Wolf Hall

This is a truly engrossing historical novel — I hope it wins the Booker Prize.

Written in beautiful, slightly quirky and so captivating prose, it’s full of vividly realised scenes and characters to care about, of engrossing argument in which the stakes couldn’t be higher. For me the main pleasure was of historical revisionism. In taking Thomas Cromwell as its hero, it effectively challenges the version of the English Reformation – indeed of the Protestant Reformation as a whole – that I absorbed from the nuns and brothers and, I’m embarrassed to acknowledge, remained pretty much intact under the assault of an undergraduate course in Reformation History. I’m consoled somewhat by having the great Erasmus as an offstage show more character who pretty much shares my understanding, and by a sense, especially toward the end, that it’s Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons rather than my young self that Hilary Mantel has in her sights. Thomas More – that’s Saint Thomas More to me – is portrayed here, among other things, a pitiless torturer and a misogynist a***hole, who had a gift for self promotion as a saint. I suppose my younger self might have read this as Protestant propaganda. I hope I would have checked the evidence, and come to the conclusion that if it is propaganda, what it’s propagating is the view that rigid and intolerantly held religious views are an abomination, and that there is great virtue in devoting one’s self to making things go well, that there is much to be said for pragmatism and compromise.

I can't read historical fiction these days without sensing Inga Clendinnen reading over my shoulder. I think she would approve of this. show less

This book is now on my list of favorite historical fiction. I love the way Mantel describes Cromwell's thought processes, and I have to admit, I LOVE the curses : "Oh, by the bleached bones of Becket." That's great writing, there. I read a review somewhere that said this book would be confusing to Americans, as we're all basically illiterate and ignorant (okay, that last part wasn't in the review, but it was inferred), but I think whether or not your knowledge of the Reformation and British royal bloodlines is up to par is somewhat irrelevant. This book was simply an amazing retelling of a pivotal moment in British history. Amazing stuff.

The story of an extremely competent man who was appreciated for it and rose well above his station in the 16th century court of England's Henry VIII. Thomas Cromwell is curiously lacking in faults, unless it's that people generally find him more intimidating and reserved than friendly. He is good at attracting love and admiration, but very careful about how he returns it. His empathic side, great though it can be, can be subservient to realizing his goals; just ask Lady Carey. But the loyalty he engenders among family members, servants and informers is born from admiration and respect rather than fear.

This period of English history was already well-trodden ground in fiction circles before Hilary Mantel got inside Cromwell's head. To show more take one example, several years ago I read The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George and retain fond memories of it. The difference in character portrayals is remarkable: there, Thomas More was a noble saint, King Henry immature and lecherous, Cromwell a somewhat sinister character lurking in the background. Mantel virtually inverts this. More becomes sadistic, and Cromwell is the do-gooder behind the scenes who navigates the dangerous waters of the Tudor court. Part of Cromwell's successful persuasion and pragmatism stems from his low beginnings and at least partly from his being irreligious. He doesn't hesitate to take steps which others of the court would have balked at or scarcely imagined.

Martel is very subtle in Cromwell's portrayal, allowing him to do things off stage that we only get hints of or learn after the fact. This may be to reflect the impression he made on those around him, a man who did much in secret and by secret ways, never allowing anyone to fully know him. The style choices that irritated me are purposeful. To bring more intimacy she wrote the novel in present tense and insisted upon the 'he' pronoun meaning Cromwell by default, regardless of how many other men are in the room, though there are a few slippery exceptions. To reflect how memory works there's some skipping about in time that I would have liked to see done more chronologically.

I really didn't want to revisit this period yet again, but this novel's reputation practically demanded I do so. It's a reputation that's entirely earned. show less

Wolf Hall provides an immersive experience into the 16th century court of Henry VIII. The plot involves the rise of Thomas Cromwell from humble beginnings to one of the most influential people in the realm. His character is articulated extremely vividly – ambitious, intelligent, flawed, at times ruthless. Other deeply drawn characters include Cardinal Wolsey and Sir Thomas More.

Mantel imagines and interprets her characters but remains true to historic events. No wild inventions are needed to provide the intrigue, romance, power plays, and betrayals characteristic of the period. The people are portrayed in a manner that feels authentic. I could easily picture the violence, liaisons, machinations, and politics of the court.

I highly show more recommend the audiobook, read expertly by Simon Slater. He gives distinct voices to each character – and there are many characters. It was easy to follow, like listening to a stage play. The only disadvantage was not being able to re-read certain sections, especially the flashbacks to an earlier time. I suspect I enjoyed it more due to listening to it rather than reading it.

To fully enjoy this book, the reader must desire to delve deeply into the details of the Tudor dynasty. It is a lengthy book – my physical copy is 650 pages. A background in the history of this age is helpful. I supplemented the content by looking up information on various people and events, which I found beneficial.

