Wolf Hall

Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel

Summary
A novel of the period from Henry VIII's failed marriage to Katherine of Aragon to almost the end of his failed marriage to Anne Boleyn, as told through the lens of a much-rehabilitated Thomas Cromwell.

Cromwell is portrayed as a sensible capitalist liberal (in the modern American sense). In fact, he is portrayed as a very modern fellow overall, quite out of line with his supposed betters in the court of Henry. The novel traces his dutiful loyalty to Cardinal Wolsey through his triumph and fall, and then on to Cromwell's zenith of influence in court culminating in his conviction of Thomas More for treason. This is all playing against the backdrop of the beginning of what would eventually be the English Reformation.

A lot of good history and a healthy dose of supposition and insertion of non-facts that might have been.

Reaction
A very, very good read. Cromwell is exactly the kind of hero I go in for: clever, compassionate, business-minded. A great read.

A little playing with pronouns more than I would have liked. If you read this one, know that when she uses "he" and it's at all ambiguous, she means my man Cromwell.

Reading Inspired by This One
An English history, at least of the Tudors (I didn't know Henry VIII was Elizabeth I's father!!!0
maybe some more Mantel, she's really quite good.