Hard to believe this could be better than Wolf Hall, but it really is. Pacy, gripping and enlightening. One of those books that makes you a more complete person simply by reading it. We are at Cromwell's side throughout, and can see how his plans take shape and why he must take the action he does, but that does not mean we are uncritical of his actions. It is a very interesting, and privileged position to be so intimate with another's thoughts. More intimate than if it was written in the first person, oddly enough. I just don't know how Mantel achieves this effect, but it is damned clever.