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Wolf Hall

The rise of Thomas Cromwell in Tudor England

Hilary Mantel author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers

Published:28th Nov '19

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Wolf Hall cover

Set in Tudor England, Wolf Hall chronicles the rise of Thomas Cromwell, exploring themes of power, loyalty, and ambition amidst political intrigue.

In Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel immerses readers in the tumultuous world of Tudor England, where political intrigue and personal ambition collide. The novel centers on the life of Thomas Cromwell, a lowborn son of a blacksmith who rises through the ranks to become one of the most powerful figures in King Henry VIII's court. Mantel's vivid storytelling and rich character development bring to life the opulence and brutality of the era, making it a gripping read from start to finish.

The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of shifting allegiances and fierce rivalries, as Cromwell navigates the treacherous waters of the Tudor court. His intelligence and charm allow him to maneuver through dangerous situations, as he becomes a trusted advisor to the king. The novel explores themes of power, loyalty, and the complexities of human relationships, all while painting a detailed portrait of a society on the brink of transformation.

Wolf Hall not only chronicles Cromwell's rise but also captures the essence of a historical period marked by religious upheaval and political machinations. With its intricate plot and richly drawn characters, this Booker Prize-winning novel has garnered critical acclaim and has been adapted into a major television series, further solidifying its status as a modern classic.

‘So original and disconcerting that it will surely come to be seen as a paradigm-shifterSunday Telegraph

As soon as I opened the book I was gripped. I read it almost non-stop. When I did have to put it down, I was full of regret that the story was over, a regret I still feel. This is a wonderful and intelligently imagined retelling of a familiar tale from an unfamiliar angle’ The Times

‘A stunning book. It breaks free of what the novel has become nowadays. I can’t think of anything since Middlemarch which so convincingly builds a world’ Diana Athill, author of Somewhere Towards the End

‘This is a beautiful and profoundly human book, a dark mirror held up to our own world. And the fact that its conclusion takes place after the curtain has fallen only proves that Hilary Mantel is one of our bravest as well as our most brilliant writers’ Olivia Laing, Observer

A fascinating read, so good I rationed myself. It is remarkable and very learned; the texture is marvellously rich, the feel of Tudor London and the growing household of a man on the rise marvellously authentic. Characters real and imagined spring to life, from the childish and petulant King to Thomas Wolsey's jester, and it captures the extrovert, confident, violent mood of the age wonderfully’ C.J. Sansom, author of The Shardlake Series

A magnificent achievement: the scale of its vision and the fine stitching of its detail; the teeming canvas of characters; the style with its clipped but powerful immediacy; the wit, the poetry and the nuance’ Sarah Dunant, author of The Birth of Venus

‘A superb novel, beautifully constructed, and an absolutely compelling read. A novel of Tudor times which persuades us that we are there, at that moment, hungry to know what happens next. It is the making of our English world, and who can fail to be stirred by it?’ Helen Dunmore, author of Birdcage Walk

ISBN: 9780008381691

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 43mm

Weight: 470g

672 pages