The ending could have been stronger, but this is a minor quibble, as this is the first book in a trilogy. I enjoyed it so much that I have already started listening to the second, Bring Up the Bodies. I hope to read the third, The Mirror and the Light, later this year. show less

The title of this Man Booker Prize book is a bit misleading. Wolf Hall is the home of the Seymour family, and while they were quite influential in Henry VIII's reign, I don't remember even one scene being set there. Nor was the book about the Seymours. This is the story of Thomas Cromwell, beginning with his abused childhood, through his vagabond but experience-rich youth when he traveled far from England throughout Europe, fighting for the French, learning several languages, and honing his intellectual and accounting skills. It concentrates on the years 1529 through 1534 (about the end of the Boleyn reign.)
After his return to England, Cromwell lands a position in the employ of Cardinal Woolsey. Although he remained loyal and grateful show more to Woolsey, he managed to distance himself from Woolsey's troubles with Henry by keeping his religious convictions very private--in fact, one is left somewhat unsure even at the end as to what were Cromwell's true beliefs about organized religion. In the meantime, he (Cromwell) is diligent about employing and training young, bright, under-advantaged youths to carry on his work.
Before reading this, I did not have many preconceptions of what made Thomas Cromwell tick. Mantel does a superb job of providing us background for his actions, his motivations and his relationships with some of the most powerful people of the era. His relationship with Thomas More is presented as sympathetic, although I felt an almost repugnance for the More portrayed here. Ann Boleyn also comes off rather negatively, but it is fascinating to see Mantel showing us Ann B and Cromwell using each other to get where they wanted to go. And of course, there is his relationship with Henry himself. Mantel's Cromwell seems to be able to tell H the VIII the blunt truth with considerable impunity, and thus is often recruited by other nobles to be the bearer of not good tidings.
Finally, I was enthralled by the portrayal of Ann's sister Mary Boleyn. Was she gullible, vulnerable and used? Or conniving, sly, and manipulating?
This book is long, but written to move right along. I listened to the audio version which was exceptionally well done by Simon Slater. It is a book where it is sometimes difficult to tell who is actually speaking, and Slater's intonation certainly helps sort that out. The descriptions of living conditions, dress, manners, and customs are all richly elaborated, and Mantel uses just enough vernacular to make it truly authentic without making it difficult to follow. 5 Stars. show less

The drop head for the 2009 Kirkus review of Wolf Hall says “Masterfully written and researched but likely to appeal mainly to devotees of all things Tudor.” This is patently wrong. I know next to nothing about Tudor England, and before reading this novel, could have cared even less. Nevertheless, I found Wolf Hall compelling.

Thomas Cromwell as depicted by Mantel is, above all, a business man, but also a shrewd observer of people and master player of the chess game that is Henry VIII’s court. But he is also an intellectual and a humanist: well informed, loyal, devoted to his family and to the crew of clever working-class boys he takes in as clerks, compassionate and even merciful to his enemies, at least for now. Despite this, show more thanks in part to the rumors promulgated by his former boss, Cardinal Wolsey, he is perceived as a ruffian and possibly a murderer. He is pragmatic, scheming, philosophical, in short, a complex and multifaceted character.

The story is told from Cromwell’s perspective, and from him we observe Henry VIII and the characters that make up his court with astuteness, irony, and dry humor. We get a very good picture of what day-to-day life in England at the time must have been like, as well as all the political machinations of the ruling classes.

Who doesn’t love a good court intrigue?

I listened to the audiobook, which was nicely read by Simon Slater. show less

The first time I tried to read Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel it was 2010 and I found it completely inaccessible. There were too many characters named Thomas - indeed, Mantel notes in the book half the world was called Thomas at the time - and I couldn't follow who was speaking. Regrettably, I had to set it aside despite my love of historical fiction and interest in the Tudor period.

It wasn't until last year when a book buddy of mine (thanks Andrea!) recommended I join Wolf Crawl with her - a year long slow read hosted by Simon Haisell from Footnotes & Tangents - that I agreed to give it another chance. The challenge is to read the entire Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel over the course of the year and I'm so glad I took the plunge.

Wolf show more Hall is all about the life of Thomas Cromwell, servant of King Henry VIII yet it's not told in the first person. Cromwell is hardly ever referred to by name and instead he's referred to as 'he'. Once Simon had explained Mantel's unique writing style it was like a key had been turned and the book finally opened up its secrets to me.

The novel begins in 1527 when Cromwell is in the service of Cardinal Wolsey, although the reader is also treated to a few flashbacks from his youth. If you're at all familiar with Tudor history, you'll know Thomas Cromwell has been portrayed as the villain who drafted the framework for Henry VIII to break with Rome and make himself Supreme Head of the Church of England so that he could annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. Cromwell was also responsible for the dissolution of the monasteries, reforming the English government and engineering Anne Boleyn's eventual downfall and ultimate execution.

