Bring Up the Bodies (The Wolf Hall Trilogy)

I have have enjoyed the story relating to the King and his rationalisations and manipulations (however did the author know about the King’s state of mind, so intimately, even to the extent that he liked Seymour’s “duckies” (clearly before the relationship went sour!). It’s the prosaic historical and political ‘connective tissue’ between these bones, albeit interesting scenes that I found somewhat tedious—reading in bed would not last beyond five minutes before my eyes lost focus and my brain glazed over (though I am now well informed about jousting and have resolved to avoid it at all costs). But what is intriguing is that it’s an early account of Brexit, isn’t it? One feels oneself in the era, quite convincingly, because the day-to-day anxieties are somehow not dissimilar, hoping that there would be an ultimate reversal of the break with Rome (the EU) with the restoration of England’s rapprochement with Europe. But you know what? I felt a great deal of kinship with Thomas, the way he had to dance around the King’s ego for the sake of survival – for I felt exactly in the same position as the head of an English department, dancing around and patting the inflated egos of other academics, especially that of the red-bearded Dean, who, like the King, was very much like a circus lion with claws.

The second novel in Hilary Mantel’s trilogy is still worth reading, and here we see that Henry has set his eye on another young lady, this time Jane Seymour. After all Anne Boleyn has only been able to supply him with one healthy child, and alas the baby was female. As we see the king start to show his age, with former injuries and illnesses, so we also start to see the real rise of his paranoia; and then there is Anne, who never that popular with the vast majority of the country, seemingly thinking that because she is queen she is somehow able to do more or less as she pleases – but of course there can be only one ruler.Although as before we have the king and queen and others in this story, the real attraction is of course the enigmatic Thomas Cromwell. Once again Mantel is ready to step into the crevices of history to try and give a rounder figure to this person, who over the years has been reviled, although the only real cause that can be seen for this is due to the later monarchs rewriting history for their own purposes. As not too much is really known as fact about Cromwell so Mantel has picked an ideal character for her books, and being in some ways sympathetic to him, she doesn’t shy away from things that we would consider beyond the pale today. By fleshing him out so even if she is wrong on certain points it does not matter, because she helps put us into his shoes and see the problems that he had to face and deal with.Here then we see old scores settled and new alliances being made. With the deaths of Wolsey and More in the last novel, here we see Cromwell at times pondering what mainly his old mentor would have said or done, and also what More would think about certain issues, thus we see someone who is contemplating his next move, rather that just rushing in blindly. Of course, after having made Anne queen, now Cromwell has to bring her down, so that Jane can take her place. This as with the other books in the trilogy also have perhaps become more pertinent, as we are living through uncertain times. We now have this Coronavirus to deal with, whereas back in the day it would have been plague and other illnesses, we have a country that is trying to forge a new way in the world, and finding itself directionless to a degree, because of Brexit, and with Henry VIII becoming more paranoid and less able to predict, so we can see similarities with someone like Trump, which gives the trilogy a certain added frisson.I had only read the first book previously Wolf Hall, which I have just recently reread as I want to read all the books in order, so it means although of course I know all the story, as indeed we all do, so I can see more and more similarities between the past and the present, and by reading them back to back, so the story somehow seems to flow better and be more immediate.

For me wolf hall was slow and, at times very confusing. The fact there are 4 thomas's didn't help, and the author would write "he said" without it being clear who "he" was! This book glides along at a very good pace, the characters are well established and he, Cromwell, as he is now referred to throughout is a wonderful subject for a book like this. Can't wait for the next installment

I read Wolf Hall the year it was released and it has taken me a while to get round to the second book of the trilogy and I am filled with regret for taking so long - I've had time to read it several times over ; I feel like I've missed out.Mantel's man in the spotlight, Thomas Cromwell is an intriguing character and his work (for good or ill) in the court of Henry VIII is well worth examination - maybe it is better examined in fiction because Mantel does such an amazing job. Her characterization of all the main courtiers and officials in Henry's life is second to none. You will know them all so well by the end of the book that you will find yourself worrying about some of them. Sadly, some of them will come to an early end - Cromwell is exceptional. In spite of his work , I found myself quote liking him. I tended towards blaming Henry for most of the awful stuff that befalls his courtiers (and Anne Boleyn) but of course, Henry told Cromwell what he wanted and Cromwell merely ensured his master was pleased with the outcomes, whilst protecting Henry from any suggestion of wrongdoing or misunderstanding.Mantel's handling of pace is second to none - I could not stop reading. It is a book rich in dialogue; there is a lot of it but it is what brings characters to life. You read it and feel, often, like you are reading a play. Her books are dramatic, thrilling with levels of historical research to satisfy any historical fiction fan.Sadly, in straightened times, I will have to wait until her next book comes down in price before reading it....the anticipation is already killing me!

Fantastic read for anyone who loves Tudor times. I love how it is from Cromwell's view so we get another dimension on Henry VIII's court and life of someone in the upper circle of Henry VIII.I found the writing in this book better than in Wolf Hall. It does not drag on as much. I highly recommend this.Got mine second hand and cheap. It looks as good as new.