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tiredpiratess t1_iy0qh89 wrote

This is probably my favorite historical fiction for this very reason. He is such an interesting but oft glossed over character. The ending was so incredibly well done, which was so satisfying. Knowing how it ended I was so afraid she wouldn’t stick the landing. But she did!

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Soggy-Advantage-5028 t1_iy24i6u wrote

I’ve read Wolf Hall & Bringing up the Bodies but I’m now saving the last one because (sob) there will be no more from the great Mantel. Honestly I was more upset about Hilary dying than the queen! Hoping Ishiguro has more books to come, he’s another writer I adore.

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LieutenantCardGames t1_iy2hp46 wrote

Hilary Mantel was one of the greatest writers of all time, straight up. Banger after banger. Best English writer in the last 50 years, at least.

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PineappleScheme t1_iy0kqca wrote

I recently re-read them all. Incredible storytelling. I took a long time to finish book 3 because I knew what was coming!

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WhoIsJonSnow t1_iy3ms55 wrote

I just started Wolf Hall last week. The writing is incredible. I am finding it hard to keep up with the family tree between the Tudor's and the Yorks, but I imagine as I immerse myself further I'll pick up on the connections more naturally.

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Negative-Net-9455 t1_iy2gvrl wrote

I've just started The Mirror and The Light - I was going to give myself a Tudor-break after Bring Up The Bodies but I just had to carry straight on.

They are so good. Even knowing exactly what's going to happen it's the characters individual stories and personalities that make these books shine. It's going to be an emotional goodbye to Mantel's Cromwell. A man I've met before via fiction (C.J. Sansom's also excellent Shardlake series for example) but never had an ounce of fellow-feeling for before now.

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honestlyidntrllycare t1_iy2gy1a wrote

I read them once a year. They are the best. I Was so sad when she passed away and i cannot read the last couple of pages of the mirror and the light. I did it on the first run and cried and cried. Oh my.

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montims t1_iy2p3ny wrote

Oh gosh. When I got to the last few pages, my heart was thudding so hard and I was breathless. The writing...

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laconicflow t1_iy1y2ki wrote

It's brilliant, isn't it?!

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DtotheUG t1_iy3osdo wrote

The scene you know is coming lives up to the moment. And even though you know it’s coming, it’s so well written that you will be floored.

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michaelisnotginger t1_iy3sjgh wrote

The end of the Mirror and the Light is up there with any part of the trilogy. It is exceptional.

If you like this trilogy I can recommend her biography Giving up the Ghost, and Beyond Black for something very different. And if you want historical fiction, a place of greater safety is less polished, but still captivating.

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Real_Razzmatazz_8096 t1_iy049gz wrote

I'm just about finished off with the first book. I don't think I'm gonna continue: the work is too abstract and slow moving, though I do love much of the writing

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Perfect_Drawing5776 t1_iy2pobo wrote

I struggled with Wolf Hall. Thought the “He, Cromwell” schtick was a little too precious, although I adored “Call me.” Not sure why I picked up Bring Up the Bodies. It’s fantastic. She toned down the pronoun juggling, picked up the pace and dug into the character development. Plus the stage was already set and this was a part of the story that’s more familiar so that probably played a part in how much more I enjoyed it. Anne Boleyn’s final scenes are breathtaking. I’m sure part of my thousand star rating is how much I expected not to like it based on the first book.

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AnnaT70 t1_iy3ormr wrote

One of the best, most breathtaking reading experiences of my life. I never get tired of them. A superhuman achievement on Mantel's part.

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goodgodlemon24 t1_iy3sjq8 wrote

I was shocked by how much I loved this trilogy. It took me a bit to get used to the writing style (specifically, “he”) but after that it was quite the ride. Bring Up the Bodies, I think I read it in 2 days. It’s my favorite in the series!

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Isunova t1_iy3uofh wrote

I want to start Wolf Hall, but I’ve heard the writing can be very confusing and it can be hard to differentiate between who is speaking. Can you confirm?

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Trash_Hogan OP t1_iy3vu07 wrote

Her style is definitely unique, for the first few chapters it can be a bit overwhelming to try to keep up with who is saying what, but by the middle of the book I was more than accustomed to it.

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tiredpiratess t1_iy6quhv wrote

If you’re worried about this I highly recommend the audiobook version. The reader is a professional actor who was in the wolf hall plays and was hand chosen by the author. He does slight voices to help differentiate between the characters.

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Isunova t1_iy6vjcv wrote

I’m not a fan of audiobooks as I can read significantly faster than they speak, but thanks for the recommendation nonetheless. I may end up listening to it if I find the reading confusing.

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lonelyone12345 t1_iy2cd9x wrote

I have tried twice.to get through the first book of this series. I want to love it so badly, but I just can't do it.

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markireland t1_iy3pgi7 wrote

In New York you can see Cromwell's portrait at Frick Madison

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Ok_Cauliflower6485 t1_iy3xjlh wrote

Thanks for this post! I read them last year and think about them all the time. Her writing is so brilliant.

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WarpedLucy t1_iy4c5bk wrote

I love Mantel's incredible put downs!

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Grace_Omega t1_iy5bexp wrote

I’ve read the first two, loved the first one and liked the second. I’m looking forward to getting around to the third.

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MansfromDaVinci t1_iy2ulv3 wrote

Thomas Cromwell isn't considered a villain, as far as I know, a highly competent man, a bit of a schemer, flunky to a murderous tyrant, but not a villain. Why do you think he's a villain?

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