In Wolf Hall, it's clear early on that the author is going to deliver an intimately refreshing and somewhat favourable view of Thomas Cromwell.

"Thomas Cromwell is now a little over forty years old. He is a man of strong build, not tall. Various expressions are available to his face, and one is readable: an expression of stifled amusement. His hair is dark, heavy and waving, and his small eyes, which are of very strong sight, light up in conversation: so the Spanish ambassador will tell us, quite soon. It is said he knows by heart the entire New Testament in Latin, and so as a servant of the cardinal is apt - ready with a text if abbots flounder. His speech is low and rapid, his manner assured; he is at home in courtroom or waterfront, bishop's palace or inn yard. He can draft a contract, train a falcon, draw a map, stop a street fight, furnish a house and fix a jury. He will quote you a nice point in the old authors, from Plato to Plautus and back again. He knows new poetry, and can say it in Italian. He works all hours, first up and last to bed. He makes money and he spends it. He will take a bet on anything." Page 25

Cromwell's dedication and devotion to Cardinal Wolsey early in the book was touching and admirable. When Wolsey is unable to secure the papal annulment for Henry he falls out of favour with the King yet Cromwell remains fiercely loyal and somehow manages to avoid the scandal and Wolsey's subsequent arrest for treason.

I've read countless books set in the Tudor period - too many to mention here - and each have their own take on these historical figures and I relished Mantel's version of Thomas Cromwell and Thomas More in particular. The depth of Mantel's knowledge of history and the classics is astounding and thanks to Simon's weekly articles, I was able to appreciate her subtle references to ancient and Tudor history that I otherwise would have missed.

Simon always closes each week's challenge update with 'and now no more for lack of time' so I enjoyed seeing it pop up twice in Wolf Hall in letters from Cromwell's son Gregory. What a terrific sign off.

The mere fact the events in Wolf Hall occurred some 500 years ago means we know precisely what's going to happen to each of the characters. This foreknowledge of their inevitable fate imbues the novel with a ghostly sense of melancholy that I found deeply moving.

Here Thomas More is speaking to Cromwell about the death of his father:

"It's strange, Thomas, but since he went, I feel my age. As if I were just a boy, till a few days ago. But God has snapped his fingers, and I see my best years are behind me." Page 230

Each death haunts Cromwell and his grief weighs heavily on his shoulders, painting a sympathetic view of the man. Naturally Henry VIII has a large presence throughout the book, and under Mantel's treatment he comes across as a grandiose narcissist. I've heard this quote attributed to Henry VIII in other historical fiction novels but it's a favourite and I loved seeing it here:

"If I thought my cap knew my counsel, I would cast it into the fire."Page 217

By the standards of Tudor nobility, Cromwell was low-born yet his rise is a direct consequence of his ability, work ethic, ambition and dedication to the King and I was gratified when he was appointed to the position of Keeper of the Jewel House in 1532, where he's able to oversee the King's incomings and outgoings.

Throughout it all, Mantel gives Cromwell some stellar dialogue and I found myself unexpectedly chuckling every few pages. Here Cromwell takes issue with a woman's manner of addressing him:

"If a man spoke to you in that tone, you'd invite him to step outside and ask someone to hold your coat." Page 378

Cromwell comes across as a diligent fix-it man and while he makes a few enemies along the way, courtiers soon show deference to him:

"He, Cromwell, is no longer subject to vagaries of temperament, and he is almost never tired. Obstacles will be removed, tempers will be soothed, knots unknotted. Here at the close of the year 1533, his spirit is sturdy, his will strong, his front imperturbable. The courtiers see that he can shape events, mold them. He can contain the fears of other men, and give them a sense of solidity in a quaking world: this people, this dynasty, this miserable rainy island at the edge of the world." Page 427

Despite his abilities, Cromwell is unable to persuade Thomas More to take the Oath of Succession which recognised the King's marriage to Anne Boleyn, their children as heirs to the throne and acknowledging the King as Supreme Head of the Church of England, thereby denying papal supremacy.

Thomas More explains his predicament:
"You cannot compel me to put myself in hazard. For if I had an opinion against your Act of Supremacy, which I do not concede, then your oath would be a two-edged sword. I must put my body in peril if I say no to it, my soul if I say yes to it. Therefore I say nothing." Page 513

The scholarly debates between Cromwell and More were fascinating and More's eventual execution for treason at the end of Wolf Hall was a harsh blow to Cromwell.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel could be one of the best books I've ever read and is an automatic nomination for My Top 5 Books of 2026. Fortunately I still have two more books to go in the series and up next is Bring Up the Bodies but now, no more for lack of time. show less