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BOOK REVIEW: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

“Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel is a kind of book that gets better, the more you think about it.”

I have always been fascinated by the life of Henry the VIII, and adding, reading through the perspective of Thomas Cromwell, another identity in history whose rise and fall is essential and is directly connected to the history of Tudors, the feeling I am getting now after finished reading the book is staggering.

The majority of the pages cover Cromwell’s career as he advances from being a Cardinal’s aide to the king’s trusted advisory. The author has totally tried to keep it the historical events as realistic as necessary and not altering a single event for the sake of fiction. Many people have not completely read the book and the major defying factor of the book is it’s pace which is quite slow and does not go well with the story. The plot, what to say about it, it’s almost perfect but then I would say as compared to the timeline the book covers the plot is quite micro. More than a novel, it’s kind of a play. The plot advances more with dialogues and less with actions. I quite enjoyed that. And as the plot advances the reader can certainly notice that the current book is very much essential and the plot justifies itself for the next two books in this trilogy. Why it won the Man Booker Prize? It’s not for me to decide.

Mantel’s character are fully realistic, I pictured each and every situation with no difficulty in my imagination when I was reading it. Thomas Cromwell, is of course, both the star of the show and her book, she made me met a new Thomas Cromwell, which I was certainly not expecting and I am quite surprised.

Wolf Hall tells the story of King Henry VIII, his relationship with Anne Boleyn, his divorce from Katherine of Aragorn, and his falling out with the Catholic Church. The tale is told from the point of view of Thomas Cromwell who becomes a kind of fixer for the king.

As I quoted earlier, the book gets better the more I think about it. If you are interested in reading historical fiction, I think you should go for it. And I am sure, you’ll end up reading the trilogy. I can’t wait to read the next book.

3 out of 5

View Comments

Lynne Fellows says: April 22, 2014 at 7:41 PM The Tudors are one of my favourite periods of history. Thanks for the review - I will be adding this to my reading list now.
tpolen says: April 22, 2014 at 8:46 PM This has been on my TBR list for quite a while. Maybe I should nudge it up a little.
breannat1898 says: April 23, 2014 at 7:42 AM This book has always been on my list because I love anything Tudor life, but it is good to know that it is also a fantastic read.
Steve Morris says: April 23, 2014 at 6:03 PM I love Hilary Mantel's writing style, which is quite quirky and dreamlike, and this is her best yet!
fredreeca says: April 23, 2014 at 8:15 PM I could never have gotten through this book if I had read it. Luckily I listened to it. It sure does drag in places. But, I am glad I read (listened) to it
Matthew Oaks says: April 23, 2014 at 8:53 PM I thought this was a good book, not my favorite but still ok. I am currently reading a book called Strange Birth, Short Life and Sudden Death of Justice Girl by Julian David Stone. It's a great look at 1950's TV and the era in NYC at the time. It's been a great read. juliandavidstone.com is the author's site, I recommend it as it's a great look at the 50's and TV coming into it's own.
Bookgirl says: April 24, 2014 at 10:55 AM I have this sitting on my shelf. i made one attempt. There were so many characters I was little overwhelmed as i do read on average three books at once so i had trouble keeping Hilary's long list of characters in my head. One day i will try again.
puruthepink says: April 28, 2014 at 4:42 PM This book is un-put-downable
Stitch Witch says: May 30, 2014 at 8:44 PM I loved Wolf Hall. In fact, I think I would like to have been one of Cromwell's family. Loyalty and trust were so very important to him and he would do what he had to in order to do the right thing - at least according to Hilary Mantell. I am in the middle of Bring out the bodies - I have other things to read and so am taking my time with it. Not wanting it to end. There is a series of books written about that same period that are less hard core history and more fictional murder mysteries - they are about a Solicitor called Matthew Shardlake, written by C J Sansome. There are 4, Dark Fire being the first in the series. I find them riveting as well.

The Tudors are one of my favourite periods of history. Thanks for the review - I will be adding this to my reading list now.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 22, 2014 at 7:46 PM You're welcome :) I am sure you'll enjoy this book. It's a different experience!

You're welcome :) I am sure you'll enjoy this book. It's a different experience!

This has been on my TBR list for quite a while. Maybe I should nudge it up a little.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 22, 2014 at 9:09 PM You should. It is good!

You should. It is good!

This book has always been on my list because I love anything Tudor life, but it is good to know that it is also a fantastic read.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 23, 2014 at 12:57 PM You'll enjoy it :)

You'll enjoy it :)

I love Hilary Mantel's writing style, which is quite quirky and dreamlike, and this is her best yet!

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 23, 2014 at 8:15 PM I agree, it is somewhat dreamlike :)

I agree, it is somewhat dreamlike :)

I could never have gotten through this book if I had read it. Luckily I listened to it. It sure does drag in places. But, I am glad I read (listened) to it

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 23, 2014 at 8:17 PM Thanks for reading the review! Yeah, the book's pace does not coordinate well with plot. But it's a good book! :)

Thanks for reading the review! Yeah, the book's pace does not coordinate well with plot. But it's a good book! :)

I thought this was a good book, not my favorite but still ok. I am currently reading a book called Strange Birth, Short Life and Sudden Death of Justice Girl by Julian David Stone. It's a great look at 1950's TV and the era in NYC at the time. It's been a great read. juliandavidstone.com is the author's site, I recommend it as it's a great look at the 50's and TV coming into it's own.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 23, 2014 at 9:33 PM Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check it out surely, and will let you know if I read it :)

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check it out surely, and will let you know if I read it :)

I have this sitting on my shelf. i made one attempt. There were so many characters I was little overwhelmed as i do read on average three books at once so i had trouble keeping Hilary's long list of characters in my head. One day i will try again.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 24, 2014 at 2:18 PM Do try it, all those characters are significant! :)

Do try it, all those characters are significant! :)

This book is un-put-downable

Aman(@amanhimself) says: April 28, 2014 at 5:25 PM To some extent yes, no matter how the pace, I could not separate myself from it :)

To some extent yes, no matter how the pace, I could not separate myself from it :)

I loved Wolf Hall. In fact, I think I would like to have been one of Cromwell's family. Loyalty and trust were so very important to him and he would do what he had to in order to do the right thing - at least according to Hilary Mantell. I am in the middle of Bring out the bodies - I have other things to read and so am taking my time with it. Not wanting it to end.

There is a series of books written about that same period that are less hard core history and more fictional murder mysteries - they are about a Solicitor called Matthew Shardlake, written by C J Sansome. There are 4, Dark Fire being the first in the series. I find them riveting as well.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: May 31, 2014 at 8:45 AM Hi, well I agree with your point about loyalty, I observed the same. Bringing up bodies, is in my next month's TBR list. I'll let you know, when I am done with it. Thanks, I'll surely check Sansome's books. Happy Reading! :)

Hi, well I agree with your point about loyalty, I observed the same. Bringing up bodies, is in my next month's TBR list. I'll let you know, when I am done with it.
Thanks, I'll surely check Sansome's books. Happy Reading! :)

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