Wolf Hall

a novel

by Hilary Mantel

Hardcover

English language

Published Jan. 1, 2009 by John Macrae/Henry Holt and Company.

ISBN:: 978-0-8050-8068-1
OCLC Number:: 1060973852

(8 reviews)

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 power

England 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 opposes him. The quest for the king's freedom destroys his adviser, the brilliant Cardinal Wolsey, and creates a years-long power struggle between the Church and the Crown.

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 power

Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell is a wholly original man, both a charmer and a bully, an idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people and a demon of energy. Cromwell is a consummate politician, hardened by years abroad and his personal losses. Implacable in his ambition and self-taught--it is said that he can recite the entire New Testament from memory, knows Europe's major languages, and speaks poetry freely--Cromwell soon becomes the country's most powerful figure after Henry. When Henry pursues his desire to marry Anne Boleyn, it is Cromwell who breaks the deadlock and allows the king his heart's desire. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition--Thomas More, "the man for all seasons", Katherine the queen; his daughter the princess Mary--but what will be the price of his triumph?

(front flap)

32 editions

Aaron reviewed Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Wolf Hall

5 stars

I don't read a ton of fiction that takes actual historical figures as their characters. I'm not even sure why I made an exception for Wolf Hall, other than the fact that has been so widely acclaimed and since I'm not a historian of the UK, Mantel could write pretty much anything and I would believe it. The achievement here is significant -- Mantel juggles an enormous cast of characters, and the book consists almost entirely of dialogue among them. Cromwell is "he" throughout the course of the book, and with him there are rapid-fire shifts from exterior to interior dialogue. Does this book comport with "what happened"? I can't say -- but it was a powerful read and I enjoyed it immensely.

crabbygirl reviewed Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Review of 'Wolf Hall' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

a marathon of a book.
upon finishing it, i feel both relieved it's over, and proud i made it through
that said, the content is so dense, and my grasp of the politics of King Henry VIII's court is so tenuous, that i often felt out of my depth. yes, i better understand the papacy and it's underlinings as a power source rather than a religious one. yes, i see the political alliances (and debts) of marriages within European powers. yes, i better understand the era's superstition - mired in the plague and other easy deaths. but these were things i did know, however casually. new information was harder to process... the king, in his need to be exalted, has no real friends? the construction of the Church of England was more a money grab than a new marriage for Henry VIII?

ana reviewed Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Wolf Hall & Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

3 stars

I wonder what Mantel thought was wrong with Cromwell's name that she had to substitute it with a 'he' every time she refers to him. It would have made sense if there had been no other men in the narration, but there were and too many times it was necessary to re-read whole paragraphs to find out which 'he' she was talking about.

In a few occasions there were entire pages of irrelevant non-action and seemingly intentionally confusing writing, like when 'Liz Cromwell' seems to be flying (years after she's dead) and you're left wondering if you're reading some one's dream until a page or two later of the flight's description when it is finally explained that names of dead ladies have been given to birds.

A great novel and good historical fiction as the rest of the reviews show, but these unnecessary gimmicks that distract from the content of …

A great novel and good historical fiction as the rest of the reviews show, but these unnecessary gimmicks that distract from the content of the novel make it a bit difficult to understand that it got so many awards.

In a few places it is a page-turner, but mostly it is not.

Good writing is that which is easy to read. This was not always

Phil Sorrell reviewed Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Review of 'Wolf Hall' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Abandoned. The use of 'he' with a view point character added to the confusion of who was who, further confused by jumping between present and past. Not for me.

dommiz reviewed Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Review of 'Wolf Hall' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Astonishing, immersive experience. Feels like you are looking over Cromwell's shoulder as he insinuates himself into the centre of Tudor political intrigue, and in the process changes Britain forever.