| Wolf Hall |  | Author: Hilary Mantel
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: CDN$ 24.99
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Seller: Brampton-Books
Rating:  25 reviews
Sales Rank: 78
Media: Paperback
Pages: 672
ISBN: 155468773X
EAN: 9781554687732
ASIN: 155468773X
Publication Date: September 16, 2009
Availability: Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
 Brilliant, if revisionist February 24, 2010
One Tonne (Waterloo, Canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I don't understand the negative reviews. Clearly this book was not intended for some people. Not quite the frothy, libidinous ride you wanted? Tough.
Thomas Cromwell was a Machiavellian sort, at least if you read the standard history. However, this novel does a superb job of getting us inside Thomas Cromwell's head and convincing us he was a sympathetic sort of guy and cheer for him, even though we who know our history know it cannot work out. Frankly, I rarely enjoy historic fiction as much as I enjoyed this, so I have to give it 5 stars.
The best way I can describe it is that it almost feels like reading a good interpretive history combined with a novel. That best of both worlds feel of combined interpretive non-fiction with the feel of an authoritative novel is what I like so much. That's not to say it's an easy or thrill-a-minute read, which may be where all the grousing is coming from. If you prefer a more pulpy or frothy read, you may be best advised to stay away and stop delivering one star reviews to a book that doesn't deserve them.
An Artful View of an Unhappy Court February 20, 2010
Ian Gordon Malcomson (Smithers, Canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As someone who enjoys a romping-good read of anything Tudor, fiction or non-fiction, Mantel's award-winning "Wolf Hall" does it for me. Unlike the main-action character emphasis in other stories about this tempestuous era of English history, when fortunes were made and lost at the whim of a capricious king, Mantel's version provides an in-depth rendition of events that attempts to capture the whole of Henry VIII's court in action. This wide-angle picture of the royal court mucking its way through a veritable minefield of statecraft is facilitated by the astute and ever-present observations of England's man behind the scenes, Thomas Cromwell. As the eye in the key-hole or the fly on the wall, Cromwell the consummate political climber and opportunist is there to take note of how the rest of the cast is doing so he can do better. Mantel does a good job in presenting Cromwell as a virtual nobody who, in Stalin-like fashion, rises through the bureaucratic ranks to become the 'man of the hour' who is best able to help Henry solidify his power base. To reach this place of influence and prestige, Cromwell has to engage in a game of stealth that allows him to seek out what is expedient for himself while harmful for his enemies. This man from lowly Putney ingratiates himself to cardinals, archbishops, chancellors, princes and princesses, and finally a monarach to discover how he might best exploit their weaknesses to gain the upperhand. As the story unwinds, the reader sees Cromwell growing in confidence and personal resolve while the rest of the court is quaking in fear at what Henry might do to them if they ever cross him. Here is a man who has nothing to lose - he has already been devastated by great personal loss and despised by many of his peers - who is prepared to manipulate his way to the top with the only thing at his disposal: dirt that he has gathered on all those who would fawningly regard themselves as the king's favourites. What separates Cromwell from the rest of the political aspirants of the day is that he has something to offer his king: the chance to make him an all-powerful sovereign and immortal dynast. Some of the novel's main selling features are its colorful detailing of the customs of the period, its description of Henry as an often irresolute monarch, and its background inclusion of biographical tidbits to build up even the most minor of characters. As a result, Mantel has succeeded in helping us to understand what many have previously come to regard as a hopelessly complex story by simply clarifying the rising ambitions of one very obscure Machivellian character, Thomas Cromwell. Lots of graphic scenes of violence and death await the reader with this book.
 Wolf Hall February 19, 2010
A. Stupart (Burlington, ON)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Wolf Hall is, quite simply, a literary tour de force. Although much has been written about the momentous political and religious upheavals that marked Henry VIII's tumultuous reign, Hilary Mantel manages to deliver a refreshingly original version of these events as seen through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, Henry's most trusted advisor and confidant. Cromwell's background as a man of humble origins who has carved out a stellar reputation as a lawyer, businessman, diplomat and political strategist makes him an ideal choice to spearhead Henry's bitter power struggle against the Church. While the historical terrain may be quite familiar, what really sets this book apart is Martel's superb attention to detail and a remarkably intimate present tense narration that draws the reader right into the story. Admitedly, this intimacy can sometimes lead to confusion, especially since Martel consistently identifies Cromwell simply as "he," even when the antecedent would seem to suggest that a different character is being referred to. On the whole, however, this technique is highly effective. We are made to experience events just as Cromwell himself does and are privy to his innermost thoughts and opinions. This, in turn, helps us to better understand the complex political climate in which these events are played out. It also gives us an opportunity to explore not only the public persona but also the private life of this enigmatic historical figure. What emerges is not the conventional portrait of Cromwell as an intellectual bully but that of a multi-faceted, charismatic man, full of personal ambition yet sympathetic to the plights of others. In Martel's skillful hands, Cromwell is transformed from a one-dimensional political animal into a highly believable flesh and blood character who is more a humanist than a villain.
Wolf Hall February 18, 2010
Robert Stellick
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The first half of the book was extremely interesting and engaging. For some reason it completely bogs down in the second half -- hardly keeping the reader's interest.
Interesting but confusing February 13, 2010
A. Strickland-clark (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Like other reviewers, I found much to criticize in this novel. The present tense is not the ideal way to present a historical novel in my view, and Mantel's habit of constantly referring to Cromwell as 'he' has the reader chasing back through the pages to find who it is speaking or acting. This I found infuriating and it didn't get better. Also, though I think I am pretty familiar with the main players in the Henry/Anne story, the constant re-introduction of characters only referred to fleetingly 100 pages ago is another time waster. Mantel thinks all her readers should be as sharp and informed as she, and it just ain't so. One wonders why she called it Wolf Hall? The home of Jane Seymoure played almost no part in the story.
On the plus side, while Cromwell is portrayed as a sympathetic, intelligent, kind and witty main man at Henry's court, this is at odds with how he has been seen before. But I was pleased to see Sir Thomas More once more revealed in his true colours - he was outed as a monster in Josephine Tey's 'Daughter of Time'- contributing to poor old King Richard's literary maltreatment as the murderer of the Princes in the Tower - a corrective to the fabulous film 'A Man For All Seasons' in which Philip Schofield makes us believe that More was a saint.
I have never experienced real historical characters given such revealing lines and Mantel makes it all seem so real. Anne Boleyn could well have been as self-centered and infuriating as she is seen in this novel. Having your head chopped off seems a bit extreme but she should have had more sense and been aware of the danger of alienating putative enemies. I've read more enjoyable novels, but probably not more enjoyable historical novels.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
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