Staff Book and Media Recommendations

Jennifer Flygare is a Research & Learning Librarian at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Wolf Hall / Bring up the Bodies

Hilary Mantel

There have so been many novels written about Tudor England and the intrigues of Henry VIII, one would think nothing more could be said.  That is why the books Wolf Hall and Bringing up the Bodies were such a pleasant surprise.  Hilary Mantel brings new life to this subject with the first two installments in the Thomas Cromwell Trilogy.  The books tell the tale of Henry VIII’s court through the eyes of Henry’s top advisor Thomas Cromwell, a person, who in Mantel’s opinion has been historically misunderstood.

In Wolf Hall, we are introduced to Thomas Cromwell, a man from humble origins who with his knowledge and dexterity with the law, is able to rise to power in the court of Henry VIII.  Wolf Hall sets the stage with the characters and drama.  By the end of the book, Henry is at last able to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, and marry Anne Boleyn.  The story picks up in Bringing up the Bodies, when Anne’s power over Henry is waning, and Cromwell is charged with finding a reason to expel her from court. 

Both books do an amazing job of describing the characters and complicated political intrigues of the time.  The language is rich and meaty; bringing to life a historical figure that is often on the fringes in other historical novels of this era.

There are many characters in this book, and the threads of the story are complex.  You really have to be present and have to actively consume this book. I read Wolf Hall in 2009 and came away confused.  The long list of characters was difficult to keep track of and I confess I am not that familiar with the politics of that time, so it really didn’t make much sense.  When I read it again, things became clearer, and I was able to transition right into Bringing up the Bodies which I could not put down.

Months later I am still thinking about these books and I am looking forward to the last installment in this series, The Mirror and the Light.  These are thought provoking books and well worth the effort.

Reviewed April 2013